SUPs, or stand-up paddleboards, are all the rage now. They offer a beginner-friendly way to get on the water, but they’re flexible enough to be used in countless applications; from enjoying calming yoga in the middle of a still pond to fishing in places that are unreachable by boat, SUPs can do just about anything besides sailing the open ocean.

However, just like with any watersport, you need to be dressed appropriately not just for your comfort, but for your safety. Hypothermia can be a threat even when the air temperature feels fine, heavy clothes weigh you down if you fall off, and some clothes can alter your movements leading to more falls.

Let’s go over exactly what you should look for in quality SUP clothing.

Insulation:

Even if the air temperature is 65-degrees and comfy, the water might be near freezing. It just takes longer for the water to warm up after a cold front. Because of this, we recommend wearing a wetsuit with insulation to ensure that, even on cold-water days or cool summer nights, you can withstand a plunge into the water without freezing. This isn’t always necessary if you’re using your SUP on a warm body of water and plan to be back on dry land before the inevitable nighttime temperature drop, but even in those cases, it’s a good idea to have insulated swimming shorts.  Hypothermia is a real threat when you find yourself in open water.

Quick-Dry:

Have you ever gotten out of the water in normal swimwear and tried desperately to dry off just to get your car seats wet an hour later? That’s annoying under normal conditions, but if you’re on the water for a long time and might experience temperature drops or another issue, you can quickly find yourself in a pickle. Quick-dry clothes can dry out extremely quickly; leaving you warm, dry, and prepared if the temperature drops. Not to mention, you won’t have all the extra weight of waterlogged clothing on you.

Range of Motion:

Your range of motion is extremely important on a SUP. SUPs are balanced very well, but they are just small boards floating on the water. You need to be able to adjust your stance and move around quickly at all times. If your movements are limited, you might not be able to stay aboard or make proper adjustments in time; not to mention, you can fall off and have trouble swimming.

Make sure any SUP clothing you purchase is slim-fitting and snug, but it should not hinder the rotation of your limbs or joints in any way.

Lightweight:

The weight of your clothing is also key. Not only will lightweight clothing make it easier to move around in general, but if you fall in, it won’t weigh you down in the water and potentially cause a catastrophe.