Weather or not to wear a wet--or dry--suit
largely depends on the conditions you'll be paddling in. If your
kayaking excursion will be in a sub-tropical climate with warm
water, you can probably get away with wearing shorts and a light
top or jacket. On the other hand, if you'll be paddling in a
colder climate--or in water that was snow an hour before-- you'll
need to be wearing something more substantial. Any time the water
is even a few degrees colder than you're body temperature,
hypothermia is a real possibility. And your best protection
against hypothermia is a good wet suit or a dry top or dry suit.
Even if you're setting out on calm water and in
sunny weather, always dress for immersion. Always expect the
unexpected. A squall could blow in and you could be drenched in
rain. You could get belted by a rogue wave. You could reach back
for your camera and accidentally capsize. You could be forced out
of your boat to help a companion in trouble.
A wet suit is a body-moulded neoprene
sheath--usually 3mm--that is designed to trap water between your
skin and the neoprene. This layer of water, once warmed by your
body, provides an effective barrier of insulation. There are a
variety of wet suits available, from full-coverage models that
insulate the paddler from neck to ankle, to shorts and vest tops.
You can also wear a wet suit beneath other clothing, such as a
paddling jacket or dry top.
A dry suit, on the other hand, provides even
more protection against the cold. Dry tops and dry suits are
watertight and have Latex seals at the wrist, neck, and ankles.
Make sure your dry suit is large enough to fit over a PFD and
layers of insulating clothing. Also consider a dry suit that's
made of breathable fabric; these allow excess body heat to escape
through the suit, a real bonus after you've been paddling hard for
a few hours.
Got Gear?
Is that PFD of yours getting a little frayed
around the edges? Is that spray skirt springing a few leaks? Well
check out one of our featured merchants for great online deals on
kayaking accessories.
Retail sporting goods stores are great, but most
only carry a limited selection of kayaking gear, and expect to pay
the full retail price. Online merchants, on the other hand, offer
a wide selection of name-brand kayaks and paddling accessories,
and at discounted prices. And online shopping offers a convenient,
comfortable alternative to driving all over town looking for that
hard to find item.
Our featured merchants are all well-established
companies that have secure ordering systems, good warranty and
return policies, and will ship virtually anywhere in the world.
For some great deals on new kayaking gear, click
on one of the following links:
Backcountry.com
Shop Backcountry.com for a great selection
of name brand
kayaking gear, including Thule, Yakima, Wildwasser,
and others.
