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heat acclimation and sweat testing

Health and Performance Hub

Competing in extreme temperatures is a major challenge for athletes. Heat acclimation will allow you to build heat tolerance and can be crucial to your performance.

What is heat acclimatisation training?

If the body is exposed to hot conditions that causes core temperature to increase to a high enough level for long enough periods and often enough, the body will start to adapt and adjust various physiological mechanisms and processes to be able to function more effectively in the heat. This process is called heat acclimatisation.

We offer three heat acclimation packages (bronze, silver and gold) that include well controlled and executed 'heat exposures'. This will allow your body to adapt and lose heat more effectively, helping you to perform well even when hot, for long periods. 

We also offer a consultancy option to design a 'home-based' heat acclimation programme which includes a sweat test and 2x heat chamber sessions.

We have a long history of supporting athletes preparing for racing in hot conditions as long ago as 1993. We have worked with triathletes and track athletes alongside their national federations, as well as professional ultra runners to develop specific acclimatisation strategies and provide heat acclimatisation exposures in the lead up to Tokyo and Paris Olympics; UTMB winners (2025) Tom Evans and Ruth Croft.

Leeds Beckett heat acclimation packages:
  • A high level of heat acclimatisation
  • Experience of running in the expected conditions of the event
  • Decreased perception of the heat
  • Understanding how your body reacts to the heat
  • Know your sweat rate and sweat sodium concentration and how to hydrate effectively
  • Gaining confidence in your ability to run in the heat
Home-based heat training, sweat test and 2x heat chamber exposure:

60-minute session in our heat chamber to baseline heat tolerance capacity and inform the design of the home-based heat acclimation protocol. Then, after completing the heat intervention, return to the lab to complete another heat tolerance assessment and finalise your hydration strategy.

Heat acclimation is beneficial to recreational and elite athletes who are trying to improve their preparations for performance on hot and humid conditions. Typically, heat acclimation is undertaken by those living in cold and moderate climates in preparation for sporting events in hotter temperatures.

Regular exposures to a hot environment are required to create the stimulus for the body to create the adaptations. To get higher levels of adaptation requires a larger number of exposures.

Our approach is to use our state-of-the-art environmental chambers and hot baths, for periods of between 30 and 90 minutes over a period of two to three weeks. Visits will comprise of running on the treadmill in the heat or siting in a hot bath, while we monitor a number of responses, including core temperature to ensure that core temperature is both high enough but not too high. The exposures increase in severity and progress as adaptation takes place to ensure that the capacity to perform in the heat continues to develop. There is some flexibility in the approach depending upon each individuals’ circumstances, needs and availability, so please do get in touch to discuss your individual requirements.

The 'home-based' heat acclimation programme will include a pre and post-heat tolerance test in our labs, an online consultation to provide a bespoke heat acclimation protocol to be completed at home, with the final 60-minute heat exposure in our lab to finalise your hydration strategy.

We offer three laboratory-based programmes to support athletes at all levels, however we do recommend getting in touch with to discuss your individual requirements before you make a booking:

  Bronze Silver Gold
Chamber sessions Six sessions 10 sessions 14 sessions
Pre and post heat stress evaluation ✓ ✓ ✓
Core temperature* ✓ ✓ ✓
Whole body sweat rate ✓ ✓ ✓
Perceptual responses ✓ ✓ ✓
Heart rate responses ✓ ✓ ✓
Plasma volume changes   ✓
 ✓
Sweat composition   ✓ ✓
Paced long run   ✓ ✓
  £570 £845  £1220

*Wireless GI core temperature pills can be paid for additionally at £60 per session

Home-based heat training, sweat test and 2x heat chamber exposure:
  • Cost: £380

Heat Acclimation - Marathon des Sables: Leeds Beckett Health and Performance Hub

Book your consultation

Book a free consultation with one of our advisors and they will discuss your ambitions, context and heat acclimation needs, helping establish which packages is best for you.

Book your free online consultation

Gallery

How Olympic athletes prepare for extreme heat

work with industry experts

We have a long history of supporting athletes preparing for racing in hot conditions as long ago as 1993. More recently we worked with a number of triathletes and track athletes alongside their national federations to develop specific acclimatisation strategies and provide heat acclimatisation exposures in the lead up to the Tokyo Olympics. Here are some of our expert team who will inform and support your training.

Competing at the Marathon Des Sables 2024

The Marathon des Sables is a 250km 6-day ultra-endurance event that takes place in the Moroccan Sahara Desert and has been referred to as the toughest foot race on Earth. Over the last 10 years, applied scientists at the Carnegie School of Sport have helped people prepare in our state-of-the-art facilities including our environmental chamber and Cryospa (hot water immersion). We can set the conditions to ~40 C and 30% humidity, to replicate conditions in the desert. These sessions are repeated over several days and/or weeks to cause several physiological adaptations that can reduce the adverse effects of heat on exercise capacity. This service builds on the support provided to Team GB triathletes and track athletes in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics and ongoing support for recreational and elite athlete competing under hot and/or humid conditions.

I took part in what is described as the hottest ever marathon des sables. I have no doubt in my mind that the acclimatisation training I did at LBU prepared me greatly for the event. I can honestly say that the heat did not seem a major factor for me, which is crazy considering the amount of people who dropped out due to it. The team were so accommodating and flexible, everything was professionally done and with the utmost care. I wouldn’t even consider taking on this event again without the support of the team at LBU.

Dan Sherman 2021 Marathon des Sables Finisher
Athlete performing testing on exercise bike

I used the facilities at Leeds Beckett University during my preparation for the triathlon event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the Abu Dhabi Grand Final in 2022. I specifically used the hot bath and the heat chamber to give me the best chance to win medals. The world-class facilities and staff dedication (specifically Dr Dan Snape) were crucial in helping me win an Olympic Gold Medal in Tokyo. I cannot thank the university and staff enough.

Jonny Brownlee MBE British Professional Triathlete

Contact us

Email us with any questions you might have.
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Our research

Centre for Human Performance

An innovative, integrated research-practice model; developed and implemented with various professional sports clubs, national governing bodies and organisations.

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Student in lab on bike for Sport and Exercise Science part of Carnegie Research Institute
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