OVERNIGHT EQUIPMENT LIST
A word about how to dress for paddling . . .
It is important to understand your own metabolism when you are planning your clothing since everyone responds differently to the elements. The best strategy to use is the Layering concept which basically entails three main layers: Wicking, Warmth, and Weather. The Wicking layer is the inner layer that is worn next to the skin. Typically this is a layer of synthetic long underwear like Capilene, Lifa, Coolmax, polypropylene to name a few. It's job is to transfer any moisture near your skin away from your skin which prevents heat loss through evaporation. The next layer is your layer for warmth and is typically a synthetic top like fleece or pile or a natural fiber like wool. The final layer is the Weather layer which essentially creates a barrier between your body and the elements like wind, waves, and precipitation. This layer should be some sort of coated nylon or Gore-tex in order to reduce heat loss from convective cooling. Now, the real beauty of this layering system is that you can regulate your body temperature by adding or removing layers as the need arises. An important point to remember is that the air temperatures on the ocean environment are typically 5 -10 degrees cooler than on land so be prepared. Even on that 80 degree day, kayakers can get chilled from splashing waves combined with a wind which will cause convective cooling. Of course, the most obvious way we could chill down is if one were to immerse oneself in the ocean or a very cold lake. This is where wearing a farmer john wetsuit or a drysuit really comes in to play and adds another layer of protection in this wet environment. Keep in mind that it is easier to cool down than it is to warm up.
One final note is regarding cotton. Although cotton is very comfortable to wear, it is not recommended for use on the water. Unlike synthetics and wool, cotton retains water when it gets wet, and, if worn, next to the body when wet will cause the body to lose heat conductively. In addition, if a wind is blowing one will experience convective heat loss which quickly lowers the body’s core temperature. So save the cotton for camp and stick with synthetics or wool, for the water activities.
