Paddleboarding is an exciting water activity, which is surprisingly inexpensive and easy to learn.
You can find there are not too many things that can ruin a day on your SUP. Heavy winds and rain being the two most common, yet one often overlooked, especially by individuals who are new to stand-up paddleboarding, is the clothing.
Weather can be uncertain, but you will need to prepare the right paddleboard clothing to get the best from your trip.
It doesn’t mean wearing everything from scratch; you can easily keep your gear in a dry bag.
It just means you need to prepare for the worst, and you can then be comfortable for the entire time you’re on your SUP and skimming across the water.
Here you can learn all the proper stand-up paddle clothes you ought to cover all seasons and locations across the country.
By the end of our guide, you will see you can stay warm and paddleboard at any time of the year.
What to Wear Paddle Boarding to Keep You Safe
Although it may not look cool or be the most comfortable thing to wear, don’t forget, you always have to wear a leash and a USCG-approved life jacket.
The reason for this is more than your safety, but because paddleboards are recognized as vessels by the US Coast Guard. As a result, you always need to be wearing an approved life jacket with you while paddleboarding.
Children under the age of 12 have to wear a USGC-approved personal flotation life jacket at all times.
There is one exception: if you are SUP surfing, there is no requirement for a life jacket. (Read What Do You Wear Under A Wetsuit)
Nowadays, the best option you can find is smaller life jackets that won’t cramp your style too much, although they will keep you safe.
Hot Weather Paddle Boarding Clothing
While summertime has the warmest weather, there are locations you take your stand-up paddleboard, where the weather is always on the warmer side.
When you go out on your stand-up paddleboard, you will likely take a plunge to cool off a little.
Because of this, you will need to waterproof board clothing such as a bathing suit, and short sleeve rash guard, or other water-resistant activity wear that will leave you feeling cool and comfortable on sunny days.
You tend to see the more popular summer clothing to wear paddleboarding for men is board shorts for men and swimsuits for women.
You should never forget your sunscreen, and this does need to be the waterproof variety. Sun protection is vital any time you have exposed skin, as the sun reflects off the water and can hit you more than you think.
You can wear water shoes if you desire, yet it is better to opt for bare feet for hot weather stand-up paddleboarding.
The key is to take too much because you can always shed layers once you are out on the water.
Dry bags fold up small and can be stored easily. You can keep your gear nice and dry like your other essential gear like your sun hat, sunglasses, and lightweight sweatshirt.
What Do You Wear Under a Wetsuit?
While it may not appeal to everyone, cold weather stand-up paddleboarding can be fun, and it will deliver a unique experience.
Surfing outfits won’t cut it in this climate, and falling into cold water under a specific temperature can cause significant issues.
Stand-up paddle wetsuits are essential in any weather where the temperatures are under 50-degrees. You will find that the colder the temperature, the thicker your wetsuit needs to be; however, you may find these restrictive.
If you want to remain more mobile, you can opt for a dry suit. A suit of this design works differently from a wetsuit and keeps all the water out.
When you wear wetsuits, you will wear swim trunks, and then the suit traps a thin layer of water against the skin to act as insulation and retain body heat.
Here you can find what to wear paddleboarding in colder temperatures.
50-degree weather outfits: If the water temperature is under 55 degrees, you need to be sure you have a 4/3mm wetsuit, 3mm neoprene boots, and gloves.
30-degree weather outfits: When water temperatures are under 48 degrees, you need more extreme cold weather clothing like a hooded 5/4mm wetsuit, booties, and gloves that are 5mm.
If you go colder than this, and the water temps are under 38 degrees, your hooded wetsuit needs to be 6/5mm, and your gloves and booties should be 7mm.
Paddle Board Wetsuit Alternatives
If you are new to this sport, you may have spent your time choosing the best boards, paddles, and other bits of gear.
You may decide you don’t want to commit to wet or dry suits to begin with, yet you do want to be sure you have 50-degree outfits.
Luckily, if you are out shopping, the best customer service will tell you it is possible to layer up to keep you nice and warm when it gets cooler.
Budget cool weather paddleboarding is possible. All you need to do is forget your surf outfits and wear warm base layers.
Wear long-sleeve rash guards on the upper part of your body topped with a winter jacket.
You can wear either long johns or leggings on the bottom half and top these with water-resistant pants.
Aside from this, pack your sunscreen, a hat, gloves, and not forget booties if it is too cold to be barefooted.
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