THE COLD WATER HANDBOOK
The experience, the science and how to do it well.
The Cold Water Handbook by Alice Goodridge is a practical, evidence-informed guide to cold-water swimming, bringing together scientific research, practical guidance and the lived experiences of more than 800 swimmers.
Expanded paperback edition publishing 29 October 2026.
Feel more informed, prepared and confident in cold water.
UNDERSTAND COLD WATER
The Cold Water Handbook explores what cold water feelslike, what happens inside the body and how factors such as sleep, energy, health, hormones, experience and the conditions can affect every swim.
Its aim is not to push you further. It is to help you understand cold water more clearly, so you can make informed decisions for your own body and circumstances.
Cold-water swimming is often described in simple terms, but how it feels and how the body responds can vary enormously between people and from one swim to the next.
The Cold Water Handbook by Alice Goodridge is a practical, evidence-informed guide to cold-water swimming. It explores what happens before, during and after immersion, including cold-water shock, cooling, recognising when to get out and rewarming well. It also looks honestly at the physical and mental effects of cold water, including where the scientific evidence is strong, uncertain or frequently overclaimed.
Written by an experienced cold-water coach, ice swimmer and marathon swimmer, the handbook combines scientific research with practical guidance and the lived experiences of more than 800 swimmers.
Whether you are considering your first cold-water swim or have been swimming throughout the seasons for years, the book will help you understand cold water more clearly and make informed decisions for your own body, circumstances and swims.
The expanded paperback edition will be published on 29 October 2026.
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