What to Wear When Paddling

Whether you’re kayaking, canoeing or paddleboarding, your outfit under your PFD should be determined by the conditions you’re going to encounter: weather, water temperature, wave conditions and wind.

If it’s a sunny, pleasant day on warm waters, your outfit can be pretty simple: a swimsuit and a non-cotton synthetic shirt or rash guard are lightweight, comfortable and quick-drying, and provide sun protection along with a hat and sunglasses. Water shoes or neoprene booties will keep your feet dry.

MEN’S SWIMWEAR

MEN’S ACTIVE SHIRTS

WOMEN’S SWIMWEAR

WOMEN’S ACTIVE SHIRTS

On cooler waters, tops and bottoms made of hydroskin material (similar to a thin wetsuit) are still lightweight, but offer better protection against chilly water or weather. You should also bring a lightweight waterproof jacket if conditions are on the cool side – it’s great for protecting against wind, sun and light rain.

PADDLING CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR

MEN’S WATERPROOF JACKETS

WOMEN’S WATERPROOF JACKETS

Finally, when conditions are much colder, it’s time to consider a wetsuit or drysuit. A sleeveless “Farmer Jane” or “Farmer John” wetsuit is a good option to keep your core warm without restricting your mobility; a full-body drysuit allows you to wear a totally warm outfit underneath the suit without any worry of it getting wet.