Gearing up for Fall Paddling

New to shoulder season paddling?  What do you really need?  Stay warm and safe with the following recommendations and gear tips.

Fall is an exceptional time to be on the water.  The weather can be great. The sun can be gentle and still warm.  The crowds are gone and beaches are empty.  Marine wildlife abounds. A great time to be on the water and transition to the Winter season.  Yes, we paddle year round and experience the magic of winter too.  Check out our post on winter paddling too.

Booties

Start with booties. The first essential gear for all year paddling is a good pair of neoprene booties. 7mm will keep your feet warm even on the cold days. A pair of zipper boots are easy to put on and take off and usually have a durable sole for short walks to and from the beach.

Paddling Top and Pants

There are many choices for shoulder season paddling clothing.  October is Vaikobi season.  Usually similar to neoprene or “airprene”.  Vaikobi gear is made from a breathable neoprene and has a great line of technical clothing that will keep you warm.  The VCold series is very popular and is available in pants and tops.  You can find Vaikobi gear on our online store!      https://southislandsup.com/store

The most popular items for shoulder season paddling are VCold Flex Pants with a VCold Base Layer Long Sleeve shirt.  For colder days a VCold Flex Top is a great layer to wear all day or carry with you just in case.  Additional vests, jackets and rain jackets are all great additional layers to bring along and/or wear as the temperature changes.

Wetsuits

Light wetsuits (3/2) work well for shoulder season and mild winter days.  A 3/2 is a combination of thicknesses.  5mm around the core areas of your body and 4mm on the legs and arms of the suit.

Thicker wetsuits are warmer. Thinner wetsuits less warm but easier to move in.  Not all wetsuits are created equally.  Higher quality neoprene is warmer and more flexible.  Great wetsuits are available at www.coastlinessurf.com

Wetsuits work for SUP Touring and SUP Surfing too!  *Gear tip* A waterproof jacket and other layers can be worn over your wetsuit for additional warmth.

Hats

A variety of hats are a good way to help hero regulate.  Put a toque on if you are cold or a rain hat if it starts to rain. Some hats are great for sun or rain!  Always a good idea to have a few hats in your drybag for changing conditions.

Gloves

Light or no gloves are all you need for the shoulder season (>8°C)  Finding the right gloves is a personal choice.  Kind of like hats.  Bring a few glove choices along and change them out when necessary.