Nice question PJ, with the brisk mornings this week.
I wear a lot TO the river, then not a lot paddling for a couple of reasons... (1) makes me work hard to get warm and (2) I have honed my physique for cooler weather, adding insulation via careful diet modification.
Wind chill is the big hassle, plus whether or not you'll get wet... so 2C morning on flat river with no wind is still shorts and short sleeve, but hitting stoppers in the Avon on a foggy Toodyay morning is long sleeve thermal and possibly a cag over the top.
Slight digression, but I got to paddle the Upper Shotover in NZ a while back, which comes off a glacier. My kiwi friend made me wear 3 thermals and the thickest cag I've ever seen, plus a neoprene beanie thing under my helmet. I felt like I could hardly move, and until I tipped in the first time was getting seriously warm. One quick roll in the river helped me realise why all this was a good idea. I came back up with a brain freeze like you get from eating too much ice-cream too quick. Made the Avon in winter seem quite balmy.
So in summary...
Ocean Paddler (Male): Budgie Smugglers, all year round, no exceptions.
Fall-in-every-rapid: Wetsuit. Who cares if it restricts your movement. You need to stay warm.
Stay-upright-but-paddle-slow: Thermals.
Stay-upright-and-work-up-a-sweat: Wetsuit shorts and rashie. This is enough for me in the Avon, 'cos of my build, and 'cos a PFD and deck keep me warm enough in a kayak.
Postscript: I have completed the Avon Descent wearing a Bananas-in-Pyjamas outfit. The Pyjamas did not create any problems, but the giant banana head strapped to my helmet got very heavy when wet, and resticted my view to a small window straight ahead. Despite these difficulties, my fellow banana B2 and I managed to wear the heads while shooting down the old pipes over Extracts Weir. This was done purely so that the Bananas and Pyjamas were coming down the stairs.
PPS: Your opinion of me after the above admission is fully warranted.
Especially the one of you guys coming down Extracts with the heads leaning sideways! You are truly my hero Bolders (well, almost as much as Dawid Mocke). :-)
Dawid Mocke is the world champ ocean paddler, and won the Doctor this year too. He also runs surfski school in Cape Town and I'll be going there this year to learn how to not be so crap at downwind paddling. Not bad to look at either.
I highly doubt he has ever done the Avon but I'd volunteer to be his support crewif he ever wanted to!
I find I get really cold on the river (especially if paddling in a group where we stop occasionally) so I wear the following layers (inside to outside-varying the number depending how cold I might get):
1. Really good wool thermals- as many layers as I need - sometimes up to five layers.
(I think good merino thermals such as icebreakers are worth the money - I've had mine almost ten years and use them all the time (paddling, snowboarding and camping) and they are still comfortable and smell free. I also have never got boils or infections from them which can happen with the cheaper polyprops).
2. Sharkskin or equivalent
3. Fleece (a light cheap fleece)
4. Cag (spray cag for warmer days or faster paddling, dry cag for colder days or white water/surfing).
I think the two most important are the thermals and the cag - I'll wear a spray cag with rashie underneath even in the middle of summer, as it stops the wind chill. If you're paddling a ski, some of the really padded long pants and booties are worth looking at to reduce the leg bruising as well.
I know people who wear a thermal beanie or swimming cap under their helmet when whitewater paddling to keep warmer - that seems to work very well.
thanks for that... I really suffer in the cold, but i don't wanna stop during winter. I'll use all this info and work out what works for me and come back and let you know... booties and wetsuit looks like the minimum as i have a ski
Submitted by Winged Paddler on Thu, 04/01/2010 - 19:01.
My best ever winter training top was a combination of a standard long sleeve thermal, with a long sleeve light weight cag over the top.
The cag was actually an old soccer training top, as apparently soccer players had to train in cold, windy & wet conditions (and I thought that they were all soft?).
I'd suggest that running shops would have the same thing. Worth the effort of finding one. I trained through two winters in the A.C.T. with this as my main gear for the top half. A spray deck & long thermal pants did the trick for the lower half. For the ski I used wet suit pants (just don't lend these to your mates...)
I wear thermals and wetsuit pants, not a full wetsuit it's too restrictive. The paddling shops sell other warm weather paddle-specific gear, generally more expensive than thermals and I don't find any better on the cold nights.
Submitted by A paddler with no name... on Sun, 03/28/2010 - 22:03.
I tend to wear thermal tops year-round. They keep the sun off in summer, and are cool enough when wet. They keep warm in winter. On really hot evenings at Ascot I may wear a short-sleeve thing if the sun is down.
Pants- these shark skin things are nice and soft, dry out fast overnight.
To keep warm on the rive- paddle hard and keep out of the water.
Submitted by Riggers1973 on Wed, 05/05/2010 - 22:03.
In the cooler months I go for a bent knee wet suit pant made for paddling. A bit more coverage over the lower back. I think mine is a Hiko. I also love Skins! they always keep me the perfect work temp in winter and summer. When really cold or with a strong wind I go for a fleece similar to shark skin although I can get too hot in those at times. Skins are a good thickness that will do you for most of the year I feel.
Toughen up
Nice question PJ, with the brisk mornings this week.
I wear a lot TO the river, then not a lot paddling for a couple of reasons... (1) makes me work hard to get warm and (2) I have honed my physique for cooler weather, adding insulation via careful diet modification.
Wind chill is the big hassle, plus whether or not you'll get wet... so 2C morning on flat river with no wind is still shorts and short sleeve, but hitting stoppers in the Avon on a foggy Toodyay morning is long sleeve thermal and possibly a cag over the top.
Slight digression, but I got to paddle the Upper Shotover in NZ a while back, which comes off a glacier. My kiwi friend made me wear 3 thermals and the thickest cag I've ever seen, plus a neoprene beanie thing under my helmet. I felt like I could hardly move, and until I tipped in the first time was getting seriously warm. One quick roll in the river helped me realise why all this was a good idea. I came back up with a brain freeze like you get from eating too much ice-cream too quick. Made the Avon in winter seem quite balmy.
So in summary...
Ocean Paddler (Male): Budgie Smugglers, all year round, no exceptions.
Fall-in-every-rapid: Wetsuit. Who cares if it restricts your movement. You need to stay warm.
Stay-upright-but-paddle-slow: Thermals.
Stay-upright-and-work-up-a-sweat: Wetsuit shorts and rashie. This is enough for me in the Avon, 'cos of my build, and 'cos a PFD and deck keep me warm enough in a kayak.
Postscript: I have completed the Avon Descent wearing a Bananas-in-Pyjamas outfit. The Pyjamas did not create any problems, but the giant banana head strapped to my helmet got very heavy when wet, and resticted my view to a small window straight ahead. Despite these difficulties, my fellow banana B2 and I managed to wear the heads while shooting down the old pipes over Extracts Weir. This was done purely so that the Bananas and Pyjamas were coming down the stairs.
PPS: Your opinion of me after the above admission is fully warranted.
picture?
Bolders are there any pictures of the Bananas in PJs paddling? Please post some!!
Yes Ski Girl, I didn't make that up
For your viewing pleasure:
http://www.ratherbepaddling.com.au/image/tid/3
I paddled a triple surf ski one year too. Save that story for another day.
absolutely priceless
Especially the one of you guys coming down Extracts with the heads leaning sideways! You are truly my hero Bolders (well, almost as much as Dawid Mocke). :-)
Dawid who?
Who's he, and has he done the Avon wearing something more ridiculous? A full bear suit perhaps, with no eye holes?
my hero
Dawid Mocke is the world champ ocean paddler, and won the Doctor this year too. He also runs surfski school in Cape Town and I'll be going there this year to learn how to not be so crap at downwind paddling. Not bad to look at either.
I highly doubt he has ever done the Avon but I'd volunteer to be his support crewif he ever wanted to!
River Clothing
Hi Pj,
I find I get really cold on the river (especially if paddling in a group where we stop occasionally) so I wear the following layers (inside to outside-varying the number depending how cold I might get):
1. Really good wool thermals- as many layers as I need - sometimes up to five layers.
(I think good merino thermals such as icebreakers are worth the money - I've had mine almost ten years and use them all the time (paddling, snowboarding and camping) and they are still comfortable and smell free. I also have never got boils or infections from them which can happen with the cheaper polyprops).
2. Sharkskin or equivalent
3. Fleece (a light cheap fleece)
4. Cag (spray cag for warmer days or faster paddling, dry cag for colder days or white water/surfing).
I think the two most important are the thermals and the cag - I'll wear a spray cag with rashie underneath even in the middle of summer, as it stops the wind chill. If you're paddling a ski, some of the really padded long pants and booties are worth looking at to reduce the leg bruising as well.
I know people who wear a thermal beanie or swimming cap under their helmet when whitewater paddling to keep warmer - that seems to work very well.
clothing
thanks for that... I really suffer in the cold, but i don't wanna stop during winter. I'll use all this info and work out what works for me and come back and let you know... booties and wetsuit looks like the minimum as i have a ski
Light weight cag
My best ever winter training top was a combination of a standard long sleeve thermal, with a long sleeve light weight cag over the top.
The cag was actually an old soccer training top, as apparently soccer players had to train in cold, windy & wet conditions (and I thought that they were all soft?).
I'd suggest that running shops would have the same thing. Worth the effort of finding one. I trained through two winters in the A.C.T. with this as my main gear for the top half. A spray deck & long thermal pants did the trick for the lower half. For the ski I used wet suit pants (just don't lend these to your mates...)
I'll hit google & see if I can find a good link.
Cheers,
WP.
paddle harder
Working hard keeps you warm!
I wear thermals and wetsuit pants, not a full wetsuit it's too restrictive. The paddling shops sell other warm weather paddle-specific gear, generally more expensive than thermals and I don't find any better on the cold nights.
yeah i might go to good
yeah i might go to good sammys and find my self some old wet suit pants
biohazard
People pee in their wetsuits pj!!!
You think that's bad!
http://comment.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Tests-find...
clothes
I tend to wear thermal tops year-round. They keep the sun off in summer, and are cool enough when wet. They keep warm in winter. On really hot evenings at Ascot I may wear a short-sleeve thing if the sun is down.
Pants- these shark skin things are nice and soft, dry out fast overnight.
To keep warm on the rive- paddle hard and keep out of the water.
What I wear
In the cooler months I go for a bent knee wet suit pant made for paddling. A bit more coverage over the lower back. I think mine is a Hiko. I also love Skins! they always keep me the perfect work temp in winter and summer. When really cold or with a strong wind I go for a fleece similar to shark skin although I can get too hot in those at times. Skins are a good thickness that will do you for most of the year I feel.