Following on from Graeme’s thread of what to take, now it’s a discussion on what to wear time.
This will be based in my experiences, opinions and purchases so take it as that and not as gospel.
I’ll start with spare clothes..... Warm socks, underwear, fleece trs and fleecy top even in summer the water can be cold, couple this with a wind proof top and maybe trs too. Hopefully you won’t need them.
Whilst paddling.
Summer wear... easy, wear what you will but NOT jeans or denim etc these will soak up water an suck the heat from you like a heat sucker from heat suck town on their annual holiday.
What I wear, now I’ve fitted comfy kneeling pads I wear board shorts, I do get stung every now and then by nettles but what the hell or for long trs thin high wicking quick drying outdoorsy ones, for the top either a long sleeve shirt (one of the outdoorsy safari style ones) these prevent sunburn, reasonably cool and wick well. Or a high wicking t shirt. All these can be bought at a reasonable cost. Oh and don’t forget the sun cream.
Cooler weather
As above but adding an extra fleece and chucking on either water proofs (will jabber on about those later) or windproof tops.
Cold weather
Now it gets interesting..... What I think you need here is clothes that are warm, even when wet! Me I have a pair of Buffalo salapettes, and for Xmas I will be adding a Montane smock. Both Pertex and pile. Not cheap but last year in May whilst wearing my salapettes I chucked myself into the Wye as a “casualty” in what was the Canoe Safety Test, not only was I helping the instructors I was seeing how these things worked in a dunking. I was pleasantly surprised how they performed both in and out of the water. For me Pertex and Pile for paddling and a warm coat for brew stops if it is really cold.
Wet weather
I may get my head chewed off for this but I don’t think that you NEED high performance paddling specific wet weather gear. Normal water proof gear will get you by; you may end up with damp sleeves but if you can live with that you are ok. However, paddling specific wet weather gear is cut to allow freedom of movement in a paddling environment. I can recommend Palm stuff as I have the Cobra pants and the Caspian top and are more than happy with them. I always carry these on trips summer or winter.
Let the debate begin.
Cheers
Tim
Well I'm no expert on this but for me it's an easy choice....
Summer wear - t-shirt, shorts and sunglasses - plenty of opportunity to catch the rays
maybe a hat!
Cooler weather - tracky bottoms and long sleeve top/ fleece, dry cag if windy.
Cold weather - anything you like to keep you warm and leave the boat at home
Wet weather - a roof and central heating - anyone who chooses to paddle in these conditions is raving mad
With age comes wisdom - as some will eventually realise, however the next stage is senility when you forget all the wisdom and go back to doing daft things
I'm happy sat in the middle watching and hearing of others antics
For touring.
Well for me board shorts, T shirt or rashy for the summer with a pair of Merrell shoes, if it gets cooler then fleece and Craig Hopper zip offs.
For cooler days Palm Newfoundland touring cag keeps the wind and the spray/rain off and a pair of Keela waterproof trousers.
For rivers (G2+)
Either Palm Sidewinder cag and trousers or the Palm Torrent Drysuit and Typhoon Rock Boots. For winter base layer Peak long sleeved thermal rash vest, Reed Transpire fleece and a pair of Reed Transpire fleece socks and a pair of Lidl fleece trousers.
I always carry spare clothes in a drybag just in case that I or another member of the group need to get warm or dry.
One thing I always wear is a BA it just doesn't seem right to paddle without, it's like trying to paddle without a paddle!
A good thread Tim, a very good thread indeed as I remember my starting days and looking at all the 'Ray Mears@ clones wondering what they did to keep dry and comfortable in less than good weather.
for me with the British climate being not all that cool even in the winter I wear board shorts vertually all the time and paid a little extra for the 'teflon©' version as they dry very quickly. 'Nailers' Gell knee pads are my preferred option for kneeling comfort. For those few really cold days (Frostbite meet 2009) I wear some relatively cheap snowboard salopettes waterproofed with that renowned product.
Upper body next to me skin I wear modern seamless breathable materials, those specifically, as claimed by the manufacturers to dra perperation away and again these dry very quickly.
Out side that tends to suit the temperature anthing from a bright Hawaiin shirt to a natural sheep fleece waste coat. Anything that dries quickly. When paddling in splashing moving water a semi dry cag. For wet weather a 'Vans' snow board jacket.
Dry suit when I know I will get wet on those colder days
Wet suit and board shorts for when I know I will get wet on those warmer days.
I hope sharing this helps
Oh......... and the hat
(25-08-09 12:19 PM)Jamatrad Wrote: [ -> ]A good thread Tim, a very good thread indeed as I remember my starting days and looking at all the 'Ray Mears@ clones wondering what they did to keep dry and comfortable in less than good weather.
for me with the British climate being not all that cool even in the winter I wear board shorts vertually all the time and paid a little extra for the 'teflon©' version as they dry very quickly. 'Nailers' Gell knee pads are my preferred option for kneeling comfort. For those few really cold days (Frostbite meet 2009) I wear some relatively cheap snowboard salopettes waterproofed with that renowned product.
Upper body next to me skin I wear modern seamless breathable materials, those specifically, as claimed by the manufacturers to dra perperation away and again these dry very quickly.
Out side that tends to suit the temperature anthing from a bright Hawaiin shirt to a natural sheep fleece waste coat. Anything that dries quickly. When paddling in splashing moving water a semi dry cag. For wet weather a 'Vans' snow board jacket.
Dry suit when I know I will get wet on those colder days
Wet suit and board shorts for when I know I will get wet on those warmer days.
I hope sharing this helps
Oh......... and the hat
Sadly my clothing does resemble R,M's. or should I say his choice of clothing for outdoors sometimes resembles mine! Light weight trousers and shirt with a wide brimmed hat, yes I agree it looks like I am off to a safari, but the damn things fit the bill so well, I do like the Bear Grylls / Craghopper range but I WILL NOT wear it with his name on, not that I have anything against the bloke, but I have standards however low they may be.
As for the hat, I do like wide brimmed hats, my favorite for a time was a Rouge leather bush hat, but after a few years of use the leather on the brow resembled plastic and felt uncomfortable. I tried a few Tilley lookalikes before I went for the real thing, a great hat with a foam insert in the top to help it float and protect my everthinning head from wayward branches.
Foot wear next?
Ahh Footwear
I have tried most things and there is not one answer for everybody. Yes I also
own sealskin socks. Kept with the spare kit for emergences!
I am simple soul/sole and have found my preferred option.
Summer wear - 'Drainer' Trainers made of mesh type nylon and with small mesh covered holes so they hold no water and obviously dry quickly. Quite often worn with trainer socks.
For the colder days I have a pair of rubber socks, yes rubber socks which I wear with thermal socks and my Drainer Trainers. Never get wet feet and they always keep warm. Socks are a bit kinky looking but what the heck.
me personal for Trad I normally just wear my normal clothes like combats or tracksuit bottoms, a simple top and shoes maybe with a waterproof/jumper dependent on the weather conditions.
But for everything else no matter what the weather I live in my typhoon drysuit with shorts and strappy top if its warm or tracksuit bottoms, socks and jumper if its cold and a pair of waterproof shoes that go over me feet.
(26-08-09 10:46 AM)Scary @ YC Wrote: [ -> ],,,,,, and a pair of waterproof shoes that go over me feet.
Where else would they go
Shoes shoes shoes, where do I start, I try to kneel as much as I can but my ankles protest in an agonising way, in summer I sometimes go bare foot (awaiting to be sent to the naughty step for this,BUT I only go barefoot in non challenging water) I have tried sandles but bending the soles the wrong way has seen them split. Now I have a pair of Palm Granite river shoes which seem to have fit the bill. Winter time I wear some Muddies
County neo wellies, OH so warm and a little bendy so kneeling for a bit of bubbly stuff doesn't hurt too much. Oh yes I tried them out whilst swimming too, I wore them with my salopettes as stated above. I have a pair of those "crock" style rubber clog things, I know they look c£@P but they are suprisingly comfortable and will try them this coming W/E in my boat.
Cheers
Tim
(25-08-09 08:12 AM)Tim Wrote: [ -> ]Cold weather
Now it gets interesting..... What I think you need here is clothes that are warm, even when wet! Me I have a pair of Buffalo salapettes, and for Xmas I will be adding a Montane smock. Both Pertex and pile. Not cheap but last year in May whilst wearing my salapettes I chucked myself into the Wye as a “casualty” in what was the Canoe Safety Test, not only was I helping the instructors I was seeing how these things worked in a dunking. I was pleasantly surprised how they performed both in and out of the water. For me Pertex and Pile for paddling and a warm coat for brew stops if it is really cold.
Bu**er me....
..
How the heck are you going to swim in all that, not in a "controlled environment", in the WILD....
Stick with your summer gear, and get a two piece Palm (or other make) Dry suit to go over the top.., If you swim, get back in your boat and paddle, 3 mins roasty toasty.....Sorted...
I'd rather LOOSE clothing that might absorb water in winter, than increase it....
Cheers
Red.
(26-08-09 09:49 PM)redframe Wrote: [ -> ]Bu**er me......
How the heck are you going to swim in all that, not in a "controlled environment", in the WILD....
I'd rather LOOSE clothing that might absorb water in winter, than increase it....
Cheers
Red.
Honesty Red it wasn't that bad at all, even when climbing out of the water it didn't feel like I was carrying a dead weight, no more than a fleecy top and trs would, yet I stayed warm.
Cheers
Tim
summer-----camo kilt + shirt
winter-------wet suit + neo boots
Might be time to stick my paddle in here. I'm thinking of getting a dry suit - or dry cag and trousers, mainly for winter or cold weather. I'd prefer a two-piece (cag and trousers). Any recommendations??
Biff
PS. Cost might be a problem
!!
(27-08-09 01:08 PM)Biff Wrote: [ -> ]Might be time to stick my paddle in here. I'm thinking of getting a dry suit - or dry cag and trousers, mainly for winter or cold weather. I'd prefer a two-piece (cag and trousers). Any recommendations??
Biff
PS. Cost might be a problem !!
Phone Graeme he will advise you correctly
(27-08-09 01:08 PM)Biff Wrote: [ -> ]Might be time to stick my paddle in here. I'm thinking of getting a dry suit - or dry cag and trousers, mainly for winter or cold weather. I'd prefer a two-piece (cag and trousers). Any recommendations??
Biff
PS. Cost might be a problem !!
Hi Biff,
Personally I prefer the two piece, I find it gives a bit more free movement, added bonuses are that you can spread the cost over time by buying the top first and the tousers later on, and that if you damage or wear out either piece you don't have to replace the whole lot....
Mine are Palm and I can't fault them....
As Jammy says, have a word with Graeme...
Cheers
Red.