Essential gear and equipment for kayaking
There is only a handful of sports that you can get into at any time with a good chance to excel in it. Kayaking is one of such sport.
Once the decision is made to get into kayaking, selecting and buying kayak equipment for the first time can be a bitter-sweet moment for a couple of reasons. If you have made up your mind to go for it, then it’s worth reading some more of our guide below.
The first thing you’ve got to realize that it’s going to cost money and if you get into Kayaking seriously then it could cost a lot of money. But generally, once you have got your kit together the ongoing costs are fairly low.
There is a clear distinction between absolutely essential equipment and secondary gear which is entirely a matter of personal preference, after all, some things are just nice to have.
Following is a short list of all the essential kayak equipment that you need to get into the sport.
Essential Kayak Equipment
Kayak
We would advise everyone that’s looking to get into Kayaking, or any new activity for that matter to invest some time researching it and what’s needed, ultimately it’s you that needs to decide if something be that time or gear is worth it.
If you have done your homework, you will be aware that there are different types of kayaking. Kayaks for Whitewater are radically different from Sea/Touring Kayaks. Another aspect that counts significantly in your selection is how competent and confident you are.
Paddle
Since there are different kinds of kayaking, the paddle required for each one of them will be different as well. If you are not sure, it is always best to ask a professional or competent shop staff. There is a chance that you might be interested in more than one kind of kayaking. In this case, it is always better to buy a different paddle. However, you will be better off getting the hang of one type of kayaking first before experimenting with other kinds.
PFD
A PFD is an essential piece of equipment, especially if you are only just starting out in the sport. PFD stands for Personal Floatation Device and is essentially a life jacket that can potentially save your life in case things do not turn out the way you initially planned. In other words when you end up in the water it’s going to help you float and stay safe.
Spray skirt
The primary purpose of sprayskirts is to keep the water out of your kayak. If you are doing Whitewater and Sea Kayaking, then you must always have spray skirts as part of your primary gear.
However, if you are recreational kayaking, you can often do without one as you’re not so worried about getting wet or your kayak filling with water. You must pay heed to make sure that the skirt you are buying properly fits both you and your kayak.
Helmet
It may seem unfair to put the helmet at the very end of our list of kayak equipment, however, the significance of a proper helmet must never be underestimated. Especially if you have chosen to go for Whitewater Kayaking.
We would recommend that you get a proper helmet and you wear it when in your kayak. There are times where it’s not so essential, such as in the sea, but if there’s likely to be any rocks or even rough sea wear it.
Just like any other water sport, or any sport for that matter, you must always learn to respect your equipment. When you are out there, your equipment is your best friend, it’s what keeps you safe and allows you to have a great experience.
Always buy the best quality gear you can and take great care of your equipment, learn as much you can to protect your gear from wear and tear and it will serve you well.
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