The way to dress for SUPing, is exactly as you would for any outdoor activity. Dress for the weather so that you are not too hot or too cold. The exception is, you should dress in clothing that dries quickly in case you fall into the water. Choose clothing made of synthetic material, not cotton. But in most cases, all that will get wet is your feet.
The #1 item you should put on is skin protection. A water-proof, broad-spectrum UV sunscreen of at least 15 should go on first, even if the day is forecast as cloudy. Bring the tube with you. Experts advise to reapply at least every 2 hours.
Now let's get you clothed. Starting at the top...
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| Dakine No Zone Floating Hat |
The sun is going to beat down on you unless you are SUPing down a tree lined creek. A baseball cap or visor will protect your face and shade your eyes, but be careful, the tops of your ears may be exposed and can sunburn.
Sunglasses
While SUPing, your eyes take in light from the
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| Peppers Hovercraft Floating Sunglasses |
sun above as well as the reflection from off the water. It is extremely important to wear UV eye protection. Sun glasses will also shield your eyes from wind and bugs.
PFD aka Personal Floatation Device
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| MTI Cascade SUP PFD |
Highly recommended and required in some areas, the choice of a Personal Flotation Device is personal. There are many styles to choose from, anywhere from the inexpensive (but bulky) yellow or orange chest/neck wrap model to the (flat) auto-inflatable.
When choosing your PFD look for one that is designed for watersports. It should fit snuggly around your chest and have ample freedom for arm movement. We offer the
MTI Journey SUP vest and the
MTI Cascade SUP PFD .
Wetsuits
Wetsuits are wonderful for extending your SUPing season. With a wetsuit you can start earlier in the spring and continue longer into the fall.
Look for a good quality neoprene with strong flat lock seams. Wet suit should fit snuggly. They are designed to keep heat in and a little water out.
See your wetsuit choices
Rashguards
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| Rash Guards |
Unless you are a runner, you may have never heard of Rashguards. The continuous arm movement when paddling can cause friction especially on a hot and sticky day. Wearing a rashguard shirt allows your arm to glide along your side.
Rashguards come in long-sleeved (see the hot pink number at top of page), short-sleeved, sleeveless and also shorts. They are fast drying and in most cases have UV protection built in.
See Rashguards
Active Apparel
Some people choose to dress in summer casual clothing, such as
shorts and shirts. Manufacturers have created lines of clothing just for you. Clothing that is breathable, dries quickly, offers UV protection and is great for sports or everyday wear.
Shoes and Gloves
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| ONeill Reactor Reef Boot |
Some people prefer to SUP with bare feet. But there are a number of people that have sensitive feet to cold or rocks, To these people we recommend that they wear water shoes.
Water shoes have a durable textured rubber sole to grip to your board and protect your feet from rocks or other objects at the bottom of the water that you can't see. They are designed to dry quickly and are easy to slip on.
See ONeill Reactor Reef Boots
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| Dakine Full Finger Sailing Gloves |
Paddle in comfort by protecting your hands with gloves. Look for gloves with a non slip palm for a better grip. Breathable mesh on the back and fingers will help to cool your hands. A Velcro wrist adjustment gives you a snug fit and gussets at the knuckle area allows your fingers to grasp your paddle in comfort. Leather fingertips prevents wear and gives you long lasting wear. Gloves are great for SUPing excursions when you will be paddling for a long period of time.
See our Dakine Full Finger Sailing Gloves
