What to Wear Kayaking in Door County (Month by Month)
The wardrobe question we get most often: “What should I wear?” The honest answer depends on the month, the wind, and whether you’re going to commit to getting wet or fight it. After 23 years of watching guests show up in jeans and flip-flops at the launch, here’s the version that actually works, broken out by month.
Universal rules first
Five things that apply every month:
- No cotton. Cotton holds water, stays cold, and gets heavy. Synthetic athletic gear, polyester, nylon, merino wool, anything quick-dry. The cheap fast-dry shirt from a sporting goods store works fine. Skip jeans entirely.
- Shoes that won’t fall off. Paddling shoes, water sandals with heel straps, old running shoes you don’t mind getting wet, neoprene booties in cold months. Anything without a heel strap (flip-flops, slides, slip-ons) is wrong.
- Pre-applied sunscreen. The water reflects light upward at your face. SPF 30+ on your face, neck, ears, the tops of your hands and feet. Reapply at the halfway turn-around point if it’s a long trip.
- A brimmed hat with a strap. Bucket hats and baseball caps blow off. A hat with a chin cord stays on. Paddler-specific hats are cheap and worth it.
- Sunglasses with a strap. They will fall off without one. Polarized helps you see fish under the boat.
The shop provides the boat, paddle, life jacket (PFD), and a dry bag for your phone, keys, and wallet. Everything else is on you.
May: dress for the water, not the air
May in Door County is the wild-card month. Air temperatures swing 40 to 70 degrees. Lake Michigan is still in the 50s. The math: if you go in the water in May, you’re cold within 60 seconds. Dress for that.
What to wear in May:
- Wetsuit shorts or full wetsuit if you have one (rentable from outdoor stores)
- Synthetic long-sleeve top, layered with a fleece or wind layer
- Waterproof or wind-resistant outer shell
- Neoprene booties or thick neoprene socks
- Waterproof gloves if temps are below 60 air
This is the one month we’d actively recommend a wetsuit if you have one. Even on a sunny May afternoon, the wind off the lake feels like 10 degrees colder than the forecast says.
June: still cold water, warming air
June water temps run 55 to 62 degrees, the bottom edge of “kayakable without serious shivering.” Air temps are usually warmer, low 70s.
What to wear in June:
- Synthetic athletic shorts or quick-dry pants
- Synthetic long-sleeve sun shirt or rash guard
- Light fleece or windbreaker for the boat ride
- Water sandals with heel straps
- A spare layer in your dry bag for after
You probably don’t need a wetsuit by mid-June, but bring one for early-morning paddles or windy days. The water will still surprise you.
July: peak season, dress light
Air temps are in the high 70s to mid-80s. Water temps hit the high 60s on a good run of sun. This is the closest Door County gets to swimsuit-only kayaking weather.
What to wear in July:
- Swimsuit (the boat will get you damp)
- Synthetic shorts or board shorts on top
- Quick-dry sun shirt or rash guard with sleeves (the sun is brutal at noon)
- Water sandals with heel straps
- A light long-sleeve layer for the ride home if the wind picks up
The single biggest July mistake we see: showing up in cotton t-shirts that get sweat-soaked, water-soaked, and stay heavy for the rest of the day. Synthetic only.
August: same as July, more bug spray
August Door County is summer at full bake. Same wardrobe as July with two adjustments:
- More bug spray. Mosquitoes peak late June through mid-August, and dusk paddles can be intense. DEET-based or picaridin, applied before you leave the parking lot.
- More water. Hot August afternoons need 24 to 32 ounces per person on a 2-hour paddle. Bring more than you think.
September: the goldilocks month
September is what we recommend most. Water still warm from summer baking (high 60s into the 70s on the surface), air cooler than midsummer, no bugs, fewer crowds. The wardrobe is forgiving.
What to wear in September:
- Synthetic shorts and a sun shirt for the start
- Long-sleeve layer for the cooler air on the ride back
- Water sandals or paddling shoes
- A windbreaker or fleece in your dry bag for late afternoon
September mornings are cool (50s to low 60s). September afternoons are warm (low 70s). Pack for the temperature swing.
October: cold water, cold air, beautiful color
October is for paddlers who really want the fall foliage. Water temps drop into the 50s. Air temps highs in the 50s to low 60s, lows in the 40s.
What to wear in October:
- Wetsuit shorts or full wetsuit
- Long-sleeve thermal base layer (synthetic or merino)
- Mid-layer fleece
- Wind-resistant or waterproof outer shell
- Neoprene booties or socks
- Waterproof gloves
- A warm hat (a beanie under your sun hat) for cold mornings
Our Fall Foliage Tour runs into mid-October most years and is the trip people come back specifically for. Worth the layering.
The dry-bag question
The shop provides a dry bag for the boat. What goes in:
- Your phone (in a waterproof case if you want to take photos during the trip)
- Wallet, keys, sunglasses (when not on)
- A snack you might want mid-trip
- Sunscreen for re-application
- An extra layer in cold months
- A small first-aid item if you bring one (most don’t, the guide carries one)
What does NOT go in the dry bag, because it’ll get wet anyway: your camera if it’s not waterproof (don’t bring it), your DSLR (definitely don’t bring it), expensive sunglasses you can’t replace.
The shoe question, in more detail
This is where guests get it wrong most often. Shoes that work, ranked:
- Paddling-specific water shoes. Best option. Designed for the use case. Drain water, grip when wet, stay on.
- Closed-toe water sandals (Chacos, Tevas, Keens). Solid second option. Heel strap is mandatory.
- Old running shoes you don’t mind soaking. Surprisingly fine. They drain slow but they stay on and they grip.
- Neoprene booties. Best for cold months (May, October). Add water-shoe versatility to the wetsuit setup.
Shoes that don’t work: flip-flops, slip-on sandals without a heel strap, Crocs (they float off your feet), leather boat shoes (slow to dry, ruin them).
What the shop provides vs. what you bring
To be clear:
Provided: Sit-on-top kayak, paddle, US Coast Guard-rated PFD (life jacket), dry bag, on-water guide.
You bring: Everything you wear, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water, snacks, pre-applied bug spray in summer, change of clothes for after, and any photo gear you want to use.
If you forget something basic (sunscreen, hat), the shop usually has a few extras at the front desk. Don’t count on it.
The mistake we see most often
Honestly: showing up overdressed because guests are anxious about being cold, and ending up overheated 20 minutes in. Lake Michigan in July at noon is a sun trap. Even with the breeze, you’ll warm up. Layer down rather than up. Build for shedding clothes during the trip, not adding them.
The exception is May and October, where the cold is real. Those months, layer up and pack a backup layer.
Our other gear posts are useful too: how to stay dry in a sit-on-top kayak covers the technique side, and kayak sizing covers the boat-fit question if you’re shopping for your own.
Pick a month that fits, dress for it, book the Cave Kayak Tour, and we’ll see you at the launch.
Cedar Shore
Cave Point Paddle & Pedal