[Moru]

How cold is cold for you normally? Our water is about four degrees celcius never mind what season it is. It just hurts, never really managed to stay more than a few seconds.

Some people around here are hacking a hole in the ice and swimming for a while...

Edit: Seems the test assumed 10-12 degrees average temperature in Netherlands.

[smileypete]

There is a world of difference between 4°C and say 14-18°C, at 4°C you just don't get used to it really!

A good method may be to use a fine spray and start with legs, then arms then working up from the bottom to top of the torso. That way the blood gets more time to withdraw from the limbs into the torso to maintain the core temperature.

[DBYCZ]

The best way I've found (cold showering only for muscle recovery) is to get your face/head wet first. Every other way seems less comfortable to me. It's similar to jumping into a pool versus stepping in slowly.

[darkFunction]

That's called the mammalian diving response!

[xur17]

That's a good point. I've lived in places where my "cold" water was likely ~20 degrees Celsius in the summer. Warm enough that I honestly wished it were a bit cooler at times after exercising. Other places it's been pretty close to freezing.

[michalu]

As cold as it gets. I am from Eastern Europe but now staying in south of France for couple months. When I am home it can be as cold as couple degrees above 0, especially in winter on the countryside.

Now in the south it's not so cold which bothers me, but I use the coldest possible out of the principle, as to keep the principle is the key.

[zhynn]

One of my favorite things is to sauna, then cold shower, then brief sauna again, and my nerves get totally reset such that I can go sit in a -20C chair outside and will not be cold for a surprisingly long time. It feels great.

If the water is not cold enough, it is disappointing.