What To Wear Paddle Boarding in Spring and Summer
Spring and Summer paddle boarding is amazing and is the time of year when most paddle boards are out enjoying the water... The UK weather does still dictate being prepared for changeable weather though, so if you are so in love with paddle boarding that you want to go out in ANY weather and not just when it's a baking hot summer's day.. read on for 'What to wear paddle boarding (on colder day) spring and summer days?'...
What To Wear Paddleboarding on Warmer Days
As we all know... paddle boarding is one of the best things to do... EVER! It gets us away from all our worries and allows us a to have fun in a relatively in expensive way... Paddleboarding with friends, family or even on our own sometimes is just the most incredible way to unwind...
To get out on the paddle boards in more weather types the appropriate kit definitely helps with enjoyment, whether that's clothing that gives factor 50+ sun protection on beautiful sunny days or kit that keeps us warm and dry from the elements when its low wind perfect paddleboarding weather but not the driest...
When looking for SUP specific kit, there are a few things to look out for! Really stretchy neoprene is comfortable to wear, more breathable and fits the body’s curves with enough stretch to still allow movement. It keeps the rider warm but not overly hot and if the rider does accidentally fall, the neoprene will be good enough quality to effectively allow the water that is trapped between the skin and the neoprene to warm up and warm the rider (this is how neoprene works).
At SUP inflatables we prefer NOT to see paddle boarders in full-sleeve wetsuits (unless they are SUPsurfing of course). When someone has gone to the effort of buying a premium paddle board that's going to keep them enjoying paddle boarding on top of the water, it's a good idea that the paddle boarding clothes match the expectations. The paddle boarding clothes have to keep the paddle boarder dry and warm if they do accidentally fall in but the clothes ideally should also be really comfortable and breathable so the rider doesn't get overly hot as the likelihood is that the kit won't get wet at all. The clothes should also be designed to allow reach which will allow the rider to paddle with less arm fatigue and allow for the clothing to be designed so its long enough to cover backs and stomachs when the rider is fully stretched, the clothes should allow for warm and legs dry too!
We feel SUP-specific clothing technology becomes especially important when riders are moving away from half an hour of beach fun and moving towards and venturing into longer distance paddling, as the clothing is now also a part of safety and staying warm and dry if the weather changes or if the rider falls in a distance away from the dry kit.
How does a consumer know that the product is too cheap to work? With the onset of paddle boarding and watersports becoming more popular, cheaper manufacturing is now hard to miss with a Google search but unfortunately, cheaper materials, especially neoprene, have little or no stretch capabilities when its made cheaply, making it uncomfortable to wear, ill-fitting and therefore it doesn't work too well when it gets wet, defeating the whole point of wearing it in the water.
When looking for SUP specific kit, there are a few things to look out for! Really stretchy neoprene is comfortable to wear, breathable and fits the body’s curves with enough stretch to still allow movement. It keeps the rider warm but not overly hot and if the rider does accidentally fall in, the neoprene technology will kick in, and keep the rider warm. (Neoprene works by effectively trapping water between the skin and the neoprene, the water warms up which then keeps the rider warm). Other options for paddle boarding in spring and summer other than neoprene, depending on the weather, is fabrics with sun protection in it, this kit is amazing for hot summer days. If you're wanting to paddle where the water is still pretty cold 2 piece dry suits with open necks are a great option.
Comfortable Paddle Board Clothing
Let's face it...Even in our UK Spring and Summer months a warm jacket and leggings are still very much needed for paddle boarding...
Paddleboard specific kit has been designed with longer arms, to allow for a stretch when holding the paddle, a longer back on jackets so the rider doesn’t get a cold back and bum when reaching and full zips on the front of the jackets so the rider can undo the jacket with one hand and still paddle.
SUP-specific Leggings and long John's / Jane's don’t have any reinforcement on the bum as it’s not needed and the legs are suggested to be full length rather than 3 quarter as it’s the riders’ ankles and bottom of legs that are going to be in the water or getting splashed.
Paddleboard specific wear includes jackets, long Jane or long John and long-legged leggings, warmer insulated long and short sleeve tops and quick dry 50+ tops for warmer days.
If the rider is really getting into paddling and is going out in all weathers it's a good idea to invest in a sup-specific full drysuit or 2-piece drysuit, you will only ever need one so the investment is worth it! There are only a few brands that make Paddle board-specific drysuits with the challenges being paddle reach and breathability, with the key attribute to the perfect SUP drysuit being a comfortable neck. (Paddleboard dry suit neck designs do not need to be fully airtight as the rider is needing this to be watertight against falling in and not being totally submerged all of the time)
Paddle Boarding Shoes for Summer
Even in the spring and summer feet can get cold, and if you are paddle boarding on canals, rivers or areas where there are rocks or just where it's preferable to walk in trainers rather than bare feet paddle boarding trainers can be a bit of a lifesaver!
There aren't a huge amount of brands that are doing specific paddle boarding trainers but with Red Paddle Co joining the party this year and Tropic Feel already recognising the need last year, there are now 2 brands on the market rather than non which are doing there best to fill the needs of paddleboarders and anyone who needs awesome recreation trainers that are great around water ...
Teaming the trainers with a pair of waterproof socks gives extra warmth and a cosy feel, this is especially useful on colder days and as the socks can be easily taken off interchangeable weather days are a lot easier to plan for rather than having neoprene boots that can get way too hot and sweaty when the weather starts to warm up!
The other positive to paddle board trainers are they look great in a coffee shop or pub so apres-paddleboarding becomes a lot more smoother with way less carpark changing going on and a lot more relaxing with friends.
Spring and Summer Paddle Boarding Hats
There is something about putting a hat on that makes the rest of your body feel warm, and even though we are creeping into spring and summer, popping a hat into your dry bag on those colder days,... just in case...can make the difference between feeling a little chilli or just perfect... there are some amazing choices of paddle boarding hats, with Showerpass and Swimbler being top favourites for hats that have been designed with a waterproof membrane in them, which makes these hats perfect if you get caught in a rain shower.
Keeping Hands Warm In Spring and Summer
Keeping hands warm whilst paddling is possibly as hard as keeping hands warm whilst cycling as they are in front of the rider getting the cold wind over them and they’re not really moving. This is why we called on cycling brands with waterproof gloves to help us out with the problem. Showerpass has a range of waterproof gloves (and socks) that have a waterproof membrane sandwich between the fabric allowing the product to feel super comfy but when out on the water and on a cold wet and windy day the membrane stops the wind chill and also stops your hands from getting wet if it rains. If you’re looking to keep your hands warm and if you’re paddling and expect to fall in, then this is where we suggest neoprene gloves or open palm mitts, as, even though they’re not waterproof, they are a warm option as the neoprene warms up the water between the fabric and the rider’s hands to keep the hands warm.
Paddle Board Accessories and Maintenance
Once you have all the SUP wear you need to paddle warm and dry some other great things to have with you are:
Paddle maintenance kit. Check which screw fitting your paddle takes and keep the right screwdriver or Allen key in your dry bag. Check the screws on your paddle before going out.
If paddling a long distance consider getting a ‘get home’ paddle. We have noticed with the influx of paddleboards on the water that paddleboarders may not have come from a background of outdoor activities like cycling for example, so the paddleboard rider is not used to thinking about spares for when it goes wrong. Like a cyclist travelling with a spare inner tube and pump, we feel that paddleboarders paddling longer distances should carry a spare paddle or at least paddle maintenance tools as this is the main part of the kit that is affected by wear and tear and is, of course, essential for paddling home safely.
Choosing paddleboarding clothes as a ‘plus size’ paddler
We have been working with a few key brands over the last couple of years to ensure that riders of all sizes and weights have a great choice of clothes to keep paddling through all seasons.
Our favourite brand for taller 'plus-size' paddlers is Prolimit. They offer a great selection of products with the clothing design being similar enough through the women’s and unisex/men’s range to allow all riders a legging, long jane/john, and a jacket that’s going to fit great and keep the rider warm on the water. The brand is working on extending the range to suit the growing needs of all paddlers with the range fitting up to a size women’s 22 and a men's XXXL at the moment.
Our favourite brand for shorter plus-size paddlers is Level Six. Their leggings have been designed to have the capability to be cut, meaning that shorter legs don’t end up with a bulk of fabric around the ankle. Again the women’s and unisex clothes are similar enough to be switched between so if a rider prefers a lower waistband they can choose the women’s sizing but if they prefer a higher waist they can choose the unisex size. Level six leggings have a sweaty betty type design with lovely wide deep pockets on the side, great for phones, quick pics and energy bars.
What should you do if you fall in when it’s cold?
If you fall in when the weather is cold, it’s advised to get out of any cold wet clothes and take a minute to have a warm drink and get warmed up again before carrying on. Get yourself a drybag; the Riding not Hiding 35l dry bag is a great bag for day trips and pop some spare clothes in and a flask of tea or hot chocolate. The Red Originals hot and cold bottle is a great solution if you don’t already have a flask.
If you are new to cold weather paddling, please begin slowly and cautiously. Make conservative plans. Don’t try to set speed or distance records. Prepare meticulously. Paddle with more experienced mentors. And always place safety first.
We love to chat, so if you have any questions at all about paddleboarding in Autumn and Winter, feel free to get in touch.
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