Three layers under the drysuit on a Tromsø kayak tour
The drysuit keeps the fjord out, but it does not keep you warm. That job falls to what you wear underneath and what you pack for the hours before and after the paddle. Get the layers right and a winter morning on the water near Tromsø feels comfortable rather than brave.
What a drysuit does, and what it leaves to you
A drysuit is a waterproof shell with tight seals at the neck and wrists. Water stays outside, even if you end up in the sea, which is why every winter tour here uses one.
What the suit does not do is insulate. It has no warmth of its own, so the layers you put on underneath decide whether you feel snug or shiver. A perfectly dry paddler in thin clothes still gets cold.
The sea near Tromsø stays above freezing all winter, around 4–6 °C (39–43 °F). The air is often colder than the water, around -4 °C (25 °F) in January, so you dress for the air on your face and hands first.
What each tour lends you
All five tours we compare supply the drysuit, so nobody needs to bring or rent one. The rest of the kit varies a little, and knowing what comes in the box tells you what can stay in the hotel room.
| Tour | Kit the listing names | Where you change |
|---|---|---|
| Destination Tromsø, 5-hour wildlife tour | Drysuit, warm gloves, boots, kayak with paddle | At the basecamp |
| KaruArctic, seal bay | Drysuit and kayaking gear | Ask the guide |
| Destination Tromsø, easy-going tour | Drysuit, buoyancy vest, warm gloves, boots | Inside a heated gamme |
| Steam Tours, both tours | Drysuit, buoyancy aid, paddle jacket, neoprene gloves, paddle shoes | Changing rooms at the pier |
On the easy-going tour the kit is handed out inside a gamme, a Sámi turf hut, and the guides give advice on dressing as they go. Steam Tours has storage at its pier at Eidkjosen as well, so a bag of dry clothes waits for you there.
KaruArctic's listing mentions kayaking gear without spelling out every item. If gloves or footwear matter to you, ask the company when you book instead of assuming.
Three layers that keep the warmth in
Think of three layers. Next to the skin goes a thin merino or other wool base layer for both top and bottoms. Destination Tromsø's listing asks for several base layers, so pack two sets if you run cold.
Over the base comes a thick mid layer such as a wool sweater or fleece. Matching fleece or wool trousers go on the legs. KaruArctic asks for that same pairing, merino against the skin with wool or fleece on top.
The suit itself is the outer layer. On the Steam Tours trips a paddle jacket goes over it, which cuts the wind on open water. A ski jacket stays in the bag, as it is far too bulky to paddle in under a suit.
Cotton T-shirts and underwear stay at home with the rest of your cotton. It soaks up sweat and stays damp for hours, pulling heat from you once you stop paddling. Wool holds on to some warmth even when wet.
Feet and hands, then your head
Feet sit still in a kayak, so they feel the cold before anything else. Wear thick wool socks and carry a spare pair. The boots or paddle shoes come from the operator, so check they fit over the socks before you leave the shore.
Gloves are on the kit list of the Destination Tromsø and Steam Tours trips. One hands out warm gloves and the other neoprene. A thin liner glove of your own adds warmth underneath and lets you use a phone on land.
Your head stays outside the suit, which makes a warm hat more important than most people expect. A wool or fleece beanie that covers the ears works well, and a neck gaiter fills the gap above the collar seal.
Overdressing is the other mistake
Paddling is steady work, and a drysuit traps body heat as well as keeping water out. One GetYourGuide reviewer wrote that her husband overheated in his suit. Sweat soaks the wool, and then you chill during the stop.
Aim to feel slightly cool as you stand on the shore in the suit, since you warm up within minutes of the first strokes. Two thinner layers you can adjust beat one thick sweater you cannot take off at the basecamp.
When unsure, ask the guide before launching. They see every kind of outfit and will tell you to add or drop a fleece. Our guide for first-time paddlers covers the rest of what happens on shore before you set off.
Our pick with the boots and gloves supplied
Destination Tromsø's 5-hour wildlife tour hands out the drysuit with warm gloves and boots, and ends by the fire with a hot drink. It holds 4.9 from 600+ reviews on GetYourGuide.
What goes in the day bag
The suit only covers the time on the water. The day also holds a bus or van ride, some waiting on the shore and a warm stop afterwards, and a small backpack makes those hours easier.
- A full change of dry clothes including socks and underwear
- A warm jacket for the ride out and the fire afterwards
- A bottle of water, since you sweat more in a suit than you notice
- A packed lunch on the Destination Tromsø wildlife tour from ~$254, which serves a snack but no meal
- A towel and swimwear if you add Steam Tours' sauna and hot tub
That packed lunch gets eaten by the fire at the basecamp, and reviewers mention a lavvu there with hot drinks and biscuits. Our guide to kayak tour prices lists what each ticket includes and what you pay on top.
Glasses and phone cameras
Wear your glasses if you need them to see the shoreline, but fix them with a strap or cord. Leaning forward to reach for a seal photo is the usual way a pair ends up in the fjord.
A phone is safest in a waterproof pouch or on a lanyard, though ask the guide what they allow in the boat. Cold drains batteries quickly, so keep it inside a layer until you want a picture. KaruArctic includes photos from the tour in the price.
For the light you can expect on camera, see the best weeks to book a winter paddle. If wind looks likely on your date, our page on what happens when the wind cancels a tour explains refunds and rebooking.
Straight after the paddle
Getting out of a drysuit takes a few minutes, and the neck seal goes easier with a helping hand. Change into dry clothes at once, even if you feel warm, because damp wool cools fast once you stand still.
Steam Tours ends in its café with hot drinks and fresh pastries, and the changing rooms make the swap simple. If you plan to head out again after dark, our plan for a kayak day and an aurora night covers drying out and warming up between the two.