Oct 29

Oct 29 The 120 Degree Rule and Other Fall Paddling Tips

Autumn paddling is pretty special, but it does take one more layer of preparedness (and probably clothing) before you hit the water. We’ve already given some tips on what to wear for a fall paddle-out, but today we want to dig deeper into some of the factors that will not only help determine your attire, but also the gear you bring, the routes you take, and even whether you go at all.

First, it’s likely you’ve heard about the 120 degree rule. Well, we’re here to say it’s more of a myth, not a rule, and we’re going to bust it. The 120 degree rule says you should wear a wetsuit or dry suit whenever the sum of the air temperature and water temperature is equal to or less than 120°F. Here’s what that rule of thumb gets wrong: It can mistakenly create a calculation that doesn’t account for extreme differences in air and water temperature and lure people into a false sense of security. For example, according to the 120° rule, if the air temperature is 74°F and the water temperature is 52°F, a paddler wouldn’t need to wear any thermal protection (because that’s a sum of 126°F). 52°F water is cold, and if you’re paddling in water that temperature, you better be wearing some sort of protection, no matter how warm it is outside, in case you fall in.

So, if there’s no magic formula that will tell us what to wear and when, how can you prepare for your fall paddling adventures? Well, here are six interconnected factors we always recommend you consider:

Water temperature. Like we said, there’s no magic formula that will determine if the water is cold enough to wear cold water gear. We tell people to dress for the immersion because falling in is always the worst case scenario and we want you to be prepared for it. If you fall in, think about how you’re going to feel when you get out. How will being wet change the feel of the ambient air temperature? What’s the wind doing? And, in an even worse case scenario, what happens if you can’t get back on your board? Sudden cold water immersion is dangerous and can lead to incapacitation, immersion hypothermia, hyperventilation, among other conditions.
Air temperature. The air temperature is a great baseline but don’t let it fool you into complacency. Your activity level, sensitivity to the cold, and other factors will determine what the actual “feels like” temperature is for you. Don’t let a warm fall day give you a false sense of safety if the water is cold. Air temperature has nothing to do with cold water safety.
Wind. The wind is an accumulating factor, meaning that the ambient air temperature is going to feel different than it will if you have wind blowing across your wet or even dry body. Even in the summer, we typically carry some sort of wind breaker with us in case we fall in. You’d be surprised at how much the wind sucks the heat from your body.
Your sensitivity to the cold. The two of us have completely different tolerances for cold weather and cold water. You know yourself best, so layer how you see fit for your own sensitivity to the cold. But, even if you can tolerate the cold better than most, it’s still important that you consider layers or packing extra clothes in a dry bag.
Your activity level. What kind of paddling you plan to do matters. Whether you’re going out for a workout on the water or just a leisurely paddle will help determine what you put on… or don’t. That being said, you should always be prepared for an immersion and we highly recommend layering up. Even if you’re working out and expect to be warm on the water, don’t forget that sweat can also cool you down considerably.
Forecast. This one feels like a no-brainer, but we still have to plug it. Always check the conditions before you paddle, but don’t forget to look at the hourly forecast too. No matter what it says, be prepared for variable conditions.