Kayaking Tips - Cold Water and Winter Paddling (Wear, Gear and Risks)

Cold water and winter kayaking is a lot more dangerous than paddlers realize. I often hear stories of paddlers not respecting the risks that go along with cold water, so I hope this video can help make paddlers a bit safer out on the water.
For further info on cold water paddling, please visit:
American Canoe Association, ACA
www.americancanoe.org/
ACA's cold water survival guide
c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.american...
Cold Water Bootcamp and Beyond Cold Water Bootcamp
beyondcoldwaterbootcamp.com/
www.coldwaterbootcamp.com
Paddle Boston's Dress for Cold Water Chart
www.paddleboston.com/advice/dr...
Please reach out with any questions
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[@ericpigg2689]

Great tips! I made a bad mistake last Friday and it almost cost me my life. I went out alone. I tipped in water around 50-55 degrees. Flooded timber with considerable current from a spillway release one mile upstream. I hit a submerged log, and when the rear of my 13 foot kayak slid over it, I lost balance and capsized. I was suddenly in the cold water and current. No wetsuit or dry suit, just clothes (cotton pants, tennis shoes, rayon type shirt and a NorthFace vest) for the 55 degree air temp. I tried to hold onto my kayak and swim it to shore, but the current was taking it away and making it very difficult. I have an inflatable PFD but did not have it set to auto inflate. Instead I pulled to ripcord and thankfully it inflated. At that point I had to make the decision to release my kayak, as I was never going to make it to shore otherwise. As I watched my kayak float down stream, I struggled to grab branches while keeping my head barely above water for what seemed like forever, but was likely only 1 minute or so. When I finally felt my feet hit solid bottom, I thought I was home free. I keep my cell phone in a dry bag with a lanyard around my neck. To my horror, when I got up on my knees and reached for my phone, the metal clasp on my lanyard was broken, and my phone was gone. I was alone, in flooded timber, just over one mile from where I put in. I had no way to call or navigate. I kept a bag with a lighter, flashlight, etc, but like a fool, it was strapped to my kayak, rather than me, so all of that was gone too. At this point, I began wading back toward civilization. The water was between knee deep and chest deep the whole way. I was freezing and thirsty ( drinking water was in my kayak too). I ended up losing both shoes in the process so the last half mile or so was in socked feet. Obviously I made it back to civilization and found someone with a phone to call my wife, who had dropped me off hours earlier, and who had not expected to see me again until dark. It took me 2.5 hrs to walk that mile. I love being out there alone, but it is an eerie feeling to be alone in flooded woods, screaming for help and no one can hear you. With no GPS, it was so easy to get lost as well and waste valuable time and energy backtracking. I was fearing nightfall so badly, as I knew I would be out there until someone found me. I had no chance of moving in the dark. I have a new respect for winter paddling, as this is about my 4th winter of paddling, but my first real incident. I know now that my major mistakes were going alone, not properly securing my phone and survival tools to my person, rather than the kayak, not knowing how to brace to prevent rolls, and not wearing a proper wetsuit or dry suit. It so quickly escalated from "damn I am going to be wet for the rest of the trip" to "I am not going to see my wife and kids again". I was arrogant and ignorant. I always told people when they asked me about the cold water "just don't tip over".

[@travis6923]

eric pigg thanks for that, glad you’re ok

[@Canoejerry]

Don't forget a good boat whistle. Attached to your vest this can often be heard for miles in certain terrain and an experienced outdoors person anywhere will recognize 3 blows as universal emergency. It can also be hooked to your PFD and is extremely simple and reliable. Maybe wouldn't have worked where you are, but as you got closer to your recovery point someone might have heard you earlier.

[@somogyilevente2677]

Maaaaan, we are all glad you made it, but really, 4th winter on the water and you make such rookie mistakes as not wearing AT LEAST a wetsuit, losing all your communication gear etc? This is extremely irresponsible. People please do your homework and get prepared for the worst case scenario.

[@ericpigg2689]

@@somogyilevente2677 sometimes you cannot prepare for a worst case scenario, that is why it is a worst case scenario. I had my phone in a sealed lanyard made specifically for that purpose. I was not counting on the metal clasp that holds it breaking in half. As I admitted, I made several mistakes, but the phone deal was just a freak thing. I stay near the shore, and water temps are in the low 50s here in the winter, so I do not see a need for a suit. I was in the water for nearly 2 hrs and had no ill effects. If the water was colder here, I would wear a dry suit etc. My biggest mistake was going alone in those conditions, which I have not done since.

[@somogyilevente2677]

@@ericpigg2689 Since the currents or the wind might work against you, I definitely recommend a proper drysuit, and in winter you should not have only one device for communication, e.g. I always have a VHF radio, strobe light, whistle etc. ON ME, on my PDF, although here in Hungary even our biggest lake is 70x7 km. Anyway take care man!

[@KetilDuna]

That is a lot of good advice - especially wool. Wool is magical against cold, even wet. One thing that cannot be stressed enough is: Test for the situation you are preparing for. Light a hot fire, keep a sack of dry clothes on land, and jump into the water with the clothes you intend to paddle with (also, with a rope back to your friend on land) in the temperature you want to explore. Time the event, and evaluate after. My only unwilling capsizing so far happened in fall, and I was really shook up - even close to land and with generous amounts of stuff to recover from this. Stay safe, and enjoy the second best way to traverse water!

[@mattdelcomyn8012]

You covered a lot in a short vid. Nice work!

[@aranha9365]

Very practical video, you did very well, I will share with many as possible. I wear my spearfishing 7mm open cell wetsuit in the winter for kayaking. It is warm, built in hood and insanely floating ( I need 8kg of weight on my belt to be able to dive with this thing). But, as it is not smooth skin, it doesn't protect you from wind chill if it is wet, so I keep a ultralight jacket/trousers as a shell to block the wind if I capsize ( I have a very stable kayak, but the surf can be unforgiven). I 'm more on the "too much gear" side, but thanks to that I was able to rescue a rookie kayaker, totally unprepared. I found him in the midle of a 300m deep glacial lake, 2km from the shore, on a seat on top sinking kayak, 30-40kmph wind, water 8Celcius, wearing shorts and a t shirt under the PFD. He was with other five or six friends, but all of them were in a similar situation padling for their lives, totally unable to help their friend. I concluded that because his backpack (with camping gear with NO dry sack inside) get soaked by the waves, the small yak was seating very low due the increasing weight, and the water starts to build inside the hull until it is unfloatable. He was lucky, very lucky.

[@somogyilevente2677]

Very useful tips! Your channel is exceptionally helpful, thanks a ton for investing so much energy in it!

[@grace4today542]

I so greatly appreciate you, and all your wisdom and experience. I love your videos! Thank You for SHARING!!

[@ianham]

Fantastic. Great advice. Thanks for the video. As a Seattle paddler, this is like 10 months of the year for us. :)

[@spoofer20]

I recommend drysuit for everyone, they are so much more versatile. But a high quality one will cost a lot unfortunately.

[@hmcintire55]

Great info. Thank you! I am a novice paddler so trying to absorb as much info as I can.

[@markthomas2166]

FANTASTIC vid on cold water kayaking! I've never been more excited about buying a wetsuit! Now I get to extend my paddling season! Glacier National Park & Vancouver Sound here I come! (kayaking with the whales in August!)

[@olddirtydoggy]

Best vids out there by far. Extremely greatful.

[@kabanuistanduppaddlecrew4299]

Great video! Thank you for putting this together

[@daveanderson8776]

Makes me a bit to stressed to cold 🥶 weather paddling I 💭 think I will stick to fair weather paddling ,but I still enjoy watching and learning on your show’s. Peace , Dave A from HappyValley , Oregon

[@iowamatt2519]

Excellent video. Every point u make is spot on. Every year our first paddle is ice out on a creek near me, its a guarantee to have a good flow, usually bank high which is extremely dangerous for skilled and novices. We're talking 35 degree water and air temp. Typically one of us swims, u don't even have a minute to get out before loss of motor functions occurs. I have tried different clothing options, but I find shorts and water proof jacket serves me best. Once out of water it's a quick strip down and into dry clothes, usually bring a couple changes. I get the drysuits for big water, but up here winter paddling is very short which is hard to justify a 1500 dollar expense.

[@TMAdventuresT7]

Great tips many thanks for sharing 👍

[@cyndidaves5313]

thank you, great video. very informative. I am new to kayaking, I bought one to fish from.

[@joefico8302]

Glad you made it. Thanks for sharing your story and lessons learned. Ignore the commenters who told you that you are irresponsible as if they never made a mistake in their life. I bet they most have too much ego to share their mistakes with the Yahoo community. Kudos to you.

[@explorermike19]

Kayak Hipster, you make excellent and well informed videos! Please keep them coming.

[@KayakHipster]

Explorer Mike thanks so much! Will do. Cheers!

[@FXG67]

Thank you. As usual very well done and great info.

[@KayakHipster]

Thanks Felix!

[@FishingwithD]

Lots of great advice!!!

[@nightflighter]

Well done, everyone interested in safe paddling should see this, good pace and to the point !

[@KayakHipster]

Thank you. Really appreciated.

[@nanikaprinsloo9888]

Thank you very much! Your advice is invaluable.

[@KayakHipster]

Nanika prinsloo thanks so much! Cheers!

[@bernarddugas5251]

Great videos, I'm in Ottawa Canada, I'm going to watch them all. Very well made, I love the details you go in. Keep on putting them up, love it. I'm an ex-white water guy, now sea kayaking and play.

[@KayakHipster]

Bernard Dugas thanks, I'm glad it's useful. Thanks for letting me know, it's always great to hear if a topic or video has helped others. Cheers!

[@tommyrq180]

One comment asked about the “gasp reflex” which I think is very important here. The gasp reflex is what happens when someone is immersed in cold water. They gasp in and find it very hard to breathe, making everything hard for several minutes in which they could (very likely) start to panic. The gasp reflex is very person-specific. I did a triathlon back in the 1980s before people started swimming with thin wetsuits. Water was 50 degrees (F) in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. My brother and I went in the water, took a quick lead and came out well in front. But several swimmers who we trained with in a pool dove into the water, got the gasp reflex, and immediately exited the race. Quit. Really strong swimmers, out. Why? For whatever reason, my brother and I didn’t have the gasp reflex and they did. How would you know? Well, you should test it, because from what I understand it is frightening and panic is the last thing you need when submerged. So go out and test it with plenty of help and backup. People really don’t know until they try. If you have it, well, it just might disqualify you from doing anything in cold water and that would be GREAT to know! HOPING you don’t have it is not a valid strategy! Finding out is a good one. One I would recommend! 😅

[@lonrghi]

Fantastic resource, great job!

[@KayakHipster]

Thanks! Much appreciated

[@liof16]

Thanks man. As a novice I can already tell this advice will prove invaluable.

[@KayakHipster]

liam cross excellent, reach out with questions if they come up

[@asinglegerry]

Thanks for your helpful hints 😊👍

[@KayakHipster]

Gerry B. No problem. Glad it was helpful.

[@rayflanagan9970]

Great info. Thanks. Looking on amazon now for some winter kayaking gear.

[@KayakHipster]

Ray F excellent. If you have any questions feel free to reach out, and paddle safe!

[@tranquility9325]

Ty so much for sharing, you are awesome

[@KayakHipster]

tranquility hope it helps!

[@qaannat]

Winter paddling with a Greenland style paddle, I prefer neoprene mittens over gloves. Fingers share warmth. It works more like porgies for a GP.

[@jt3512]

Great vid as usual. My question to you is this. I have poor circulation in my hands and feet.I do have thick neoprene gloves, but I find that my hands get cold anyway. Do you have any suggestions as to a cost effective way to keep the hands warm?

[@JosephMullin]

I used .5mm neoprene shirt long sleeve and socks under my drysuit. I also had 2 layers of warmup pants wool socks along with the wetsuit booties. I had a long sleeve rashguard shirt with my neoprene shirt with a wool shirt. I calculated I was good for 45 minutes in 35 degree F water.

[@2live4]

Excellent video! Thanks!

[@KayakHipster]

Thanks for watching! I hope it was helpful.

[@2live4]

+KayakHipster Yes, very Helpful! Love your videos! :)

[@dunneryak]

great vid!

[@KayakHipster]

Thank you sir! Did you notice your paddling club sticker in the background?

[@cougarmeat8803]

Remember to take your hand out of your pogie when you have to pull your spray skirt strap. :) A spare battery won’t help you if it is stored under your deck in a dry bag. I keep spare VHF batteries in zip lock bag in spray skirt pouch or pocket on dry suite arm.Those areas are not “water proof” but, combined with the zip lock bag, the spare batteries have been dry for normal activity (not rolling over and over in a practice e session).

[@caseyames4298]

Can you post a few websites I should periodically check for dry suit deals/sales? I have no idea where to look. Subscribed!

[@jfuuuuuuuuuuuuuu]

Nice video! What do you think about fiberglass kayaks for winter? Should I be overcare or it's tough enough on icebergs? I do easy paddling on a big river without much current. 🙂

[@joanwoody3216]

Thank you for the tips & edification! Awesome!!!!!!

[@KayakHipster]

+Joan Woody Thanks for checking it out. Hope it was useful.

[@joanwoody3216]

Your welcome! I will be looking good for more of your videos & sharing on FB, if that's cool.

[@KayakHipster]

+Joan Woody absolutely, feel free to share!

[@joanwoody3216]

You ROCK!!!!!

[@JMLockpicking]

Good vid...

[@KayakHipster]

jmmurdy thank you!

[@jlfelber1]

Consider the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. in Nov., perhaps 54 deg. F water, but it's hard to predict. I have a semi-dry top and neoprene pants, and I want to make do with that, as I don't get to really cold water all that often so I don't want to buy a dry suit for such limited use, if I don't have to. What do you recommend I wear under the semi-dry top? a neoprene vest?

[@RodneyMacEachern]

Great video! I'm looking to get neoprene boots to go over my dry suit. I have an extremely wide foot. Are you aware of a company that sells wide sizes like EE or EEE? Thanks.

[@zettle2345]

Great video and good tips, liked the paddleboston link... What's the difference between wearing a wet suit and wearing cotton? Hmmmmm?

[@mattmammone2338]

Im kayaking in long Island sound this season. I live as caretaker t Byram Park. It great going out and I like to wear a suit. just went out to island beach and it was great. I went to Greenwich harbor and did some shopping and came back to Byram. How do you fin th currents out there?

[@downwardlymobile4957]

If you're wearing a wetsuit in winter and you do go in, don't you get that gasp reflex as the cold water comes between the inner skin of your wetsuit and your body, well before your body has a chance to warm it up?

[@matlong2300]

What strobe is that strapped on your pfd? The orange one?

[@Chris-vw3yc]

Went out today in about 8-9 Celsius water. failed a roll atempt at the end of day i think because of water going inside my nose soon as I went under and could not focus on task at hand being a rookie roller. So I bailed out and was submerged for about 2-3 min while waiting for a stand up paddler friends help to stabilize boat for me. I was wearing a synthetic thin thermal pant and a 240 weight base layer merino shirt under the drysuit. I felt slightly cool in the water but nothing that severe. kinda felt good after a few hours of paddling! I think another few min in there i would be to the point of uncomfortableness. As for the glacier gloves, are you noticing any leakage into them if your 'swimming'? I got a XL to start and noticed when I tightened the strap, gaps/creases were created and that let the water in greatly and my gloves turned into fish tanks. I tried the L size today and they seemed much better but I cant tell if it was sweat that got them a little damp inside or water coming in. I also noticed the fleece inside takes a LONG time to dry and stinks a lot. Any way to minimize odor inside them? sorry I wrote a lot lol

[@KayakHipster]

This will be the time when you start playing with different layers under your drysuit to best suit the conditions. I usually would rather be a bit hot but know I'd be fine if swimming for a while. For the gloves, I use Large, and when I strap them down sometimes a trickle of water might go in, but usually they stay really dry. They strap down well onto my drysuit cuffs and make a pretty good seal. They might just be too big for you. As far as smelling, there are chemicals you can use (in a bucket - look for wetsuit smell killers that divers use) but usually I just put them in front of a fan or use vinegar if needed. Here's a vid about it - kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6rEnJmXgNmDmM0 Cheers!

[@jerkwang69]

I noticed in the beginning of the video, you were paddling in water with ever-so thin ice forming and breaking as you stuck your paddle in it. What thickness of a wet suit would you recommend for that water? Say, it isn't just a matter of leisurely rolling and coming back up, but say, someone fell into that particularly cold water. Do you think a thickness of 5/4/3mm would buy me at least 5 minutes to make it to shore? I don't ocean kayak like you. I stick to small streams and wide rivers. Or do you recommend going 6/5mm? Your videos are awesome by the way.

[@KayakHipster]

jerkwang69 I wouldn't be able to tell you. As soon as the water drops in the low 60's I start wearing my drysuit. Some of my buds wear neoprene much longer than I, but by the time it drops into mid 50's pretty much everyone is in drysuits. The water in that clip with the ice was in the 30's, so I think a drysuit at that time is absolutely mandatory. I know some people up north know how to dress with neoprene for extreme cold, but I would recommend a drysuit for sure, with appropriate layers below. We've all tried swimming in waters that cold for a little while with our gear (while being observed by friends) to get a sense of what it's like and to make sure we're dressing appropriately.

[@kippercat123]

So asking for a friend, how long does it take for a girl to get that drysuit off to the point she can water the flowers ?

[@Stoa1000]

İf you fall.water dosent leaks in dry suit?

[@nathanielp60]

What kind of paddle is that? Ive never seen that before

[@mailmanoffmap5029]

Under a dry jacket would you recommend wearing a wool base layer and then a synthetic jacket (such as a Patagonia nano puff)? Will that be warm enough? Also, would you recommend kayaking pants or the bibs? What should one wear between their baselayer pant & kayak dry pants?

[@mmmbass6068]

Around water just stick with polypropylene (base/thermals) and any number of “polar fleece” products (like Polartec) for warmth. Both materials are affordable. Do not use down products (ie puffer jackets) - they do not keep you warm when wet. Good paddling!

[@1969sofine]

Come up to Juneau Ak

[@kiwionarope]

I always paddle alone, especially in the winter. I just don't see anyone else out and no friends winter paddle in my location. A question do you have any tips for stopping / limiting Numb legs???

[@KayakHipster]

Gone Bush absolutely. I think there were a couple of tips here kzbin.info/www/bejne/a16zqZ2JiMh9iq8

[@saltyw1]

I'm looking at nrs hydroskin shirt, how tight is this fabric, I'm looking for a lose fit.. not wet suit tight?

[@KayakHipster]

saltyw1 yeah, the best way to get them to keep you warm is by having them in a wetsuit like size, so that thin layer of water can warm up. If it's loose you won't get that benefit. Cheers!

[@Chris-vw3yc]

My Golden rule: always have a second dry pair of gloves and socks with you at all times in cold water. Always. Cold wet fingers while paddling sucks!

[@KayakHipster]

Chris that's a very good point. I always carry those with me when paddling in the winter. I've learned my lesson.

[@d1427]

my golden rule- no need to take risks or spend hundreds/ thousands of dollars on accessory gear- wait for warmer weather. And if you really enjoy paddling, get a surf ski- it is incomparable safer than an ocean kayak... or, if you have the money, buy a dry suit and you can paddle the ski in the winter too [I'd rather save to buy a new boat than spend on a dry suit...]

[@zerotoadventure]

TIL this morning I was swimming in extreme risk of hypothermia water.

[@JosephMullin]

Near Cold water drowning starts at 77 degrees F.

[@rustamakhmedianov1787]

What is pfd?

[@chndk]

Personal flotation device (life vest)

[@7rlalko]

WHY NOT SAY LIFE VEST.

[@junkdrawer1206]

We’re all in between swims. Yep.

[@markevans506]

Carry a whistle.

[@dunneryak]

sure did..lol

[@JeremyLMarquez]

Does that mean that my inflatable is out of the question?

[@markthomasson5077]

Wet suits keep you warm by trapping a layer of water....how many times do I hear this rubbish. Best wet suits let in just about no water. ( not so good if you need a pee when swimming!)

[@donbrideau]

Very informative video. Well made. Thank you.

[@KayakHipster]

Thanks, much appreciated. Paddle safe!