If you are an active stand up paddle boarder, it is important to keep yourself fit in the off season, but with that being said you must also make sure that you are dressed appropriately when diving into frigid waters.
The great thing about stand up paddle boarding is the fact that you don’t always have to get wet, but that’s not to say that you won’t. In cold weather or cold water, the need for immersion protection increases. Your choices are wetsuits, dry suits and new to the market, hybrid suits.
Wetsuits
Wetsuits are made of tight fitting neoprene and are designed to trap a thin layer of water next to your skin, where it is warmed by your body. The neoprene minimizes evaporative cooling so you remain comfortable when you are out of the water. There are different degrees of thickness when talking about wetsuits, and factors such as temperature and desired flexibility will determine what suit you choose. The different numbers assigned to wetsuits represent the thickness of the neoprene from which the wetsuit is made. The thickest option is usually too bulky and restrictive for paddlers and is more commonly used by surfers and divers. Most paddlers opt for a 2/3mm or 4/3mm.
Drysuits
Another option to look into is a dry suit. Whereas wetsuits function by getting wet and then trapping a thin layer of water to your body that heats up and keeps you warm, dry suits were designed to prevent water from entering completely. They normally provide better insulation, which ideally makes them better for cold water. Just keep in mind that dry suits are more difficult to put on and generally more expensive. There is also one other suit to consider, the hybrid suit, which combines the features of both wetsuits and dry suits. They have characteristics of the wetsuit such as neoprene, or (synthetic rubber) along with the membrane used for dry suits.
Winter brings its challenges when figuring out how to dress appropriately and it may take you a few tries to find the perfect suit. Ultimately, the decision is up to you and the bottom line is that the suit is comfortable enough for you to enjoy some waves!
