What To Wear When Kayaking And Canoeing – Summer & Winter Clothing Tips
Kayak Clothing: What to wear when kayaking and Canoeing summer?
Choosing the right kayaking clothes has a big influence on your experience. The choice Top 6 mistakes to avoid on your kayak excursionsof clothing is therefore important for kayakers. In this guide, we discuss the different approaches to clothing for kayaking. After reading this book, you will know what kind of clothes you should wear while kayaking. Don’t let your kayaking trip be ruined by the wrong gear and instead put your money on the right clothes.
Video: Get Dressed Up For Kayaking
What to wear kayaking in the summer
You should plan to get wet if you are going out on a kayak. Even on the most beautiful summer day, you will get wet while kayaking. The water will paddle off on you. You will inevitably splash yourself or be splashed by one of your friends. The water will find its way to your kayak and under your seat so you probably have a wet butt too. All your clothes should be comfortable and dry quickly when wet.
We now know the details of what items you should wear and bring with you when you first go out kayaking. Watch the video below for a quick guide on what to wear to kayaking in the summer.
Kayak Clothing – A Matter of External Circumstances
Weather, wind, air, and water temperature all have an influence on the right gear for your next kayaking trip. The water temperature should always be caught into account. Even for experienced paddlers, there can be an unplanned stream if you’re not happy.
In this case, it is important to be prepared. No one wants to get back into the boat shaking with cold and come home soaked in a kayak. Before you go on tour, take a look at the weather forecast. Applications or websites that offer up-to-date satellite imagery are the best choices. This way you can get an exact idea of where you are going to be paddling. With the numbers and the weather forecast in your head, you can decide how to dress.
Well dressed for different areas of use
Kayaking is a very varied sport. Amateur paddlers may want to go to the nearby lake every two or three weekends and hike the small canals. In fact, water sports offer a lot more than most kayakers.
Experienced paddlers can take multi-day trips with overnight stays in tents, snorkel in whitewater, go fishing, or aim for top speeds with the right kayaks.
When buying a kayak, the area of use is important. Beginners, for example, like to trust all-rounders, as these boats can be used for a wide variety of purposes.
For whitewater guides, the equipment required is different from that required for recreational excursions on the lake. In addition to kayaking, clothing should also be appropriate for the area of use.
Lake, canals, and calm rivers
If you are traveling in calm waters, you hardly need to pay attention to anything else. Kayak clothes for calm lakes should only be adapted to the wind and the outside temperature. However, the danger of capsizing should always be taken into account. Even in calm water, an unsuccessful maneuver can land quickly in cool, moist water.
If you are kayaking on a nearby lake in winter, you will need appropriate clothing. At this time of year, a wetsuit or drysuit would be appropriate for kayaking.
Oceans
Conditions on seas and large lakes vary from day to day and month to month. Some waters are rough at all times and impassable for kayaks, while others are always calm but can become very uncomfortable at times.
Before kayaking in the sea or in coastal waters, it is mandatory to check the weather forecast. It is important to know the temperature of the water before setting off. In sea kayaking, you quickly find yourself tempted to wear too much clothing.
However, adjusting your clothes to the temperature of the air and water does not mean wearing enough clothes so that they do not freeze. In fact, this means that water sports enthusiasts should wear just enough clothing to avoid freezing or sweating.
When kayaking, there is always the danger of getting soaked. No one leaves with the intention of falling into the water during the turn. Nevertheless, the luck is still there. So be prepared for the water temperature. Plus, it’s always easier to take off a few layers of clothing rather than putting on shirts that pop out of nowhere once you’re sitting in the middle of the lake.
Living Water
Daring people who dive in rapids and white water should be prepared to splash the water. All kayakers get wet in white water. In addition to splashing water, which can hardly be avoided, there is also a high risk of falling into the water and having to do an Eskimo roll.
Even if you are in white water, you must take the temperature of the water into account. Foaming white water is not always cold. Carrying too many layers is not a good idea during the physical exertion required to maneuver in white water.
What to wear for a day of kayaking in summer
The kayak brings many benefits for those who decide to practice this sport. However, there is the knowledge that must be borne in mind, such as what clothes to wear to kayak in summer.
One of those benefits is to relax the mind, meditate, and thus overcome any stressful situation, but it is also ideal for exercising the body and having good physical health.
But for that to be possible it is important that precautions are taken that can make the difference between kayaking and enjoying it or kayaking and suffering it.
The climatic conditions in themselves are not negative for kayaking, any time of the year is ideal.
What can be negative is not having the accessories, materials, resources, tools, and even the right clothes to kayak successfully, that is, to enjoy it.
In this post, we will help you to know what clothes to wear to kayak in the hottest time of the year, in the summer.
In addition to clothing, it is important to consider some must-have materials in summer, but let’s start with clothes.
Not sure what to wear to kayak on a summer day?
Don’t worry because we are going to help you with the clothes.
The truth is that the recommendations are basic but very necessary, so take note of what clothes to wear in summer to prevent your body from fatigue or to avoid suffering consequences from inclement weather in summer.
The kayak brings many benefits for those who decide to practice this sport. However, there is the knowledge that must be borne in mind, such as what clothes to wear to kayak in summer.
One of those benefits is to relax the mind, meditate, and thus overcome any stressful situation, but it is also ideal for exercising the body and having good physical health.
But for that to be possible it is important that precautions are taken that can make the difference between kayaking and enjoying it or kayaking and suffering it.
The climatic conditions in themselves are not negative for kayaking, any time of the year is ideal.
What can be negative is not having the accessories, materials, resources, tools, and even the right clothes to kayak successfully, that is, to enjoy it.
In this post, we will help you to know what clothes to wear to kayak in the hottest time of the year, in the summer.
In addition to clothing, it is important to consider some must-have materials in summer, but let’s start with clothes.
# 1: Don’t put down your glasses.
Goggles with approved glass are the most convenient to wear on a kayak day in summer.
That way you will protect your eyes from the sun, and you can dim the light, making your navigation vision not forced. This way you will have more limpidity.
# 2: Between what clothes to wear, it is also important to wear a hat.
Protecting your eyes is essential, but you must also cover your face from UV rays.
That is why we recommend that you wear hats with large brims in summer, so you can have a more pleasant and even productive day of kayaking.
# 3: A must: long-sleeved shirts.
With long-sleeved shirts, you can protect:
- Chest.
- Shoulders.
- Arms.
- Backs.
This way you will avoid the consequences of solar radiation. In the same way, do not forget to apply sun protection before dressing.
It is recommended that long-sleeved shirts for kayaking in summer are made of fresh and light fabric. This is how the breeze will pass through your shirt and you will be able to refresh your body.
You can consider buying one of the so-called smart shirts, which are the ones that adapt to all types of weather and conditions.
# 4: The waterproof shoes.
With good shoes, resistant to water and warm temperatures, they will help you keep your feet sufficiently protected.
You will take care of them from the sun’s rays and intense heat. You will prevent them from getting damp from the water, thus protecting you from fungi and colds.
# 5: Gloves.
Finally, keep in mind the anti-slip gloves, which will help you not slip because of the water, so in each stroke, you will maintain your balance.
In addition to what clothes to wear, consider the equipment
Finally, not only do clothes matter in summer, but you also need to take into account certain essential elements in your equipment.
In fact, regardless of the time of year you should take precautions with your equipment, but especially in summer, do not forget:
- A kit that includes:
- Peroxide.
- Adhesives.
- Band-aids.
- Tablets for dizziness.
- Headache pills.
- Alcohol.
- Gauze.
- Also keep a little vinegar in mind, which will help to lower your body temperature.
- Enough water to hydrate you.
- Spare clothes.
With these items in your gear, you will be sure to have a good day kayaking, even in summer.
So follow our tips and enjoy your kayak day.
The right kayak clothes: what to wear
At water temperatures below 15 ° C, it is recommended to wear a neoprene suit or drysuit. Under a neoprene suit, only short underwear is worn, while under a dry suit, the clothes work on the onion principle.
Several layers are drawn on top of each other to trap air in the interstices. Like neoprene wetsuits, closed water is warmed by the body and becomes a protective shield against the cold, dry wetsuits work. The top layer – the dry suit itself – forms a waterproof layer that doesn’t let in moisture.
At low temperatures, you can put a fleece jacket under the drysuit. Fleece clothes are good because they keep you warm and dry quickly.
The feet should not be neglected when dressing according to the bunion principle. Neoprene socks or shoes are a good choice. If you want, you can also use other synthetic materials.
Some kayakers swear by wool socks, which are arguably comfortable and keep you warm, but absorb a lot of water and don’t dry quickly.
If the water is warmer, you can choose comfortable kayak clothing which ideally doesn’t weigh too much and isn’t too hot or too cold.
Swimsuit in summer
In good summer weather, swimwear is a good choice. Swimming shorts or a bikini are certainly comfortable and do not restrict movement.
The sun’s rays should not be underestimated, specifically in summer. Put on heavy sunscreen or a long shirt. Special Active Shirts are particularly suitable because they are very light and dry faster.
The right shoes
Shoes aren’t necessarily one of the first things to think about when kayaking. However, the right shoes are very important. Barefoot kayaking should not be used for kayaking. Rocks, sharp stones underwater, and animals can quickly cause injuries to bare feet.
Normal dress and athletic shoes are reasonably suitable. If you enter the kayak directly from a jetty, you can also go on the excursion in the sport’s shoes. The big downside to these shoes, however, is that if they get wet they don’t dry as quickly.
Neoprene shoes or so-called water shoes are the best. These shoes dry quickly, provide grip even on slippery surfaces and protect against injury.
Sunscreen
Sun safeguard plays an important role in water sports at any time of the year. In cold and hot water, sun protection is essential to avoid sunburn and to safely expose yourself to the risk of skin cancer.
A long-sleeved shirt is a good start, but sunscreen with a high sun protection factor is also mandatory. A head covering is also handy for preventing sunburn.
We also recommend that you wear sunglasses. The sun’s rays are reflected off the water and quickly dazzle. For water sports, you should wear sunglasses with a lanyard, as they will not be lost if there is an unintentional waterfall.
Dry and wetsuits in winter
Kayaking in winter is a real experience. To ensure that the adventure does not turn into a dangerous trip, the right kayaking clothes are a must. Capsizing in icy waters can quickly become a danger to the life and limbs of ill-prepared paddlers. If you want to go out in the freezing cold with a kayak, you have to be dressed appropriately.
Drysuits and wetsuits are the best choices. Dry wetsuits will keep you completely dry, even if you fall into the water. In wetsuits, on the other hand, you will get wet. Suits warm up by letting a thin layer of water penetrate through the fine mesh inside the suit. The body heat then ensures that the water is warmed, protecting the body from external circumstances.
There is a rule of thumb for choosing between the two types of wetsuits: If you are okay with getting wet, you should opt for a wetsuit. If you plan to come back dry from the next tour, it is best to choose a dry suit.
Gloves
Gloves are quite simply a part of water sports. If you don’t want blebs or rubbed areas on the palms of your hands, you should put on gloves.
In winter, the hands are also hot spots where many people freeze quickly. During winter excursions or cold water trips, we recommend neoprene gloves, which keep your fingers warm and protect you from injury.
In warm weather, simple water sports gloves are a good option. If you want, you can choose fingerless models.
Spare clothes
When kayaking, during outings of several days, a bag with a change of clothes is essential. Instead of cotton, you should use artificial fabrics that dry quickly. Modern sportswear is perfect because it weighs very little, is comfortable, and dries fast. Also, take with you another waterproof and resealable bag in which you can store dirty laundry.
Safety jacket
A life jacket is mandatory for most kayakers. In an emergency, vests are real-life savers. Who wants to risk anything in a kayak?
A kayak can capsize at any time. Especially in white water or in waves, the chances are high. Beginners are less experienced in the use of sports equipment and therefore should always wear a life jacket. In winter, vests are also practical because they provide extra warmth.
When choosing a life jacket, freedom of movement plays an important role. You won’t often wear a gilet that doesn’t fit comfortably. And if a life jacket is lying around in a corner, it’s no use.
It is extremely important for kayakers to have generous space between the arm and shoulders of the life jackets. A good waistcoat is comfortable and adjustable. Before setting off on your next trip with the new life jacket, you should wear it on land for a few minutes. Paddle ashore several times to see if the lifejacket pinches at one point or another.
The life jackets have various closable pockets. Small items, such as the cell phone (in a waterproof case), keys, or sunscreen can be stored there.
Conclusion:
And it’s done. Now you are well informed. For all weather and all applications, now you know what the right kayak clothing is. Clothing that is light, comfortable, and does not restrict your movements is optimal. Preparation is the starting point for a safe kayak trip
