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Winter Paddling in NYC

Every November through April

Winter Cheer

Fresh Air

Blue Water

We paddle every Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday, November 1 until May 1 each year!

TRAININGS: Tuesday evenings & some weekends, 1.5 hours.

GUIDED TRIPS: Weekends, 1.5-5 hours.

AT THE BOATHOUSE: Change into dry cozy clothes, put your gear on the racks, and share a post-trip mug of tea. Then…head back to Gotham.

PREREQUISITE: Completion of Kayak or SUP Basics 1-4 lessons.

Weather permitting:

  • over 40°F air temperature
  • over 32°F water temperature
  • under 16 knots sustained wind
  • daylight hours only for guided river trips

 

David Kayaker

“It felt like the river was just ours. Kayaking after a snowfall is particularly special.”

  • Kokatat Hydrus 3.0 Drysuit
  • REI synthetic base layers
  • Palm Talon Mitts
  • Kokatat Keo Booties
Hyunyung Paddleboarder

“It’s so peaceful! The water is flatter and quieter and the early sunsets are beautiful.”

  • Supskin Dynamic Drysuit
  • Synthetic or Smartwool 250 base…or bikini!
  • Seavenger 1.5mm Gloves
  • NRS 5mm Booties with plastic bags over my socks
Lukas Paddleboarder
“Make sure you fulfill the requirements for winter paddling – it’s unbeatable to paddle in winter!”
  • Crewsaver Drysuit
  • Fleece & merino base layers
  • Nike Vapor Gloves
  • NeoSport 5mm Booties
Habiba Kayaker

“It was often like paddling on glass – stunning! You end up making a good set of friends, get time to yourself and away from the city.”

  • Kokatat Hydrus Drysuit
  • Fleece & thermal base
  • Shaalek Heated Gloves
  • 2 pairs of socks inside drysuit. No booties!
Chong Kayaker
“I like the camaraderie. The environment at the boathouse is more intimate. The city and Hudson are so beautiful and calm. Experience it!”

  • Kokatat Hydrus 3.0 Drysuit
  • Breathable wool base
  • Stohlquist Toaster Pogies with nothing under
  • NRS Kicker Remix booties
Marianna Kayaker
“It’s not as cold and scary as you think! Sunny winter days on the water are delightful.”
  • Typhoon Ezeedon Drysuit
  • Uniqlo Heattech base
  • Stohlquist Toaster Pogies with kayaking gloves
  • Neosport 7mm Booties
Paris Paddleboarder
“There’s way less traffic on the river.”
  • Stohlquist Shift Drysuit
  • Stohlquist Vapor Union Suit base layer
  • Brace Master Gloves with thin sun gloves under
  • NeoSport 7mm Booties
Pierre-Elie Paddleboarder
“It’s amazing as the water is often calm and the weather nice.”
  • Supskin Dynamic Drysuit
  • Decathlon Wedze base
  • Kokatat Hydrus Drysocks with wool socks
  • NRS HydroSkin Forecast 1.5mm Gloves

Choose Your Gear

NOV 1 – DEC 20: Wear your fall paddling gear or rent our wetsuits ($15/day, $30/mo), jackets ($10/day, $25/mo) and boots ($5/day, $20/mo).

BEFORE DEC 20: Complete a Winter Rescues Training in your drysuit. After capsizing, be able to remount.

DEC 21 – MAY 1: Buy and wear your own dry suit with base layers. No wetsuits.

Everyone must follow these guidelines. Lack of gear or rescue skills can lead to cold shock, incapacitation, hypothermia, or circum-rescue collapse.

 

In the fall, rent our wetsuits and paddle jackets.

Clockwise from top left: NRS Ninja PFD; MTI Trident PFD; NRS Jane & John 3.0 Ultra wetsuits; NRS Endurance splash jackets.

In the winter, wear a dry suit. Go bright!

Clockwise from top left: Kokatat Swift Entry dry suit; Kokatat Meridian dry suit; Stohlquist Shift dry suit; Crewsaver Atacama dry suit; SUPskin Dynamic dry suit.

Under the dry suit, wear a union suit or experiment with base layers.

Clockwise from top left: IR Thick Skin union suit; Smartwool 250 shirt; Patagonia Capilene Air shirt; Decathlon Simplewarm bottoms; Smartwool 250 bottoms.

On cold days, kayakers wear pogies and SUPers wear gloves.

Clockwise from top left: Brace Master ski gloves; NRS HydroSkin Forecast 2.0 gloves; Glacier Gloves; Shaalek heated gloves; Stohlquist Toaster pogies; Kokatat kayak mitt.

Have toasty feet using dry socks and boots. Rent boots from us.

Clockwise from top left: Smartwool Hiking socks; Kokatat dry socks; NeoSport 5mm low top boots; Henderson Aqua Lock boots; Neosport 7mm high tops; NRS Remix water shoes.

Bring necessities in your dry bag or carabine them to your PFD or deck.

Clockwise from upper left: Thermos 24oz Stainless King bottle; Clif Blok chews; Sea Dog 4-3/4” carabiner; AquaVault floating phone case; Rheos floating sunglasses; Sea to Summit Lightweight 13L dry bag.