Top tips for kayaking in winter

Many people don’t associate kayaking and winter as belonging together. Wrong! Paddling can be particularly enjoyable in winter. Light mist, snow-covered hills and the blessed absence of SUP paddlers and other amateur skippers combine to make for an idyllic setting that you won’t find elsewhere.

Besides having the right boat, it’s particularly important for beginners to plan their tour, navigate their way along the water and have the right equipment. We’ve gathered tips here from years of canoeing experience.

Ahoy and off we go

Not so fast: especially in winter, it’s worth checking the weather conditions carefully before setting off. And not just the air and water temperature. Enjoying the sunset from the lake may be spectacular, but the cold that quickly follows shouldn’t be underestimated. In winter, the days are short and your energy levels are probably lower than on nice summer evenings. Don’t overestimate your abilities and plan enough time to complete your tour and allow for plenty of breaks. Check websites and apps that show exact precipitation forecasts and wind speeds. And plan your tour based on the least fit person in your group.

Swiss waterways also have rules on giving way, right of way and minimum distances. Find out what the current regulations are before your first kayaking trip. Only land and launch at designated entry and exit points. Only paddle in places that are deep enough to avoid disturbing creatures living at the bottom of the water.

Be mindful on the water

Especially in winter, we recommend that you avoid crossing lakes and stay close to the shore if you’re a beginner. Fog can make you disorientated and conceal obstacles from your view. Since most Swiss lakes don’t freeze over in winter, they are wintering sites for many northern waterfowl. The birds need to conserve energy and rest on the water in large flocks. Navigate around them in a wide arc.

To identify conservation areas and exclusion zones, it’s best to have a water chart on board. Capsizing rarely happens on a lake, but you should still be prepared for it. Beginner courses are recommended to get to know the basics of kayaking or to practise getting back on board after capsizing. You can also try out winter kayaking on guided tours.

From A to B and back again

You’ll probably end your tour back where you started. That means you’ll inevitably have to change direction at least once and you and your kayak will have to deal with headwinds. Allow enough time for the return journey before it gets dark.

There are various types of orientation tools for your tour. Laminated nautical charts have the big plus point of not running out of charge. Thanks to mobile phone apps like SwitzerlandMobility, on the other hand, you can download canoe tours and keep up to date at all times. GPS devices and sports watches are more robust than your smartphone and have technical advantages that ensure you’re always safely on course: precise location tracking, connection to satellites instead of the internet and more detailed coverage of areas away from civilisation, to name just a few.

The right kayaking clothing

Unlike in a canoe, in a kayak you sit below the surface of the water. Bear this in mind when choosing your clothing so that you don’t get cold legs. Layering will keep you nice and warm under your dry suit. Thermal underwear and a warm fleece provide a good basis. Wear a pair of insulating gloves under your neoprene gloves, for example made of merino, and lined with Primaloft or another warming material.

Wear neoprene shoes over your drysuit when kayaking. When purchasing them, make sure you buy them one or two sizes larger to allow enough room for two pairs of socks.

Winter kayaking packing list