Staycation: From kayaking to paddleboarding, this is everything you need for a watersports holiday
If you’re not quite ready to travel outside of the UK following the past five months of lockdown, but are in need of a holiday, now is the time to book a staycation instead.
There’s no shortage of beautiful scenery to enjoy closer to home, from Cornwall to the Lake District to Brighton.
If you’re seeking a watersports-filled weekend over the bank holiday, you'll need to get equipped for the adventure.
From kayaks and paddle boards to wetsuits and life jackets, we’ve rounded up the essentials you need to stay safe and have fun when on the open water. Our selection offers a range of kit that will suit all abilities.
Given the traditionally unpredictable British weather, we've found products that will keep you both protected from the sun and warm enough when getting in and out of cold waters.
You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.
Wetsuits
Even summertime temperatures in the UK won't keep you warm enough in the water without a wetsuit, so you'll need to invest in one to stay warm and insulated during prolonged periods in the water.
In our guide to the best women’s wetsuits for every type of watersport, we loved this Finisterre Nieuwland 4 hooded cold water winter wetsuit (Finisterre, £243.75).
We found it to be a great choice for cold water, especially if you’re planning on surfing in British water.
We liked the hood, which could be easily tightened, and the extra fabric around your back, which helps you retain heat for longer sessions.
Praising its functional features, our reviewer said: “It sealed nicely around the wrists to further keep heat in. The front design and stretch fabric made it easy to get on and off, though the best feature in that regard was the two special loops on the calves, which helped you pull the suit off quickly and easily.”
In our guide for men's wetsuits, we found this Rip Curl chest zip 4/3 dawn patrol wetsuit (Wetsuit Outlet, £179.95) ticked all our boxes.
“With 4mm of neoprene on the torso and 3mm elsewhere, this suit will get you from spring to autumn in the UK and offers up good warmth without compromising on flexibility,” said our reviewer, making it ideal for temperamental summer weather than can go from a heatwave to thunderstorms in a matter of days.
The suit is made from a blend of two different kinds of neoprene; the more stretchy e5 material around the body’s joints, and thermoflex neoprene and mesh on the body to protect from the wind.
Sunscreen
If you are wearing a wetsuit, most of your skin will be protected from the sun, but your face will still be exposed while being more vulnerable to sun damage when in the water, so a trusty SPF is a must.
In our guide to the best facial sunscreens, we loved this Coola classic face sport SPF50 white tea (Skin City, £30), which we found to be ideal when doing sports that may mean you sweat off your SPF.
It’s lightweight and non-sticky but offers up to 80 minutes of sun protection that's both sweat and waterproof, all without leaving a chalky film on the skin.
We tend to overlook sun protection for our lips, but an SPF lip balm is vital for prolonged periods in the water as it will hydrate the skin but keep lips from burning too.
Our favourite is the Ultrasun ultralip SPF30 (lookfantastic, £6) which our reviewers found didn’t budge a bit, and glided on without leaving any residue.
Twist-up sticks are more hygienic too and it’s easy to fit into the zip pocket of a wetsuit for regular top-ups.
Life jackets
When undertaking any type of activity in open water, whether it’s a lake, river or rapids, you should always wear a life jacket to keep you afloat should you fall in.
Try the Crewsaver crewfit 165N sport auto (non-harness) life jacket (Amazon, £94.96).
Lightweight, comfortable and easy to wear, it won’t get in the way of steering a kayak or paddleboard. Nor will it take up much space in the car alongside all your other gear.
With reflective tape, a whistle and lifting becket, it has everything you need to keep you safe and is well worth investing in before you head on your watersports holiday.
Paddle boards
For calmer waters, paddle boarding is a water sport that with practice, you can get to grips easily.
As explained in our guide to the best stand-up paddle boards for all abilities, generally, the wider the board, the more stable it will be, while thickness and volume add to how confident you'll feel when you clamber aboard.
One of our favourites is this Thurso Surf waterwalker all-around (Thurso Surf, from £599) that has a traditional Hawaiian feel, so you can at least look the part even if you’re still in the UK.
The competitively priced model comes in three sizes (10ft 5in, 10ft 9in and 11ft 4in). Our reviewer tested the larger version, which had no stability problems, even on choppy water and with with a very excitable 10-year-old on board.
According to our tester: “The board gave good glide over flat water and we had no problem putting some distance between us and the shore.
"There's some nice attention to detail too, with a secure paddle holder to store it if you want to relax on the board, a GoPro mount in the nose and two offset D-rings that you can fit a seat to if you want to convert to kayak mode.”
Kayaks
For avid water sports fans who want an adrenaline-pumping day outside, try kayaking with mountainous backdrops in locations like The Lake District.
In July, budget supermarket Lidl launched a sell-out kayak for a thrifty £39.99, but there’s plenty of other options on the market to shop.
If you’re already accustomed to the sport, this Ykhome kayak inflatable canoe, 2-person set with aluminium oars (Amazon, £252.99) costs a lot more, but is a worthwhile investment for serious kayakers.
The adjustable seats with backrests mean you'll have a comfy ride as you bob along the rivers and canals.
The bright yellow colour will increase visibility and it has a removable skeg which will keep your kayak running straight in a crosswind.
Should you encounter any problems, it also comes with a repair set, inflatable pump, and of course, two aluminium paddles to help you steer.
Changing robes
If you’re hitting the water in a place that doesn’t have changing facilities nearby, then a changing robe is a must-have.
This short sleeve Dryrobe (Dryrobe, from £75) means you can change anywhere while protecting your modesty and staying warm.
It’s deliberately large and loose-fitting, so you can close the fastening and change your clothes underneath while wearing it.
It’ll make a world of difference between sitting in a wet swimsuit and staying warm and dry after your swim.
For more watersports reviews, read our round-up of the best wetsuits for kids and the best stand-up paddle boards
