PROTECTIVE CLOTHING INVENTORY

Dry Suit: (Keeps wearer warm and dry.)
A dry suit is a waterproof garment, with tight fitting neck, wrist and ankle gaskets made of stretchy rubber. There are one or more waterproof zippers to allow entry into the suit, and in some cases one to allow the wearer to relieve themselves. Some suits may even feature a hood and or socks.
Dry suits offer the highest level of thermal protection. They work by trapping a pocket of air, warmed by your body, inside the suit. A dry suit by its self cannot keep you warm. When an insulation layer such as polyester fleece is worn under the dry suit, that layer will remain dry and warm, keeping the wearer safe and comfortable, even while fully submerged.
Dry suits do not allow much, if any, perspiration to escape, so it is essential to wear fabrics that wick moisture away from the skin and remain warm even when wet. Wearing long underwear with wicking properties under your insulation layer will facilitate this.
Some dry suits come as two-piece outfits; I recommend a one-piece suit to reduce the number of openings and possible leaking.
Caution: Make sure you know how to use your dry suit. Neck, wrist and ankle gaskets are fragile. Proper maintenance, inspection and donning of garment is necessary to insure a tight waterproof seal. Never paddle with a dry suit partially open. If you capsize the suit will fill with cold water, and make you less buoyant limiting your ability to float and remount your kayak.
Wear a dry suit when you know you will be exposed to the coldest conditions and for extended durations. Dry suits, with an appropriate insulation layer, are very good for cold water, winds, splashing waves, rain and cold air. A dry suit is your vapor barrier to keep the wind and rain off, but it will also protect your warm, dry, insulation layer. A dry suit is also a good choice if you will be unable to land, such as a long crossing in open water, or along coastline with a shore that you cannot land on.

Wet Suits: (Keeps wearer warm and wet.)
A wet suit is a neoprene rubber garment that fits snugly against the skin. It works by trapping a layer of water, warmed by your body heat, against the skin. When you enter the water with a wet suit on you will feel the cold water seep into your suit and gradually warm to your body temperature. Once the water gets in your suit, and warms, it will stay there at a comfortable temperature. There is little circulation with the colder water that the wearer is swimming in.
Wet suits come in a wide variety of types, and there are new materials that transcend the original neoprene roots. The principles of wet suits and, the materials they are made from have many other garment applications, such as boots, gloves and hoods.
A "Farmer John" or "Farmer Jane" (his and hers) is the most common wet suit. Like the name implies it is kind of a water sport overall, long legs and a tank top. It keeps the your torso and lower body warm. The neck and arms are exposed and more often than not an additional upper garment, over the farmer john/jane, is necessary to complete the outfit. This type of suit does increase the freedom of motion in the upper body, witch is essential for kayakers.
A "Full Suit" covers the whole body, arms, neck, torso and legs. Most wet suits are made for scuba divers and surfers who do not need the same freedom of motion that a kayaker will need in the arms. Check the fit of a full suit carefully to make sure that your paddling motion will not be inhibited. If there is any stretchy, "rubber band" like feeling while simulating paddling, do not get that suit. Even a little bit of stretch will be multiplied by a long trip and leave you fighting your own suit for every mile. Look for a suit with flexible material in the shoulder area.
A "Shorty" is like a full suit but has short arms and legs. This garment provides less protection, but keeps your core warm and is good for extending your summer season. Check the fit just like you would on the full suit.
Wet suits also come as "Short Pants", "Tank Tops" and "Short Shirts." Wet suit shorts and tops are ideal for summer use of sit-on-top kayaks, and can be worn under quick drying shirts and pants (nylon or fleece) to extend your season. Short sleeve wet suit tops can be worn in combination with farmer a john/jane. Most of these short sleeve tops have flexible material in the shoulders that allow for the movements of paddlers.
You will feel wet inside of your wet suit from perspiration or from water that has entered your suit. Wet suits of any kind are best worn against the skin or over a thin layer such as a bathing suit.
Addition garments such as a splash tops or insulation layers are best worn over the wet suit.
Wet suits are now available with added features. My favorite is a "Fuzzy Rubber" wet suit, with a layer of poly fleece laminated on the inside that wicks moisture away from your skin, leaving you feeling dry, but still traps warm water against the skin, while submerged. Some wet suit materials have tiny flecks of metal that act like a space blanket to reflect your body heat back at you. Others are extremely stretchy to allow full freedom of motion. Some materials are even semi-breathable allowing for additional comfort while paddling or while on shore.
Many wet suits have a layer or two of lycra laminated to the neoprene rubber. This gives the suit a nice, fabric feel and offers some protection for the rubber. On the down side, the outer layer of lycra can absorb water and when wind blows, it can evaporate that water cooling the wet suit wearer. To avoid this look for a suit with a non-absorptive outer surface or wear a splash top over the wet suit.
Wear a wet suit when the water temperature is colder than you would be comfortable swimming in. The colder the water the more protection you will want. If you have less protection rather than more protection, make sure you have identified several landing locations along your route to stop and warm up as necessary. Add an insulation layer and or a splash layer over the wet suit as necessary for additional warmth.
HatsKeeps core warm.)
Hats??? Yes hats! Most of the heat lost from the body is lost from the head. A good hat will help keep your whole body warm. Even a ball cap will help, but good outdoor or water sports headwear will do the job right. The best protection comes from a polar fleece watch cap. The polyester material dries fast, is warm when wet and light weight. If it is too warm to wear one, tuck it into a handy place for quick access. Put it on when you take a break or when you feel the chill. Keep a spare handy for an ill prepared paddling partner.
Broad brim hats are good for the sun, but they also shed the cold rain away from your head, face and neck. These wide brim hats are made especially for a variety of conditions such as rain, cold weather and sun protection or some combination there of.
Hoods and skullcaps for kayakers are usually made of neoprene or some of the High-Tec hybrid materials. They are best for very wet cold conditions such as white water, ocean surfing, and big water crossings in bad weather. They also fit nicely under a helmet.
Gloves and PogiesKeeps hands warm, maintains dexterity.)
Look for gloves made specifically for kayakers. Test grip a paddle shaft (or something like it) tightly, with the glove on to determine if a seam will give you a blister. Gloves come in a wide variety of styles and materials. For cold water use, look for neoprene gloves. Some styles of gloves will have palms made from synthetic leather. (Do not get natural leather!) At Tom's TopKayaker Shop:

PADDLING GLOVES
Neoprene paddling gloves keep your hands warm, but can be used in all weather for improved grip and hand protection. Can be used in combination with pogies for extra protection.
POGIESNeoprene paddling mitts to keep your hands warm in raw weather. Wraps around paddle shaft giving the paddler the option of bare hands grip inside mitt, or can be used with paddling gloves for extra protection.
Gloves will come with a wide selection of protection levels. Some will have long cuffs, some mesh backs; some will have fingertips cut off. Get the level of protection you think you will need and a spare pair of different gloves that can accommodate more severe conditions as back ups. Less protection will be necessary in the warmer months. Gloves can be used all year protect the skin of your hands, softened by exposure to water, from blisters and cuts.
Pogies are like mittens for kayakers, but do not have thumbs and there are holes for the paddle shaft to enter. You attach them to your paddle shaft, with a flap and a Velcro closure. A large hole is available to insert your hand into each pogie. You can then grip your paddle shaft with your hand inside the pogie. They create a pocket of protection around your hands and the grip area of your paddle shaft.
FootwearKeeps feet warm and safe.)
Neoprene Boots will keep your feet warm, and protected from some of the harsh landscapes that kayakers encounter. Paddlers originally found their neoprene footwear among scuba supplies. Today many companies make booties or boots especially for kayakers, while the scuba suppliers are still a valid source.
Water will enter your Neoprene shoes while launching, landing and normal paddling activities. Only high-top, knee-high boots have a chance of preventing that. The water that fills the shoes will warm to your body temperature, like a wet suit and keep your feet warm.
Neoprene boots come in a wide variety of styles. Some are literally neoprene socks, some are booties like house slippers, other come up and over the ankle, even knee high in some cases. A sturdy sole will greatly aid in comfort on the foot wells/rests of your kayak, as well as a rocky barnacle beach landing. Make sure that the boots fit well. If they are too loose water will circulate in your shoes and cool your feet, or even wash off in a wave! If they are too tight it will restrict blood flow and cause your feet to be cold.
Wearing wicking socks inside your boots can enhance comfort. While you cannot expect to have dry feet, they will feel less wet and clammy. Use wicking type synthetic socks that are thin, thick, or in some cases, maybe knee high boots, wool socks.
If you are using a "high-top" or "knee-high" style boots, make sure that you do not tuck your splash pants into the top of the boots. Water will trickle down into the shoe and get your feet wet, foiling your plans to keep dry feet.
Many kayakers may choose rubber "Gum Boots." I would recommend against this because they will become useless and heavy in a capsize situation.
Some summer type footwear such as sandals and mesh top beach shoes can be enhanced by using neoprene socks, but a good pair of neoprene kayaker's boots is your best choice.
Splash WearKeeps insulation layer dry, blocks wind.)
Paddling jackets and pants are the kayaker's equivalent to the hiker's rain suit and/or windbreaker. While a rain suit could be used in a pinch, the splash top and splash pants are your best choice.
These garments are specially made for kayaking, paddler's needs and freedom of movement. Splash tops and pants are made out of water resistant material such as Gore-Tex or urethane coated nylon. Tops come in short and long sleeve varieties. As the name implies, they offer protection from splashes; they are not waterproof in submersion situations like a dry suit.


They are, however, very good vapor barriers protecting the paddler from wind, rain, and the regular splashing that kayakers face. They will also keep your insulation layer warm and dry.
You will likely find that water will penetrate your splash pants if you find your self sitting in a wet cockpit. Sometimes a bit of water will trickle into the sleeves of your top, but for the most part, splash wear will protect your body core, where it counts.
Splash wear will not work by it self; you will need to wear an insulation layer underneath to stay warm and comfortable. Wear splash gear when it rains, or is threatening to rain; for wind protection and for wave splashing. As a vapor barrier splash gear can add an additional level of insulation protection even if I is not raining or windy.