Paddle boarding is a global trending sport that has been continuously attracting people from all over the world. Where there’s a body of water, there are people paddle boarding on it. The beautiful thing about riding a stand up paddle board (also known as a sup board) is that it is interesting for all skill levels. You can be a beginner and take a nice and easy paddle on flat waters or you could be an expert who will ride the sup board with waves to challenge your skill. The wonderful thing about paddle boarding is that you get to be out on the water and get a workout whichever skill level you are at!
It’s also a sport you can do all year round, even in extreme weather conditions like in the cold winter. Different weather conditions require different gear for an enjoyable paddle boarding experience. There is a wide variety of gear available for sup board riders. Some choose to keep it easy and wear their swimsuit, but there may be advantages to wearing other clothing articles for specific conditions and riding styles. Sup board riders do not let the temperature impact their day out on the water. Lucky for these hardcore sup boarders, there is gear available to make potential frigid days out on the water even more enjoyable. Other than bringing with you the necessary SUP board accessories, you should also know what to wear. Below is a break down of paddle boarding tips that will help you decide what clothing to wear for your next trip out on the water:
Warm weather recommendations
1. Broad Shorts
These are highly recommended over your typical swim trunks due to the possibility of you sitting on your sup board. Wearing board shorts will help minimize any rashes on your legs from rubbing on the sup board.
2. Comfortable Bathing Suit Top
3. Head Gear
Wearing a hat, bandana, sunglasses or even a cowboy hat can be beneficial when riding in warm weather conditions. Having at least one of these options will help keep you cool and protect you from sun rays on your face and especially your eyes.
4. Life Jacket
This is an optional item to wear, but evaluate on your ability to swim and the area you will be riding in. The choice is yours to wear a life jacket, but you would always rather be safe than sorry!
Cold weather recommendations
Wet suits- A wet suit is an option for cooler waters and cooler weather. The wet suit uses a technique that holds water between your body and its material, resulting in your body heating the water around your skin. In result, the cooler water does not reach your body that is covered in the wet suit.
Dry suits- This is a more intense version of a full body suit. A dry suit does exactly what the name entails, keeps you dry. These suits trap air, not water, between your body and the material inside the suit. This is the warmest option for those who get cold easily or for the riders who are taking on more frigid temperatures.
Surf booties- Many sup riders believe that the grip from your bare feet is the most effective, but some days it is too cold to worry about this belief! On the colder days, surf booties can be a great alternative to barefoot riding.
Gloves- Waterproof gloves are available and will help increase your grip when holding the paddle. These gloves will help keep your hands warm during more frigid rides.
Life jacket- Once again, you should always consider wearing a life jacket when riding your sup board. This decision needs to be made by each rider based on their skill level and their comfort level of where they are riding. Once again, it is always better to be safe than sorry!
Paddle boarding on cold water is no picnic especially when there's wind or other weather condition that might put you in danger. So if you really plan on doing a paddling session on cold water, make sure you learn all the necessary tips for paddleboarding on cold water and pack all the necessary equipment with you.
Hopefully, these paddleboarding tips on what to wear when out on the water will provide you with helpful information guiding you to select the proper attire for your ride! The clothing you choose can make, or break, your day. Be sure to check the weather before taking your SUP out on the water and plan accordingly. If you are in need of a new board, consider brands like Goosehill, Redpaddle to get a reliable SUP for yourself. Safe riding to all of the fellow sup boarders out on the water!