Pack a dry change of clothes too. The ACA's safety checklist lists a dry bag with extra clothing, and Maryland's cold-water guidance says to bring extra clothing to stay warm if you get wet.
What to Wear Kayaking: Dress for the Water, Not the Air
How-to / Kayaking
The forecast tells you about the air. The water decides what you wear.
Wear a life jacket, quick-drying synthetic layers instead of cotton, and thermal protection chosen for the water you could end up in. Cold-water safety experts recommend a wetsuit or drysuit whenever the water is below 70°F, however warm the air feels.
Before you get dressed
Get the number you're dressing for: the water, not the air.
A 75°F afternoon can sit on top of 55°F water, especially in spring and fall. Before you pick clothes, know:
- The water temperature where you'll paddle, from a local gauge, buoy report or outfitter, not the weather app's air reading
- How far from shore you'll be, and how long a swim back would take if you came out of the boat
- Whether the water is deep, spring-fed or a big lake, which can stay cold well into summer
- How you'll warm up after a swim: a dry change of clothes sealed in a dry bag
The water-temperature ladder
What to wear kayaking, by water temperature
Find your water temperature, then read across. Each band's risk comes from the National Center for Cold Water Safety; each clothing cell names its source.
| Water temperature | What to wear |
|---|---|
| 70°F and upTreat anything under 70°F with caution (NCCWS) | Quick-dry synthetic shirt and shorts or pants ACA, a brimmed hat ACA, secure river shoes or old sneakers ACA, life jacket ACA. Light long sleeves help with sun. |
| 60–70°F"Dangerous": breath control gets harder as the water cools (NCCWS) | Wetsuit or drysuit NCCWS, synthetic layers, no cotton ACA, a splash and rain jacket ACA, life jacket. Neoprene booties or socks ACA. |
| Below 60°F50–60°F: maximum-intensity cold shock (NCCWS) | Wetsuit thick and snug enough to work, or a drysuit that doesn't leak with warm layers under it NCCWS; neoprene booties ACA; synthetic hat or skullcap ACA; life jacket. |
Organized by SKÖ from the NCCWS Water Temperature Safety Guide and the American Canoe Association's best practices. A starting point, not a substitute for judging your route, your skills and your distance from shore.
Constants
What stays the same at every temperature
The thermal layer changes with the water. These don't. Organized by SKÖ from the American Canoe Association's Best Practices for Paddlers.
- A life jacket you wear. The ACA says to always wear one appropriate for the activity, properly fitted. How to choose one for kayaking.
- Synthetic fabrics. Polypropylene, nylon, neoprene and polyester fleece, layered.
- A waterproof jacket for splash and rain protection, carried even on a clear day.
- Secure footwear. River shoes or old sneakers to protect your feet from sharp rocks.
- Head cover. A brimmed hat for sun; a synthetic hat or skullcap when it's cold.
- A helmet if you're playing in whitewater or surf.
Avoid
What not to wear kayaking
Cotton tees, hoodies and jeans
Paddle maker AquaBound puts it bluntly: once cotton gets wet, it stays wet, and you'll rapidly lose body heat in a wet cotton tee, flannel shirt or denim jeans.
Instead: polyester or nylon that dries fast. Paddling Magazine notes merino wool still insulates when wet.
Dressing for the air temperature
Water pulls heat from your body far faster than air; Paddling Magazine puts it at 25 times faster. A warm day doesn't warm the lake.
Instead: dress for the water temperature, using the ladder above.
Footwear that won't stay put
Rocky launches and takeouts are hard on bare or loosely covered feet.
Instead: secure river shoes or old sneakers, per the ACA; neoprene booties or socks in cold water.
A life jacket stowed behind the seat
Cold shock hits in the first minute. That isn't the time to be putting a life jacket on.
Instead: wear it, zipped and fitted, before you launch.
Questions
Kayak clothing FAQ
Can I wear jeans kayaking?
It's a poor choice. Denim is cotton, so once it's wet it stays wet, gets heavy and pulls heat from your legs. Quick-dry synthetic pants or shorts are lighter and dry fast.
Do I need a wetsuit for kayaking in summer?
It depends on the water, not the season. Big, deep or spring-fed lakes can stay cold well into summer. The National Center for Cold Water Safety recommends thermal protection whenever the water is below 70°F, and says there are no exceptions for hot weather.
Wetsuit or drysuit?
Either can work if it does its job. The center's standard is a wetsuit thick and snug enough to protect you, or a drysuit that doesn't leak and has enough warm clothing underneath. Swim test whichever you choose.
Building out the rest of your kit? See kayaking essentials for beginners.
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