Hi everyone ! Great responses! And The pictures were awe inspiring to say the least!

I've headed everyone's advice and gotten a dry suit, I have a wet suit but found it un-enjoyable as it rubbed my arms down to the bone (not really) and felt like a tight girdle thus restricting my breathing.

I started Kayaking in July, and have now thanks to the fall season have seen some good 3 foot wave days etc. and did my first island hoping trip in Long Island sound a couple of weekends ago. I've gotten about 200 miles under my belt, I'm enjoying this stuff!!

Just curious, what other people wear as a base layer etc. say in the times of 50deg water down to near freezing water? I bought some stuff from EMS, wondering if there were better places to shop etc? Any stories yet ?


PS> Not sure if true or not or even when it happened - but I heard a story that they found a windsurfer floating face down in his dry suit, somehow his waist zipper was unzipped...

My base layer is the same as backpacking or climbing - lightweight capilene long johns and a long sleeve paddle shirt that is also synthetic. I also use light weight synthetic socks. I don't want my bare skin (or toenails) contacting the dry suit. Layers of fleece go over the base. We have a saying in alpine mountaineering - cotton kills. I keep away from it in paddling also. Once it is wet from sweat, it never dries.

The important thing to remember is that you must dress for the water temps, not just the air temperature. Sometimes the air is warm but the water is still very cold. I discipline myself to put on that layer of fleece even though just the thin base layer is enough for the air temps. A thin base layer under your dry suit won't keep you from hypothermia if you are immersed into very cold water.

The coldest I have padded in was a windy 20 degrees on the Potomac River in January.

Pete

Hey Mitch: I paddle 10 months of the the year in Michigan, incl. the Great Lakes & open rivers. Have paddled in water in the low 40s, air temps in single digits. I would love to paddle as much as you do in a week!

Here is my "schedule"

Water temps 50 - 60 - farmer john 3/2 mm wetsuit. Add or subtract a drytop or neoprene shirt depending. Add a Polar Fleece (TM, by Malden Mills, U.S.A) underlayer depending. I prefer short sleeve underlayers and a short sleeve drytop, and longsleeved neoprene tops. NRS makes a Titanium series that is pricy but very versatile - great insulation yet flexy. I also own longsleeve neoprene shirts by BomberGear.

If not wearing drytop wear/carry a thin, waterproof & breathable longsleeved paddle jacket w. a slim hood, as a rain shield. Currently I like one made by Palm, of Event 150. Really great to have if you are racking up the boats, it's windy and you need a break from the windchill.

With a wetsuit I wear a 1 mm neoprene skullcap, 3/4 fingered gloves, & low profile NRS Desperado booties. Only fair to mention I have very long hair, the skull cap keeps it out of the way, so I nearly always wear one regardless of season.

Water temps below 50 I go w. a Kokatat Goretex Drysuit. Folks will go back n forth about the necessity of one, the cost, etc. Not here to debate that. I love mine, worth every penny, gives me at least 4 more months of paddling every year. Also after a day's worth of in the water classes, or a long day's paddle, I am much less fatigued.

Mine has the integrated booties. The joy of warm feet cannot be underestimated! Also a relief zip. Under this I wear different layers of wool, wool/capilene, polor fleece. My main piece is a wool/capilene union suit. On the outside I go w. a 2 mm skullcap, a polar fleece neckwrap, and the same low profile booties. I layer my hands as well: base layer seirus Thermolux gloves under either the 3/4 gloves or full neoprene gloves.

Over that go some Goretex pogies. I was very lucky to find some Stohlquest YellowJackets (no longer made) but I know Kokatat makes theirs in Tropos. I prefer these to neoprene pogies as they are not nearly as heavy (dry or wet), slide on easily (using one hand) and the Goretex really cuts the wind. Finally the light pogies come off swiftly when I really need them to.

You know of course you are dressing for immersion and that means water temps. However, I and others have experienced early hypothermia not from getting immersed, but just from getting a little wet and having a good wind on us all day, or even walking along shore back to the car. It all depends on the individual. It's just as hampering tho to your coordination and, maybe, depending on severity, your good judgement.

You asked for tips:

Whatever your set up is, test it beforehand by immersing yourself - like up to the neck. See if you can stay comfortable 15 minutes. Practice getting back in your boat. If all is well, you have the right set up. If not, get out of water, get warm, and add more protection. Repeat. It's good to have a friend on shore standing by.

Stay well hydrated - even tho it's very cold you are losing water.

Vaseline on the exposed areas of the face or neck helps, esp. if they do get wet.

Chapstick is a must! (and good for lubricating drysuit zips in a pinch).

Polarized sunglasses protect the eyes from drying out, which can be very uncomfortable.

Carry a hot nonalcoholic bev in an insulated mug.
If a full day, or multiday trip, a small drybag w. a backpacker stove, a small titanium pot & some dry noodles or similar makes a warming & sustaining break. The insulated mug also makes a good mixing bowl in which to add hot water.

Carry some little handwarmer packets in your PFD.The cool thing about the Seirus gloves is they have a pocket for these on the top of the hand, where they won't interfere w. paddling.

Severely cold weather is not the time to set new distance records, surf your largest waves ever, etc. Be conservative.

Paddling under a full neoprene skirt adds another layer of warmth. I do this year round anyways. I really like Snapdragon Supratex - warm, watertight, fit me & my boats very well.

Many will say do not paddle along in cold water - there is merit to that. I have, I would prefer company. It's up to you.

I mentioned the brand names not as any kind of endorsement (I'm not in the paddle industry) but as specific example of what I have tried that works for me. Doesn't mean that they are the unqualified best choices for everyone.

Happy winter's paddling!

Just starting this year and the water is now about 62 here. I know when I drag my hand in the water for a short period it is more than I could bear for even a real short time. I'll have my wet suit on the rest of the season and then a dry suit for when the water is below 50 or even sooner. Coldest month here is Feb where from the records I searched the temps will be 34*.

I'll be padding n the canals and calm marshs when it is below 50 for the water temp. I'll be at most 150 yrads from shore.