Kayak Adventure's Get into Kayaking Buy List

We figure it takes $1800 to $2500 to get started in warm-water kayaking, with gear that is durable and safe. We sell most of this gear, and can give you the opportunity to try before you buy.
We'll take back any product that doesn't perform to your expectations. Here are our recommendations, in order of importance, updated September 2007:

1. Medium to lightweight Carbon fiber paddle - Try Aqua-Bound Stingray $150, or Bending Branches Breeze Twilight, $249, with us.  A perfect weight is 26-32 ounces. Use your paddle to try out lots of kayaks -see below.

2. Life vest with reflective striping & hooks for whistle and light. Try Stohlquist's Trekker for men and Cruiser for women at $89.95. Life vests are also called "pfds" - personal flotation devices. If you're paddling with a partner, I recommend a life vest with integral towing belt. Try Stohlquist's Xtraxt-d for $165.

3. Sit-on-top (SOT) or sit-inside sea kayak in super-linear polyethylene. Expect to pay $700-$1000 for a seaworthy SOT and $1,200 to $1800 for a well-designed plastic sit-inside sea kayak or a wooden one that you build yourself. Carbonlite, Fiberglass or Kevlar kayaks cost substantially more.

4. Whistle designed for marine use. Required by the US Coast Guard. Wear on hook on your life vest. $3-$6. We prefer the small, loud Fox40 brand.

5. If you've bought a sit-inside kayak, you must have a pump and a paddle float. We like Aqua-Bound's pump [$27] due to its yellow color and good pump action. For paddle floats, we recommend North Water Rescue's foam float, about $45. If you paddle where there's commercial traffic, use their radar-enhanced float, $53.

6. Paddling gloves, neoprene for spring & fall, half-finger for summer. NRS and Stearns make neoprene gloves with slip-proof grip (raw neoprene palm).Stearn's are $20 but get sweaty. NRS gloves come in a variety of models, with a 2mm version priced at $29. We sell Deep See half finger gloves for $20. Or use biking/sailing gloves [Harken is one brand we like.]

7. Neoprene booties for the feet. We sell Deep See brand in many styles. We like the Manta boot for its flexibility for sit-inside kayakers, or the NRS Paddle Shoe. Expect to pay $36-$44 for a durable pair. No straps - they can cause entrapment!

8. Paddle leash. North Water Rescue is the only brand we recommend, due to its many safety features not found on other paddle leashes. We sell these for $22.

9. Waterproof flashlight that floats. Must be white light, no flashes. Our favorite is the Princeton Tec Eco-flare due to its compact size and cone-shaped lens which disperses light to increase your visibility.. Required by USCG for night boating.We sell these for $16 with the whitem, non-flashing bulb, and provide replacement bulbs when needed.

10. Strobe light - waterproof, with lithium batteries. Required by USCG for night visual distress signal. We prefer the compact ACR "C" Strobe, which sells for $19.95 at Landfall Navigation in Stamford, CT. Lithium batteries are $5 each. Get two. Not approved with regular batteries. If you paddle alone, this could save your life.

11. Small-Medium size see-through dry bag for stowing car keys, snack, spare batteries, meds, wallet. Try Seal-Line - $12, or the toughest on the market, NRS Ricksacks, $16, in XS (fits lots of personal gear). A medium sized bag will fit through most kayak hatches if not stuffed too full.

12. Synthetic fabric shirt, about $20-$40 for a good one, such as North Face, Lowe Alpine, Ex Officio, Patagonia. These will keep you warm even when wet, important when weather turns inclement.

13. Nylon [or other quick-dry] shorts, like board or hiking shorts. Neoprene shorts give you great grip and keep you warm. We like them long enough to be just above the knees, to protect thighs when doing a cowboy re-entry.

14. Paddling jacket - windproof, waterproof and breathable. Paddling jackets have zippers designed to withstand marine conditions and closures at neck, waist and wrists to keep out water. They can be very expensive, but the NRS Powerhouse is a great value at $99, and we also like MTI's Primer Top for $109 (heavier fabric). We rent these and can order them. Bright yellow or orange is important for visibility to power boaters. Your jacket is the most visible item on the kayak.

15. Hat with brim. An ideal paddling hat is not easily found. It should be made of quick-dry fabric in a bright color, have a deep brim in a dark color, a chin tie, and mesh side panels to keep you cool. $10-$70. A favorite of expert paddlers is the Tilley. For cold water October through May, use a Deep See 2mm neoprene hood with brim and vented earflaps so you can hear, $26. 

16. If you are paddling with a partner, one of you should buy a quick-release tow belt. North Water Rescue sells one for $56, which we carry.

17. Waterproof, floating hand compass, preferably yellow for visibility, or deck-mounted compass. $60-$100. Try Landfall Navigation for a hand-held model. (Keep it tied in your pfd pocket.) We sell the deck-mounted Orca Suunto for $45.

18. Nautical chart for your area, about $25 at any boat store.

These items will help keep you safe in waters that are 60 degrees fahrenheit or warmer. If you are paddling in cold climates, or from October through May in Southern New England, contact us for additional gear recommendations. Always carry water and snacks and let someone know when and where you're paddling.

Updated September 17, 2007
Copyright 2007, Kayak Adventure LLC. All rights reserved.

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