I've been kayaking for over a decade across more than a dozen states, and the question I hear most often from new paddlers is some version of "do you need a license to kayak?" The honest answer is comforting for most people: in the majority of the United States, you do not need a license […]

How cold is too cold to kayak? I get asked this question every fall, and the honest answer surprises most paddlers: any water below 70°F (21°C) deserves caution, and water below 60°F (15°C) can kill you in minutes. I have been paddling cold water for twelve years, and I have capsized in 52°F water in […]

Learning how to anchor a paddle board transformed the way I use my SUP on flat water. Before I figured out the right rig, every yoga session drifted ten feet from my starting spot, and every fishing trip left me constantly repositioning. After a season of testing weights, knots, and anchor styles on lakes, rivers, […]

I've paddled through ocean chop, harbor shallows, and brackish river mouths for the past eight years, and saltwater remains the single biggest threat to a paddle board's lifespan. Salt crystals grind into EVA foam, salt ions corrode aluminum fin screws, and salt residue combined with UV exposure can yellow a glossy finish in a single […]

Last summer, I watched a $400 YETI cooler slide off the back of a Hobie kayak and sink to the bottom of a lake - all because the owner used a cheap bungee cord instead of a proper kayak cooler tie down system. That moment crystallized something for our team: securing your cooler isn't optional […]

If your kayak keeps swinging off course in a crosswind or you are fighting the paddle every stroke to stay on track, the best kayak rudder kits can transform your time on the water. I have spent years paddling everything from sit-on-top fishing rigs to long touring kayaks, and adding a rudder is the single […]

If you have ever paddled a kayak with a stock paddle that falls short the moment you sit back and engage your core, you already know the frustration. Kayak paddle extensions solve a surprisingly common problem: the paddle that came with your kayak was sized for someone shorter, narrower, or less ambitious on the water. […]

Best Kayak Paddle Clips earned the top spot in our latest round of hands-on testing after 60 days on the water across three kayaks. I have dropped, dragged, and fished with every clip in this list and the Cascade Creek Yakclips keeps coming back as the most reliable no-drill option for sit-in kayaks, hands down. […]

Three hours into a paddle across Windermere last summer, I had to beach my kayak and lie flat on the shingle. My lower back was screaming. The factory seat on my touring kayak looked comfortable enough when I sat in the showroom, but it was useless once I started bracing for real waves. That afternoon […]

Three years ago I stood in my driveway staring at a 14-foot fishing kayak and a 7-foot-tall SUV, wondering how I was going to load this thing without throwing out my back. I tried the dead-lift method. I tried walking it up the side of the vehicle. After 20 minutes of grunting, I gave up […]