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Clothing, Equipment, and Gear Guide

Swiftwater Rescue Programs

Classroom (if appropriate)
Note pad and pens. We may also go outside throughout the day so please dress accordingly.

Field or in Water Days

You can rent PFDs, Drysuits, Wetsuits and helmets from WAVE if needed. Be sure to let us know before your program to confirm sizing and availability.

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Ice Rescue Programs

Classroom (if appropriate)
Note pad and pens. .

Field or in Water Days

You can rent PFDs, drysuits, ice rescue suits and helmets from WAVE if needed. Be sure to let us know before your program to confirm sizing and availability.

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Rope Rescue Programs

Classroom (if appropriate)
Note pad and pens. .

Field Days

• Class III full-body harness (or separate chest and sit harnesses) - Rentals available... contact our office.
• Climbing helmet - Rentals available.
• Sturdy boots (hiking boots are fine)
• Pants made of durable material or coveralls.
• Gloves with leather palms (work gloves are fine)

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Boat Rescue Programs

Classroom (if appropriate) - Note pad and pens.

Water Based Days

You will need all the same gear you would need for any one of our swiftwater programs. In addition you will need to supply your own boat. We will supply one instructor boat. Both Jet and external prop boats are acceptable depending on water levels and location. Once you choose to register for a boat course our office will work with you to help you source equipement and resources.

 

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Wilderness Medical and First Aid Programs

Classroom - Note pad and pens

Practical

We will be outside for a large portion of these programs so be sure to bring appropriate outdoor clothing.

In addition:
We will be using some stage makeup to make drills more realistic so be sure to bring some old clothing that suitable to be cut/ torn or stained.

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Paddling Programs

You can rent PFDs, Wetsuits and helmets from WAVE if needed. Be sure to let us know before your program to confirm sizing and availability.

More About Dry Suits

Unlike Wetsuits, dry suits do not allow any water in. Dry suits are a completely waterproof shell sealed by a latex gasket at the neck, hands and feet. One advantage of a dry suit is that you can vary the amount of insulation by adding or subtracting layers worn under the suit. As you generally stay much dryer, wetsuits are typically more comfortable than wetsuits and can keep you warmer in extreme cold water. There are a few downsides to dry suits as well. For starters a dry suit usually costs at least 4 times more than your average wetsuit and a state of the art dry suit will cost up to 8 times more than an equivalent wetsuit. Our drysuits are made out of gortex to help keep presiration to a minimum.

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More About Wetsuits

Wetsuits work by holding a thin layer of water next to your skin where your body can warm it. To work best, a wetsuit should not have empty bulges or folds that will suck in chilly pockets of water when you swim. But it also shouldn’t be so tight that it restricts breathing or motion.

Wetsuits provide some padding against knocks and tumbles, and they provide some additional buoyancy (though they by no means replace PFD’s). They are quite rugged and require little maintenance. In addition, they continue to provide considerable insulation (and buoyancy) even if torn. We recommend the use of a windproof layer on top of your wetsuit on windy or cool days to give additional warmth. Having a windproof layer on top of your wet suit will make a world of difference on a cool and windy day.

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More about Ice Rescue or Survival Suits

Ice rescue suits are designed to be worn in extreme situations and have some advantages and disadvantages when compaired to drysuits. Ice suits do not generally have a latex neck gasket so in the event of a full submersion they do let a little amount of water in. They have built in floatation so a PFD is not generally required. They also have built in boots, gloves and a harness. They are great for rapid deployment and one size will generally fit everyone. They are a little more bulky to more around in and the large boots and gloves can be akward. Most varieties will have some sort of built in insulation as well. Ice suits come in either a full neoprene version or a fully water proof material.

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More about Personal Flotation Devices (PFD)

A type III or V PFD’s is a mandatory piece of equipment for all of our water based programs. Anytime we are on or around the water a properly fitted and approved PFD must be worn. WAVE will provide participants with approved PFD’s if required. If you are bringing your own PFD it must be approved by your programs instructors. If your PFD is not approved by the instructors, PFD's will be available. If you have any questions regarding your PFD or purchasing a new one please feel free to contact our office. It is recommended that PFD’s are bright colors to increase visibility. A type III vest is one that is especially suited for whitewater use. A type V vest is a whitewater rescue specific vest. Generally the rescue vests have a higher float rating and build in features like a quick release belt to aid in rescue work. The minimum float rating we would recommend is 14 pounds of flotation.

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What to wear when it’s cold?

We would like to give you a little information about layering, different fabrics and how to be best dressed for your outdoor activities.

As our weather can be so unpredictable and our bodies need for extra insulation goes up and down with activity, we need to layer our clothing. Our goal is to provide enough insulation to always keep ourselves warm, but not overheat. Once we start to over heat we begin to produce moisture (sweat). That release of moisture rapidly cools our bodies down and can saturate out clothing diminishing their insulative value. It is for this very reason that layering our clothing works very well. By wearing many layers we can add insulation as we need it and shed it as we don’t, thus maintaining that ideal body temperature. A good layering system usually involves having a synthetic or wicking base layer (we will talk about fabrics later on) with a few insulating layers (mid layers) getting increasingly warmer to put on over top. The system is best finished with a final or outer layer of windproof /waterproof material such as a Gortex, nylon or Scholler. This system works just as well for our lower bodies as it does for our upper. Let’s take a minute to look at how to properly layer your clothing.

Base Layer

The base layer (aka underwear) is most critical because it's in direct contact with your skin. Underwear must transport body moisture (sweat) away from the skin and disperse it to the next layer where it can evaporate (this process is called wicking).

Because water is a good heat conductor, a wet garment against your skin draws heat away from your body twenty-five times faster than a dry one. Even in conditions above freezing, this rapid heat loss can cause a dangerous drop in your body’s core temperature, leading to hypothermia.

Synthetics such as polypropylene and polyester are common underwear materials. Light and strong, they absorb very little water. Their quick-drying ability reduces the risk of conductive heat loss.

Inner layers are available in light, medium, and heavy weights for different activities; lightweight for aerobic activity where sweat dispersal is paramount. For more stop-and-go activities, midweight underwear provides both moisture control and insulation. Heavyweight underwear is best used in cold conditions, where you're relatively inactive. Finally, the inner layer should fit snugly but not be restricting. The amount of warmth they provide depends on the fabric’s thickness (weight) – light, medium, or expedition-weight. Often made from synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon, these layers are perfect for active wilderness pursuits.

Mid-Layer

The mid-layer provides insulation and continues the transportation of moisture from thinner layer. To slow heat loss, this layer must be capable of retaining the warmth generated by your body. Wool and synthetics are well suited for this purpose because the structure of the fibers creates small air spaces that trap molecules of warm air.

Additional features, such as pit zippers and full-length front zippers, allow venting. As with the inner-layer, this layer should be snug but not constricting.

Outer Layer

The outer layer protects your microclimate from the elements and should allow air to circulate and excess moisture to escape. Choose on the basis of what you plan to do and what weather you may encounter.

For dry conditions, a breathable (uncoated) wind shell may be all you need. If you expect conditions to be more severe, a waterproof (coated) rain jacket might be adequate. A shell made of a breathable and waterproof fabric, such as Gore-Tex® and Gore-Tex® XCR™, will give you protection from wind and rain, as well as allowing water vapour to escape.

That said, there are no miracle fabrics. Under heavy exertion, your body simply produces more water vapor than any fabric can disperse. The result can be a build-up of moisture on the inside of the garment, leaving you wet, clammy, and cold. Strip off a layer or open any ventilation zippers before this happens, and you will find yourself much more comfortable.

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Fabrics

New technology has created a wide spectrum of synthetic fibers for the outdoor recreationalist to choose from. Before we get too far into new fabrics lets just take a quick look at those ones that have been around for a while. While very comfy on a warm summers day cotton fabrics are not a good choice for anyone expecting the possibility of chilly weather in the back country. When wet, cotton looses all of its insulative value (it will actually speed up body cooling). Also because the fabric is very good at absorbing water, once wet it will take a very long time to dry. Wool on the other hand will still keep you warmer when it is wet but still has the problem of being itchy, bulky and much like cotton takes a long time to dry when wet. In addition both wool and cotton are not good at moving moisture away from the body (wicking). Silk is one of the better natural fibers for outdoor use. It is still a fairly good insulator, comfortable, and dries fairly quickly. On the downside silk is very expensive and cannot usually be found in thickness great enough to be of any isolative value.

Cotton is not recommended as a base layer because it absorbs perspiration easily and dries very slowly, which can lead to hypothermia. Even in cold conditions, your body produces moisture that will absorb into your underwear.

Among the more popular high tech fabrics available to outdoor adventurists are fleece, polypropylene, capilene, polyester, spandex, and scholler. The following is an outline of the different and most popular fleece fabrics:

Fleece is made in three general weights:

Within these weight categories, there are additional variations on the fleece theme. Malden Mills®, the folks who originated modern polyester fleece, have also been leaders in developing specialized fleece fabrics for different applications. These include:

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Hands and Feet

In its effort to keep your head and your body's vital organs warm in cold conditions, the heart reduces blood flow to the hands and feet. These areas do not generate much heat on their own, so some insulation and protection from the elements is needed.
Mittens are warmer than an equivalent pair of gloves because the whole hand contributes to the warming process. The trade-off is that mitts inhibit dexterity. Gloves are good for activities that require independent finger control, such as tying knots, but each finger must warm up its own little compartment, making them less efficient at keeping your hands warm.

A layering system that consists of a thin wool or synthetic glove for moisture transport, an insulating mitten, and a non-insulated shell mitten for outer protection, will give you a wide range of temperature control and manual dexterity.

Keeping your feet warm and dry is absolutely mandatory on multi-day backpacking and active adventure programs, so your choice of socks can make or break a trip.

Wool is the preferred material and provides the best balance of moisture wicking, warmth, and cushioning. The addition of a polypro liner sock will speed up moisture transport from the feet to the outer wool layer. You can forego liner socks by purchasing thicker single socks made from a wool, acrylic, stretch nylon, and polyester blend.

Socks should fit snugly. If they're too tight, circulation can be restricted and your feet will get cold. Conversely, a loose sock can slip or bunch up; creating pressure spots that can lead to blisters.

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Warmth for your hands and feet while paddling!

If you are participating in any of our water based activities we strongly recommend the use of neoprene socks worn inside a sturdy pair of old running shoes. For Kayaking programs neoprene booties are recommended as shoes often are difficult to squeeze into the boats. Sandals or bare feet are not permitted on WAVE water based activities. For your hands we recommend the use of neoprene paddling gloves even in mid summer the water will be cold.

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Hand protection during Rope rescue!

For any of our High angle Rescue programs a pair of leather palmed gloves are mandatory. Fingerless types are a great option to keep your hands a little cooler.

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Rain gear

If you are purchasing raingear to participate in one of our programs please consider the following things. The cheap, thin style of raingear seldom holds up to the rigors of a WAVE program and are not worth your money. We recommend purchasing a sturdy rubberized rain jacket and pants. A good feature to look for is reinforcement on high stress areas like elbows, bum and knees. Although Gortex and other high tech fabrics generally work great, they are expensive and often don’t work well under prolonged exposure to heavy rainfall. However, during high aerobic activity they are a good option. For standard outdoor use we recommend a heavy duty rubberized suit. You will find that the price is right and they will do the trick.

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Harnesses

If you are participating in any of our Low to High angle or High angle rescue programs you will need a harness. Your harness must be approved by WAVE staff before participation in any program. If you have any questions regarding your harness or harness purchase please contact our office. If you do not have a suitable harness, you will have the option of renting one from WAVE.

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Helmets

If you do not have an appropriate helmet rentals will be available. Please note that a paddling specific helmet is required for white water based activities including swift water rescue and a climbing specific helmet is required for our high angle programs. Paddling, biking and climbing helmets have different design features to protect you from sport specific hazards.

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Please feel free to contact our office if you have and questions or concerns about any of the above information. We hope this info helps you get the most out of your program.