The 5 Best Wetsuits for Kayaking: A Complete Buying Guide
Kayaking is such a fun way to get out on the water, enjoy exploring nature, and on occasion, splash around. Sometimes the elements can be against us and require us to wear the proper insulation. This is why a wetsuit for kayaking gear is a necessary safety measure for cold waters.
A wetsuit is an excellent way to keep you warm in cold temperatures and protect you from the sun. In order to help you find the best wetsuits for kayaking, we've curated a handy buying guide to help you decipher between a wetsuit for kayak fishing and a wetsuit for winter kayaking, but first, let's have a look at what wetsuits are.
What are Wetsuits and How Do They Work?
Wetsuits are suits that provide thermal protection and insulation for any kind of watersports, such as kayaking, diving, canoeing, and coasteering, anything that means you may be in cold water.
The science behind wetsuits works on the basis that your body is the best source of heat. Built from a closed-cell foam material like neoprene, this fabric has lots of tiny gas bubbles inside, which insulates the body. When entering the cold water, the fabric allows a thin layer of water through, forming a second skin of cold water between the body and the wetsuit. This cold water then is heated up through exposure to body heat, becoming warm water, which will keep you warm and insulate you throughout your kayaking activity.
Why Do You Need Wetsuits for Kayaking?
Safety. If you are entering cold water and intend to stay there for a while, it will give you peace of mind knowing that you won't be catching hyperthermia.
Another reason you might need a wetsuit is to aid buoyancy. Wetsuits naturally make your body more buoyant in the water, and if you're swimming, every stroke will require much less effort.
Isn't a Wetsuit the Same as a Drysuit?
Both wetsuits and drysuits are extremely useful in the world of watersports, but there are some significant differences. Wetsuits are pretty exclusively made using a neoprene fabric fitting tight to the skin, and drysuits are baggier like a bag with a hole in it to put your head through. The full-body drysuit also has gaskets at the wrists, ankles, and neck, preventing water from getting inside the suit.
But which one is the best wetsuit for kayaking?
It really depends on whether you are happy with getting wet. If the answer is yes, then a wetsuit is the option for you. If you plan on whitewater kayaking or kayaking in choppy water, a wetsuit would be a better option. A drysuit would be better for those who want to stay as dry as possible when kayaking.
Size and Fit
So, how is a wetsuit supposed to fit?
Well, in order to provide the best insulation, a wetsuit needs to be fitted appropriately and tight to the skin without restricting any movement. It should be snug, a bit like a second skin.
If the wetsuit makes you feel uncomfortable in any way while you're standing, the wetsuit doesn't fit properly. Any pinches or niggles will become very apparent and even exaggerated when you start paddling.
While the arms and legs are usually ok to be the wrong length, your real necessity is making sure the torso is snug. If it is too baggy, the water can get caught in pools inside the wetsuit, defeating the purpose and making you cold.
Water Temperature Guide for Wetsuits
Finding the best wetsuits for kayaking is no easy task. There are so many options, as well as thicknesses and levels of insulation. Still, when you're looking at purchasing the best wetsuit for kayaking, you must thoroughly consider what temperature the water will likely be when you're using it.
To help you with your purchasing journey, here is our kayak wetsuit temperature guide. First, you want to look at the temperature of the water (in bold) and the corresponding wetsuit thickness.
How to Choose the Best Wetsuit for Kayaking?
The best kayak wetsuit is fit for purpose, the right material, thickness, and fits correctly. There is so much to think about when it comes to buying a wetsuit, which is why we have put together this list of things to look out for when trying to find the best wetsuit for kayaking.
Material
Generally, wetsuits tend to be made using neoprene. Neoprene is a kind of synthetic foam rubber. Neoprene can also be referred to as polychloroprene and is an ideal material to use for wetsuits because it's flexible, water-resistant, and expansive. It's also perfect for its thermal insulation properties. Most wetsuits are made using stretched neoprene. Some include additional fabrics to aid durability like Lycra and nylon. Some are even lined to increase warmth.
Thickness
Thickness is essential when purchasing the best wetsuit for you. You first need to figure out the temperature of the water you'll most likely be paddling in. Then you can refer to our water temperature guide to decide the correct thickness.
As for the actual thickness measurements, when a wetsuit lists a single thickness measurement, it is referring to the chest and abdomen area. But when a wetsuit lists.
Two numbers, such as 6/5, the first number is referring to the torso thickness, and the second number relates to the legs of the wetsuits.
Cut
If there weren't enough variables to consider, wetsuits come in different cuts and styles, each with different uses.
Full Wetsuits
A full wetsuit is pretty self-explanatory. With the exception of the head, they cover the entire body and are therefore best used to protect from cold water temperatures as they provide the best insulation with the option of adding a hood or gloves.
Spring Suits
For slightly warmer weather, you want to consider a spring suit. A spring suit is a cut off version of a full wetsuit. The sleeves are cut off at the elbows, and the legs are cut off at the knees. This kind of suit is suitable for temperatures too hot for a regular full wetsuit but too cold for a skinny dip! When you need that extra bit of insulation around the torso.
Short John Wetsuit
Like the spring suit, a Short John wetsuit has its sleeves and legs cut off, but the short john cuts off at the shoulders. They are very popular with surfers and surf kayakers.
Long John Wetsuit
A Long John wetsuit is similar to a short John wetsuit but covers the full length of the legs. This is to provide warmth while still allowing the freedom of movement in the arms for and rigorous paddling.
Durability
The durability of a wetsuit is dependant on the materials and the manufacturing. Everyone wants their products to last a long time, and the best kayaking wetsuit should have a considerable amount of longevity. The best wetsuits made using neoprene with nylon and Lycra tend to be more durable because of their reinforced zips and seams.
Fit and Comfort
The fit of the wetsuit should be snug but not tight and should feel comfortable when standing up. Any pinches or niggles will quickly become apparent when paddling.
Seals
Some wetsuits feature sealed closures around the neck, wrists, and ambles. This is to help prevent water from pouring in the suit.
Features
When looking for the best kayaking wetsuits for you, it is essential to consider what features you'd like. The higher quality wetsuits usually have glued seams stitched seams to prevent any unwanted leakage.
Some wetsuits have reinforced knees to add to the kayak wetsuits durability and longevity, especially if you tend to hop in and out of your kayak often or use your wetsuit for surfing or stand up paddle boarding.
Some wetsuits also have handy 'relief' zippers for those who have a bladder the size of a pea and will need to relieve themselves at some point on their kayaking trip. You'll notice some thicker wetsuits have zippers on the ankles to aid getting into the suit.
Some of these features may be exactly what you're looking for, so it's essential to keep them in mind for when you think you've found the best kayaking wetsuit for you.
How To Put on a Kayaking Wetsuit?
We don't want to tell you how to get dressed, but here is how to... well, get dressed.
The zipper position is important as it can dictate how easily you can get the wetsuit on and off.
A wetsuit with a back zip is the most common zip position on a wetsuit. The zip usually includes a long pull tie so that you don't need to ask someone to zip it up for you. The last thing you want once you've shimmied in each leg and arm is to have to find a kind stranger to help you get it zipped up.
Front zipper wetsuits are more comfortable to get in and out of. The downside comes when you intend on kitting yourself out with scuba gear or other equipment there is more chance of the zip getting caught and being pulled down.
A suit that features a fleece lining tends to be easier to get on and off as it prevents the skin from sticking to the suit.
A handy tip for getting your suit on if it tends to stick to your skin is putting a couple of plastic bags on your hands and feet to allow them to glide through easier on the way in.
You may be thinking, what do I wear under a wetsuit? Well, it's up to you, but most will wear a swimsuit and sometimes a rash vest underneath.
Our Top 5 Recommendations
Wetsuits come in all different sizes, thicknesses, and designs. You may be looking for a whitewater wetsuit or wetsuit pants for kayaking. So it's almost impossible to pick the best ones. However, we've done our best to prick the top wetsuits for kayaking on the market today.
1. NRS Farmer John
Starting off strong with this top of the range sleeveless NRS Farmer John wetsuit.
The NRS farmer John is made using high stretch neoprene with a thickness of 3 mm to combat some cooler temperatures. The lack of sleeves allows for maximum movement, and the guide and stitched seams provide the durability needed to take on some aggressive paddling. And on top of all of that, it is easy to put on and take off with its front zipper. A high-quality, comfortable paddling wetsuit.
The O'Neill Epic is a 4/3 mm thick ultra-stretch neoprene wetsuit, which is incredibly comfortable due to the flexible neoprene. This suit is perfect for long days in cold temperatures.
The suit provides excellent insulation with its 4 mm care neoprene around the torso and the wind-resistant fluid flex firewall.
The wetsuit also has stitched and triple glued seams as well as reinforced knee pads, which will aid the wetsuit's longevity. The double seal neck closure paired with this wetsuits lumbar seamless design provides a significant amount of comfort for a long day paddling.
This long John suit uses multiple materials, neoprene, and nylon. The stretch neoprene is 3 mm thick, which provides sufficient insulation for cooler temperatures.
The nylon reinforces the zip, which helps cover the body and core without restricting any movement.
The movement is also aided by the seamless armholes and unhemmed neoprene armholes and ankles, which provide comfort. A warm neoprene suit for cold temperatures, but if you plan to go paddling in truly arctic climates, you may want to search for a thicker full suit alternative.
If you're looking for a comfortable 2 mm spring snit perfect for paddling in warmer waters, then the O'Neill reactor may be the suit for you.
This suit allows your legs and arms to breathe as the neoprene insulates your core while sporting a fully adjustable super seal neck closure and reinforced Krypto knee pads. The O'Neill suit makes use of their fluid flex design in the half sleeves and shoulders combined with the flexibility in the neoprene, making the suit comfortable without restricting mobility.
Paddling in cold temperatures? This sharkskin chill-proof 5 mm suit is bound to keep you warm. This is a rare suit not being made using neoprene. This suit is made using a three-layer composite material that has been developed specifically for watersports athletes.
The layers are made up of a soft microfleece, which aids warmth and makes it easier to put on. The second layer is a wind-proof technical layer designed to be breathable while preventing your body temperature from dropping from wind chill. The third layer is a four-way stretch nylon/lycra blend, which is abrasion-resistant.
This full suit gives you complete protection against the cold and UV. This material is much less buoyant than its neoprene competitor, which provides more comfort for divers or snorkelers, and while neoprene is an excellent insulator, this material is fierce competition. It both retains body heat and remains breathable while you’re paddling on the water.
Our Top Pick!
So we've done the research to find the best and most glamourous neoprene garment in the land. And we've discovered that kayaking wetsuits are so diverse that trying to choose one suit to be the top suit on the market is almost impossible!
However, this wouldn't be the best wetsuits for kayaking buying guide without choosing the best one overall. Therefore we have concluded that the best kayaking wetsuit on the market is the O'Neill Epic 4/3mm Back Zip Full Wetsuit!
This suit is comfortable, warm, flexible, and breathable, all in one dashing foamy garment. A perfect suit for a long day paddling in cooler waters.