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Fashion
What to Wear While Canoeing (Whitewater, lakes, day trips and more) – https://kembeo.com
13
Oct
Oct
The topic of what to wear while in your canoe has about as many answers as there are canoeists ! however, there are some accessories and dress that are more or less understand as the better option under a variety of conditions .
Generally, technical clothing that wicks away sweat is the best option for most types of canoeing. While in whitewater, it’s often best to wear a neoprene suit to protect from colder temperatures that will result from splashed water or a capsize.
After spending the better part of 40 years pushing a paddle through the body of water, I ’ ll offer you my insights into what hats, eyewear, shirts, pants, jackets, socks, and shoes are best under what types of conditions !
Lake Tripping in the summer
Lake Tripping is possibly the most common type of canoe excursion, and according to the Outdoor Foundation, in full 77 % of those in a canoe are out on a day tripper .
The best clothing to wear on a warm day while canoeing is a quick-dry pair or shorts or pants along with a quick-dry technical shirt and/or light jacket, while also wearing a PFD, wide-brimmed hat, polarized sunglasses, and water shoes.
What to Wear in a Canoe on a warm day (rain or sun) for a day trip
If you ’ re out for a few hours of paddle, it ’ mho often hood to know precisely what weather you ’ ll encounter. Because of this, I would powerfully suggest bringing with you, any of the items I ’ ve listed below. If you don ’ t need some of them, you may need them if the weather changes or you get wet, so it ’ s a good theme to bring a dry bag ( 10L is adequate ) for the extra items .
Here I am with my Technical T-shirt (wicking) and wicking shorts. I’m wearing a camping cap that has built-in LED lights in the brim so there’s no need for a headlamp in the dark.
- Wide-brimmed hat OR baseball cap (but if you wear a baseball cap and have short hair, be sure to add sunscreen to the top of your ears.
- Polarized sunglasses (be sure they have UVA and UVB protection – which most do)
- Technical T-shirt made of a synthetic material like Nike’s “Dri-FIT” sweat-wicking material
- Windbreaker jacket OR rain jacket (which also doubles as a windbreaker)*
- Quick-dry shorts or hiking pants (the best contain a mix of Polyamide and Elastane)
- Water shoes (can be sandals or even Croc-style footwear for a few hours on the water)
* note : rain Jackets are typically made from a proprietorship blend of materials that differs with each manufacturer. Columbia uses a material called Omni-Tech™, while Gore-Tex is another effective substantial that allows some degree of moisture to escape from your skin, while keeping rain out. Helly Hansen has a corporeal they call HELLY TECH®, which is a mix of Polyester and Polyamide .
Less expensive jackets are made with a thin layer of polyethylene. They are very waterproof but they may increase your sweat memory so that you may feel dampen inside your jacket even though rain is not making you wet .
What to Wear in a Canoe on a Colder Day Trip
Chilly days require a importantly different bent of clothes, and after many years of practical experience, and many hours of research, here ’ mho my best list of items you should have in a perfective scenario .
Please eminence that fair because you don ’ t have all ( or even most ) of these items, that does not mean you should give up on paddle or take out a loan to buy gear. Use what you have and be creative, smart, and cautious !
- Toque or other warm hat (depending on how much hair you have, it may be a good time to hang up the baseball cap or Tilley hat, and get a light winter hat or tactical beanie.
- Technical T-shirt
- Fleece pull-over
- Windbreaker or rain jacket
- Merino wool or water-resistant trekking pants (usually made of Nylon and Elastane)
- Merino wool socks
- Hiking shoes or even running shoes like Salomon trail running shoes
Be sure your PFD can fit comfortably either inside or outside of any shirt or jacket you ’ re wear. Most lifejackets are reasonably comfortable ( if they are made for paddling ) but the one I use, makes me feel as though I ’ megabyte not wearing a lifejacket at all !
This is my standard toddle PFD ( made by Onyx ), and I use it because it feels about non-existent, AND I rarely fall in the water system ( good, never actually … by accident ), so the necessitate to re-charge the ostentation case shot is not an exit .
Don ’ metric ton forget the humble dry bag that can keep your extra items dry in case you need them during your day stumble .
What to Wear on a Summer Canoe Camping Trip
here ’ s where I can offer you the most insight that is based on personal know. many items of clothe will be common to a number of different canoeing scenarios but that ’ s to be expected. here ’ s a list of what I would suggest ( and why ) equally well as the items I would bring in my dry bag .
Here’s a typical set of clothes I would wear on a Summer (but not warm) day. I have polarized sunglasses, an inflatable PFD, a fleece pullover (sweater), quick-dry pants with lowers zipped off, and my Keen hiking/water shoes.
1– Wide-brimmed hat with some rigidity
A hat like the Tilley Airflo will provide you with a significant piece of headgear that can take fart without losing its determine or having the brim flip up in a strong gust. It is besides designed for public discussion in the heat of Summer .
The wide brim protects your nose, lips, and ears from sunburn damage and some Tilley hats have repositing for a minor document inside the hat itself .
2 – Polarized Sunglasses with retainer lanyard or strap
Sunglasses are often the end thing canoeists think about when pack, and if a canoeist remembers a pair, it will normally be any old pair used for driving, etc .
I suggest you take this slice of gear badly since bright sun will be reflected off the surface of the water and into your eyes all day hanker. This can lead to serious migraine headaches ( at least for me ) .
I prefer polarize lenses since they are normally UVA and UVB insubordinate, and they make the environment look even more idyllic than it truly is ! Don ’ t believe me ? Try a pair. The sky looks blue, the trees and grass look green, AND the glare on the water ’ mho airfoil is minimized so you can actually see beneath the surface .
3 – Sweat-wicking T-shirt or two, along with a pair of convertible cargo shorts that are also quick-dry and sweat-wicking
I own several pairs of convertible outdoor pants made of thin nylon that is quick-drying. The legs fair above the knees can be unzip and removed promptly and easily, leaving you with a couple of shorts.
alternatively, you can have branch shorts and pants made of semi-stretchy, moisture-wicking, and quick-dry material .
Shirts are like. technical foul T-shirts made with wicking fabric ( Nylon with Elastane, etc. ) are the arrant shirt or ( if it gets chilly ) base layer with another long-sleeved shirt of the same material on top .
On a week-long trip, I ’ ll bring 2 T-shirts ( I ’ ll wash them if necessary ) and 1 or 2 technical long-sleeved pullovers .
I would besides suggest ( if you have board ) it might be good to bring a overcharge shirt for comfort at camp and to have as a backing if the temperatures drop importantly during the night .
4 – Windbreaker shell (jacket) AND a rain-proof jacket with hood
I ’ m a big fan of keeping ardent and dry, so I bring a Columbia jacket that is a perfect parka. It is not insulated but it is made of multiple layers and will repel a minimal amount of body of water. It lets my skin breathe and will not cause me to perspire without allowing the fret to escape .
I besides bring a polyethylene rain crown that looks precisely like a parka. If it ’ sulfur raining hard and I ’ m on the water, I can keep by and large dry adenine long as I don ’ triiodothyronine wear it for a fully day and do lots of arduous action .
5 – Rain-proof Pants
I own a pair of Nylon rain pants from Coleman that work reasonably well. They have a polyethylene line which makes them impervious to water. When coupled with my rain jacket, my whole body stays dry EXCEPT my feet which are normally in a copulate of Keen sandals ( closed-toe ) .
I can deal with wet feet in Summer conditions because they are easy to warm by a fuel, and only my shoes are wet rather of all my dress .
On a rainy day, I would wear a wide-brim hat or baseball cap with a rain-proof jacket (with hood to pull over my hat). I also wear waterproof pants (my jacket is from Chinook, and my pants are from Coleman)
6 – Merino Wool Socks or Neoprene water socks
Merino wool socks offer something that cotton/polyester socks can ’ metric ton. They are moisture-wicking, warm even when wet and they dry promptly. unfortunately, they are quite expensive. This is one item of dress you can add to your canoeing wardrobe over prison term as your budget allows .
A budget option that I don ’ thymine own but am curious about is a pair of water socks that come in lots of “ flavors ”. Some are made of neoprene and can protect your feet even without shoes. They aren ’ metric ton waterproof, but your feet are protected from cold urine and abrasions .
other sock options come with a waterproof liner and you can wear them with sandals while hush keeping your feet dry .
true, I do not have experience with every option available, but if your time and budget allow, it could be worth it to experiment with some options other than no socks or wool socks .
I normally bring 3 or 4 pairs on a trip ( not all wool, unfortunately – no budget for that ! )
7 – Sandals and Hiking Shoes
Footwear options vary greatly, and I ’ thousand not opposed to a good pair of trail run shoes if you plan on portaging quite a morsel. however, with my specify budget, I bring only 2 pairs of shoes ( plus I hate carrying more than I need to ) .
My main shoes for a Summer trip is a match of Keen Drift Creek Closed-Toe Water Shoe Sandals. They ’ re hood, comfortable for long portages, protect my feet pretty well and the rubberize sole won ’ t slip on the rocks .
The bad part is that they are expensive. I found mine at a thrift storehouse ( Value Village ).
I besides bring a match of hiking shoes ( I besides have Scarpa hiking boots ) for cooler weather and besides for camp manipulation if my sandals are soaked .
Lake Tripping in Colder Weather
Colder weather canoe trips require a bit of a specify gearing list specially as it relates to dress. The dynamics of dealing with a capsize in cold weather is much different than warm weather .
In warm weather, you ’ ll be able to swim to shore in a bathe suit and make a fire ( or flush good spread things out on outdoors rocky areas and expect for the sunlight to dry you and your gear .
In cold weather, you could actually get frostbite, hypothermia or worse ! As such, my list of cold weather clothe is significantly modified from Summer canoe trips .
1 – Warm hat like a beanie or toque
A winter skiing beanie meets the description of the perfect aplomb upwind paddling headdress. The tight the knit the better and better distillery to have a lining of Polyester inside to actually cut down on wind instrument penetration.
Beanies besides offer a perfect night sleeping aid therefore your head won ’ t pay back cold .
2 – Warm Neck Gaiter
A neck spat can sometimes be used in hot weather to cool you down by wetting it, but if you don ’ thymine add water or you buy a fleece spat, it can be used like a cool-looking and functional scarf joint by protecting your neck from digress breezes and crosswinds in cool weather
3 – Base Layer of Technical T-Shirt with Fleece Pullover
For a shirt, I ’ five hundred suggest the standard quick-dry and moisture-wicking synthetic fabric shirt next to your bark. If you have the cash, PLEASE get a Merino Wool free-base layer !
then, I ’ five hundred add another level of the lapp but with long sleeves OR a heavy sheepskin perspirer. This may be all that is needed on many spring and Fall days through most of the Northern U.S. and most of inhabited Canada .
4 – Lined Windbreaker or light Winter Puffy Jacket
Any Winter coat would work for heat, but you ’ ll want a jacket that is not excessively bulky and big ( which can be a dangerous hazard if you end up in the water ) .
I own several Columbia jackets that are basically windbreakers until you add the zip-in trace, after which the liner turns it into a functional Winter coat .
A gusty jacket is nice since it works like a very effective parka while at the lapp time, it ’ south unaccented enough to feel like you ’ re not even wearing it .
5 – Paddling Gloves
We suggest paddling gloves all year retentive, but specially during Autumn and Spring. While they don ’ metric ton cover your fingertips, they do offer some level of warmth over no gloves at all .
Another capital choice for entirely cold upwind is a neoprene boxing glove mean for water sports .
The paddle gloves, of course, are meant to help your bag on the paddle shaft, and they besides help prevent blisters from long days of paddle .
The neoprene gloves help oneself with handle and blisters besides, but they besides prevent excessive heat loss through your hands. They even work when wet based on the lapp rationale as a moisture befit .
6 – Cold Weather hiking pants or cargo pants with long underwear
Cold weather hike pants are fair a stretchable polyester or other synthetic substantial that is lined with a wool inside. This is my preferable legwear .
however, it ’ south probably easier to get a good pair of hanker underwear ( not cotton ) under a copulate of cargo pants. Remember, all fabrics should be deoxyadenosine monophosphate quick-dry as possible .
7 – Merino Wool Socks
once again, wool socks carry the day. It ’ second hard to believe that after centuries of wool socks, there would be a newer, better engineering for invest, but the Merino wool is obviously impossible to mimic .
They are quick-drying, moisture-wicking, and durable. They besides help eliminate odors !
8 – Hiking Boots
I own a pair of Scarpa Moraine hiking boots that use for cool-weather trips entirely. They are lined, and fit with wool socks barely perfectly.
however, once I ’ thousand at my campsite, I will either continue to wear them or if my feet are damp from rain, the lake or river, of from sweat, I ’ ll replace my socks and shoes with a pair of running shoes or sandals with socks .
Please note that in cold weather, it’s especially important to have a full change of warm clothing in your dry bag to avoid any emergencies that arise from having a fully soaked body and no way to get dry. That will put an end to your fun and you could find yourself in serious danger without a change of clothes and a way to stay warm and dry for the night.
Whitewater Trips in the summer
On a warm-weather river trip with rapids, you ’ ll most surely need you PFD at all times, and I would powerfully suggest a NON-INFLATABLE life jacket. The likelihood of you capsizing on a white water slip is much higher than in repose lake water .
If you capisize anywhere, you ’ ll need to have a PFD, but if it ’ s inflatable, it may be harder to deploy the inflation mechanism, and once you do, there is a cost to re-charging it. It ’ s much easier, safer and MUCH less expensive to just wear a ready-to-go dabble life vest on a river tripper .
Unlike flat water trips in Autumn or early jump, white water about necessitates that a canoeist wear some form of a wetsuit or drysuit to ensure safety from extreme point temperatures. That said, hera ’ s a general number of Whitewater clothe that DIFFERS from the Flat Water tripping clothing tilt :
A high-quality WRSI whitewater helmet – now is not the time to skimp on quality. You can do that with windbreakers, but not cranium protection!
1 – Whitewater helmet
A paddle helmet is always a smart man of gear when running rapids for the same reason a motorcycle helmet is a bright piece of gear for riding a bicycle. In fact, if your budget doesn ’ triiodothyronine allow for a paddle helmet, you can always use your motorcycle helmet alternatively of foregoing a canoe trip because you don ’ t have all the specialized dress and gear .
2 – Partial or Full Wetsuit
A wetsuit is an effective room to help stay strong if you capsize or get soaked. A wetsuit is designed to keep you warm entirely when it is wet.
angstrom long as the wetsuit is snug-fitting, a very reduce layer of water is formed between your skin and inside of the wetsuit. Your body temperature quickly heats the slender water system layer which then keeps you warm .
If your suit is besides big and loose, the urine between your clamber and courtship will be more, which means it won ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate be as warm and it will probable be circulating in and out as you move. You ’ ll constantly have lots of cold water system in your lawsuit and that makes for a practically useless token of apparel .
3 – Neoprene Boots
Like a wetsuit, neoprene boots are not raincoat but aid keep your feet warm when wet in the like direction as described in detail # 2 .
4 – Bathing Suit
While it ’ s not a bad idea to wear a quick-dry pair of shorts, it ’ randomness probably a better theme to wear a washup courtship alternatively. With shorts, you ’ ll likely want underwear ( which are about never “ quick-dry ” ) while most bathing suits for both genders are decidedly quick dry and you don ’ t need that excess layer of underwear .
Whitewater Trips in Colder Weather
Unlike flat water trips in Autumn or early on spring, white water about necessitates that a canoeist wears some form of a wetsuit or drysuit to ensure safety from extreme point temperatures. That said, here ’ s a general list of Whitewater clothing that DIFFERS from the Flat Water tripping invest list. These are items that can be ADDED to the items listed in the Whitewater Trips in the Summer section :
1 – Thin Neoprene helmet liner
This thin ( frequently neoprene ) accessory wicks sweat and can serve to keep you both warm ( at night ) and cool ( soak it with water ) during the day. Helmet liners are typically besides quick-dry. specifically, on cool days, it can take the bite out of tip gusts through your helmet, and it helps warm your fountainhead during coldness nights .
2 – Either Full Wetsuit or (even better) a Drysuit
A wetsuit can help keep you warm enough to handle coldness water system and weather if you fall in by keeping a thinly layer of urine between your hide and the befit warmly. however, you still have to get wet, which means when you get out of it, you ’ ll need to dry off promptly or risk getting identical cold .
Drysuits keep your solid body dry, which is a lot nice in cool upwind, but they are more expensive. however, drysuits do not need to fit just properly ( snugly ) like a wetsuit in order to work. generally, you ’ ll be more comfortable in a drysuit if you can afford one .
Prices of drysuits can approach $ 1000 USD. If that wasn ’ thyroxine adequate, because drysuits don ’ thyroxine offer a batch of insulation, there are base layers that you can purchase to make your drysuit know more comfortable.
3 – Fleece mid-layer under your Drysuit
Most drysuits don ’ t have much insulation to help keep you warm ( though some do ) so you ’ ll have to wear a al-qaeda layer ( future to skin – like wicking material ) followed by a mid-layer ( typically fleece or other quick and comfortable material ) before the top layer which is the drysuit itself.
Footwear for Canoeing
Shoes and socks for canoeing can vary greatly according to a canoeist ’ mho quilt levels and preferences. Because of this, it ’ s merely fair that you know at least what your options are under a assortment of conditions .
My shoes can be kept dry (if needed – on a flat water trip) or serve as water shoes. They are not SUPER-FAST drying, but the tough rubber toe protects well and the soles are a hard but still pliable rubber that grips rocks well.
1 – Water Shoes
Water shoes is a term that describes a whole variety of shoes and sandals that are meant to get wet. Some materials dry cursorily ( like foam ) but come with their own problems of poor lone grapple and lack of lastingness .
early materials are capital for lastingness and clasp, but they ’ ra heavy, expensive, and take ages to dry. This is where your discretion is best used .
I use a kind of water shoes. I use a pair that looks much like a tennis shoe but it ’ sulfur mean for water, I use a Croc-style brake shoe that fits more like a brake shoe than a Croc sandal, and I wear a Keen ( or Keen-style ) closed-toe sandal that has excellent traction on rocks .
2 – Neoprene Boots
Neoprene boots are a well choice if you know you ’ ll be in contact with water system much of the time as in a white water stumble scenario. however, you ’ ll not want to walk round much with them on rocks or any terrain without a pair of rubber boots or protective outer footwear .
3 – Sports Sandals
Sandals like TEVA open-toed sandals are pretty comfortable but offer cherished little auspices, so I ’ five hundred keep these sandals as camp shoes .
4 – Trail Running or Athletic Shoes
Running shoes ( specially Trail shoes ) are a estimable option for portaging and they ’ ra capital for protecting your feet from ache needles, annoy, soil, and mud .
however, since your feet won ’ t breathe american samoa well, you could be in for some perspiration damp, and foot smell unless you are very diligent in either keeping them dry, or drying them thoroughly when they ’ ra dampen .
5 – Socks
As a rule, most paddlers will have some type of socks with them for affectionateness and comfort at the campsite or flush on the water. Most will have cotton/polyester socks from Costco or Walmart because they are low-cost .
I would encourage you to save some pennies and get a thoroughly pair of full Merino Wood Socks though the price can be more than $ 50 for one match ( as opposed to $ 15 for 10 pairs of Costco socks ).
As mentioned earlier in this article, Merino wool wick moisture, are warm even when wet and dry quickly. They are the gold standard of socks for any outdoor adventurer .
I keep my wool socks largely for function at camp after the day is done. I typically paddle in warm weather ( I guess I ’ megabyte getting cushy ! ) so my feet are not normally uncomfortably cold during the day ’ south spank .
Camp clothing
Camp clothe is a topic or class of invest that is much overlooked by inexperienced paddlers .
After some know, most canoe campers will realize that the best clothing for paddling is not always the best clothe to relax in by the fire or sleep in .
There are many opinions and preferences as to what determines the “ best ” camp clothe, but hera are my thoughts and ideas :
Pants can be the same as paddling pants and so can shirts. however, I bring a zip-up sparse jacket that is NOT a wind-breaker, but a easy, stretchable, lined fabric like polyester. This is more comfortable than a semi-stiff parka and offers warmth while sleeping .
My wool socks are a staple at the campsite, and my camp shoes are worn entirely at the campsite. I presently use a couple of foam sandals that look like a couple of sports shoes, except that they have holes everywhere like sandals and they are super-light because of their foam construction ( like Crocs ).
My headdress normally involves a sleep hat which is a tight-fitting wool liner-style cap, but you can use a sparkle beanie to keep your fountainhead warm at night if you ’ rhenium bald ( like I sort of am ) .
finally, my camp dress besides includes a pair of bug internet gloves, a full bug crown ( including a hood with expression net ), and a separate wide-brimmed hat with 360-degree bug net to the shoulders .
For Sleeping
possibly I ’ thousand barely a minimalist guy, but I don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate bring particular clothe for sleeping. I typically remove my crown and sleep in my socks, pants/shorts and a long-sleeved pullover.
I besides wear a pillbox since my pass is not covered by my sleeping cup of tea, and nights in Northern Ontario get cold flush in mid-Summer .
What NOT to Wear on a Canoe Camping or Day Trip
If you don ’ t have the perfect wardrobe for the outdoors, it ’ sulfur even better that you get out there at least to some extent quite than bemoaning the fact that you can ’ t afford all the “ best gear ” or clothe .
That said, you can actually equip yourself pretty well with basic wicking shirts, shorts and pants, ampere well as outdoor sports windbreakers and rain gear from thrift stores ! YES, it ’ s potential because I ’ ve done it .
Take a stumble to your local Value Village where I ’ ve built up my wardrobe with Columbia water-repellent windbreakers, my Chinook raingear, Keen sandals, trail-running shoes, wicking gaiter, and more !
Based on that, I ’ five hundred powerfully discourage clothe that is by and large cotton-based since it does not wick moisture ( just holds on to it ) and it ’ randomness ultra-slow dry .
I would besides not suggest actually honest-to-god gearing from the 1960s or 70s like I grew up with. Stay away from midst rubber rain suits ( way excessively much sweating going on inside which is far less sanitary than never bathing on a canoe tripper at all ), and heavy sail packs for storehouse .
Final Word on Hats and Sunglasses
A unharmed article could be written on outdoor hats entirely, but in short, I don ’ t normally bring big headgear like my Tilly hats. While I do recommend them for those who love the attend and function of them, I find I ’ molarity good served with a breathable fix ( yes I bring 2 ) of baseball-style caps. They offer sun protection on my confront while sunscreen protects my ears .
One of my cap has a built-in set of 3 very bright LED lights that I use alternatively of a headlight .
I besides REALLY like the Outdoor Research Seattle Rain crown.
A wide-brimmed hat is besides a bit awkward when it comes to wearing a raincoat. Most rain jackets have a hood, and that hood does NOT fit you well with a wide brim all the means around your hat. If your hat is waterproof, you may not need the hood, but it exists and it can entirely serve to catch rain as it falls from your hat .
If you prefer to remove your hood ( if you can ) or tuck it away and use a wide-brimmed rain hat, I like the Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero .
I like to flip the hood right over my baseball crown while my brim keeps the front of the hood from falling down on my nose .
angstrom far as sunglasses, I do recommend them, but I don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate like wearing them 100 % of the prison term. I believe Vitamin D is synthesized by sun hitting your skin but besides entering your eyes after being reflected from the environment around you ( I don ’ t mean search at the SUN ! ! ) .
sol, I recommend a pair of polarize sunglasses ( which allow you to see under the airfoil of the water and besides make everything spirit more colorful and vibrant on a cheery day ).
I besides recommend sunglasses that do not have a full-frame. I find that a full-frame impedes my vision on the edges. I much prefer a pair of shades that have no frame on the sides or bottom. Yes, it is true that without a hard, street fighter, polymer frame, glasses are more vulnerable to breakage, but I say just be very careful .
I use a pair of polarize shades from Strike King, and I have nothing negative at all to say about them even after 10 years !
Key Takeaway
Keep your paddling activities to those for which you can adequately equip yourself, and for most paddlers, that would credibly be warm-weather apartment urine paddle of lakes ( with or without portages ) .
once you build up adequate gear ( including helmet, drysuit, etc. ) you can tackle early scenarios that would be dangerous and foolish to try without the right invest and gear .
ABOVE ALL, don ’ t be dissuaded from canoeing just because you lack all the techno-clothing ! You can get decent gear if you ’ ra spot, at a local parsimony shop for a huge discount. I precisely bought a copulate of gently used Scarpa Moraine mid-cut hiking boots at Value Village for $ 20 Canadian ( that would be $ 15 USD ). The retail monetary value of the exact lapp shoes is $ 210 canadian !
