Just curious to other preferences/views on water temps. for indoor pools. I know this subject was discussed earlier, but it referenced “hot” pools (i.e. 85 'F+). My local YMCA prefers to keep their 50 meter lap pool somewhere between 72 'F - 78 'F (76 'F+ if you’re lucky and they don’t open the windows in the pool area to the 30 'F temps. outside).
For me at least (a lean 145 lbs guy), it sure seems rather “cool”. I’ve resorted to wearing a DeSoto Dos vest along with my TYR jammers (guess this gives me some “wetsuit” practice). Not that I’m ungrateful (any pool is better than none), but I have inquired about the situation before and was told “(it’s summer)…the water is supposed to be cold”. Only thing now, is that it’s January…I guess the summers last pretty long here in South Carolina.
The intramural pool at the University of Washington was always at 81 degrees. At times, that even felt cold when the rest intervals were longer. I can’t even imagine doing longer swims in a 72 degree pool. Natural skin temp is 83 degrees, and water is a VERY good heat transfer medium. Even 80 degrees will feel pretty cool rather quickly.
i think 72 is a perfect temperature. If you are soaking in a pool, yes, 72 is freezing. But, if you are training in a pool 72 is ideal. Don’t forget, while you are swimming, you still sweat, it just is not noticable, naturally. I would even venture to say 68-69 is a good temperature as far as a swim race would go. The colder the pool, as long as it is resonable, the “faster” it will be. Besides, you will be swimming in cold water during a race, at least for the start of the season, being that you are lucky enough to live in S.C.
I think it obviously depends on the individual. I’ve swam in pools in the low 70’s and those in the low to mid 80’s. Since I am very prone to getting cold, I tend to prefer it at around 77-81 (Of course I’m the guy whose hands are ice blocks when the temperature gets below 70).
USS rules say 78-80F for competition. A little chillier isn’t too bad for me if I keep moving. The outdoor pools here are into the high 80s by the middle of summer, which is decidedly uncomfortable. But then you’ve got the same hot water temps on race day, so I grit my teeth and acclimate.
I used the therapeutic pool at the hospital I worked at. Water temp was between 85-90-degrees. It was 20-yards long, and the chlorine was kept high. I did ALL of my swim training in that pool for 7-months. When I stepped into Mirror Lake for IMLP, I set a new PR, I think because of the cooler water. Not that I would ever recommend that for anyone.
Our local pool has had a problem with its heater, and the temperature is dropping. Today it was 72 deg F. That was frigid, and after 12 minutes of moderate intensity laps I was getting colder, not warmer, and had to leave. They usually keep it at about 81 deg which I think is fine. Although some people seem to like the water cold, and some here have said that 72 is ideal, everyone who usually swims at my club in the morning has abandoned our pool until the heater is fixed and it warms up. Maybe the temp was really in the 60s – it’s half an hour later and I’m still shivering! For me, I think 78 should be the minimum for an indoor pool.
My facility has two pools. One is in the 80’s. I train there year-round for anaerobic training…I’m in the pool for shorter periods of time. The other pool is a little cooler, possibly 78. I train there for endurance, when I’m in the pool longer and the warmer water won’t negatively affect me. It takes a while for a warm pool to make you feel like your core temperature is going up.
Don’t mean to be that guy, but sounds like an HTFU case. 72 is perfect with no vest or anything, 78 is still good. I work at a pool that heats to 85 degrees (don’t get me started). needless to say, I try very hard to not swim there. and I’m 5’ 8" 130-135lbs
NYSC pool is heated to 85 degrees. Over the Christmas period they put a sign up saying they were lowering the pool temperature to 79 degrees to save energy costs. That lasted about a week into the new year. As of this morning it was back at 84 degrees.
The problem is it is used by the seniors for water exercises during the day and they threw a fit when the water temperature was reduced.
Everyone complaining about water temps in the 70’s need to HTFU in my opinion. The pool at my gym is maybe 78, would prefer to have it closer to 70, and I’m quite lean. I think a lot of it is just mental.