An aggregate resource for all those riding in the 9th seat
What type of shoes do you think are appropriate for coxswains to wear in the boat?
I usually wear some rotation of Hunters, Uggs, or Bean Boots and then starting in late April through September I wear sandals every day. Sperry’s, tennis shoes, etc. are all fine too. Basically just wear something that can stand up to getting wet and will keep your feet warm when it’s cold out and you’ll be good.
Previously: What to wear: Coxswains (women) || What to wear: Coxswains (men) || What to wear: Rowers
Whether you get a cheap pair or splurge on some Oakley M-frames (#freespeed), sunglasses are a worthwhile investment. A great reason to get a cheap pair of sunglasses is so that if they got knocked into the water, it’s not like you just lost a few hundred dollars.
One thing that I’ve seen a lot people, particularly coxswains, wear with their glasses are Chums or Croakies. Croakies actually have little floater things you can attach to your glasses too so that if you do somehow manage to drop them in the water, they’ll at least float until you (or your coxswain) can grab them. If you splurged on a pair of glasses that can make the extra $10 (or less, most of the time) worth it.
Regardless of what glasses you decide to get, two features you’ll want to look for are polarized and hydrophobic lenses. Polarization protects your eyes from the sun’s glare (which we all know can be downright killer on the water) and the hydrophobic feature allows water to bead up and slide off the lens instead of just sitting there and blurring your vision.
For regular rowers, I’d say these are great extras but not necessarily “must-haves” unless you really want them. For scullers and coxswains, who heavily rely on being able to see what’s in front or behind them, definitely look into getting a pair of shades that have those features. Pro tip, your steering will be a lot more effective if you can actually see where you’re going.
Previously: What to wear: Coxswains (women) || What to wear: Coxswains (men)
Unlike coxswains, rowers have the benefit of being able to move and don’t need quite as many layers as we do as the temperatures start to drop. Between overheating and limiting their range of motion, they tend to wear only two or three layers (max) compared to our four or five (minimum). There also isn’t that much room in the boat to store excess layers so it’s important that the layers you do you wear are effective at keeping your body at the right temperature, both when you are and aren’t rowing.
Finding gear with material that will keep you warm even when it’s wet is key. The first layer should be a moisture-wicking base layer that’s warm enough to keep your arms and torso from getting too cold but still allows you to move without much restriction. You’ll want to avoid wearing anything cotton as your base layer too since it clings to your body when wet and will just end up making you colder.
The next layer is your insulation layer. This one is a little thicker than the base layer and is there to keep the warmth in when the temps are on the cooler side. The last layer is the wind and water resistant layer that keeps you dry and not totally freezing if you’re out in the rain or snow.
Not pictured but no less important are your cold weather accessories. You can’t wear gloves while you’re rowing but Pogies are a good alternative but I know some rowers who say their hands get really sweaty when they use them (which makes it hard to grip the oar) so they only wear them if it’s below freezing, wet, and/or really windy out. Sock-wise, most of the time you can wear normal socks but as the temperatures drop you might want to upgrade to a warmer pair or even to a pair of waterproof ones. Last but not least, hats – wear one. Hearing and feeling the wind whip through your ears is the worst and they really do go a long way towards keeping you warm when you’re on the water.
Previously: What to wear: Coxswains (women)
In part one I talked a lot about the importance of wearing the proper clothes while out on the water, especially in the winter. For coxswains this is especially important since we are stationary for the majority of practice, which causes us to get colder much faster than everyone else. Like I mentioned in the last post, if you’ve got a survival suit that you can throw over these layers when it starts getting cold, definitely do it.
Women are usually pretty good about wearing the right clothes, it’s the guys that tend to learn the hard way. “Tough guy points” as they’re known around the boathouse are voided if/when you develop hypothermia. I can’t stress the importance of wind and waterproof/resistant layers enough. Coxing when you’re cold is hard and makes it tough to focus so do yourself a favor and make sure you’ve got the right gear on when you go out.
Over the years I think I’ve perfected the art of layering when it comes to getting ready to go out when the weather is less than ideal. Coxing in Syracuse (and now in Boston) meant that there was no getting away with not having the proper clothes so one of the first things I did when I got to school was go on a big “cold weather gear” shopping trip so I could stock up. Lots of wind/waterproof stuff, lots of Patagonia, and a lot of Hot Hands.
If your team has survival suits for you to wear, definitely consider wearing one. If you do that you can forgo the coat and rain/snow pants since the suit accomplishes the same thing.
When you’re layering up, try to avoid cotton layers and instead stick to wool and other moisture-wicking fabrics. Under Armour, Nike, Patagonia, and LLBean all have plenty of great options. Wool socks (or any thick, hiking-esque type of sock) are a must and if you’re wearing Hunters, I can’t recommend the fleece sock inserts enough. I have a pair of Uggs that I wear the majority of the time I’m out (don’t judge, they’re so warm) but if it’s raining or snowing I’ll wear my rain boots with the fleece socks to keep my feet warm and dry. Gloves that block the wind and keep your fingers dry are also important since it’s really hard to steer when you can’t feel or grip the cables.
For more on what to wear to combat the elements, check out the “what to wear” tag.
Any tips for staying warm on the water, especially on chilly mornings and evenings?
Layers. Lots and lots of layers. Although if you’re coxing in a bow loader, good luck because you’re probably going to be cold/wet no matter what.
Get some hot hands – the ones for your hands AND the ones for your feet. My mom bought me some that are the shape of your whole foot and you just put them in the bottoms of your shoes. Wear Bean Boots AND thick wool socks under that. If you have Uggs and you won’t be going through mud or anything and it’s not raining, they work well too as long as it’s not too far below freezing. Throw some hot hands in under your toes and your feel will stay nice and toasty.
Get some UnderArmour cold gear leggings and layer a pair of either fleece lounge pants or regular sweatpants over them, then put your rain pants on over that. On top, I typically do a long sleeve spandex top (either regular or cold gear), a regular long sleeve shirt (although it depends on how cold it is; sometimes I forgo this layer), a hoodie or pullover, and then a regular outdoor jacket over that. Also, don’t forget gloves. I wear either fleece gloves or UnderArmour outdoor gloves. Ear wraps or beanies are also highly recommended.
If your team has survival suits, those are great to wear over all your clothes as an additional (albeit bulky) layer of warmth. I’m not a fan of wearing them when I’m coxing because they just feel so heavy and cumbersome but if the weather’s bad or cold enough, it’s just the smart thing to do.