Must-Have Gear for Your Paddle Boarding Trip

By Glide SUP

Jaw-dropping! should be the experience when you roll on with the waves. Is it not? Especially when the trip is all about Paddle Boarding, certainly the choice of accessories and clothing takes the first seat. This article covers ideal options regarding attires and gears under different weather conditions for Paddle Boarding so that you surf with comfort at every step!

The Right Outfit and Gear for All Types of Weather Conditions

Nothing makes the body feel the cool more than a freezing experience while paddleboarding. A chilly atmosphere can be a definite root cause of immense strain and chaos unless you are well prepared. Dressing accurately as per the weather gives you cover from adverse conditions, simultaneously, can provide you a seamless year-round paddling.

Accessories and Gears to Bring Along During Summer Paddleboarding

Summers are a carefree season and are certainly a pleasant start for paddleboarding. The sunny weather generally pinches less when it comes to suiting up for paddleboarding. However, some items demand a certain degree of need depending upon where you are paddleboarding and the plans to execute during paddleboarding.

1. Shorts or Bathing Suits

Delightful weather provides a definite reason to water in, but either with your bathing suit or board shorts with bare feet balancing over the deck pad so that you feel every movement the board makes as you toss over the water.

It certainly will not provide any shield from the sun, wind, or anything from harming your feet. Depending upon the place, water, and weather conditions, a careful step is necessary before adding these to your attires. In a nutshell, clothing, giving a smoother experience and is breathable, properly fit for casual paddleboarding.

2. Rash Guard - A Life Saviour!

During paddleboarding, saltwater and wind can cause chafing and skin irritation. A rash guard effectively prevents such issues and provides excellent SPF protection.

Do make sure your rash guard has a close-fitting with a flatlock stitching and six-panel construction for a better fit. Wearing a short sleeve and tank top rash guard during summers should be preferred.

Below is the list of several rash guards’ materials available for paddleboarding.

Neoprene - It has a stretchable property and is well insulated, brilliant for the winter season.

Nylon/Spandex - Provides extra breathability during summers and dries quickly.

Lyrca - The stretchiest material can perfectly align with your body.

Polyester - A perfect breathable material, but sacrifices with stretchability.

Go for a neon-colored rash guard such as yellow, blue, or green for easy identification by your friends and family members.

3. Hat

Taking Hat in your wardrobe will provide you adequate protection from effects like sunburn and dehydration. Wearing a hat during paddleboarding will not only keep your head and face protected from the sun but also allow you to enjoy paddleboarding for a longer duration before you experience fatigue from sun exposure.

Wearing a hat for 15 minutes and more could significantly protect your head from flurry winds. Hence, prefer wearing a hat that has tight-fitting, should be washable, and must have a large projection so that your face remains shaded during paddleboarding.

4. Footgear

Where fishhooks or rocks are concerned, footwear becomes a must during paddleboarding to protect your feet. Interestingly, there is a variety of footwear to choose from, ranging from thin to full-blown running shoes with waterproof material.

You may paddleboard bare feet, but you might need a pair of shoes in case you wish to stroll at the beach. Blissful sunny weather often calls for barefoot walking at the shore, but you will need a pair of footwear at least during your trip in a lake or river.

5. PFDS

A personal flotation device (PFD) ensures safety during paddleboarding, as advised by the US National Coast Guard services. Interestingly the invention of a PFD came into existence because of its lightweight, unlike bulky life vests that usually drive down the outdoor vibe.

A PFD is worn around the waist and carries a CO2 cartridge. It protects by dilating the cord in a vest during an emergency. The choice to wear an ordinary life jacket or a belt pack PFD assures equal protection and buoyancy.

6. Sunscreen

Who asks for burnt skin during a sublime paddle boarding session when you can wear the guard? Wearing a hat and a shirt may leave you with adequate protection from the sun, but sunscreen is the real player against various hindrances or complications that may arrive from sun exposure. Maintaining good sun exposure habits is usually advised for a seamless SUP session.

 

Accessories and Gears to Bring Along During Spring and Winter Paddle Boarding

Often as the weather folds to the other side, the need for dressing changes simultaneously. Purposing and choosing the right wardrobe is worth keeping, which provides comfort during paddleboarding, and you will not have to compromise your joyous time during paddling. 

The selection of an ideal gear that revolves around a wetsuit or a drysuit depends upon various parameters. However, an important point to note, paddle boarding in spring or winter can be risky and advised only for experienced and trained paddlers. Paddling causally over cold water can be harmful and lethal. 

1. Wetsuit

For people with a sound experience, a wetsuit is a perfect option for guarding against cold water. A wetsuit keeps a layer of water warmed up by your body and keeps you balmy even during cold water. A subtle junction of a good wetsuit should be with neoprene booties, a hood, and gloves to give you a better paddling experience.

The thickness of the wetsuit determines the magnitude of heat in your wetsuit. There are five types of thickness alternatives available in wetsuits.

Let us delve deeper to understand widths and gears suitable for different temperatures:

 

50°F / 10°C

3 - 4mm Thick wetsuit

3mm Neoprene Booties (Thick)

Neoprene Gloves

 

30°F / -1°C

4 - 5mm Thick wetsuit with an attached hood

5mm Neoprene Booties (Thick)

Neoprene Gloves

 

10°F / -12°C Weather

5 - 6mm Thick wetsuit with an attached hood

7mm Neoprene Booties (Thick)

Neoprene Gloves

 

2. Drysuit

If you have experienced scuba diving or kayaking, then drysuits must be familiar to you. The name reveals the core meaning of the gear, which is to keep the body dry except for the hands and head. A drysuit comes with attached socks where you will need to wear a pair of shoes to get a better grip.

A drysuit will not account for keeping you insulated, so wearing clothes underneath that keeps you warm is strongly advised. The only disadvantage that backfires is that it traps some air; thus, swimming becomes difficult. In the rivers where the temperature is below 50 degrees, drysuits become the only option to keep your body warm and adequately guarded.

3. Hats & Hoods

For a carefree winter paddleboarding carrying a neoprene hood in your wardrobe can significantly reduce the chances of heat loss. Knowing that head is an integral and the most sensitive part of the body, exposure to cold water can be lethal without a hat or a hood.

 

Are Wearing Shoes Necessary During Paddleboarding?

Going barefoot can be a good option in summer, but shoes become the priority during the winter. Thick neoprene booties or shoes are necessary during cold months. If you are to paddleboard at a shallow river where rocks are present, wearing shoes is a suitable option.

Crocs - Crocs provide good ventilation and water draining ability. These shoes do not get water clogged or bulky. The flexibility these crocs provide gives an added advantage for better balance on your board.

Glove Like Water Shoes - Flexibility is what defines these glove-like water shoes that fold around each toe to provide firm flexibility. These shoes give enhanced freedom to move, although they are handsomely priced but deliver perfect performance during paddleboarding.

Advice: Exclude Street Shoes - If you do not want to get accompanied with worries and backfires, then do not waste time carrying street shoes in your wardrobe. Street shoes are bulky and can get wet more easily. There are high chances of losing balance from your board and a significant chance that rocks might be stuck inside your shoes, leaving you in a frowny situation.

 

Spectacular Add-Ons

Glorify your trip with these fantastic accessories:

Dry Bag - Carrying a waterproof dry bag will help in keeping extra clothes and items dry and protected.

Safety Whistle - Hitches often come uninvited, and that is when these whistles play a pivotal role during a contingency. Keep it since you might need to call for help.

Deck Bag - Every trip feels completed with food and drinks. A good-quality deck bag can be a great helper out on the water.

 A Rolling Backpack - A rolling iSUP backpack comes with wheels attached so you can carry your essentials without any hassle.

Water-Resistant Phone Case - Without snapshots of the SUP sessions, any trip feels dull; thus, carrying a water-resistant phone case helps to keep your phone protected from water, dust, and snow.

Paddleboard Anchor - An anchor allows your board to keep the board static without floating. Anchor proves its importance when you want to indulge in an activity without moving your paddleboard from its place.

 

Bottom Line

Make sure you don’t compromise your protection and balance for the sake of fancy attires. There is a boatload of attires to make you feel comfortable during paddleboarding. Don’t forget to bring a flashlight if you desire to paddleboard during the night. Follow these tips to experience a memorable paddling boarding trip.