Winter Kayaking Tips

108

The colder months can be a great time to get out on the water and kayak. However, if you’re not prepared for the cold weather, it can be a very unpleasant experience. In this blog post, we will give you some tips on how to stay warm while kayaking in winter. Keep reading to learn more!

1. Dress With Layers

When kayaking in the colder months, it’s much easier to add layers of warmth than to take them off when you are becoming too warm. You should start out with a base layer that will wick away moisture and trap heat close to your body. A fleece or wool sweater is a good choice for this. The next layer should be an insulating layer such as a down jacket or synthetic puff jacket. It should be big enough to fit over the first layer of clothing but still allow ease of movement. You can also wear more than one insulating layer if necessary; top it all off with a windproof and waterproof outer shell and you’re ready for action!

2: Stay Dry

This may seem like an obvious tip, but it’s very important and easy to overlook: you need to stay dry. Little droplets of water on your skin can soak through even the best insulating layer and become ice cold very quickly. Wear a waterproof jacket or wetsuit so that you won’t get wet from the inside due to sweat or rain, no matter how hard you paddle. You should also consider wearing booties or neoprene socks so that if we do get wet we will still have some level of insulation between our feet and the cooler water temperatures.

3: Watch Your Paddling Technique

This is only relevant for kayakers, not canoeists. Kayakers must learn to be efficient with their in order to avoid overheating on the inside and freezing their hands and feet. Make sure you keep your strokes nice and low, especially when powering through choppy water or whitewater. The faster you go, the more energy is lost to friction and turbulence instead of propelling you forward. If you’re going to be in cold conditions for a long time, make sure to take breaks every few hours; this will allow your body temperature to return to normal despite any wicking layers we may have been wearing after getting out of the water.

4: Don’t Get Too Comfortable

It can be tempting once arriving at your destination (be it a beach or rocky shore) remove our outer shell and gloves so we can feel warm air on our skin again. This is a very bad idea and can lead to deadly consequences if we stay out in the elements for too long. If your paddling trip is over and you’re taking a break, it’s important to keep wearing your insulating layers and outer shell so that you lose any heat from your muscles as little as possible. The colder it is outside, the easier it will be to become hypothermic if you stop moving.

5: Keep Your Paddling Gear In Shape

Lastly, make sure all of our equipment is ready for winter weather before arriving at our destination. Our boat should have no cracks or holes where water could seep through; check carefully underneath the flotation deck rigging and the cockpit coaming/seating area. You should also check the condition of our spray skirts, especially if they are made of neoprene. Your paddle should have a blade leash attached to your PFD or life jacket that will keep it from getting away in fast water or whitewater. It’s also good to keep an extra paddle on board just in case something happens to one of them during your trip. Make sure all of your gear is fully functional before hitting the water!

6. Watch For Ice

If you do find yourself winter camping or even day tripping in cold weather, watch out for ice buildup on the surface of the water. If there is any sort of current, currents will pull loose chunks of ice downriver so stay away from areas near the shore where there is a lot of floating ice. It can be extremely dangerous to try and tackle cold weather kayaking by yourself so make sure you’re prepared before hitting the water!

7. Keep Your Paddlers Warm

It’s important to dress in layers that will trap as much warmth as possible between each one. This way, we won’t lose heat from our bodies unless we do something like removing an outer layer for travel or pulling our hands out of our gloves to untie a knot. We should also keep any loose ends tucked away and covered if it’s too bulky and allows heat to escape easily. By doing this, we’ll be able to stay dry no matter how windy it outside!