Do I need a wetsuit for Stand Up Paddleboarding?

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A common question I see a lot out in the SUPosphere is “Do I need a Wetsuit for Stand Up Paddleboarding. Today we are going to explore this question to help you determine if a wetsuit is a good investment and addiction to your paddleboarding gear. For more information on What to Wear Stand Up Paddleboarding check out this post.

Who doesn’t need a wetsuit

For those of us who live in idyllic tropical environments where the water temperature is a perfect for swimming all year round, wetsuits are the last thing on your mind.  

Do I need a wetsuit for Stand Up Paddleboarding?

For the rest of us however, given the majority of the worlds population lives in a temperate zone, the water can get pretty chilly leading up to and including the winter months. We have 2 options.  We can either call it quits for the winter or explore the options available to us.

Wetsuits can help extend our paddling season well into the autumn and get us back out there on our boards at the first signs of spring.  For some of us wetsuits may make it possible to paddle all year around.

Pros

• Keeps you warmer in the water if you fall off
• Gives you confidence if you fall into cold water
• Can add an extra layer of warmth while on your board
• You can layer thermal or fleecy layers as needed

Cons

• Some people find wetsuits too warm if the water is cold but the ambient temperature is moderate
• Wetsuits be quite restrictive when paddling

Types of Wetsuits

One of the first things to look at when considering the purchase of a wetsuit for Stand Up Paddleboarding is the conditions you will be paddling in. The water temperature is the best place to determine when looking at cooler environments. Once you know this information you can look at wetsuit types. There are many different types of wetsuits available. They are largely divided into Styles and Thickness.

Styles of Wetsuits for SUP

The Style of the Wetsuit refers to the coverage. For example there is everything from Shortie – which means short sleeves and legs to full length.

Wetsuit Thickness

The wetsuit thickness refers to the gauge of material the wetsuit is made from. This is measured in millimetres. As you will see below there are 2-3 numbers to indicate thickness. This simply means that different sections of the wetsuit are different thicknesses. For example a 5/4/3 means that sections such as the chest and back are 5mm, the rest of the body/torso is likely to be 4mm and the arms and legs are likely to be 3mm. The reason for this is that we want to keep the chest the warmest as that’s where our vital organs are. We also want a thinner covering for less restriction where we move the most – our arms and legs.

What do I wear?

My wetsuit of choice is the Roxy Prologue 5/4/3 wetsuit which is one of the thickest wetsuits without going the full hood and gloves. I have found that wearing waterproof socks and booties can also a great way to staving off the cold.

Coming from a warmer climate I wasn’t really sure what to expect in the cooler months of paddling in Scotland so I opted to go for the thickest suit I could find without having to overspend on the budget. Check the current price of the Roxy Prologue 5/4/3 Wetsuit here!

What I Love about the Roxy Prologue 5/4/3 Wetsuit

• It looks pretty cool – the shield part on the front makes you look a bit ‘bad ass!!’
• Warmth was key and it has two warmth panels front and back of the torso for extra insulation
• No bulky zips around the ankles like my last wetsuit (ankle zips adds bulk and discomfort if you have zippered booties too)
• It accommodates those of us with a waist and hips
• I have found it to be surprisingly comfortable to paddle in
• The neck is more comfortable than my last wetsuit but…

What I don’t like so much!

• It still feels tight around my neck after being out on the water for a while – but as I said this is a problem I’ve had with other wetsuits too and I just need to remember not to tighten it too much!!
• The insulation fabric across the back spans the zip which makes getting into it harder as it doesn’t allow it to open up so much – difficult when you have curves to accomodate. The best advice I can offer here is to just be patient when putting your wetsuit on, they are tight especially when new.

Women’s Roxy Prologue Wetsuit has reinforced at joins for major reinforcement with glued and blind stitched seams to keep water infiltration to a minimum.

So do YOU need a wetsuit for Stand Up paddleboarding?  

If you are still with me chances are you have been feeling the cold and I would go so far as to say a wetsuit would be a great investment to help you continue to enjoy the sport you love throughout the colder weather.

While some people do find that they are restrictive and can get pretty hot while wearing them, I found that in cooler conditions I felt a lot better about falling into the water knowing I’d be kept warm. I think a lot of it really depends on how cold the ambient temperature is, how cold the water is and what sort of paddling you are doing.

We tend to do more chilled paddle sessions however if you are into racing a wetsuit could make paddling more challenging.