Kayaking is an activity enjoyed by millions all over the world but if you want to be able to do it properly, you should make sure that you have the correct kit. In this article, we’ll be exploring the different pieces of safety equipment and clothing that you should have if you plan to start kayaking. A buoyancy aid The most important piece of kit for kayaking is, of course, a buoyancy aid. It is vital that you wear this piece of kit at all times when you are on the water as it will provide buoyancy and keep you […]
Guides
Should you kayak alone?
Knowing how to stay safe when kayaking is so important but many people make avoidable mistakes and put themselves in danger all the time. The question stands then should you kayak alone? In this article, we’ll give you some tips for how you can stay safe when kayaking alone, even if it’s not always recommended. Water safety is no laughing matter and we personally think that kayaking should be done with a buddy, mainly because things can change so quickly, but if you take the necessary precautions, kayaking is safe to do on your own. Here we’ve put together just […]
Is Kayaking Easy?
Kayaking is an activity loved by millions all over the world and this is especially the case here in the UK. In this article, we’ll explain how you can learn to kayak, what you can do to make it easier, and some tips & tricks that you should absolutely make use of. How can you learn to kayak as a beginner? If you want to learn kayaking, we would highly recommend signing up for a beginner’s course with a reputable provider. Here, you will be able to learn the basic techniques in a safe and controlled environment. Once you have […]
Games to play while paddling
Paddle boarding is a leisurely activity enjoyed by many during the warm summer months, sometimes even in the winter if you can brave the chilly conditions, but did you know that there’s more to it than just having a paddle on the water? In this post we’ll be exploring a handful of paddling games that you can play on the water. 1. Paddle Board Paddle Ball For this game you’ll need two paddles, a ball and something to stand on. What you do here is place the ball between the two paddles at either end of and then simply get […]
Top Tips for Camping Trips
The canoes and kayaks are a remarkably versatile craft, and they can open the door to a variety of adventures for you. One of our particular favourites is to pack up the tarp, bung in the bivi and cram in the camping kit, before heading off for a weekend of paddling and camping fun with our paddling mates, partners, kids dogs etc. Don’t worry we know we used the ‘Bush’ word above but we’re not going to insist you grow a beard and then bang on about every little detail of a ‘Ray Mears’ style survival camping epic, after all […]
Whitewater Kayaking in the French Alps
We love gear testing, but we hate doing gear tests! Why? Well, gear testing involves putting stuff through its paces out on the water, using it for its designed purpose and generally using and abusing it to see if it stands up to every day use and is good for the job. Putting together a gear test, on the other hand, involves photographing said gear out there in the wilds and in some suitable location. The trouble is, much as the Paddler testers love to get their mugs in front of a fisheye getting the planets of sun, water and […]
Canoe & Kayak Guide to the River Tees
We’re fortunate in the UK to have a breadth of fantastic whitewater rivers, and all with their own unique characteristics, character and flavour. On any given weekend you could be off paddling to Wales, Scotland, the South West or north of England, When the rains come we really are spoilt for choice for quality whitewater runs. Most weekends the question we ask as river runners are not, ‘what should we do?’ But more commonly, ‘where should we go?’ This month we look at one of the UK’s classic runs with a wealth of great whitewater, from waterfalls to fun wave […]
Canoe & Kayak Coaching Tips – Dry Land Boating
As we move through the boating seasons the environment provides some varied challenges for us, as coaches, and for our students. During the colder months, we are often limited by short, dark days, and sometimes, the unbearable cold! As coaches, we often need to alter our day out on the water depending on the weather and the bitter cold it can sometimes bring. Our ability to have something up our sleeves that we can coach when it gets cold, or when our group want to cut their losses and head to a warm steamy café. We need to have some […]