Find out which water sports equipment is perfect for your water adventure
Summer is fast approaching. What better way to enjoy summer than water sports? There are many different activities you can enjoy out there, but before getting to it, you should first know the different water sports equipment needed for the specific water sport you want to try. Having the proper equipment will definitely make your experience more enjoyable!
Since there is a lot of gear in water sports, it can get pretty overwhelming. It’s even possible that you might already have water sports gear lying around your house. You just don’t know what it’s for.
So, worry not! I am here to help you get to know your equipment. I have broken them down into different categories – from wearable gears to boats, boards, and accessories. I will also tell you what water sport that equipment is used for and give you some important tips before you buy.
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Wetsuit
Believe it or not, this is essential for sports such as surfing, kayaking, jet-skiing, open water swimming, freediving, or any water sports that deal with water temperature ranging from 10°C – 25°C.
The way that the wetsuit works is that it insulates your body to retain the body heat that helps avoid hypothermia. A thin layer of water is trapped between your body and the wetsuit. This thin layer of water is then warmed by your body temperature, which keeps you warm longer.
When choosing the best wetsuit, the temperature of the water is the most important factor to consider because the thickness of the wetsuit depends on this factor. The lower the temperature, the thicker the wetsuit should be.
Learn ALL on wetsuits here. Trust me, you need this info!
The overall fit of the wetsuit is a crucial factor. Wetsuits should be as tight as possible to avoid cold water entering your wetsuit. A loose wetsuit will increase the loss of heat from your body, rather than retaining it—which wouldn’t be helpful at all.
The wetsuit should be tight around your wrists, conform to your neck, and tapered to your legs down to your ankles to ensure security and body heat retention.
Finally, the last factor to consider for this water sports equipment is what your wetsuit is made of. Rubber is the best material to be used in terms of performance, as opposed to material like neoprene. This is because, over time, neoprene soaks up water and gets heavy on the outside.
Learn more on how to take care of your wetsuit.
Dry Suit
Drysuits are different from wetsuits because it keeps you dry while providing insulation, which you could have probably guessed from its name. A dry suit is a better choice than a wet suit for sports such as scuba diving, which involves even lower water temperature.
In choosing the right drysuit for you, it’s very important to check the zippers and the seal of the suit. Also, check the fit and the material of the drysuit. These factors are important because these water sports equipment are specially designed not just for thermal insulation, but also water exclusion, which also avoids body heat loss that would lead to hypothermia.
Like a wetsuit, the drysuit must be perfectly snug and secure around the wrists, ankles, and neck. Following the sizing chart of the manufacturer of the drysuit is a must. This is to ensure that the one you are getting is the perfect fit for you.
In terms of material, let’s get to know neoprene and membrane. Some people think that a neoprene drysuit is basically very thick. It is a waterproof wetsuit that fits really well and provides a good amount of warmth on its own. A membrane drysuit, on the other hand, is lightweight and does not have inherent buoyancy. Because it is lightweight, it does not provide warmth like the neoprene one, which means that undergarments are required for more warmth.
Rash Guards
This water sports equipment is also known as a rash vest. It provides you an added protection against the damaging rays of the sun and helps prevent sunburn. Some rash guards even have built-in UV protection.
These can also be worn as an undergarment for the drysuit to add warmth. It is the perfect wearable gear for activities such as snorkeling, freediving, wakeboarding, bodysurfing, windsurfing, canoe polo, and kite surfing.
Fit is an important thing to consider in purchasing your rash guard. However, unlike wet and dry suits that always need to be tight and secured in their fit, the fit of your rash guard can be tight or loose depending on your water sports activity.
Again, rash guards may provide added UV protection. Some designs include Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) 50+ sun protection. If your skin is much more sensitive, it is important to consider this factor in order to prevent your skin being damaged by the harmful sun rays while doing water sports activities.
Life Jackets
Life jackets are equipment usually used for canoeing, kayaking, water tubing, white water rafting, paddling, and bare-footing, to name a few.
This equipment is a must for almost all water sports especially if you are not that confident in your swimming skills. It provides safety and as well as comfort. Even the best swimmers still need life jackets to ensure their safety.
There are different types in terms of size, which would depend on the user’s weight and age.
The fit of your life jacket is important because it will help you keep your head above the water. Having it too big, will make the jacket ride up around and over your head. On the other hand, too small will result in you weighing the jacket down. This will prevent it from keeping your body afloat.
After the size, the sturdiness of the buckles is essential, too. These will keep the life jacket secured in place to avoid its possible removal if you end up jumping in the waters, or when the waves are too strong. It is best to follow the sizing guide of the manufacturer of the life jacket and to try it in shallow water under safe and supervised conditions.
In terms of usability, it would depend on the swimming skills of the user and the activity you plan on doing. It would be among the three types – a life jacket with automatic activation, manual activation, or a standard life jacket.
A life jacket with automatic activation inflates as soon as it touches the water. This is the best type for children and adults who have little to no skill in swimming. The one with manual activation is good for children over 16 years old and people who can swim. Both of these types are good for recreation and sports.
However, the other two kinds mentioned are not designed for sports where immersion would take place, such as water skiing and white water paddling/rafting. For water sports, a standard life jacket would be the best choice as these can turn you on your back, keeping your head above water, even when unconscious.
Personal Floatation Device (PFDs)
Unlike traditional life jackets, PFDs provide more comfort as they are made for constant wear. These are the perfect wearable gear when you want to try water sports that involve immersion such as white water rafting or paddling.
The downside to these water sports equipment is that the protection they provide is not the same as life jackets because it is more difficult to stay afloat with PFDs and these generally do not help to turn an unconscious person onto their back in the water for easy breathing.
You might ask: Why get a PFD in the first place instead of just a life jacket? PFDs provide much more maneuverability and a wider range of motion, which are necessary when it comes to sports like white water rafting or paddling than life jackets.
There is a wide range of PFDs available in various sizes, and types depending on your needs and activity. In terms of sizing, the size of your chest, and not your weight, will be considered. This is measured by taking the circumference of your chest at its broadest point. For the fit, it is best to try on a PFD while wearing the clothes you would use underneath it. You can also do some movements such as paddling while trying it on to get a feel of it.
Lastly, test your PFD in shallow waters, such as a pool, to see how well it works and to make sure that it does not slip over or ride up while you are floating.
