
SUP Britain: Clothing kit review
Paddling the length of Britain was an incredible experience — the wildlife, the views and the people all made it so memorable. But when it comes down to it, just like any other endurance adventure, it’s all about covering one mile after another. The final tally, be that in days, miles or cake stops, means less than simply enjoying each and every moment.
Some things add to the journey more than others, and as the saying goes “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing”, so what you choose to wear can often affect your mood. Get the choice right and you’ll feel comfortable, warm and able to keep paddling mile after mile. Get it wrong and you’ll be wet, cold and wishing you were back at home.
As such one of my first big dilemmas in choosing what to wear for SUP Britain was whether to go for a wet suit, dry suit or a semi dry option.
Wet Suit: Just like you’d wear for surfing, this keeps you warm by trapping a layer of water next to your body which then stays warm. They come in winter or summer thicknesses and a variety of short sleeve and short leg options.
Dry Suit: This is an all in one suit that includes built in boots and seals at the cuffs and neck in order to keep you completely dry if you fall in. The down side is that you can over heat more easily and as such they tend to get a bit sweaty inside (so I’m told, I’ve never used one personally).
Semi Dry: Layering any sporty clothes like leggings and t-shirt with a pair of semi dry trousers (waterproof trousers that pull tight around your ankles) and a semi dry jacket (a waterproof jacket that pulls tight around your wrists), means that you can easily adapt to changing weather conditions. However, if you fall in, you’re definitely getting wet. The trousers and jacket don’t create a seal at the waist or around the neck. The up side versus a standard set of waterproof gear is that the ankle and wrist adjustments help stop the water getting in while you’re still on your board.
Before deciding to take on the expedition I’d only paddled on the sea once, for which the instructor gave me a wet suit, and all my other experience was on flat water with a semi dry option. Given my lack of sea based paddling I had no idea which would be the best option or even how often I was likely to fall off, so I turned to SUP expert Tim Trew from SUP Bristol for some advice.
He suggested that given I was leaving in April and the weather would still be a bit nippy, plus my lack of experience, it was likely that a summer wet suit with some additional rash vest and swim legging base layers was the best option. This should keep me warm and comfortable enough. Then if it warms up later in the expedition I could opt for just the wet suit, then if it gets really hot, just the base layers.

It turned out this was the perfect set up for me. While I didn’t fall in as much as I’d expected, I did end up kneeing a bit to start with as my fear of the sea held me back from standing up in rougher conditions. So the wet suit added a useful bit of cushioning for me knees on those occasions. As the weather warmed I swapped to just wearing the rash vest and swim legging base layers. At one point in Scotland it even got so hot I was down to some board shorts and a bikini top, but this was rear, I was in Britain after all!
On occasion I mixed my outfit up a little. For example if it rained heavily on a cold day I’d add on my splash jacket over my wet suit (as above) to give more warmth and protection from the cold wind.
Accessories
The most important accessory is obviously my PFD (personal flotation devise). I’d never paddle without one. Even on a calm day like in the main picture at the top. The main reason being, if I went into cold water shock after falling in, it would help me stay afloat and able to breath (slightly crucial). The second being it has handy pockets for things like my SPOT tracker (which has an SOS function), my floating knife and snacks. Finally, if I ever got detached from my board it’s much easier to spot a bright yellow blob in the water than it is a black one!

After general water safety the next thing I thought about was the sun. While it wasn’t necessarily warm for most of the trip, the sea reflects the sun a lot so plenty of sunscreen was key. I opted for a natural one from Odylique, plus a hat to keep keep the sun off my head (which I could also dunk in the sea to help me cool down on super hot days), and a couple of pairs of SunGod sunglasses.
While I usually prefer to paddle bare foot as I feel it gives me more balance and control on the board, having the option of neoprene booties and socks was very welcome when it was particularly chilly. I have to say the booties are so warm and snug. I hate having cold feet and I was surprised at just how good they are. I also have a pair of water shoes which are great for more inland routes when I might be climbing out along a bank/beach but want something that looks a bit more acceptable in the pub afterwards.
Off the water

Whether I fell in or not, invariably I’d be warmer whilst paddling and as soon as I stopped and got on to the support boat I’d very quickly get cold. As such having a dry robe to throw on really did make a big difference. A jacket, towel or blanket just isn’t the same. The hood, windproof outer layer and the length of the dry robe keep all the warmth in. I also really like to take mine camping — it makes a great extra blanket over my sleeping bag as well as for snuggling up in by the camp fire.
Once I’m out of my paddling clothes I pop on some leggings and a jumper. Of course, any warm clothes will do, but this time I opted for a set from NRS and I have to say I am seriously impressed. They are super warm, yet very lightweight and can easily be thrown in a tumble dryer on the odd occasion I get to wash anything. I had a pair of leggings, two tops and a hoodie.
I also opted for a merino top (you can never have too many tops, particularly when you’re not washing stuff very often!) and a great insulated jacket from Finisterre. The outer of the jacket is made from 100% recycled nylon and 10% of profits go to Surfers Against Sewerage, so it’s great to know I’m helping protect our oceans as I’m paddling them.

