Paddleboarding during the colder, winter months can be especially beautiful, a really lovely way to enjoy those cold crisp winter days, when the sun is shining and water is so still! It is a great way to stay active and help boost your mental health during what can be some drury winter months. 

The weather during winter can be unpredictable, varying temperatures plus fluctuating body temperature as you exercise can alter what you need to wear when exploring on your SUP. Even though paddle boarding might make you break a sweat, warm but breathable clothing are essential during the winter so you don&#x2019;t catch a cold. To embrace autumn and winter paddle boarding, layers are a must. It is important to check the weather conditions before you leave the house to ensure you are protected for every possibility - don&#x2019;t forget that even if it&#x2019;s nice as you head out, the wind might pick up or that the temperature will drop at the end of a sunny day.

There are three main things you need to consider when planning a trip. How long are you going to be out exploring, the water temperature and the weather conditions. We&apos;d like to talk you through our top tips and advice!

https://redoriginal.com/blogs/news/keeping-warm-on-the-water  //  https://youtu.be/tCDUPd2oscQ

Winter Paddling

When the sun is shining and you&apos;re ready for a SUP adventure, it&apos;s important to have a think about what to wear before heading out on the water. We recommend clothing that will keep you cool, whilst ensuring you are protected from the sun. 
A pair of board shorts and our Red Original performance t-shirt is a perfect option! This is made from a moisture wicking, dri-release fabric, preventing odours caused by sweating whilst providing the highest rating of protection from UV radiation at 50+ UPF. 
We&apos;d always recommend applying a water resistant sunscreen to protect yourself from sun burn. If it is a really warm day with strong sun rays, consider a long sleeved protection rash vest. 
On cooler days, and if you&apos;re not yet super confident on the board and feel you may have a wobble, a 3/2mm summer wetsuit is a great option. You can choose to wear a shorty or long version. If you were to take a splash into the water, wetsuits help with insulating and retaining body heat also giving you a little buoyancy in the water.
Don&apos;t forget keeping your head protected from the sun! We have our Red Original Sports Cap that is super comfortable and easily adjusted with invisible ventilation, keeping you cool whilst on the water no matter how hard you are paddling!
It is essential that you have a secondary floatation device when paddling, our Waistbelt pfd is a great option if you&apos;re looking for an alternative less bulky safety device, giving you maximum freedom and comfort when out on the water. https://youtu.be/iZzBbAcWwBM

Summer Paddling

How to attach your leash to yourself and the board.

We have two different types of leashes, our coiled leash (that comes standard as part of our packages) for flat water paddle boarding and our straight leash which is good for SUP surfing/catching waves. 
When attaching your leash, first of all, make sure all of the velcro is apart. Here you will find that you have a loop of string attached to the velcro. Thread this material through the D ring that is located at the back of the board, popping the knot through itself and creating a larks head knot around the D ring! Secondly, make sure the velcro is all undone, pass the velcro through the string loop, secure the velcro, making sure you&apos;re finishing with the piece of velcro that has a flat edge. Finally, you have a secure leash that is attached to the string and D ring! you&apos;re ready to paddle!  // Your leash is a really important piece of safety equipment. Before heading out to the water, we strongly recommend checking that your leash is in a good working condition, and it is attached properly to your board.
// https://youtu.be/t_48jICR7Mw

Attaching Your Leash

Different leashes should be used in different situations; check out our guide on this here.

Coiled leash
Our 8ft coiled leash is designed for flat water paddlers and racers who would like to make sure they are not getting any excess drag from their leash being in the water. This leash comes standard as part of our packages. It is mainly used when paddle boarding calmer waters such as canals, calm seas and lakes.
Straight leash 
Our 10ft Surf leash is a straight leash that is ideal for paddlers that would like to take their SUP out into the surf, it is great option for surfing and catching waves mainly at beach. 
Waist leash
Our Waist leash belt is quick releasing, this is for when the water is powerful such as high flowing rivers and tidal estuaries. You can covert your ankle leash so that you can release from the waist, simply attaching any ankle leash cuff to the waist belt. This is useful for if you find yourself in difficulty and you can&#x2019;t reach your ankle in a dangerous situation.

What Leash To Wear

No matter whether it&apos;s your first time out or if you&apos;re a seasoned professional, to ensure you stay safe when on the water it is it is important to carry out a few important SUP Safety checks.
With more people trying paddle boarding for the first time we&apos;re here to help increase awareness and knowledge of SUP safety. We encourage paddlers to firstly check their equipment before each session, check yourself and the clothes you&apos;re wearing, secure your leash, wear a PFD, take a telephone with you, try and paddle with others if you can, we also recommend letting somebody know on land where you&apos;re heading and roughly how long you may be. For more tips on safety, please take a look at our SUP safety tips here. https://red-equipment.co.uk/pages/sup-safety-stay-safe-on-the-water

Pre Paddle Check List

A guide on how to use your PFD (Personal Floatation Device)

1 - Pull the handle to remove the bladder
2 - Place the bladder over your head
3 - To inflate, pull the cord firmly
4 - Use mouthpiece to top up air if needed. There is also a whistle to attract attention.
5 - Pull down on the straps attached to the waist belt for a close to body fit. 
Conserve energy and attract attention if you&apos;re ever in the water needing help /// https://youtu.be/w4OON9C4EDw

How To Use PFD's

We have a helpful video that you can watch below, on how to use your Waist Belt Leash safely: https://youtu.be/COTBLJXLWKE

Waist Belt Leash How To

Any unanswered questions? Get in touch with us here! 
Our standard Customer service opening hours are Monday- Friday 9am-5pm GMT, but we will try and come back to you within 24 hours, even if it is outside of our normal working hours.

If you'd rather give us a quick call, our phone lines are open Monday - Friday, 9 to 5, and we'd be more than happy to hear from you.

Red UK Website

Red UK Help Centre

Important information regarding our Safety Products - key for staying safe out on the water.

Safety Products Information

Safety Products

What board is right for me?

How much pressure should I put into my board?

What is MSL Technology?

How durable is a Red Paddle Co board?

How do Red boards compare to hard boards?

How long can I leave a board inflated for?

How long is the warranty on a Red Paddle Co board?

Board FAQ’S

What paddle is right for me?

Paddle FAQ’s

Which Robe Is Right For Me?

Changing FAQ’S

What is the Titan II Pump?

Pump FAQ’s

What bag will suit me best?

Equipment FAQ’s

Our Eco-design Directive - what is it?

Why are some of your products made in China or the Far East?

B - Corp Certified - what does it mean?

Sustainability

When are you open over the Christmas period?

I want to swap my product for a different size / colour - do you offer exchanges?

How long is the returns window for Christmas gifts?

What can I do if there is an issue with my order?

The item I want is out of stock. Do you have any more?

When can I expect a refund from a return?

How long will it take to ship my order?

What is the last date I can order for delivery before Christmas?

Can my gift be wrapped or unbranded?

Why did my order not come with the Insulated Bottle?

Can I get a gift receipt for my order?

I can’t decide on a gift… Can you help?

I received a gift and need to change it - what do I do?

What should I do if I ordered a gift for someone but they would like to change it?

Christmas FAQ’s

When will my order arrive?

Can I amend or cancel my order?

Can I track my order? How?

BFPO Addresses - can I claim VAT back?

My order has not arrived - what do I do?

How can I return an order?

Are there any charges for returns?

What items are returnable?

Do you offer exchanges?

How soon will I receive my refund?

Order Enquiry FAQ's

FAQ's

How To Patch a Leak

Sealing a Leak

Repairing Dust Cap String

Leak Location

Regluing i-Fins

Straightening i-Fins

How To Reglue Cargo Points

How To Store Your Board

How To Rethread Your Bungees

Valve Tightening

Replacement fin-bolts

Board Care Guides

The Bump

Max Rider Weight

Board Pressure

How To Roll Your Board

Packing a Compact

How To Insert RSS Battens

How Long Can It Be Inflated

How To Mount a Camera

How To Insert Click Fins

Board Product Information

Boards

Paddle Storage

Freeing a Stuck Paddle

Water Trapped in Paddle

Camlock Replacement

Paddle Care & Maintenance

Spare / Replacement Parts

Paddle Care Guides

Assembling 3 Piece Paddles

Upgrading Your Paddle

How To Paddle Efficiently

Paddle Product Information

Paddles

Storing Personal Belongings

Deck Bag Clips

Securely Rolling Dry Bags

Securing Cool Bag to Boards

Dry Bag Attachments

How to Use an ATB Sling

Bags & Equipment Product Information

Dry Pouch Cleaning & Tips

Insulated Bottle Washing

Cleaning Kit Bags

Board Bag Maintenance

Cool Bag Maintenance

Zip Care

Bags & Equipment Care Guides

Bags & Equipment

Change Robe Features

Change Robe Sizing Guide

Changing & Clothing Product Information

How To Wash Changing Robe

How To Wash Towelling Robe

Re-waterproofing Robes

Washing Performance Clothes

Changing & Clothing Care Guides

Changing & Clothing

PFD Gas Canisters

PFD Care

Safety Products Care Guides

Titan 2 How To's

Multi-Pump Adapter

Electric Pumps We Recommend

Pump Information

Maintain Titan I Pump

Titan I Pump Handle

Titan I NRV Replacement

Maintain Titan II Pump

Pressure Gauge Replacement

Pump Care Guides

Pumps