What to wear kayaking and paddle boarding, in any water

What to wear kayaking and paddle boarding by water temperature, layers that work, and NSW lifejacket rules.

Todd Cole

20/10/2026

The most common mistake on a kayak or paddle board is dressing for the weather. Dress for the water instead, because that’s where you end up if you fall in. Here’s what to wear kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding in warm, cool and cold water, and the lifejacket rules in NSW.

What to wear kayaking

Above 24°C water: rash vest or UPF top, quick-dry shorts, hat, sunscreen, water shoes.
18–24°C: add a 2 mm spring suit or neoprene top, plus a windproof spray jacket.
15–18°C: a 3/2 mm wetsuit or wetsuit pants and top, booties, spray jacket.
Below 15°C: a wetsuit at minimum; a drysuit is the safer choice.
Always: a lifejacket (PFD), and no cotton.

Dress for the water, not the air

The US National Center for Cold Water Safety puts it bluntly: when you fall in, “the air temperature is irrelevant” (NCCWS). It recommends thermal protection whenever the water is below 21°C (70°F), and says most people without a wetsuit or drysuit will get maximum-intensity cold shock in water between 10 and 15°C. A warm spring day on a lake still fed by cold water is the classic trap.

Check the water temperature before you go. Our wetsuit temperature guide has monthly averages for 13 Australian locations and nine US coasts.

What to wear kayaking, by water temperature

Water temperature	Body	Over the top	Feet and head
Above 24°C	Rash vest or UPF50+ top, quick-dry shorts	Nothing, or a light spray top in wind	Water shoes, wide-brim hat
18–24°C	2 mm spring suit or neoprene top and shorts	Windproof spray jacket	Water shoes or thin booties
15–18°C	3/2 mm wetsuit (or neoprene pants and top)	Spray jacket	Booties, beanie on cool days
Below 15°C	Wetsuit minimum; drysuit with thermal layers recommended	Drysuits are already windproof	Booties, gloves or pogies, warm hat

Our guide: cold-water lines from the American Canoe Association and the US National Center for Cold Water Safety; wetsuit thicknesses where the main wetsuit makers’ charts agree.

The American Canoe Association’s cold-water guidance says that in water of 60°F (about 15.5°C) or colder, a wetsuit is a must and a drysuit is highly recommended. Our wetsuit vs drysuit guide explains the difference.

Layers that work, and what to avoid

No cotton. Cotton holds water and pulls heat from your body when wet. Use synthetics, fleece, neoprene or polypropylene.
Sun first in Australia. On warm days the bigger risk is UV: long sleeves in UPF50+ fabric, a hat that stays on, and sunscreen on the backs of your hands and legs.
Wind protection. A light spray jacket stops wind chill on wet skin, which is what makes a mild day feel cold on the water.
Feet. Water shoes or booties protect against rocks, oysters and hot sand at launches.
A dry bag. A spare warm layer and a towel for the end of the paddle.

Some brands make thin, non-neoprene tops aimed at this kind of in-and-out paddling. Sharkskin, for example, pitches its Rapid Dry range for kayaking, SUP and surfing, with “UPF50+ coverage for watersport activities in warmer conditions” (Sharkskin). More in our Sharkskin explainer.

View from a kayak of a man following a woman in a yellow lifejacket across a calm lake at sunset — The sunset is warm. The lake might not be. Image: Shutterstock

What to wear paddle boarding

Stand-up paddle boarding follows the same water-temperature rules, with one difference: you fall in more often, especially learning. So dress to get wet from the start. In warm water that means a rash vest and boardies rather than a T-shirt; in cool water, a spring suit or 3/2 that lets you move freely. A leg rope keeps the board with you.

Lifejacket rules for kayaks and SUPs in NSW

Rules differ by state, so check your local maritime authority. In NSW, Transport for NSW requires a lifejacket rated Level 50S or above on canoes and kayaks (NSW Government):

On open water and when crossing coastal bars: at all times.
On alpine waters: at all times.
On enclosed waters: when you’re alone (including with children under 12 on board) or at night.
Stand-up paddle boards: a lifejacket is recommended; if that’s not possible, use a leg rope so you don’t get separated from your board.

A lifejacket isn’t thermal protection, but it’s what keeps your head up during the first minutes of cold shock.

FAQ

What should I wear kayaking in summer?

In warm water, a UPF50+ rash vest or long-sleeve top, quick-dry shorts, a hat, sunscreen, water shoes and a lifejacket. Skip cotton.

Do I need a wetsuit to kayak?

Below about 18°C water, yes for most people; below about 15°C, US cold-water guidance treats a wetsuit as the minimum and recommends a drysuit.

Do you have to wear a lifejacket on a kayak in NSW?

On open and alpine waters, and when crossing coastal bars, yes, at all times. On enclosed waters, when you’re alone or at night. It must be Level 50S or above.