When talking about paddling, you’ll often hear the phrase, “rig to flip, dress to swim.” What this means is that you should be prepared for a swim no matter the conditions. The shock of falling into cold water on a hot day can cause injury, so it’s smart to be wearing clothing that will at least keep your core warm if you fall in. The key to being properly dressed for paddling, as for all outdoors pursuits, is layering. (Note: This post includes some affiliate links, which means we might get a commission if you buy something—but at no additional cost to you.)
River outerwear
On most days, if you’re paddling an inflatable kayak (IK) or a stand-up paddleboard (SUP), you’ll likely want a waterproof outer layer. I find that wearing a splash jacket even on hot days helps me paddle more aggressively and avoid cringing away from the waves. And of course, if it’s raining or chilly, keeping dry is the easiest way to stay warm.
For really cold water or winter paddling, you’ll want dry gear designed to keep all water out of your outfit. (Check out this post about our Thanksgiving float on the Colorado River through Ruby-Horsethief Canyon for more tips on gearing up for a cold river trip.) A full drysuit is expensive, but if you want to be totally dry, it’s the way to go. I have a Level Six Freya drysuit that I’ve worn for several big-water, splashy day trips and overnights. I’ve been very happy with it. If you go the drysuit route, note that there’s no real way to cool off on warm days, and it’s much more cumbersome to paddle in a drysuit than in splash gear, so evaluate the conditions each day.
Michele has a Stohlquist dry top and Kokotat dry pants. It appears Stohlquist has stopped manufacturing drywear, so we can’t recommend an exact product, but the usual suspects all make dry tops: Kokotat, NRS, and Level Six are my choices. Look for a splash jacket that has Velcro tabs at the neck and wrists so you can get a snug fit. Skip pockets on the front, as those will be covered by your life jacket anyway.
For slightly warmer trips, and more flexibility getting in and out of gear, you’ll want splash gear. Splash gear won’t keep you totally dry, but it cuts the wind and keeps you from getting too wet in waves. It’s nice to have a hood on your splash jacket, so it can double as rain (or hail!) protection when you get to camp. We have a motley assortment of splash gear—we tend to buy more when we see it on sale—but mostly we use NRS splash tops and splash pants.
Insulation on the river
If you’re wearing a drysuit, you can just wear regular base layers underneath. Fleece, Patagonia Capilene, polypropylene, or wool will all work—unless you’re really unlucky, your insulating layer won’t be getting wet.
If you’re wearing splash gear, or if it’s warm enough to go without waterproof layers at all, you’ll want neoprene to keep you warm even when you’re wet. We like our NRS Hydroskin tops and pants, although I’ll point out that the waistband of the pants tends to ride down if you have wider hips. (It looks like the newest version of these have been restyled to be cut higher in the back, yoga-style, for more coverage when you kneel or squat.) I bought high-waisted swimsuit bottoms to wear underneath. You can also go for a one-piece wetsuit, but we like the versatility of the two-piece approach. To keep your feet warm, you can buy neoprene socks as well (more about footgear to come).
Sun protection
When it’s really hot and you’re on a trip with little whitewater, the last thing you want is to be bundled up in neoprene and Gore-Tex. That’s when you need sun protection. You can rely on sunscreen, but it’s difficult to remember to re-apply, the chemical version is bad for the river ecosystem, and it tends to get rubbed off as you paddle.
Instead, we like to wear UPF tops and pants. My favorite top is from Patagonia—I like the hood and the zip pocket—but dozens of companies make these and you might already have a few in your drawer if you run or bicycle.
As for pants, I look for a comfortable waistband, few doodads to get caught in your boat, and zipper pockets for lip balm, as well a quick-dry moisture-wicking fabric and sun protection. We like these, by Royal Robbins, but again, there are many options. I see many people running rivers in running tights or leggings, which is another good way to go.
Paddling footwear
Paddlers are split on the question of whether to wear sandals or shoes, and the answer often depends on the conditions. For sandy, sunny rivers I prefer to wear Chaco or Teva sandals, which allow my feet to dry out and are comfortable for long days. Get sandals with secure strap patterns, including heel straps, in case you encounter mud.
However, if I know I’ll be scrambling around on rocks to scout rapids, or if I’m wearing neoprene socks, I prefer to wear shoes for protection. An old pair of tennis shoes will work, but you get a grippier sole by going for Astrals. (Michele also wears her Astrals on hot desert trips to protect the tops of her feet from sunburn, with the reasoning that it’s easier to wear shoes than to keep re-applying sunscreen to your feet.)
style is similar)
If the weather’s chilly and the water cold, I layer up on my feet, too. Over my drysuit socks, I wear a pair of cheap dive booties a size up from my regular size. It’s important to protect your drysuit socks from rocks and grit, and the dive booties are tall enough to stop sand from going down into your shoes. (These NRS Paddle Wetshoes would do the trick too, as they also have a high profile.)
River-ready for anything
With a little experimentation, you’ll find the right combination of clothes for the type of paddling you do. When you find a piece of clothing you particularly love, tell a friend. River apparel can be expensive, so it helps to have your paddling buddies steer you in the right direction. In a future post, I’ll talk about how to find affordable paddling gear.
Do you have river clothes you’re particularly fond of? Drop us a comment.
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