What To Wear Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP)
Lauren Collison January 16th, 2023 Posted In: Articles Tags: SUP
What to Wear When Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Now that we know what SUP is, it’s time to find out what to wear when stand up paddle boarding.
Just like most water sports, stand up paddle boarding (SUP) can be enjoyed year-round. Whether you’re skirting around the local river in summer or paddle boarding the Great Lakes in the fall, SUP is a fun and active way to get on the water. However, seasons and weather like to dictate what we wear. Not only for everyday life, but also for activities like paddle boarding. So, let’s break down what to wear when paddle boarding by season!
Stand Up Paddle Boarding Winter Wear
Ah, winter. The bite of the wind, the smell of snow, and the drop in temps that make cozy vibes a trend. While winter tends to be a time for hibernating, don’t let this cold season hold you back from safely enjoying the outdoors. The wind may have more of a chill, so keep your extremities in mind. Hypothermia is a danger to consider when stand up paddle boarding. So dress for the occasion.
Here’s what to wear stand up paddle boarding in the winter:
- A full wetsuit in the 4/3mm to 5/4mm (or thicker) range
- A jacket
- Warm and fleece lined wetsuit gloves and wetsuit boots
- A neoprene hood or warm hat (although if you fall in, we’d recommend going with the wetsuit hood)
- A base-layer
- Wetsuit or warm socks to wear under your wetsuit booties
- A drysuit
SUP in the Spring
Spring is an exciting time for nature to come back to life. Dreary views become green-filled and flowers begin to bloom. Bring on the pollen and warmer air! Depending on where you live, early spring may still carry some residual chill from winter. So dress accordingly for SUP. Winter layers may carryover to early spring, but thicknesses dwindle. The following recommendations are based on air temps of 60 to 70 degrees F.
Here’s what to wear when paddle boarding in the spring:
- Wetsuit pants or capris
- 3/2mm to 4/3mm full wetsuit
- Short sleeve wetsuit
- A wetsuit vest or long sleeve top and vest (layers, layers, layers!)
- A thin cap or hood
- 2mm to 3mm wetsuit booties
Summer, Summer, Summertime
Who doesn’t love summer? It’s warm. It’s sunny. And it’s vacation time. This is a great time to explore oceans, rivers, and lakes for their true beauty. During this season, what you wear for SUP gets pretty light. And don’t forget that the most important thing to wear is sun protection!
Summer SUP wear:
- Sunscreen
- A rashguard for even more sun protection
- Swimwear
- Wetsuit shorts
- Sunglasses
- A hat
All the Fall Things
Crisp air, pumpkin everything, cooler temps, gold and red leaves. These can only mean one thing: fall is here. So if you’re a fall SUP’er and want to experience this season as much as possible, you’ll have to dress appropriately in order to enjoy the views longer.
Here’s what to wear stand up paddle boarding in the fall:
- 3/2mm fullsuit to 4/3mm fullsuit (depending on temperatures)
- You could even get away with a short sleeve wetsuit
- A jacket
- Neoprene pants
- Long sleeve wetsuit top or wetsuit vest with a long-sleeve base layer underneath
- Wetsuit boots
- Wetsuit gloves
- Cap or neoprene hood
