Jo Moseley's guide to paddleboarding kit

Hello! My name is Jo Moseley and I am the author of two bestselling books about beautiful places to paddleboard with Vertebrate Publishing. I am also the host of The Joy of SUP – The Paddleboarding Sunshine Podcast and have a regular column called Paddleboarding for Good and write kit reviews for SUP Mag UK.

I’d like to share with you what I wear and carry on my board as a recreational paddler. This might be for a few miles on my local canal or sunrise SUP on the sea as I described in my first book Stand Up Paddleboarding in Great Britain –Beautiful Places to Paddleboard in England, Scotland and Wales. Alternatively, it’s what I wear for a chilled afternoon paddle on Buttermere or longer endurance adventures on Ullswater or Windermere, which feature in my second book Stand Up Paddleboarding in the Lake District – Beautiful Places to Paddleboard in Cumbria.

For whitewater SUP, SUP surfing or SUP racing, I recommend you seek specific advice from a qualified instructor in each discipline. Likewise, I am not covering multi-day expeditions where you take all your cooking and camping kit, although these can be great fun and I would certainly them add to your bucket list!

Safety:

As a paddleboarder, the most important element is safety – your own, the people you paddle with and anyone who might need to come to your aid if things go wrong.

My top tip before buying your board or any piece of kit is to have a lesson with a qualified SUP instructor. This will save you time, money and give you the best start in your paddleboarding journey. They might recommend the best board to buy for your needs or recommend a local SUP community so you have new friends to explore with. Paddle UK (one of SUP’s governing bodies and formerly British Canoeing) has a directory of delivery partners. Paddling Centres | Find paddling centres near you | Canoe | Kayak | SUP (gopaddling.info)

Permits and Licences:

Before you launch, check if you need a permit to paddle on the body of water. For most inland waterways such as canals and rivers in England and Wales, you will need a Waterways Licence which you can buy from Paddle UK directly and store on your phone. For some harbours you will also need a license or permit, e.g. Salcombe and Fowey. Permits are also required for some Lakes in the Lake District, e.g. Bassenthwaite, Buttermere, Crummock and Loweswater. Waterways Licence | Rivers Licence | Paddleboard | Kayak (paddleuk.org.uk)

© Jumpy James

Safety Kit:

Using the right safety kit is also key:

1. Leash: Your leash attaches you to your board and will keep it close by should you fall in, acting as a buoyancy aid and allowing you to get back on as swiftly as possible. Flatwater recreational paddlers wear a coiled leash worn around the ankle, calf or waist. Go to Paddle UK to find out more about the right one for the type of paddling you are undertaking: Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Safety - Choosing the Right Leash | Paddle UK

Personally I wear a Palm Equipment Quick SUP Leash Quick SUP leash | Palm Equipment or the Red Paddle Co Quick Release SUP Leash Belt with my Red Paddle Co coiled leash Red Paddle Co Quick Release SUP Leash Waist Belt (red-equipment.co.uk)

2. Buoyancy Aid or Personal Floatation Device: However good a swimmer you are it is important to wear a good buoyancy aid (BA) or personal floatation device (PFD). There are three main styles: a) a waistcoat style fastened with a zip at the front; b) a vest type which is pulled over the head (I prefer these styles as they offer extra warmth and have easily accessible pockets for your phone, map, specs or snacks. I also attach a pealess whistle* if I need to attract attention. When you stop paddling you can cool down quite rapidly so I keep my buoyancy aid on as I’m deflating and packing things away to keep warm.) or c) a waist belt PFD, a smaller pack which fastens around your waist. By pulling a toggle it inflates an internal bladder using a gas cylinder. Some paddlers prefer these for greater ease of movement and compact size.

*Whistle Fox 40 Micro whistle | Palm Equipment

I wear the Palm Equipment Tika (specially designed for a woman’s shape), Riff and Peyto. Touring PFDs (palm.equipment) Palm have the Palm Glide waist PFD and Red Paddle Co the Red Airbelt for those that want the waist belt style.

3. Means of communication, e.g. a fully charged mobile phone, in a waterproof phone case. This is essential in case of an emergency, to keep in touch with family/friends, should you be delayed or to tell them you are safely off the water. Keep it in a waterproof case on you, not on the board for access. Red Paddle Co Waterproof Phone Case (red-equipment.co.uk)

© Jumpy James

Clothing:

What I wear depends on the body of water (will I be walking in carrying my board? e.g. lake or sea, or getting in from the towpath? e.g. canal), the season, the type of paddling I intend to do and the weather on the day.

The key point is to dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature. It might feel like summer on a sunny April day but the water in the UK can still be very cold and cold water shock is a real risk. Water temperatures under 15C are considered cold. There is more about this in my books and I recommend listening to SUP fm Podcast’s episode number 113 with Prof Mike Tipton 113 : The Chilling Truth: Unde - SUPfm The International Stand Up Paddle Board Podcast - Apple Podcasts and reading Go Paddling’s information Cold Water Shock: How to Stay Safe in Chilly Waters | Go Paddling

Warmer months:

Let’s start with the first layer!

Swimsuits:

As I often enjoy a dip after a paddle in the Lakes or sea (absolutely not in the canal!) in the summer months, a swimsuit I can comfortably paddle in is my first layer. My personal favourites are Batoko BATOKO Narwhal Swimsuit | Recycling Plastic Waste Into Swimwear | UK (made from recycled waste fabric) or Alpkit’s Dulsie.Dulsie One Piece Long Sleeved Swimming Costume (alpkit.com) The latter’s long sleeves are handy for keeping the sun’s rays out while on the water and preventing sunburn.

Leggings and Rash Top:

Likewise, I prefer leggings in the summer rather than shorts over my swimsuit. It also means that my legs are protected from ticks, mosquitoes and horse flies walking to and from the lake in the Lake District, or Scotland especially.

In late summer, when the water is warmer, I like my Finisterre leggings and long sleeve rash vest top, made from Econyl, a regenerated nylon fabric made from waste nylon materials, which I have had for six years now and which are still going strong. I alternate the leggings with the thicker Palm Neoflex leggings. Palm Womens Neoflex Leggings | Escape Watersports (escape-watersports.co.uk)

Rather than cotton, you want something fast drying if you are splashed or fall in and preferably with UV protection. I would 100% avoid denim.

When I next need a pair of summer SUP leggings, I’ll go to the Shoretees range, made from 80% recycled polyester and water based inks. Shoretees is an independent paddleboarding inspired brand based on the south coast of England with a commitment to the ocean and the SUP community. They make branded kit for some of most experienced paddlers, SUP events and charities, such as Brendon Prince’s Above Water, Sarah Thornely’s SUP Junkie, the Barefoot Ocean Athlete Race Team and the Great Big Paddle Parade. The leggings come in different lengths and with pockets which are handy for snacks and glasses! Ladies Recycled Leggings Collection - Stylish & Sustainable Fashion (shoretees.co.uk)

Wetsuits:

Personally, I have never enjoyed wearing a full wetsuit for paddling and have always chosen the option of leggings and tops you can layer. However, I was recently asked to review the Zone 3 Switch Yulex for SUP Mag UK and found it really comfortable and extremely well designed. It comes in a wide range of sizes and has much better environmental credentials than traditional neoprene. Women's Switch Multisport Wetsuit – ZONE3 UK

Waterproof Jacket & Cagoule:

In the UK, and especially in the Lake District and Scotland, we can get four seasons in a day and an absolute must, even in the summer, is a cagoule or waterproof jacket. I will always carry one in my bag, even when the forecast is for dry conditions. I was given my Palm Vantage jacket as a Paddle UK (British Canoeing) She Paddles Ambassador in 2019 and it remains my go-to jacket. Key features are a good hood with a peak that keeps the rain off but still allows for good visibility, a pocket at the front, cuffs to keep the rain out. It also has a long back, which keeps me covered when stretching for a paddlestroke. Vantage women's jacket | Palm Equipment

Being cold will significantly reduce your ability to paddle and wind chill can cause hypothermia, so a cagoule or waterproof jacket can offer some much needed warmth and protection if the weather changes whatever the season.

© Jumpy James

Chillier months:

With the right kit, paddleboarding in the autumn and winter can be an absolute joy. It is quieter on the water, making life simpler for parking, access and post SUP picnics. You also don’t have to get up quite so early for a sunrise SUP! The light and colours reflected on a still lake in November really are second to none. Winter kit is a significant investment, but if you think you will use it, it can be a great one.

Again, I like the option of a two piece and the Palm Atom pants and Palm Chinook jacket suit me well. With built in socks, an internal neck closure and wrist seals they do a great job of keeping the water out for my type of SUP. If I fell in I would not be as protected from water ingress as an all in one drysuit but it would keep a significant amount of water out. A cagoule and pants makes going to the loo simpler although some one piece dry suits do have a drop seat to allow for this. Chinook women's jacket | Palm Equipment and Atom women's pants | Palm Equipment

I wouldn’t normally recommend wool for SUP as it gets so heavy when wet but for a calm paddle, merino wool is a great option under my cagoule and trousers. Merino keeps you warm but is moisture wicking so you don’t get sweaty and sticky. I like FINDRA’s Merino and have worn it for nine years Fern Merino Leggings – FINDRA Clothing and Fern Textured Merino Base Layer – FINDRA Clothing.

It is important to remember that dry suits – whether an all in one or two piece - only keep you dry, they don’t keep you warm in themselves and you will need layers underneath. Palm have the Tsangpo fleece all in one suit which also has a drop seat and has odour control.

I wear waterproof socks from Sealskinz or Dry360 inside the inbuilt socks of my Atom Pants and some people also add a thin pair of neoprene socks over them too. Waterproof Socks – Sealskinz or Waterproof breathable socks. (360dry.co.uk)

Shoes:

Wherever I am paddling, I wear shoes to launch and exit the water. You simply don’t know what you are walking on. Lakes and beaches can have rocky shorelines, jellyfish or weaver fish. There are nettles, muddy banks, litter and goose poo on a river or canal towpath.

Out on the sea or a lake, I do take my shoes off and clip them to a D ring or strap on the board with a karabiner. There is nothing lovelier than feeling the connection of your toes on the board and it really adds to the joy and feeling of freedom and adventure.

On a canal or river, especially where I don’t know how deep it is, I will always wear my shoes on the board however. Sadly we don’t know what is on the bottom of either bed, in some cases it could be machinery from its industrial past, and it simply isn’t worth it.

Some people like flip flops, sliders, Crocs or old trainers, but I have never found these comfortable nor wetsuit booties. My favourite shoes are the Red Clarks collaboration (no longer available), Keen and Vivobarefoot. In the very late summer/early autumn when it is not quite time for my winter kit, but there is a nip in the air, I will wear with waterproof socks from Sealskin or Dry360 if I’m on the canal and launching without walking into the water. Women's Outdoor Shoes | Vivobarefoot | UK

An experienced paddler once confided that she thought my ‘always have shoes’ motto was a bit OTT as the local beach she regularly launched and returned to was clear of litter and had the finest of sands to walk on. It was only when she had to unexpectedly land on a nearby rocky beach when the wind picked up that she realised shoes would have been handy. ‘My feet felt cut to shreds and we had a long walk back to the car!’

Ultimately with my kit, I’m always trying to plan for what might happen if conditions change and look after the future me that will be facing them.

With my dry suit trousers and waterproof socks I wear the Palm Gradient boots which I have found to be very comfortable. With the extra bulk of socks you’ll need to size up a couple of sizes. They work surprisingly well on the board, don’t get waterlogged and are sturdy walking to and from the launch point in a muddy conditions. Gradient boots | Palm Equipment

Caps, hats and beanies

In the summer, I’ll wear a baseball cap and in winter a cosy beanie. I love Red, FINDRA and the RNLI. They really can make all the difference on a cold day. RNLI have a collaboration with Finisterre too. Hats and Gloves — RNLI Shop

Gloves

Likewise gloves can be incredibly useful on a cold day. Sealskinz and Dry360 make water repellent gloves which can be great for a calm lake or canal paddle. A really good option are the Palm Talon mitts which allow the important connection to the paddle while giving you the quick drying thermal protection you need. Talon mitts | Palm Equipment

Changing Robe

I keep my changing robe in the car for keeping warm post paddle and for changing in. I have the Red Evo Red Original Women's Long Sleeve Pro Dry Change Robe EVO - Teal (red-equipment.co.uk)

© Jumpy James

What I take on my board:

What I take on my board depends on the location, length of paddle and season. However, there are a few basics I will always take:

At the very minimum I will carry a water bottle in a dry bag, along with a cagoule, keys if I have come by car and some money. I like the Red Equipment and Lomo ranges of dry bags which are practical off the water too. I also have a Lomo deck bag with a mesh side pocket for my water bottle. Red Original Water Sports Equipment & Accessories (red-equipment.co.uk)

To keep things separate (and useful for camping too) I like the small Lomo dry bags. They also have handy bright orange buoyant dry boxes for keys and valuables. small dry bags | Lomo Watersport UK. Wetsuits, Dry Bags & Outdoor Gear.

Hydration:

You’ll be surprised how quickly you can become dehydrated in all weathers. Some PDFs like my Peyto have space for a hydration bladders, making drinking easier and speedier on the move which are popular. Personally even when I was paddling coast to coast a few years ago, I still wanted to take a break and enjoy a peaceful drink.

In the winter, a flask of tea or soup is perfect. Kleen Kanteen have an insulated lunch box which I am currently reviewing for SUP Mag UK. Insulated Food Containers, To-Go Meal & Lunch Boxes | Klean Kanteen – Klean Kanteen UK

Being hydrated has an impact on my paddling on the day and if it is long paddle especially on my next day recovery. As I am now 59, I have started adding electrolytes tablets such as SIS in preparation for the day.

© Jo Moseley

Snacks:

Likewise, on a longer paddle travelling the length of Ullswater or circumnavigating Crummock, I will take along some snacks. I have included the recipe for bliss balls I used on the coast to coast which I batch cooked in advance and froze. Peanut butter, boiled eggs or cheese and tomato sandwiches, dried fruit, nuts and seeds or occasionally energy bars (my favourite are Veloforte) also feature. Fresh fruit can be super and I always take the peel or skin home! Veloforte | Real food that really works | Fuelbetter

I always keep some snacks and extra water in the car for my return – once or twice a tin of mackerel in tomato sauce has just hit the spot, followed by dark chocolate or brownies. If you are in the Lake District pop to Lovingly Artisan for their flapjacks! Home - Lovingly Artisan

Other things to consider taking on board:

• Clothing: as well as a cagoule, on a longer paddle I will take extra layers and a change of clothes.
• Sunscreen (reef friendly), sunglasses with floating straps and lip balm.
• Midge repellent: I like the Pocket Smidge Pocket Smidge - Smidge (smidgeup.com).
• First Aid Kit: a simple kit to deal with blisters, cuts and stings.
• Head torch and clip on lights in case you are out later than expected.
• Folding knife in case of entanglement: I use Knives (palm.equipment).
• Any medication you may need. Make sure whomever you are paddling with knows what you are carrying and how and when to administer it if you might need it.
• Repair Kit: duct tape, cable ties, insulation tape, cord to make on the go repairs until you can return to shore.
• Spare paddle, a mini pump (NRS K-pump), spare fin and bolt, spare leash, valve tightener K-Pump | NRS.
• Sling rope and karabiner: Snake Sling | Palm Equipment for towing someone.
• Hand sanitiser: to use before eating.
• Map: OS maps are really useful to plan longer paddles such as on Ullswater or Windermere. You can buy waterproof maps or download the section of the lake you want to paddle and laminate it. You can then annotate it with a chinograph pencil, noting entry and exit points, emergency stops, places for food or drinks and interesting features, plus boat routes and land that is private or no boating zones. Online maps & routes for walking, cycling and running | OS Maps and Traditional folded paper maps for walking, hiking, cycling or any outdoor activity. (ordnancesurvey.co.uk)
• Litter picker and 2 Minute Beach Clean bag to pick up litter.
• Emergency Foil Blanket: Try Vango, Alpkit and Lomo.
• Biomate Portable Cleaning Kit to prevent INNS (Invasive Non Native Species): Being an environmentally responsible paddler is very important and one way to do this is to ensure we don’t carry Invasive Non-Native Species from one body of water to another. It can hugely impact the health of the lake, canal or river as well as the flora and wildlife for whom it is home. They can grow very quickly from one tiny leaf, block waterways and cost a lot of money to remove. We need to Check, Clean and Dry our boards, safety kit and clothing so we don’t carry these damaging leaves. A Biomate Portable Cleaning Kit is small enough to keep on your board or in your car. Membership of Paddle UK gives you a discount on the kit. Find out more here: Paddle UK partners with Bio-Mate to tackle INNS | Paddle UK    
• ICE Tags: While we hope no one will ever find themselves in an emergency situation or separated from their boards, we should plan for the eventuality. Biomate ICE tags show your contact info, emergency contact details of a friend or family member and any medical conditions. This will help anyone who finds you if you are injured to contact the right people. Likewise, if the emergency services find an abandoned board or one is reported, they can use the contact details to see if you are safe or missing. This can make the difference between launching a full scale rescue operation which may not be needed or finding a way for you to retrieve your board. Custom Paddle Board, Kayak and Water Craft Emergency Identification Ta – Mud Mate