Just because its winter doesn't mean you have to stop going out on your SUP stand up paddleboard!

You've essentially got two options - either switch to flat water paddling where the likelihood of you falling in is much less or invest in some winter gear and employ some sneaky tricks to stay warm.

If the former is more your thing then a regular wetsuit should suffice and its up to you if you want to wear 'regular' clothes over the top. A tracksuit thrown over the top of a wetsuit will give you an extra layer and allow you to look normal if you stop with your buddies for food or refreshments midway through your paddle. This is important if you intend to head to a bar! A pair of neoprene boots will keep your feet warm and if its really cold a pair of gloves for the hands. Gloves can be a problem for a lot of paddlers - too thick and it feels like you aren't able to grip the paddle as you are used to and you can feel the forearms get tired more quickly. Too thin and your hands still get cold. Too much rubber on the palm and your paddle will grip to your hands which makes smooth paddling tricky. A lot of SUP riders opt for windsurfing mits - 2mm neoprene with open palms so you still retain an element of connectedness with the paddle.

If it looks like rain or you need to keep the wind off you can opt for a kayakers jacket as your top layer. These are waterproof and breathable and come with neoprene collar, cuffs and waistband. If you do go in the water you will find that when you get back on your board you want to pull the jacket's waist band away from you for a second or so to get all the water out!

Winter Surfing

If you can afford it you will probably want to invest in a winter wetsuit. These are similar to conventional wetsuits but are made of thicker neoprene , typically 5mm in most places, have an inner layer of thinner neoprene around the shoulders and chest to stop water flow and tight rubber seals on the end of the arms and legs to keep the water out. The neoprene will also have a special outer covering to keep the wind from blowing through the suit.

The secret to keeping warm is undoubtedly LAYERING. You will want a thermal rashvest underneath the wetsuit and if its really cold why not put another skintight lycra rashvest under that. For your bottom half a tight pair of neoprene shorts under the wetsuit work wonders. A lot of guys hate that cold water cremaster reflex when the chill suddenly hits their family jewels! A pair of kayaking 2mm+ neoprene shorts underneath will minimize this.

For the hands the same types of gloves mentioned above in flat water paddling will normally suffice but if you find the cold too unbearable in your hands don't be afraid to get a pair of lobster gloves or even a pair of 5mm neoprene diving gloves. They will take some time getting used to but its better than being kept off of the water because your hands are cold.

Similar things are needed for the feet - A good pair of neoprene booties as worn by divers should suffice and not break the bank. There are dedicated windsurfing boots which are thinner and can be warn to give greater responsiveness through the feet but we've had a lot of people say they are just not quite warm enough when the crunch comes.

If you get a pair of winter boots one size too big you will have room to wear an additional pair of 1 or 2mm neoprene socks underneath. The positive effects of layering should never be underestimated! A lot of the neoprene socks have got a very fine rubber grip underneath making them ideal for use in spring or autumn on their own when theres only a mild chill.

Ok so you are almost ready to brave the very worst conditions but there's one more part of the body that needs protection - the head. Infact this needs the most protection of all because when it gets cold it suddenly becomes hard to think straight and that is something you can do without if you are wiping out and having to make quick decisions that could your personal safety. You can get neoprene hats that work well but they are prone to coming off if you take a big fall into the water. A lot of them have got a fixing sewn in so they can be attached via a foot long bit of cord to your wetsuit much like your mom probably tied your gloves to your jacket when you were in kindergarten! If you have got thinning hair and the hat comes off you are going to be in PAIN so another good alternative is a balaclaver. These come in two types - one with a velcro fastening and ones that you slide right over your head. In our experience the ones with a velcro fastening can tear more easily than the all in ones that slide on. When its really cold we opt for a neoprene hat with a full neoprene balaclave over the top.

So far we've been surfing quite happily in -5C air temperature with a sea temperature of 7C so don't let the cold winters put you off of SUP!

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