SUP clothing

SUP has become one of the most popular hobbies, and for good reason. It's a great mix of exercise and nature, and can be practised at many paces. However, SUP doesn't only have to be a summer hobby, because with the right SUP clothing, SUP can be enjoyed all year round - even in winter in Ireland.

The right SUP clothes for the right occasion

On a hot summer day with a good water and air temperature, you can easily SUP in a bikini or swimming trunks. This makes SUP a great way to enjoy a trip to the beach. However, things are very different as soon as both air and water temperatures drop below 20 degrees Celsius.

Here it becomes necessary to wear a wetsuit to keep warm. However, there are still differences in the thickness you should choose, because if the neoprene is too thick, you can either get too hot or have less mobility. The latter is especially important for the whole experience on the board.

The thicker the neoprene, the less freedom of movement the wetsuit provides. This affects the paddle stroke and how easy it is to get back on the board if you fall into the water. Therefore, picking the thickness of a wetsuit for SUP is always a balancing act between weather conditions and personal preferences.

As a rule of thumb, a wetsuit with a thickness of 3 mm goes a long way in providing optimal freedom of movement, but also good body heat protection even during quiet activities. To make it easier to understand, you can break it down according to air temperatures as follows:

• Above 22 °C, swimwear is sufficient
• At 17-22 °C you can use a wetsuit with short sleeves and legs up to 3 mm thickness
• At 12-20 °C a 3 mm wetsuit is fine to use
• At 9-12 °C, a thickness of 4-5 mm is preferable
• Below 9 °C you can settle for a 4 mm thickness, but most people prefer 6 mm

Of course, it all depends on personal preferences, cold tolerance and activity level. If you're paddling away, you'll give off a lot more body heat than if you're just paddling away on a Sunday outing.

Take care of your feet

It's not just a wetsuit that provides the right protection, a pair of SUP shoes, swim shoes or neoprene socks will go a long way. Not only do they protect your feet from sharp objects and slippery surfaces, they also provide a good grip on the SUP board itself.

Plus, there's no need to change footwear when transporting your SUP board to the beach and launching it. They work just as well on land as in the water - and many of them are quick-drying.

However, they don't just provide protection and grip, they also help keep your feet warm. A common problem in cold water is that the wetsuit keeps your body warm, but your feet start to freeze. This is not least because the feet are often in contact with the water. It would be a shame to have to stop a good SUP trip because your feet are freezing when it could easily be avoided.

If you're not a fan of swim or SUP shoes, you can also use a pair of swim or neoprene socks. They offer much more freedom of movement, but also have a non-slip sole. What's more, they also come in different thicknesses, so you can find the ones that best suit the occasion.

If your hands get cold, it's highly recommended that you also get a pair of neoprene gloves.

Fast drying and easy changing

Few people jump into a wetsuit at home and then head for the nearest open water. Therefore, you regularly need to be able to change into your wetsuit and still retain your modesty. Luckily, that part is easy with a swim poncho that still leaves both hands free while covering your entire body.

This makes it easy to change clothes before going on the water, but also when you get back on land. In addition, they also dry the skin effectively, so they work just like a towel - but with two different functions. If it's the icy months of the year, a surf poncho is the optimal solution.

Of course, it's also recommended that you have a good towel to dry off afterwards. Likewise, a changing mat will also make the whole changing process easier.

Buy all your SUP clothing here at Watery.ie

Here at Watery.ie, we love SUP, which is why we have all the equipment you need to get the best experience on the water. Of course, it can seem a bit confusing and a bit of a hassle, which is why our customer service is ready with good advice, recommendations, and answers to all kinds of questions about SUP. And that's just one of our many customer benefits:

• Free shipping on orders over €79
• 3-5 days delivery
• Our customer service is ready all weekdays from 8 AM to 10 PM

So everyone can be properly dressed for the next SUP trip.