What do you wear?

[woodsy]

No, not fashion, but for some winter sup'n.

I have been fitness paddling the river this winter so wellies and cycling type attire for me (plus boardies - obviously nobody wants to see your wedding veg!)

BUT i went for a fitness paddle in the sea on saturday. Got a bit a wet launching from the beach (beach slopes too much to not fin catch - one wet welly - then fell off v near the beach as surfing a two footer back in - two wet welllies!)

Very unlikley to fall off when out there, but if i did it would have been cold without a suit but wetuits are far too warm for fitness paddling - so what do you guys do when in the ocean?

W

PS Surfing in wellies feels good!

[kaossurfer]

You must be mad.

If i'm surfing i wear a full summer wetsuit, semi dry cag (really keeps the wind off), wetsuit socks and boots, wetsuit gloves and neoprene beanie.

If i'm paddling on the river, semi dry cag and trousers, thermal layers (depending on temperature), wetsuit socks, palm tuff wetsuit boots, gloves, beanie, pfd and if the rivers shallow/rocks about a helmet.

You might think it's over the top but i believe that if your doing a watersport you have to get wet, if i don't fall off, i have to mess about until i fall or just jump in. If i stay dry i'm not happy.

[cheekymonkey]

If conditions are calm them simply wetsuit boots (8mm excel in winter) / boardies / thermal compression top / sealskins hat

If real choppy & or downwinding then a summer suit is plenty - you tend to get too hot to be honest...

this time last year i was paddling in just boardies on the sea... no booties or top... what a sh*t spring so far haha

[waxer00]

thermal compression top /

whats this.got any links .ta

[woodsy]

to clarify, the suit goes on for surfing without a doubt - i just had to get back to the beach and the surf had picked up a little whilst i was out.

i'm with pete on this one. if its flat then regular/fitness clothes, I just thought it would be too cold with just boardies and nothing on the legs - but will give that a try and ditch the wellies in favour of the booties. that gives me some wading options when getting on/off the beach.

W

[cheekymonkey]

thermal compression top /

whats this.got any links .ta

http://store.skins.net/uk/mens-compress ... sion-snow/

I wear the tights when really cold too as your legs go numb

[woodsy]

yeah - that's what i have been doing too. wellies, tights, boardies, helly hansen thermal top, cycling windstopper, gloves, hat.

its a big look.

will be going wetsuit booties instead of wellies from now on for beach launches/landings.

w

[Wavecloud]

Nookie Dry Pants.

It's worth carrying extra emergency stuff in a small dry bag, especially if a few miles out..

[kaossurfer]

I've tried 2 different types of wetsuit boot this winter, my feet were cold on the river in normal wetsuit boots for surfing, but palm 'tuff' boots keep your feet really warm and have thick soles if you need to walk on rocks.

[woodsy]

"nookie dry pants" .... sounds like a sexual disfunction, but they could be good!

also thought about one of those wetsuits with long legs and no arms (think they are for triathlon primarily). that would work too as shouldn't get too hot and keep your wet legs nice and toasty.

W

[Wavecloud]

Or you could try a Longjohn wetsuit..

Wetties just don't breath though. I used to use a shortjohn wetsuit for surf kayaking made by Jag which was only 20 quid!

[Wavecloud]

These are the dry pants -
http://www.thepaddlingcompany.com/index ... u75ds4ado6

Some real bargains here - http://www.canoesandkayaks.co.uk/produc ... tsuit_Sola

And here - http://www.surfsurfsurf.co.uk/mens_wets ... tAodJ3UAqg