What To Wear Kayaking In Summer – Essential Clothing Guide For 2024

Maybe shorts or a bikini are perfect for summer kayaking. Yeah, this clothing is comfortable for walking in bitch in a hot summer morning, but it is not protective for your skin in sunburn. Also, if you don’t want to feel like a soggy sponge throughout the day, wear a sleeve cotton shirt and cotton shorts.

No one can avoid getting soaked in water while kayaking. Water splashes from the paddle continuously, and somehow, water finds its way into the kayak.

Let’s see how we can deal with kayaking in the hot summer.

How To Decide What To Wear Kayaking

You should keep these points in mind while deciding what to wear when kayaking, no matter what season it is:

• If you’re going to be kayaking in cold water, you should dress accordingly.
• Don’t forget to protect yourself from the sun by dressing appropriately.
• Look for fabrics that dry quickly.
• Get dressed in something that allows you to move about comfortably.

How to Dress for Kayaking

Finding out what to wear while kayaking is not daunting. Just ensure that you follow the tips we’ve provided here.

• Don’t select clothes according to the weather and temperature of the air. Try to choose a dress that fits the temperature of the water.
• Additionally, we can wear something to protect our skin from sunburn.
• Quick-drying fabrics are the best choice for kayaking.
• You need to move your body freely for paddling, so freedom of movement is important from the clothes.
• The type of paddling is also another important thing you should know before selecting.
• Type of kayak you will be using. Sit-in or sit-on-top kayaks both need different clothing.

What to wear kayaking in summer

In the summer, select your clothing carefully. You may think the water is warm, but water temperature typically stays under 20 degrees Celsius. So, it’s not about water temperature. It’s about your perspiration during paddling under the sun, for which you may feel warm. Let’s see what you should wear during kayaking.

Synthetic Layers

Wearing a thin layer of synthetic fabrics will keep you warm and dry. Because synthetic fabrics don’t hang out with our bodies like cotton when we sweat, try to wear moisture-wicking and insulating clothing for the bottom part of your body.

Trousers

You may think that in warm weather, trousers and long sleeves are nothing but a joke. But believe me, they will effectively protect you from sunburn and overheating. Try to choose clothes that are UV-resistant, fast-drying, and well-ventilated. So, the keynotes are you’ll need to keep yourself cool, dry, and protected from sunburn.

Bathing Suit

Bathing suits are great choices for kayaking. They are suitable for getting soaked and provide the warmth that the kayaker needs. Shorts and quick-drying shirts are also great choices with a bathing suit.

Quick Drying shorts

Quick-drying shorts are essential for the bottom of your body. We have already discussed bathing suits here, but those are for boys. For broad women, shorts, running shorts, or anything synthetic that dries quickly will be suitable for a bathing suit.

RELATED: What To Wear Kayaking Women

Water Shoes

If you are riding a sit-on-top kayak, there is a huge chance of your shoes soaking in water. That’s why a water shoe or sandal works great on kayaking. Also, what shoes to wear for sit-in kayaking is a common question. For any kayaking, you should select a water scandal. Your feet will get the adequate amount of air they need in the water, and it will also help you to avoid sudden cuts off your feet from the foot braces in a kayak.

Sunglasses, A hat, and gloves

We are always told that a hat or cap protects our heads from the sun’s direct heat. It’s true. You can’t deny the little bit of kayak sunshade they give doesn’t help at all. But the problem is during kayaking; your hat can fly fishing kayak quite quickly because of the wind. So, please tie the hat up with your head, or you could use a hat lash or strap to attach it to the rest of your clothes.

Sunglasses are for both the bright sunny light of the sun and protect your eyes from sudden water splashes. Some people have disgusting sweat on their palms. So, during paddling, they feel a bit uncomfortable gripping the paddle. Gloves are a great option to prevent this problem.

Wetsuit or Drysuit

The wetsuit is a piece of clothing that offers thermal protection to your body when you are out on the water. Most divers use the wetsuit because it produces its own heat and is left to its own devices to keep you warm. It is mostly designed to keep your body’s heat underwater.

A dry suit has been made to keep you completely dry. Drysuits use vulcanized rubber, foam neoprene, heavy-duty nylon, and crushed neoprene. The insulated foam helps keep you dry from water.

Both wetsuits and dry suits are popular for kayaking. To wear a dry suit, you must wear a base layer of long underwear and an optimal layer of fleece. A wetsuit can be worn directly on the skin. For summer, a wet suit sounds suitable, but it depends entirely on the temperature of the water. The wet suit provides thin protection so that you may feel the coolness of water quite directly on your skin. But you won’t get wet.

In contrast, dry suits have different layers and a thick protection layer. It seems okay for kayaking, so a dry suit looks like an excellent option for what to wear for kayaking in cold weather.

Life jacket (no inflatable life jacket)

Comfortable PFDs (life jackets) are the second most critical item. When kayaking, it’s almost certain you’ll find yourself in the water at some point. When loading or unloading the kayak, even if you don’t flip the kayak, you may tumble out of the kayak or fall into the water.

Wearing an inflatable life jacket when kayaking should only be done when the water is calm, and there is no risk of needing a PFD. Suspender or Belt inflatable PFDs make sense since they are low-profile and pleasant to wear. If you have a PFD, you’ll be insured in the event of an accident. Auto-inflating PFDs are not recommended for use when kayaking. A fresh CO2 cartridge must be used every time the air gun is re-armed since there are too many simple ways to forget and inflate it.

Our recommended life jacket:

Onyx MoveVent Dynamic Paddle Sports Life Vest

Spray top

It’s a good idea to wear a spray shirt on colder summer days when the weather is windy and the waves are crashing. An uninsulated spray top is a thin shell jacket with an airtight neck and waist closure. They’re excellent at protecting against wind and rain. ‘ As long as the rain jacket isn’t so loose that water may readily seep up your back, it’s OK to use a generic raincoat.

Footwear

The sole purpose of footwear is to protect your toes and heels from injury. However, most individuals choose to swim in their old tennis shoes because they don’t smell bad and make it difficult to move about.

If you don’t have or want to invest in specialized Neoprene Paddling Booties, we recommend a sandal with a backstrap similar to a hiking sandal. These are also quick-drying, so your feet won’t be bothered by them. If you slip, flip-flops will be impossible to wear.

What you should avoid wearing while kayaking

We suggest you avoid wearing certain clothing for kayaking. It isn’t suitable for water, perspiration, and free movement. Let’s find them.

Cotton pants

Cotton is good at holding moisture and preparations. So, if you wear cotton pants like guarding and jeans, it means the pants will stay soaked all day long. We do not doubt that cotton pants and tops are great for comfort, but huge among sweat, they are not good at all.

Avoid Wearing Bulky Tops

Don’t wear thick and bulky clothing. Kayaking is all about hard work and continuous paddling. It becomes more challenging for a person who has worn a bulky top or coat because he/ she must put on a life jacket, which makes the shape even more cumbersome.

Thermal Hat

The thermal hat is especially for swimmers and divers. Because they stay in the water for quite a bit of time, a sufficient amount of heat goes through the head, causing us to lose our warmth. But in summer, you need to keep your body cool.

How to stay safe while kayaking in summer

1. Check the weather conditions before heading out
2. Make sure you are aware of your surroundings and know how to read the water.
3. Use the proper safety gear, including a life jacket
4. Don’t kayak alone
5. Follow the rule of thumb: If in doubt, get out
6. Be prepared to capsize and know how to get back in your kayak
7. Be cautious of obstacles in the water and take extra care when paddling near them
8. Be aware of the risks of hypothermia and take steps to avoid it
9. Keep an eye out for wildlife while kayaking

Additional Things You Should Bring for Kayaking

Clothing isn’t the only thing you should be careful about during kayaking. There are also a few things you shouldn’t forget before going kayaking. Let’s see what those additional things you should bring with you are.

Water

Yeah, water is the first thing you should bring with you. There is a guideline from the University of Michigan State about drinking water when kayaking with a baby. If you are kayaking for two hours, drink 7–10 oz of water every 10–20 minutes.

Multitool Box

We have learned from the elders and our school how important it is to carry a multitool box with you. We never know when we will need to cut loose rope or tighten any screw-in emergency.

Snacks

You’ll surely starve even if you kayak for 2 hours. Also, it would help if you had the energy to move the kayak every second. So, just like water, a couple of fruits and good healthy snacks will make the journey perfect.

Whistle

If I go to Colorado for kayaking, the first question that will come to mind is what to wear. But another important thing to wear is a whistle. Having a whistle attached to your PFD always works as a lifesaver.

Sunglasses

A good set of polarized sunglasses will help protect your eyes from sun damage. If you like your sunglasses, a strap may be a good idea to keep them attached to you. Like everything else on a kayak, they’re easily knocked off your head into the water. The costlier the sunglasses, the better it seems for them to finish up at the rock bottom of the lake.

Sunscreen

Even if it’s cloudy, you’ll be able to get still sunburned out on a kayak. The water reflects the daylight at you, giving you another chance to induce burn. The Yankee Academy of Medical Specialties recommends the following:

• Broad-spectrum protection (protects against UVA and UVB rays)
• SPF thirty or higher
• Water resistance

Pocket knife or multitool

It’s a decent plan to own a knife or multitool hooked up to your PFD or life preserver. You ne’er very understand once you’ll have to be compelled to cut one thing loose or ought to tighten a fitting on your kayak. Having the correct tool will mean distinguishing between each day curb and a full day on the water.

The importance of choosing the right clothing

1. The right clothing can make a huge difference in how you look and feel.
2. It can also affect how others perceive you.
3. Choosing the right clothing can help you be more confident and comfortable.
4. It is important to take the time to find clothing that fits well and makes you feel good.
5. You will be happier and more successful if you feel good about what you are wearing.

How to Prepare for Temperature Swings?

If you’re planning a kayaking vacation this summer, be aware that the temperature might fluctuate a lot from day to day. During the day in the highlands, temperatures may soar into the 90s, but at night, they can drop as low as the 40s.

Preparation for extreme temperature changes is critical no matter where you want to paddle throughout the summer. Take a paddle at dawn or sunset, for example. The temperature change will likely be dramatic when you’re on the lake.
Due to these temperature variations, you will need to pack additional clothing to be prepared and comfortable in your kayak. Kayak deck bags are a great way to keep your extra layers dry while out on the water.

Packing your kayak for a long-term camping trip means you’ll need a deck bag to protect your cooking and sleeping supplies from the sun and rain.
We usually pack a lightweight down jacket or windbreaker for summer paddles, even if it’s outside in the 90s.

If you’re going on a longer excursion, bring at least one full pair of dry clothing if you capsize and need to change into something warm and dry again.

FAQs

Final Thought 

What to wear kayaking in summer and what to wear kayaking in spring are both vital questions for the kayaker. The administration will give suggestions on what to wear during kayaking in any situation. But you will always need one thing, and it is water. Keeping yourself hydrated is the most important thing for kayaking.