What to wear for kayaking in Tromsø
The tours provide the drysuit. What you wear underneath decides how comfortable you are on the water.
On every winter kayak tour from Tromsø the operator gives you a drysuit, and on most of them gloves and boots or neoprene gloves and paddle shoes as well. The drysuit keeps the sea out but does not keep you warm. That job falls to the layers you wear underneath, and those you bring yourself. Here is what each tour provides according to its product page, and what is worth packing.
What each tour provides and what you bring
Sorted by number of reviews. Re-sort by tapping a column header.
| Photo | Tour | Drysuit | Also provided | Bring yourself | Reviews ↕ | Price ↕ | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Winter Sea Kayaking with Wildlife Arctic Resorts | Included | Warm gloves and boots, hot drinks, snacks, campfire | Not stated on the product page | ★ 4.9 (666) | €218 per person | Book now |
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Easy Winter Kayaking with Seal Watching KaruArctic | Included | Kayaking equipment, hot drink and a small snack | Warm base layers for under the drysuit, a change of clothes | ★ 5.0 (76) | €176 per person | Book now |
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Easy-going Winter Sea Kayaking Arctic Resorts | Included | Buoyancy vest, gloves and boots, hot drinks, snacks, fire | Not stated on the product page | ★ 5.0 (27) | €195 per person | Book now |
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Half-day Hobie Kayak Trip, Sommarøy 69Nord Sommarøy | Not stated | Safety vest, waterproof bag | Not stated on the product page | ★ 5.0 (2) | €149 per person | Book now |
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2-Hour Small-Group Fjord Kayak Steam Tours | Included, worn over your own clothes | Buoyancy aid, paddle jacket, neoprene gloves, paddle shoes, changing facilities | Not stated on the product page | New tour, no reviews yet | €84 per person | Book now |
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Fjord Kayak Tour with City Transfer Steam Tours | Included, worn over your own clothes | Buoyancy aid, paddle jacket, neoprene gloves, paddle shoes, changing facilities | Not stated on the product page | New tour, no reviews yet | €110 per person | Book now |
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Midnight Sun Hobie Kayak Trip, Sommarøy 69Nord Sommarøy | Not stated | Safety vest, waterproof bag | Clothing for the weather, a hat and a neck warmer | New tour, no reviews yet | €172 per person | Book now |
Kayak tour prices in this table come live from GetYourGuide and include taxes and booking fees. Whether transport to the water is included differs from tour to tour.
The drysuit keeps you dry, not warm
A drysuit is a waterproof one-piece suit with tight seals at the neck and wrists. It is standard on the winter tours because the sea around Tromsø is roughly 3–5 °C in winter, and it is what makes kayaking there possible at all. The Steam Tours product pages say the drysuit is worn over your own clothes, and KaruArctic asks you to bring warm base layers for underneath. Whatever you wear below the suit is what keeps you warm during the paddle and during the breaks.
Layers that work under the drysuit
- A long-sleeved top and long underwear in wool or synthetic fabric. Both stay warm when they get damp from sweat.
- A fleece or a thin wool jumper on top. Thin layers fit under the suit more easily than one bulky jacket.
- Warm wool socks, and a spare pair for the way back.
- A warm hat and a neck warmer or buff. 69Nord recommends both even for its midnight-sun trip in summer.
- Leave jeans and cotton at the base, because they stay cold once damp, along with anything you would not want to get wet.
Paddling is exercise, and a drysuit traps heat as well as keeping out water. One traveller on the Arctic Resorts wildlife tour writes that her husband overheated in his drysuit and the guide had to help. Two thinner layers you can adjust before you get into the suit are a better choice than the warmest thing you own.
Hands and feet get cold first
Your core stays warm while you paddle; fingers and toes are the weak points. The Arctic Resorts tours include warm gloves and boots, the Steam Tours paddles neoprene gloves and paddle shoes. Thin liner gloves under the provided gloves and warm wool socks in the boots make a real difference. Boots are handed out at the base, so know your shoe size in EU sizes. One traveller asks future guests to do exactly that, because it makes the fitting quicker for the guides.
Pack a change of clothes
After a winter paddle you want dry, warm clothes for the ride back. KaruArctic asks you to bring a change of clothes, and its tour travels by public bus, so pack them in a bag you can carry. Steam Tours has changing facilities and storage at the pier. At Arctic Resorts the wildlife tour includes a campfire with hot drinks, and one traveller describes being greeted in a small warmed hut at the basecamp.
Summer on the water
In summer the air is mild, but the sea stays cold, roughly 10–12 °C in late summer. The 69Nord trips on Sommarøy use Hobie kayaks with pedal drive and a sail; their product pages list a safety vest and a waterproof bag, and the midnight-sun trip asks for clothing for the weather plus a hat and neck warmer. A windproof layer is useful: evenings on the open water feel cooler than the temperature suggests. The Steam Tours paddles run all year in a full drysuit.
Packing list
- Wool or synthetic base layers, top and bottom
- Fleece or thin wool mid layer
- Warm wool socks, plus a spare pair
- Warm hat and neck warmer
- Thin liner gloves for under the provided gloves
- A complete change of clothes for afterwards
- Your EU shoe size
Two reviews about the kit
Both come from the Arctic Resorts wildlife tour and point to the same lesson: the provided gear is good, the rest is preparation.
“We got so lucky with the weather and it made the experience even more special. Jenka was a great instructor and was extremely efficient in helping my husband who managed to overheat in a dry suit!”
“We were transferred to the kayak by shuttle, which you need to meet upstairs in Tromsø Havn Prostneset. We were taken 30-minutes to the kayak place, and greeted inside a little warmed hut … Please make sure you know your shoe size in EU to make it easier for the guides!”
Reviews written by paddlers after their kayak tour, from GetYourGuide.
FAQ
Do I need my own drysuit for kayaking in Tromsø?
No. Every winter tour on this site includes a drysuit. What you bring are the warm layers you wear underneath and a change of clothes for afterwards.
What should I wear under the drysuit?
Wool or synthetic base layers, a fleece or thin wool mid layer and warm wool socks. Avoid jeans and cotton, which stay cold once they get damp. Several thin layers are better than one bulky jacket, because paddling makes you warm.
Are gloves and boots included?
On most winter tours, yes. The Arctic Resorts tours include warm gloves and boots, the Steam Tours paddles neoprene gloves and paddle shoes. Thin liner gloves and warm socks of your own make the provided gear warmer.
Can I get too warm in a drysuit?
Yes. A drysuit holds in heat, and paddling is exercise. One traveller reports that her husband overheated in his drysuit. Dress warm but not as warm as for standing still outdoors.
What do I wear for kayaking in summer?
The sea stays cold in summer, so dress for wind and spray: layers, a windproof top, a hat and a neck warmer, which 69Nord recommends for its midnight-sun trip. The Steam Tours paddles provide a full drysuit all year.
Compare every kayak tour from Tromsø
Winter, all-year and summer tours side by side.
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