Here are the key points to remember when choosing what to wear to go kayaking:
- Always wear your PFD – no exceptions
- Dress for immersion – cold water kills
- Layer up – wicking base layers, and insulating layers for warmth
- Don’t get burned – a sunhat, long sleeves and sun cream
- Avoid cotton – cotton absorbs moisture and stays damp (and cold)
When considering what to wear, paddlers should consider:
- water temperature
- air temperature
- wind strength, and wind chill
- precipitation
- distance from land
- group size & rescue capablilities
- personal skills & experience
Spring and Fall are great times to paddle, but the cold water temperatures encountered during those seasons, particularly Spring, make paddling significantly more dangerous. Paddlers who are immersed in cold water lose body heat four to five times faster than when in air of the same temperature. Such rapid heat loss can lead to cold shock, cold incapacitation, hypothermia, and death.
| Water Temperature | Hypothermia Risk | Appropriate Clothing |
|---|---|---|
| 15°C and up | Low | Clothing for the weather |
| 12 – 15°C | Moderate | Wetsuit or drysuit |
| 7 – 12°C | High | Drysuit with thermal layers |
| below 7°C | Extreme | Drysuit strongly recommended |
For context, here are expected temperatures in Okanagan Lake:
- Late May through September, Okanagan Lake is usually above 15°C.
- In May it averages 10-14°C. In October it averages 12-15°C… cool enough to justify at least a wetsuit.
- Late October to early May it’s less than 10°C, when a drysuit with thermal layers is recommended.
- In Winter the lake can go below 2°C. Paddle with care and caution!
This page from Paddlingmag.com provides excellent information of what to wear on the water.