Thank you everyone for the positive engagement! If you find videos like these helpful and would like to support the Air On The Water project, there's the possibility to join as a member and receive access to bonus content. It's only a few $, but makes a difference and helps make future content sustainable! You can also "buy me a coffee" - link on the main page. ru-vid.com/show-UCKvtq_W4MMt_QfPQU7Kl8oAjoin
Great to see that people appear to find this useful so far. Note that the table of contents is available in the description to make it easier to jump forward to, or continue watching from, a specific chapter!
Well done! Dressing for the water temperature is super important and a good reminder especially this time of year when the weather starts to get a little nicer outside.
Thanks Marybeth. Indeed! The spring is perhaps the most "dangerous" season for paddlers that way when the water is still cold. I like that you also have some good safety oriented videos for SUP paddlers on your channel btw.
Great advice Patrik especiallly the need for spare clothes and shelters. I'm amazed you Scandanavians go out in freezing temperatures, I don't paddle below 3 Celsius, but our coast is exposed and conditions are usually rough. Drysuits are great but they deteriorate and leak. I got tired of that and now wear a wetsuit under a waterproof/windproof jacket and trouser combination. (yes that is odd, the drysuit is better provided its working). Keep the videos coming.
Thank you David! Yes, drysuits are certainly not infallible - during a recent paddle I accidentally opened up a tiny hole when my suit got caught on thorns during an island break. During the next drysuit test in the water (which will be shown in an upcoming video) I soon found out that I had a tiny leak as cold water started slowly running down my arm (where the leak was). Still stayed in the water around 15 minutes or so, so not too shabby. The spare clothes were most welcome then. Your coastal waters are certainly much wilder than what we typically have here with the Baltic Sea - and usually I'm not that far out so waters are calmer than what you have. All the best!
Really great video. I will be sharing it and advocating folks to watch this video. People don't like it to be told they're wreckless on the cold temperature water. I have been scolded just for raising safety concerns.
Thank you for the positive feedback! Yes, that's unfortunate - there is often too much of a careless attitude towards safety in the water in general and especially in cold water. Often what happens is that people are comfortable with what they usually do while paddling, and expect everything to go well - but when something unusual comes along and things go wrong, often multiple things might go wrong at once. Cold water is automatically one of those "extra things" by itself.
This is a very comprehensive video. A full guide, for any paddler out there. How likely is one to fall into the water, statistically speaking? How often have you found yourself capsizing?
Thank you! Glad you liked it, and thanks for the positive feedback. I haven't looked into overall statistics for how often paddlers capsize - my thought is that that in all cases depends on the paddler, what kind of kayak they're in, and how rough waters they paddle in. Of course someone paddling a pontoon-style super stable inflatable kayak is much less likely to capsize than a paddler in a super-fast slim hardshell, for example. I paddle mostly in inflatables of all kinds but also in sea kayaks, have tried a surfski, and have never actually capsized while paddling so far, but I guess it will happen at some point. I have fallen in the water when getting in and out of the water though, for example on slippery rocks. Have been very glad to be wearing my drysuit a few times! And of course, paddling SUP, I've ended up in the water a bunch of times. Even so, it doesn't help you if you have years without a capsize if you're not protected properly once you do - just like not wearing a bike helmet because you never crash isn't a good idea.
@@AirOnTheWater, better safe than sorry, always! (I am on my bicycle every day, though, and never wear a helmet. But cycling is a different matter. :) ) Have a great weekend!
Hi, maybe you can help me, I got a new pair of 5 mm neoprene boots with semi-rigid soles, they have a very comfortable zip with an internal bellows BUT the water enters from the bottom, without any holes or cracks being visible in the glues. The seller told me that it is normal for water to enter because according to him neoprene is not waterproof. I think he's kidding me, what's the point of boots labeled "cold water specialist" if they're not even watertight? Do you think this is really the case and that a leaking kayak boot is normal?
Hi! Sorry to hear. I don't think the boots should leak. That's not the experience with mine. I wear mine sometimes in warmer waters specifically not to get water in as long as it doesn't come over the top of the boots. You can also ask around in the Winter kayaking group on Facebook.
@@AirOnTheWater I find it absurd that a pair of neoprene boots are not waterproof me too. Last Saturday's paddle on Lake Como was one of the most miserable ever, with feet soaked and frozen 😖
@@DueInCammino Sorry to hear again. That really shouldn't be the case. What are the boots for in that case, one wonders. I would recommend to ask for a refund and try another brand. I use Palm Nova paddle boots which have worked well. I also use a drysuit though, which is important on cold water.
@@AirOnTheWater i've already asked for a refund and now i'm waiting. The vendor also had an interesting drysuit but now we'll look elsewhere for sure 🤣. I really appreciated this video, good job!
@@DueInCammino Hope it works out. Glad the video was helpful. There's a Winter kayaking section on the channel (scroll down on the first page) with some other winter/cold water related kayaking info and examples.
Thank you! Glad if it is found helpful. Lots of people find this topic difficult, or might not realize how important it is to dress properly for cold water conditions - thus the video.
