Kit for Paddling

An Outdoor Gear Salesman will tell you that your kit must comprise of several layers. Today, I shall describe 4, and I shall call them: base layer, mid layer, wetsuit and outer shell. An Outdoor Gear Salesmen will also tell you all about how to spend all your money on the latest layering fabrics and how this will help you to climb mountains quicker and look good in field and trek catalogues. However, none of this matters. What is important is that you are warm and comfortable, and still have some money left for a beer.

Base Layer

Man-made fabrics are best for this as they “wick” moisture away from the skin, helping to keep you warm. Millets will sell you a pair of Peter Storm thermals for not a lot of pounds, but the more you spend the warmer you will be. Helly Hanson are very popular and relatively inexpensive. Whatever you do, don’t wear cotton next to your skin. It has a cooling effect when it’s wet, and will make you feel super chilly. So that free freshers angels t-shirt will not do. If you’re on a budget, look for t-shirts made from 100% polyester, or the lycra rash vests worn by surfers.

Mid layer

Polar fleece is the best solution to your mid layer. I’m reliably informed that you can get very cheap fleece jumpers from Matalan, and a couple of those you do you just fine in the very coldest of conditions. Drawback is, it gets quite heavy when it’s wet, so don’t pile on too much or you’ll sink. Jogging bottoms are also very good, just beware of %100 cotton ones, they’re not so hot. Hi-tech super light-weight paddling tops and trousers with designer labels on are also available from most canoe shops and are a very nice addition to your birthday present list, or there’s always your student loan. Don’t even think about wearing jeans, for watersports they have no redeeming features. When wet they will make you cold and chafe
where you don’t want chafing.

The Wetsuit

Most people wear a wetsuit of some kind when they paddle. Whilst you are dry, they keep you warm simply by being thick and rubbury and tightfitting. But it is when they are wet that they come into their own, trapping a layer of water between it and you, and then heating it up with your hot emissions, if you’ll excuse the phrase. They come in every shape and size imaginable so you’ll need to go shopping and pick which you prefer. All I will say is, avoid full upper body suits as they restrict your arm movement quite a lot, and separate bits for upper and lower body are handy as they allow
for easy bladder evacuation. There isn’t really a substitute for a wetsuit, so unless you can stand to wear layers and layers of tracksuits in winter, you’re probably going to have to buy one. There is some debate as to whether your wetsuit should go next to the skin, or on top of your base a mid layers or between the 2. I prefer the in between one, cos I’m indecisive.

The Outer Shell

Remember, sharks will only attack you if you are wet, so it’s important to keep as much water out as possible. A piece of kit known to the canoeing world as a “cag” is some very waterproof clothing, with some untrendy looking seals at the neck, wrists and waist. They keep the wind, water and cold out and I could go on all day about the many and varied designs of cags, and probably will if left unattended, but basically there are 3 types. Dry, semi-dry and splashproof. Dry cags are exactly that. They have latex seals and several layers of fabric, and keep the water well and truly out of there. They will also set you back about £80-200, but for serious winter paddling, they are essential. Semi-dry cags have neoprene seals, and fewer layers of fabric. They will do for most UK paddling from March to September and will cost about £40-70, but the good news is that the club owns several of these, so that’ll save you a few quid! Splash-proof cags are not worth the £20 they will charge you for the pleasure of owning one. Generally, our club partakes in the wetter forms of canoeing, so splashproof
isn’t really enough. Dry-trousers are also available at a hefty price from canoe shops, but if you have a pair of waterproof walking trousers, these will keep the wind off during breaks on the bank and lengthy portages.

Extras

Most of the heat you lose is from your head so it’s not a bad idea to cover it up whilst it’s submerged upside down in icy waters. Scull caps can be purchased from as little as £3 for a neoprene one, or £10-15 for a thermal one. A woolly hat will make do in the event of not living near any surf shops.

Gloves are not very popular with canoeists as many people find they reduce control of the paddle, but if you do like to wear gloves while paddling, wetsuit gloves are readily available from surf, canoe and sailing outlets. Sailing gloves tend not to be as thick as surf gloves and offer more contact with the paddle, but less warmth. Alternatively steal your mum’s marigolds, or some latex gloves from your local hospital.

Footwear

On rivers this is so very important as those rocks can be really spiky. Wetsuit boots are again very easy to get hold of. Try and get the most discrete style you are comfortable with as todays kayaks are notoriously harsh on footroom. Where them with a pair of football socks for extra luxury. Aquashoes are very cheap these days and are available at most beach/surf/scuba outlets and will suffice for less extreme paddling. Trainers will do, but may restrict the size of boat you are able to squeaze into.

The summary

This isn’t a layer of clothing, this is a much less involved version of what I have just said.

Good

Thermals/man-made fabric clothing/lycra rash vest

Fleece

Woolly things

Wetsuit trousers/shorts/longjohns

Dry/semi-dry cags

Dry trousers/waterproof walking trousers

Jogging bottoms

Wetsuit boots/trainers/aquashoes

Warm socks

Scull cap/hat

Bad

Cotton things

Very absorbant things

Jeans

Heavy shoes