SUP Camping Clothing Guide – 3 Season

3 Season SUP Camping Clothes Guide

Proper SUP camping clothing is not just about comfort, it is a critical for your safety. Cold water exposure can quickly lead to hypothermia. Throw in a cold breeze and your body temperature drops quickly.

Camping out in the elements leaves you exposed and proper clothing is your first line of defense. Clothing, fire starters and shelter are essential survival gear.

Basically I bring three sets of clothing; one for paddling, one dry set for camp and one set for sleeping.

“There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.”

-Sir Ranulph Fiennes

My first rule when packing for any camping trip is to ditch the cotton. Cotton acts like a sponge, it will keep moisture right up against your skin. Cotton will not keep you warm when wet and takes forever to dry. Jeans are the worst. I never take any cotton with me and that includes t-shirts and underwear.

Synthetics on the other hand dry very quickly. I wear quick-dry everything. Socks, underwear, everything.

“Avoid cotton like the plague. All clothing should be synthetic.”

-The Seasoned Surfer

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Popular outdoor clothing brands are overpriced. Good outdoor clothing can be bought on a budget.

3-Season SUP Camping Clothes (Options)

1. Footwear

• Neoprene booties
• Camp shoes: Lightweight hiking, running, water shoes (for land only)

During the summer I always prefer to go barefoot.

But no matter what time of year I go SUP camping I take two types of footwear. A pair of neoprene booties and lightweight hiking, running or water shoes.

Neoprene booties are the best type of footwear when paddling. 2mm neoprene works fine for me most of the year.

The shoes are for land use only. I never wear shoes when paddling. Be careful wearing shoes on an inflatable paddle board. A pebble could be lodged in the tread and damage your board.

2. Socks

• Synthetic hiking or running socks

After paddling with wet feet all day I enjoy dry camp socks. I bring at least two pair of hiking socks no matter what time of year. During the fall or winter I might even take three pair. My feet sweat pretty good. When I am at camp I always want warm dry feet.

I use a synthetic hiking sock. Merino wool will keep you warm when it is wet. But I found found synthetic socks dry quicker. In general I prefer a synthetic sock in damp hiking conditions.

Avoid cotton socks, even blends. Synthetics wick moister off your feet, keeps you warm when wet and dries quicker then wool. During the hot summer months a good synthetic running sock will work. My preferred sock brand for SUP camping is Thorlos.

3. Underwear (quick-dry)

• Adidas Performance Underwear

No matter what time of year you want a good pair of wicking underwear. No cotton allowed.

4. Pants/Shorts/Bottoms

Options

• Quick-Dry Hiking/Swimming Shorts
• Compression Leggings
• Neoprene Pants
• Lightweight Quick-Dry Hiking Pants
• Starter Soccer Pants
• Fleece Camp Pants
• Midweight Base Layer Bottoms (camp)

During the summer I will pack quick-dry workout shorts or boardshorts for paddling and lightweight quick-dry long hiking pants. Sometimes I will wear compression tights or leggings under my shorts or pants.

If the bugs are bad I will wear the long pants when paddling. Biting flies and mosquitoes need water to breed so you want to be ready.

As the weather gets cooler I will add neoprene paddling pants and fleece camp pants.

I always have midweight base-layer bottoms for more warmth around camp and sleeping

5. Tops/Shirts/Jackets

Options

• Quick-Dry T-shirt
• Quick dry long sleeve t-shirt
• UPF 50+ Performance Fishing Hoodie with hood (Columbia) (Koofin)
• Neoprene Jacket (Eyce 3mm Zippered Jacket)
• Lightweight rain jacket with hood
• Midweight Half-Zip Top (Under Armour Tech 2.0 Half Zip)
• Midweight Base Layer Top
• Puffer Jacket (Amazon Puffer Jacket)

During hot weather I will pack an extra quick-dry t-shirt with UPF 50+ sun protection. I may pack a long sleeve performance shirt.

During the summer I bring my Koofin performance fishing hoodie with UPF 50+ sun protection. The lightweight long sleeve hoodie covers not only my head but the ears and neck which can be critical when on the water all day.

If the weather is cool I may paddle with a midweight zippered top over my t-shirt.

In cold water or cool weather I will pack a neoprene paddling jacket.

For camp I always take a rain jacket with a hood and a synthetic puffer jacket. I have two rain jackets. One is lightweight for summer and a thick rain jacket for cold weather.

And I bring a midweight base layer set, top and bottom, no matter what time of year I camp.

6. Gloves

• Neoprene paddling gloves
• Light gloves for land use

7. Head Wear

Options

• sun protection hat
• mosquito head net
• bandanna/neck gaiter
• lightweight balaclava
• fleece hat
• heavyweight balaclava
• polarized sunglasses with lanyard

Head wear is important when paddle board camping or fishing. First, we want a hat for sun protection. There are plenty of good sun-protection hats out there from baseball style to wide brim boonie style hats. (hats)

A mosquito head net is always on my spring, summer and fall packing list. These head nets can be a life saver. When you paddle a lake infested with biting flies a head net will became your favorite piece of gear.

When the weather starts to turn cool you will want a fleece hat for camp and sleeping.

My favorite choice for cool/cold weather head wear is the balaclava. I always bring a lightweight balaclava with me even in the summer. I will often paddle with one on in cold weather. I wear a balaclava around camp and when sleeping.

Another item I always bring with me is polarized sunglasses with float lanyards. Polarize sunglasses protect your eyes from water glare and improve your vision in the sun and water.

8. Neoprene

Paddling cold water I bring neoprene. A jacket and pants are my first choice. But in rough waters where the wind and weather can change quickly I go with a wetsuit.

• Neoprene Zippered Jacket
• Neoprene Pants
• Wetsuit
• Hood/Beanie
• Gloves
• Booties