The Turtleback
By Swim Feral
Two intrepid Yorkshire-based outdoor swimmers have launched a new product to make their wild swims a little more comfortable.
Bored of muddy feet and cold toes, Jamima Latimer and Sonya Moorhead of Swim Feral have launched The Turtleback via a Kickstarter campaign. The Turtleback is the only outdoor swimming bag with an integrated insulated changing mat designed to keep your kit dry and feet warm when taking a dip out in the elements.
With a keen focus on sustainability, Swim Feral proudly state that each bag is handmade with a mix of new and recycled materials — including recycled lorry tarp.
Even the sewing machines are powered by solar energy.
WWW Ambassador Gilly McArthur was fortunate to bag herself one of the first Turtlebacks which she has been testing out during her winter swimming exploits... heres what she had to say;
I’m a Scottish swimmer and climber living here is the glorious Lake District. An ice swimmer and adventurer to the high tarns and quiet secret places here. I try to swim daily, preferring to hike up high in winter to find the ice and in summer I’ll seek peaceful dusk rivers to bob down or early morning lakes swims with friends.
As a wild swimmer, not a triathlete or pool swimmer the challenge to find the right swim bag for your all your bits is trickier.
The bag needs to be large enough for dry robes, flasks of tea, goggles, bobble hats, cake, towels, warm clothes and bits of neoprene and an axe (for those that like this slightly niche bit of wild swims)
It needs to be mud proof, wind proof, waterproof and dog proof. It needs to be built to last. In addition to this long list of requirements it needs to be able to be opened with freezing fingers on cold days and needs to be comfy to shoulder for a longer walk to a wild swim spot.
Well this bag ticks all those boxes – because it’s designed by actual wonderful wild swimmers, in the UK and made here too.
The best thing for me about this bag? All of it.
I’ve tried IKEA bags, large shoppers, rucksacks and plastic buckets. Believe me they all work but have limitations… if you really are a wild swimmer, and want your dry robe to stay dry, your bra and pants to stay shore line and your feet to mud free – this bag is for you.
Those that know – know.
Swim Feral Friends… swim wild.
credit : Scott Salt Photography
Thank you to Gilly for her words. Follow her swimming & climbing adventures here
Check out this fun short video by Fenwick Ridley feat. Gilly of the Turtleback Bag in action!