Cold Weather Gear

[CSH]

Can any of y'all give me some idea of what kinda of gear I need for paddling when it is colder? Say 50 to 60 degrees air temperature, cold water. Mainly spring in AR and OK. I am a novice in an open boat. So getting wet is highly likely.

[canoe]

That's not cold, that's warm weather paddling around here.

[paddledog]

CSH,
If the air (including windchill) and water temps added together don't total 100 degrees, hypothermia is a possibility.
As for what to get? It's a matter of cost vs. comfort.
On the bottom (cheap) end, layers of synthetic clothing topped by a water proof skin. I have seen people layer up fleece with a windbreaker jacket and pants get down the river. Albeit, not as comfy as the ones decked out in true paddling gear. Remember this - Cotton Kills!
At the top (big bucks) of the list is a dry suit. Look around for bargains, Ebay etc. These with an insulating layer underneath will get you down in the worst of weather. Be sure you get one made from "breathable" fabric. The cheaper "non-breathable" ones are like wearing a giant trash bag. You will sweat underneath and become dangerously cold later.
Every paddler has their own temp limit. With good gear you can go lower than you think.

[GutIt]

Hey CSH!

Give this a look and see if it sheds any light! Its a bit dated, but still basically good for today!

http://ozarkmtnpaddlers.org/cold_weather.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Disclaimer:
Please keep in mind that I am no longer affiliated with this org., but they keep my stuff on their site (so far)!

[RomanLA]

Here's the ACA guide for cold water survival (less than 120F combined air and water temperature).
http://www.americancanoe.org/PDF/coldwater.pdf

Here's the basics that I always wear in cold weather...
Smartwool Socks
https://www.smartwool.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
NRS Mystery Helmet Liner
http://www.nrsweb.com/
Patagonia Capilene 3 Base Layer
http://www.patagonia.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Glacier Gloves 802BK Water sports Glove
http://www.glacieroutdoor.com/

I haven't gotten a dry suit yet, so I usually wear a 3mm farmer john wetsuit with a semi-dry top. I've swam in the Nantahala while it was snowing with this combination and I was fine. I also have dry pants, but I don't really care for them (water tends to leak in at the waist).

p.s. You only need a Capilene 3 top with a wet suit.

[Jeremy M]

Whenever people ask me this question.....I tell them basically there are three ways they can go on this....Warm when wet, warm when dry, and of course the combination of the two.

Warm when wet:
Basically consisting of some sort of neoprene (terraprene is more environmentally friendly) They both work by trapping and heating a layer of water against your skin, keeping you warm after you've taken a dip. Are you warm when dry? Yes, but it is less effective and from my experience, the wind blows through these things easily. How warm will the system be? In other words how cold could I paddle? This is not a question easily answered by a 100 or 120 degree rule. How thick is the neoprene (.5mm or 3mm)? Are you warm natured? Are you paddling in a gorge or is the sun on you all day? This type of system tends to be the most "cost effective", meaning it would be the cheapest of the three.

Warm when dry:
This is where gore-tex comes into play. I'm not strictly talking about a drysuit here, because there are other options in the warm when dry category and for some people, not buying a drysuit makes the most sense because they'll have more gear in the quiver to handle different weather scenarios. Anyway, I digress. This system is the one preferred by many paddlers out there. Its a layering system and as such is a bit more expensive for the initial investment. Baselayer, Midlayer, Outerlayer. For this discussion we can skip the first two and talk about the options to keep you dry. Dry pants and a dry top, Bibs and a dry top, or a dry suit. Each option is progressively dryer. The dry pants and top do a great job, if you don't swim, but if you do, you will tend to get a little wet...etc.. with the Bibs, and with a drysuit, you can paddle in your tuxedo, James Bond style, and go to a cocktail party afterward, if thats your thing. In this section, I do believe it worthy to note that if you're cold natured, choosing Gore-Tex or some other breathable component, may actually allow the wind to chill you more. What I'm saying is non-breathable is warmer but, your sweat has no where to go, and you're actually still wet on the inside.

Combination:
This is the classic beginner kayaker outfit, but also works for an open boater. Warm when wet bottoms, combined with a warm when dry top. Or neoprene bottom and either a paddle jacket or dry top on top. Nice system -- if you don't swim. While this system probably won't be the last gear you ever buy, it is nice, because now you're beginning to build the quiver. Lets face it, this is a gear intensive sport, and to some thats half the fun (myself included).

What ever you choose, it is important to consider what would happen if you swim. Dress for a swim. We're all in between swims. But HAVE FUN! Kayaking, Canoeing, and Rafting is all supposed to be fun. So choose what you can afford and don't exceed you're personal skill level. Sometimes the weather can increase the difficulty of a river that day. Be smart, but don't get hung up in the details.

Okay, that was more like 3 cents.

[Jeremy M]

Look around for bargains, Ebay etc.

Or sometimes your local outfitter will have bargains too...

[Crane]

In paddling, when my personal comfort is an issue, I've discovered that spending an extra few bucks to up-grade to the best quality gear I can afford is ALWAYS a good investment. Trying to do it on the cheap typically ends in discomfort...

[RomanLA]

Trying to do it on the cheap typically ends in discomfort...

Agreed...I wasted so much money on trial and error gear last year, that I probably could have bought a dry suit.

[Monsoon]

SPEND MONEY ON THE GOODS! I did and very happy I did. You'll be out a little extra cash, but thats the price you pay for this addiction.

Edit: So my question is how do I get comfy with the base layer and the hydro skin over it? Its seem like it all rides where ya dont want it.

[Cowper]

Oh man. This is a tough one, only because there are Soooooo many options, and because there's 60 and sunny, and then there's 50 and cloudy, or worse, 50 and drizzling. That in itself changes the answer dramatically. There are also huge personal differences - on days when a young, high metabolism, "not thin" person can wear shorts, I might be wearing my full drysuit. And we can't forget another basic question, what do you already own?

If you know for sure boating is going to be a major interest for you, consider getting a drysuit, or at least, "bibs" and a dry top. With a drysuit, your comfort at 45 and raining is better than what you might have now on a 55 degree or 60 day with the wind blowing. You don't have to be "crazy" about the sport for a dry suit to be a good thing, because it makes marginal days comfortable, therefore you don't have to be crazy to go out in weather, that to the unprepared, seems marginal, while to the fully prepared, is not extreme at all. BUT, you do have to like it enough to be going every weekend or every other weekend during the season, or you'll be spending too much for something you use only 3 to 6 times per year.

If you're not ready to make that leap yet, then start with what you own now, and supplement it. I think the others are already providing input on what those options might be; I just wanted to make the point about how spending more could cause you to completely change your perceptions of what it takes to be "too cold to paddle".

[A Savage spanke]

Personally I hate neopreme, it just seems to hold the cold water to me, and be uncomfertable. I know you arn't a kayaker, but a semi dry top with multiple layers of poly pro is the best. Poly pro is really comfortable and really warm. I rolled all the time too. As a kayaker my hands are always in the water so I don't wear gloves, they don't ever have time to get warm it seems. Being an open boater you might be much better off with gloves. Wait all this is way to warm for 50-6o degree gear...

For 50-60 I'd wear a splash top or semi dry top with a neopreme shirt under it

[CSH]

Thanks for your help everyone.

Chris

[Roy Staggs]

IMHO the best way to extend your paddling season is to invest in a breathable dry suit. Don't leave off the relief zipper and get the gore-tex booties. My low temperature cut-off is 27 degrees but the water better be dang good, the sun shining, and the wind better not be blowing. My nose gets cold.

[WoolyJR1]

I guess it all depends on what you think is cold. I am a little bigger than most kayakers, so I have a little more insulation. I went the fairly cheap route. I use a hydroskin shirt and a farmer john wetsuit with a semi drytop. When it is really cold I wear a capaline 4 shirt on top of my hydroskin. I am good down to around freezing, even after a swim, but I am also a warm person. I am really sold on hydroskin as a cheaper alternative and as a base layer. It is really flexible and keeps me pretty warm. I wear it alone when the wind is not blowing very much. Another alternative to hydroskin is mystery skin. It is a little thicker and has a rubber coating on the outside to keep the wind off of you. I personally don't own any, but everyone I meet that has it likes it. The only problem that I have with my set up is that when I have to change out of it on the side of the river. When it is really cold, that is when I get cold. That is when I really want a drysuit, so that I can leave my nice warm dry base layer on and put my dry clothes on over it.