• 46 things to wear

What Should I Wear Kayaking

Dress for the water, not the air: what to wear in a kayak, part by part.

What Should I Wear Kayaking

  1. SwimsuitWhat warm-water outfitters tell guests to wear. One says it plainly: plan on getting wet.
  2. Quick-dry T-shirtA La Jolla outfitter’s alternative to a swimsuit, worn with shorts.
  3. Quick-dry shortsThe other half of that outfit. They dry in the sun between splashes.
  4. Activewear that dries fastOn the same outfitter’s list. Gym clothes in a synthetic fabric do the job.
  5. Clothes you do not mind getting wetPaddles drip water into the boat, as one tour operator warns its guests.
  6. Light windbreaker over the swimsuitOne outfitter suggests it with beach attire, for wind on the water.
  7. Cotton shirt you can wet, on a hot dayA cold water safety group’s trick for heat on warm water: cotton holds water, so splash it.
  8. Rented wetsuit, if the outfitter suggests oneOne La Jolla outfitter decides by the water temperature and the wind on the day.
  9. Towel and dry clothes for afterwardsOn two outfitters’ lists, for after the tour. Leave them in the car or a locker.

Next step Cold water from a bigger boat? See the whale watch list

All 46 things to wear

On warm water 9

  • Activewear that dries fast On the same outfitter’s list. Gym clothes in a synthetic fabric do the job.
  • Clothes you do not mind getting wet Paddles drip water into the boat, as one tour operator warns its guests.
  • Cotton shirt you can wet, on a hot day A cold water safety group’s trick for heat on warm water: cotton holds water, so splash it.
  • Light windbreaker over the swimsuit One outfitter suggests it with beach attire, for wind on the water.
  • Quick-dry shorts The other half of that outfit. They dry in the sun between splashes.
  • Quick-dry T-shirt A La Jolla outfitter’s alternative to a swimsuit, worn with shorts.
  • Rented wetsuit, if the outfitter suggests one One La Jolla outfitter decides by the water temperature and the wind on the day.
  • Swimsuit What warm-water outfitters tell guests to wear. One says it plainly: plan on getting wet.
  • Towel and dry clothes for afterwards On two outfitters’ lists, for after the tour. Leave them in the car or a locker.

On cold water 11

  • Dry suit The Weather Service’s second example. It keeps the water out.
  • Extra warm layer or two In case you end up damp or chilly. The Alaska outfitter asks guests to bring them.
  • Fleece layer Named by the same outfitter. Synthetic layers are its way to keep warm if you get wet.
  • Rain gear in a dry bag A Lake Superior park lists rain gear and dry storage containers for sea kayakers.
  • Rain jacket for a wet-weather paddle That outfitter paddles rain or shine and always packs for wet weather.
  • Spray skirt It keeps you dry and warm, in a national park’s words. Decked sea kayaks take one.
  • Warm clothing under the dry suit A dry suit needs enough warm clothing beneath it, a cold water safety group says.
  • Wetsuit The Weather Service’s first example of dressing for the water temperature.
  • Wetsuit or dry suit when the water is under 70°F The National Center for Cold Water Safety’s line for wearing thermal protection.
  • Wetsuit thick and snug enough to work The same group: thick enough for the cold, and snug, or it will not work properly.
  • Wool or synthetic layer next to the skin An Alaska outfitter’s rule: clothing that wicks, insulates and dries quickly.

On your feet 7

  • Bare feet in the boat, where the operator asks One clear-kayak operator bans shoes in its boats, because they may scratch.
  • Closed-toe water shoes On an Alaska outfitter’s list of footwear that suits a kayak.
  • Hiking boots, on a cold guided trip From the same list. Guides launch from the water’s edge to keep feet dry, with no guarantee.
  • Rubber boots For a cold-water launch. The Alaska outfitter counts them as appropriate.
  • Running shoes you can get wet Guests are usually happy in them, that outfitter says, though feet may get wet.
  • Sandals for the walk to the launch A La Jolla outfitter suggests sandals or water shoes for getting down to the beach.
  • Warm wool socks You may not stay dry, the outfitter says, but in wool you will be warm.

Head and sun 6

  • Hat for the sun On two warm-water outfitters’ lists of things to bring.
  • Helmet, below cliffs and in sea caves A California island park says always to wear one there.
  • Reef-safe sunscreen, at sea The kind a La Jolla outfitter recommends to its guests.
  • Sunglasses with a strap A La Jolla outfitter adds the strap. A dropped pair sinks.
  • Sunscreen, put on before you launch One operator asks guests to apply it before boarding and to let it dry.
  • Waterproof phone case Optional on one outfitter’s list. It lets the phone come along as the camera.

Always 6

  • Bright clothing Sea kayaks ride low and are hard to see, a Lake Superior park says. Bright colors help.
  • Child-size life jacket, for a child Adult sizes may not work for children. Federal law has children under 13 wear one underway.
  • Clothes chosen for the water temperature The Weather Service’s rule: let the water temperature, not the air, decide what you wear.
  • Fabric that dries fast Wool and synthetics dry quickly and insulate when wet, an Alaska outfitter says. Wet cotton chills.
  • Life jacket that fits snugly The Coast Guard says to wear one at all times when the boat is underway.
  • Whistle on the life jacket A national park’s kayak list notes that a whistle or horn is required by law for signaling.

Leave at home 7

  • No cans, glass or throwaway bottles One operator bans disposable containers. A reusable bottle is on another’s list.
  • No cotton on cold water Once it is wet it stays wet and makes you cold, an Alaska outfitter warns.
  • No cotton under a dry suit The cold water safety group says so directly.
  • No jeans in a kayak The same warning names jeans. They stay wet.
  • No life jacket stowed in a hatch It can save your life, the Coast Guard says, but only when you wear it.
  • No shoes you need to keep dry One outfitter is frank: nothing is a guarantee, and your feet may get wet.
  • No summer clothes alone on cold water A cold water safety group calls it a dangerous mistake to skip the wetsuit when the air is hot.

How it works

What should I wear kayaking? A life jacket, over clothes picked for the water’s temperature, not the air’s. These 46 things are sorted by warm and cold water, with footwear and a row worn on every trip.

Read the full guide

Dress for the water, not the air

The National Weather Service’s rule for cold water is to dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature, and it gives a wetsuit and a dry suit as examples. The National Center for Cold Water Safety recommends that protection whenever the water is below 70°F. One Lake Superior park notes that its surface water rarely passes 60°F, even in late summer.

The life jacket goes on you, not in the boat

The Coast Guard says to keep a life jacket on whenever the vessel is underway, though the law does not always require it. Federal law does require one on children under 13. State rules differ, so check yours.

  • On a guided tour, read the packing list that comes with your booking first: outfitters supply some gear and rent the rest.

Questions and answers

What should I wear while kayaking?

A life jacket over clothes that suit the water temperature. On warm water that means a swimsuit or quick-dry shorts and a T-shirt. On cold water it means a wetsuit or a dry suit, with wool or synthetic layers and no cotton.

What should I wear kayaking in cold weather?

Dress for the water first: a wetsuit, or a dry suit with warm layers beneath. Add a rain jacket, wool socks and a spare warm layer in a dry bag. An Alaska outfitter tells guests to avoid cotton and jeans.

What shoes should I wear kayaking?

Shoes that can get wet. Outfitters name closed-toe water shoes, sandals for the walk to the beach, running shoes and rubber boots. One operator of clear kayaks does not allow shoes in the boat, so check before you go.

Do I have to wear a life jacket in a kayak?

A boat must carry a Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket for each person, and federal law has children under 13 wear theirs while underway. The Coast Guard advises everyone to wear one, and state laws vary.

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