Cold Water Clothing
Cold weather and/or cold-water paddling can be very safe and enjoyable if you are clothed properly for an accidental immersion. It can be fatal if you are not. It has been fatal for several Kansas boaters who were not prepared and were convinced it would not happen to them.
I repeatedly see paddlers wearing super warm hunting or mountain climbing clothes while padding in ice-cold water. They almost always comment, “I don’t plan to get wet” and “I have a spare change in case I get wet”.
The problem is that you can suffer severe hypothermia in the short time it takes to get out of the water and change your clothes. This can be as little a 2 or 3 minutes. You can also drown from the first gasp you take when your body hits the cold water. Alaskan Fisherman almost always drown when fall overboard without a survival suit. Studies have demonstrated that professional swimmers and divers can’t avoid the gasp for air when they hit ice-cold water in controlled conditions.
Here are some reasons why you might get wet even though you don’t plan to do so:
1) You have an accident you did not plan on.
2) You need to help someone else and helping involves getting you wet.
You could of course say, “Oh, I am sorry I can’t help you because it is cold and I don’t want to get wet”. I sure hope it is not me that needs your help.
Clothing suitable for cold-water immersion will be a dry suit or wetsuit of some kind, protection for feet, head and hands. These items are highly specialized and most cannot be purchased at your local x-mart store no matter how much you wish you could find something suitable for an inexpensive price.
A dry suit will be a one or two-piece waterproof canvas type suit that has latex waterproof seals around the neck, wrists and ankles. The latex seals should fit snuggly and will prevent 100% of the cold water from entering. One or more layers of insulation can be worn under a dry suit to provide just right warmth for the conditions. Layers can be added or removed to adjust while on the river.
A wetsuit will be a one or two-piece neoprene (rubber like with closed cell foam) suit that fits close to your skin. Wetsuits work best when the fit snuggly against the skin to prevent all but a thin layer of water. The body warms this thin layer of water. Divers and water skiers wear wet suits to extend their season. A wetsuit is an inexpensive way to save your life but additional layers, that need changed when they get wet, are usually needed on top of a wetsuit in really cold weather.
A full body wet suit designed for diving or skiing can be used but may not be the best choice for paddling. You will probably need some cloth under it, like a T-shirt, to protect your underarms from chafing as you paddle. The cloth will hold extra water that partially defeats the purpose of the wetsuit.
Lots of products are available for foot protection. Paddle booties are poplular. They all seem to be of the wetsuit design. You will need insulation and protection from walking on rough surfaces. Paddlers almost always need to walk on rough ground getting the boat in or out of the water or portaging. Quick drying polyester or wool socks work much better than street socks when they get wet. They are quite expensive but worth it.
Hands are usually protected with neoprene or latex gloves or a special glove that attaches the hands to the paddle. Gloves can be neoprene and work like a wetsuit or they can be waterproof. Neoprene hunting/fishing gloves will sometimes work.
Your head should be protected with a neoprene or special polyester helmet liner or storm hood. If you don’t wear a helmet you will need one that stretches under your chin so it will stay on. A lot of body heat can be lost through an exposed head.
Insulation layers can be 100% polyester fleece purchased a discount store but the specialized material is worth the money. With the good quality insulation, you can be wet with perspiration and still feel dry. Cotton should never be used for insulation because the fibers absorb water and moisture killing its ability to insulate.
As you paddle you may get hot as the Sun and temperature rise. While you are in the boat you can adjust your gloves and head gear to let some of your body heat disapate. For example you might remove your warm gloves and replace them with summer paddle gloves that leave the fingers exposed or you might remove your helmet liner or storm hood and replace it with a ball cap or helmet. Layer adjustment under a dry suit or on top of a wetsuit will require a stretch break.
Even if you have all the cold weather clothing recommended above, you should still have a solution in case your suit gets torn or leaks for some reason. A
dry bag with extra clothes or dry insulation is a necessity.
To learn more about clothing for cold-water paddling, check with vendors and manufacturers who advertise in the paddling magazines like NRS, NOC and Kokatat.
Also read the articles in the various paddling magazines and check websites devoted to paddling or rafting. You local paddle shop can usually provide advice and order anything you need. They might even have what you need in stock. If possible, try to support your local paddle shop. They won’t be there when you need them if you don’t support them with your business.
© 2005 Chris Collins, All Rights Reserved