If you love to SUP and you haven’t tried night paddle boarding yet, then you are in for a treat! Night Paddle Boarding is a whole different situation to SUP’ing during the day. The conditions are usually calmer and vision is more limited which heightens your other senses. Night time means visibility is reduced, ambient temperatures tend to be lower and there are some additional safety risks at night.
To get the most out of your paddle and ensure you are safe, you’ll need to be that little bit more prepared to paddle at night. I’ve put together a few tips together to help you be Night Paddle Boarding Adventure Ready. Trust me, the extra effort will be absolutely worth it. Once you night SUP, you’ll want to do it again and again.
Note: only attempt this at night once you have found confidence stand up paddling during the daylight first.
Table of Contents
When is the best time to do a night paddle board?
Just like day SUP’ing low wind conditions are always best for standup paddle boarding. Night time temperatures are generally lower so fine conditions with no rain forecast and low wind are best. Warm summer nights are preferred for night time stand up paddling. Winter temperatures may be a little lower but you’ll soon warm up once you get paddling.
Winds tends to be more predictable in winter during fine conditions. There are often more opportunities for ideal SUP conditions at night in winter than there is during summer, so really you can night SUP all year round (unless of course your live in a region where the water turns to ice and temperatures fall below zero in winter!). Before you go, check your local wind forecast website or app and look for a night with no to low wind. If there is a little bit of wind about, choose a location that is protected from the direction of the wind.
Where is the best place to paddle board at night?
It’s recommend that you SUP at night, somewhere near the lights of buildings, the city, under a full moon or near full moon. Never stand up paddle in the ocean at night or anywhere where there isn’t much visibility. You should also avoid areas of heavy boat traffic and always stay in sight of the shoreline.
What should I wear when night paddle boarding?
You’ll want to dress a little warmer, but if you wear too many layers you may get a little warm once you get paddling. Obviously you are at risk of falling in the water when stand up paddle boarding, so you may want to wear a long sleeved wetsuit to help keep you warm if you fall in.
I personally like to SUP in looser clothing, so I take a towel and warmer clothes in a dry bag in case I need to add layers or swap over wet clothes along the way. When it’s a little colder, a pair of dive boots is the perfect way to keep your feet warm even when they are wet and a beanie is a good idea if there’s a bit of a chill in the air.
Do I need any safety equipment to paddle at night?
Firstly you should always check with your local authorities as to what safety equipment is legally required. Some juristicions may classify a standup paddle board as a water vessel. Safety equipment may include a vessel light, personal floation device and whistle. It’s recommended when SUP’ing in the late evening or night that you wear a head lamp or perhaps a beanie with a built in head lamp. You can also put a waterproof navigation light on your board, this is the best waterproof option for lighting in the event you fall off. (note: a head lamp is also useful at the end to help give you light while you pack away all your gear).
You may like to consider wearing a PFD (personal flotation device) and it’s also highly recommend that you wear a leg rope that is attached to your board. Remember visibility both on and under the water is reduced at night. It’s important that if you fall off you are connected to your board so you can use it as a floatation device.
What else should I bring for night paddle boarding?
Mosquitos love water and they love night time. Giving yourself a spray with a water proof mozzie spray or other mozzie repellent is highly rcommended.
Once you’ve finished paddling and you are off the water, you may be a little wet and this is when the cold may set in. An Oodie or wearable blanket is perfect to throw on while you pack away your board.
Of course you’ll want to bring your camera or phone along to get those instaworthy photos of the city lights and the full moon from the water. A waterproof case or cover for your phone is highly recommend (get yourself a good one and trust me this will become your new best friend for water based adventures). It’s also a really good idea to have your phone on you while night paddle boarding in case of emergency.
Night Paddle Boarding Checklist
Dive Boots / Aqua Shoes |  | VIEW DIVE BOOTS @  |
Head Lamp |  | VIEW HEAD LAMPS @ |
Leg Rope |  | VIEW LEG ROPES @ |
Dry Bag |  | VIEW DRY BAGS @ |
Mosquito Spray |  | VIEW MOZZIE REPELLENT @ |
PFD |  | VIEW PFD's @ |
Wearable Blanket |  | VIEW WEARABLE BLANKETS @ |
Waterproof Phone Case |  | VIEW PHONE CASES @ |
Long Sleeved Wetsuit |  | LONG SLEEVED WETSUITS @ |
Beanie with Head Lamp |  | VIEW BEANIES WITH HEAD LAMP @ |
If you love to SUP or perhaps you are new to it or would love to give it a try, find more practical how to tips and advice and gear recommendations in my Stand Up Paddle Boarding Adventure Guide.
Lauren Angove is an adventurous Perth (Western Australia) Mum of two boys who loves to blog about her experiences to inspire other mid-lifers to choose their most adventurous lives now. Keep up to date with her latest adventure inspiration and advice at Always Adventure Ready on facebook.