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Winter paddling / What are your Palm clothing options?

In the past, if you were planning on doing any kind of watersport during the winter months you wore a wetsuit. Yes, you had a bit of choice and a wetsuit kept you warmer than if you were wearing shorts and a t-shirt! But that was it - there was no other option. But today when it comes to watersports, there are so many other clothing options, many of which are far better suited to SUP.

SUP is an unusual watersport because chances are you’ll be spending more time on the water rather than in it (with the exception of SUP surfing!) And if you do get wet it’s likely to be just an unfortunate quick dunk, a shower from above or annoying wet legs from launching.

So as well as a wetsuit what are the other clothing options for SUPing during the colder months, and when might you choose to wear them? In this feature we’re going to talk about when a traditional wetsuit might be used and also highlight some of the newest paddling gear from Palm Equipment, which we feel is particularly well suited to SUP during the winter months…

Full Length Wetsuits

Wetsuits are designed to get wet, and infact work better when they do. So although not the best choice for many drier SUP disciplines they are still well suited for SUP surfing where getting fully submerged is inevitable! Available in different thicknesses and suit lengths to suit varying water temps there is some choice. And over the years the newer neoprene used has made wetsuits more flexible. However wetsuits particularly thicker suits can still feel quite restrictive when paddling, and get very hot and sweaty if you stay dry! And despite some having windproof chest panels they still aren’t great at keeping out the wind chill, which is inevitable when standing up on a SUP. Waterproof jackets can be worn over the top of wetsuits to help keep the wind out when flat water paddling. But unless you’re planning to spend more time in the water than out, before you wrestle into a full length wetsuit maybe consider the other options!

Pros – Ideal if you’re planning to get wet (lots!)

Cons – Hot & sweaty if you remain dry / quite restrictive / not particularly windproof

When to wear – SUP surfing / White Water SUP / Shorter paddle sessions

Other Neoprene Options

Long John style wetsuits (without arms), or neoprene leggings are much less restrictive and a good alternative to a full wetsuit for other SUP disciplines. Many have a moisture wicking liner making them extremely comfortable wet or dry. The ability to choose what layers you wear on the top half means your paddling will be less restricted and you can dress accordingly to the weather and type of paddling you’re doing. Ideal for paddling in lots of conditions but not as warm as a full wetsuit if you’re planning to spent lots of time in the water!

Pros – Less restrictive than a full wetsuit / can layer up on top half

Cons – Not as warm as a full wetsuit

When to wear – General paddling / Touring & Exploring / Downwinding / Racing

Drysuits (all-in-one)

Completely opposite to wetsuits, as the name suggests, drysuits are designed to keep you dry. These all in one waterproof suits usually have latex neck and wrist gaskets with built in dry socks, so regardless of whether you get wet from above or below your body will remain totally dry in even the most extreme conditions. Much looser fitting than a wetsuit drysuits are designed with clothes to be worn underneath. What you wear under a dry suit is totally up to you however specialist underlayers are recommended to keep you at the optimum temp. Drysuits are available in different thicknesses making them more/less robust, and with many different features e.g different entry systems, with/without hood, attached dry socks and yes even specialist zips known by Palm as “bomb-doors” to allow you to go to the loo even when fully suited up! Traditional Drysuits are 100% watertight and designed to be worn with all the zips done up. So you either wear a drysuit or you don’t… there’s no half way! More light weight all in one waterproof suits sometimes known as SUP suits with adjustable neck/cuffs are also now appearing on the market – not quite as water tight as a full on drysuit but they still provide good protection from the elements.

Pros – Will keep you 100% dry even in the harshest of conditions

Cons – Difficult to remove layers

When to wear – More extreme weather conditions / Longer SUP adventures / Whitewater SUP

2 Piece Waterproofs

This is the most versatile clothing option. A separate waterproof jacket and trousers allowing you to easily remove layers, as well as mix and match types of clothing.

There are many different types of waterproof jackets and trousers available from Palm. Some jackets have wrist, & neck seals, which when worn with dry trousers with waist seals and waterproof socks act very much like a 2 piece dry suit (Atom & Zenith). Other jackets are designed to be worn as a windproof layer over a wetsuit or clothing (Vector) And other more traditional style waterproof jackets (Vantage & Atlas) are ideal for those unexpected rain showers on exploratory paddles. When combined with waterproof trousers they do a great job at keeping you dry on your board, but remember without neck/wrist/ankle seals they won’t keep you dry if you fall in.

Pros – Very versatile / Easy to take on & off

Cons – Not as waterproof as a full on dry suit

When to wear – Touring & Exploring / Everyday paddling

Layering

Whether you’re wearing an all-in-one drysuit, a 2 piece waterproof, or neoprene leggings with something on the top, it’s well worth thinking about what you wear underneath. Wearing specialist apparel will help prevent you getting hot and sweaty when paddling hard (Arun) and a chill on when you stop. And thin thermal layers (Tsangpo) will ensure you’re kept cozy and able to paddle unrestricted on even the coldest of paddling days. Onesies, leggings, longsleeve tops and gilets are all available. Wearing multiple layers gives you the option to easily add/remove them, allowing you to achieve a comfortable paddling temperature whatever the conditions.

Pros – Help achieve that optimum paddling body temperatutre

Cons – Can be quite expensive

When to wear – Under an all-in-one drysuit or 2 piece waterproofs, or paired with neoprene leggings/long john

Footwear

Having cold feet is the reason most paddlers cut their paddle session short or sometimes stop paddling altogether in winter. But with the right footwear there really is no reason why you should have to stop. There are plenty of options out there to best suit your paddling. But really they fall into 2 categories – dry and warm, or wet and warm feet! To keep your feet dry (the optimum in my opinion!) the options are inbuilt dry socks in drysuits/trousers (Atom) combined with thermal socks (Tsangpo), or seperate waterproof socks within your  water shoes (Gradient boots). Otherwise neoprene socks/booties will help keep your feet warmer when wet. If your feet are kept dry they are likely to stay warmer for longer. So for longer SUP adventures ideally you should aim to keep your feet dry. But for SUP surfing, downwinding etc… when mobility on the board is essential, neoprene booties rather than thicker soled water shoes are more appropriate.

Pros – Help prolong your paddle session

Cons – Thick soles can make you feel unstable and more detached from your board / Wet neoprene booties don’t always smell the best!

When to wear – Neoprene booties for SUP surfing, downwinding & shorter sessions / Water shoes combined with dry socks or neo socks for longer SUP Touring & Exploring or White Water SUP

Other Winter Accessories

There are lots of other clothing accessories which can also really help to make paddling during winter more enjoyable.

Keeping your hands warm and protected from the wind are essential. Palmless mitts (Talon) combined with an expensive hand warming carbon paddle(!) do a great job at this, without getting cramp as if often the case with normal gloves. PFDs, as well as helping to keep you safe and acting as an extra clothing layer are also a perfect place to warm your hands inside, and some even have fleecy hand warming pockets! (Peyto) Keeping your head covered with either a neoprene hood (Neoflex or Surf Hood/Pilot or Header Cap), or a beanie hat (Tsangpo) is a must. And a snug/neck scarf is a really handy little accessory too, as well as a dry bag containing some spare clothes/essentials. Having a quality changing robe to make the whole chilly changing experience a bit more pleasant (and giving you the option of driving straight home to jump in the hot shower!) is also well worth the money!

Specialist watersports appareal such as that from Palm, has really helped to make SUPing enjoyable all year round, even in the colder months.
But before you part with your cash think about the type of paddling you’ll mostly be doing e.g surfing or touring? And the conditions you’re most likely to be going out in e.g are you a fair weather paddler or up for a SUP whatever the weather?! Do you like to paddle hard and work up a sweat or prefer to take it easy? Also consider your paddling ability and the amount of time you’re likely to be spending in the water (remember there’s always a chance of falling in whatever your ability so be prepared in winter – even if it’s a dry bag with spare clothes in) Hopefully you’ll then find it easier to decide which of the above clothing options are best suited for you. Dress right and there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy paddling all year round.

For more information about Palm products check out the SUPboarder reviews and the Palm website.

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alessandro
alessandro
4 years ago

Hello,
underneath drysuits don’t really understand the difference between Tsangpo and Arun.
Need to prevent wet on my skin due to perspiration.
Thank you
Ale

Biff
Biff
3 years ago

Hi Supboarder, I’m a little confused as to what cold weather clothing to wear. I SUP in the sea so expect to fall in at least once during a longer paddle. Reading your article, the aim of the game is to keep dry and wear layers, so it sounds like my best option is a 2 piece dry suit. Would a 2 piece really keep me dry if I fall in? How would water not get in around the waist? Thanks and great videos by the way. Especially the touring and camping. I have just bought boards for my 2… Read more »

Paul Lawrence
Paul Lawrence
3 years ago
Reply to  Lucy Ellis

Hi Lucy. I have the atom pants and surge cag but I can’t find any information on how I should be wearing them correctly regarding the two twin waists. Can you let me know how best to combine them for maximum protection. I’m clearly wearing them wrong as the waist let’s in water when submerged.

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