Keep Your Toys In Their Box?

Pullbuoys, kickboards and paddles... swimmers use these tools in the belief that they will help them become better swimmers. But will they? When it comes to training toys, coaches Tracey Baumann and Emma Levy recommend caution.

Lucky Number 7

Keep your pool training on track with Dan Bullock of Swim for Tri - in this issue a fiendish session of seven repeats and playing with rest that will challenge without overwhelming you. 

You Ask, We Answer

Were you enthralled by the 10k open water marathon at the Tokyo Olympics, in particular the "carnage and beauty" of the feeding stations? Olympic bronze medalist Cassie Patten gives some tips on feeding and nutrition for your next race or long swim. 

The Power of Smiling

Find out how and why a simple smile can help you in your next endurance swim. Sports psychologist Helen Davis explains how the power of smiling can give you a psychological advantage in your next race. 

The Final Stand

Last week Lewis Pugh completed the #ClimateSwim – 12 days, 7.8 gruelling km across the mouth of the Ilulissat Icefjord in Greenland. Pugh has spent the past 15 years calling for politicians to commit to protecting the oceans and react meaningfully to climate change. Ahead of his toughest swim yet, Stacey McGowan Holloway attended his 10-day training camp in Iceland, learning why this swim is so important and how he trains to withstand repeated swims in water as low as 0 degrees Celsius.

Celebrating Ten Years of Outdoor Swimmer

We celebrate ten years of Outdoor Swimmer magazine with a moving interview between the current editor and founder of the magazine – and celebrate the boom in outdoor swimming in recent years.

A River Fit To Swim In?

The state of UK rivers is a hot topic in the media, but are they safe to swim in? Ella Foote explains how to identify a river clean enough for a dip. 

Swimming Stories

We’re once again thrilled to showcase swimming stories from around the globe, from Verity Green becoming the first deaf British woman to swim the English Channel to the strange and lucrative history of marathon swimmers appearing on cigarette cards. 

This is just a taster of what you can read in the new issue, which as usual is packed full of interviews and features, swimming and safety advice, training and technique, and swim travel from around the world. For all these stories and more subscribe to start with the September issue or try a single copy now for just £5.95 plus postage.