Kayaking is an amazing way to view the world from a different angle! We’re biased but there really isn’t a better way to have fun on the water! You do need to take a few precautions to be comfortable and safe in your boat, wearing the appropriate clothing and kit is the first thing to consider.
If it’s a balmy Sunny Sunday and you’re out enjoying the Thames on your new Sit on Top it’s unlikely that you will unintentionally fall in!
The other end of the sport however, white water kayaking, it is a pretty sure bet that you’re going to get splashed, capsized and eventually swim. We’re all in-between swims!
So, you first need to consider the level of your days fun on the water, think about the weather, air temperature and most importantly water temperature. then, what should you be wearing to be comfortable in / on your kayak or canoe or Stand-Up Paddle Board.
Buoyancy Aid’s or PFD’s (personal flotation device)
So, if you’re new to the sport and already getting bored of reading this article just continue reading the next paragraph or two. The most important thing you need in your life apart from your boat and paddle is a PFD, and this is true for all paddlers, of all levels. Whether you’re on a flat calm lake or miles offshore exploring the ocean, a PFD is going to keep you afloat in case of an unexpected capsize and swim.
Luckily there are a huge number of PFDs on the market these days, so finding one that fits you well (I would always recommend coming into the shop and trying on PFD’s if possible to make sure the fit is correct) and works for the style of paddling you intend to do. If your paddling flatwater a PFD with a front zip and pocket will be easy to get on, have somewhere to stick your keys or phone and will be comfortable. If you’re looking to do more paddling on the sea (you’re probably going to be out for longer & potentially be out in more rough conditions), again most people would go for a front zip style PFD but go for something with more pockets and probably higher flotation.
For white water paddling, paddlers tend to prefer over the head style PFD, these provide better moveability and a closer fit and come in a wide range of styles, many with rescue adaptations.
Whatever you go for check its ISO approved, fits correctly, and doesn’t impede your paddling. Always wear a PFD when you go on the water. Please!
The many layers
As with pretty much any outdoor activity the next thing to think about is an outer layer, this is going to block water, wind and sun. After this, base layers. These will wick sweat / water vapour away from your skin and provide insulation.
Entry level outer layers will have neoprene or Velcro wrist, neck and ankle seals. This will keep out the splashes and drips but won’t offer quite the same level of dryness if you do go for a swim.
Dry and semi dry jackets and trousers will more than often have latex gaskets on your wrists, and either latex or neoprene neck gaskets. These tight seals provide a much drier fit, and should keep your layers underneath nice and dry, they will also (normally) feature a double waist system, and when combined with a spray deck will stop most water from entering your boat. This style of jacket and trouser is popular with white water paddlers and sea kayakers who don’t want to go down the Drysuit route.
The ultimate out layer is a drysuit! Combining a jacket and trousers combined you climb in either via a chest zip or shoulder zip (other zip positions do exist but chest and shoulder are the norm!) If you’re going to be out in cold, wet, rough conditions a dry suit is the best way to stay safe and dry and happy 😊. They cost more than separates but are worth it if your serious about your sport. The fit can be tricky to get right, and considering the price, I would recommend visiting the shop to get the perfect fit.
Base layers & Rash Vests
To ensure you have a happy day out on the water getting this first layer right is key, and what your paddling, temp, weather will all dictate how many layers you wear.
On a hot day, on a calm river / lake you might be fine wearing a thin base layer, this will protect you from the sun’s UV and keep you cool with evaporative cooling.
A cooler day, on a white-water river you will probably want a base layer to keep you warm and then an outer layer to keep off the splashes.
For really cold wild weather, you might want 1 or 2 Base layers & a mid layer then dry top and trousers or drysuit. You will always want a good few insulating layers on, as a dry cag or suit on its own offer no real insulation and you’ll feel cold against your skin, it’s the base layers that will provide all the warmth and comfort and transport moisture away from your skin.
Wetsuits
Wetsuits are becoming less and less popular in kayaking and canoeing, they do however provide excellent heat retention and provide padding while in your boat and protection if you end up swimming and bumping off rocks. Their restrictive nature is however the reason people have moved away from the long John style wetsuit, if you are on a budget though they are worth considering. Or consider neoprene trousers or ¾ length leggings, these provided warmth and comfort and don’t restrict your upper body.
Footwear
Neoprene boots and shoes keep your feet warm when wet, but also provided great grip on slippery surfaces. A good set of kayak specific footwear will improve your comfort while getting in and out of your boat and if you need to walk around a hazard during the day. Kayaking shoes are also designed to stay snuggly on your foot, even if you do take a swim, you don’t want your shoes disappearing off your feet mid swim! To prevent this most neo boots, shoes have Velcro straps to lock them in place on your foot and stop your foot rotating inside them. More advanced water boots will likely be laced for a secure fit and will be made from fast drying free draining materials with super sticky soles. They will also be close fitting so as not to get wedged on the footrest of your kayak.
Hands
For most people paddling on a cold day, your hands are thing you will notice getting cold first as they are the most exposed part of your body, the three main options to keep your fingers warm are.
1) Neoprene gloves, these are good and come in a range of thicknesses, personally we would recommend something around 1.5mm thick. This will provide warmth but let you feel the paddle shaft, when holding it.
2) Neoprene mitts, now these are actually pretty good and are available with either open palm’s or closed. Closed will be warmest and being a mitt means you can move your fingers around inside them for extra warmth. The open palm version still provides excellent warmth but leaves skin contact on the paddle shaft for better control.
3) Pogies, these attach to your paddle shaft, you then put your hand in to them a hold on. Constructed from neoprene or nylon some people love these, some not so much. For some disciplines of paddle sports they do work well and are popular.
But what about when it’s hot? Blisters and burnt backs of your hands is a real issue in the summer and short or full finger summer gloves are available, constructed with lightweight flexible uppers to prevent burning, and with lightweight but padded palm protect your thumbs and fingers from blistering, by far the most popular option we sell in the shop is the NRS Boaters glove, check them here.
Head and Helmet
As most of you know in cold weather you lose a fair bit of warmth through your head, and if you’re not paddling anything to exciting or extreme and nice beanie or cap will lock in the warmth and keep the wind out. If you are planning on doing some white water paddling or going out on the ocean there many neoprene beanie’s available, these keep your head very warm, they are also designed to cover your ears and stop water flushing in and out of your ears in the in the event of a capsize. If there is the possibility of knocking your head on rocks, if you capsize then there is also crash helmets to consider these provided excellent all-round protection from rocks or hard surfaces and again provided protection from sun or cold, helmets are important! And rather than rush through them we will cover them in depth in another article.
Many peoples first encounter with kayaking is on a sunny summer day, but as you spend more time in your kayak or canoe you will quickly realize it’s a fantastic year-round sport and with the correct clothing and a few specific accessories there’s never really a day you need not be afloat!
