I have launched a kayak from concrete ramps in three states, and every one of them had at least one section that turned into a greased slope in summer. After slipping one too many times while unloading a loaded fishing kayak, I started treating kayak fishing ramp traction mats the way I treat a PFD: […]

After logging more than 200 hours on the water this season testing rod vaults, rod tubes, track-mounted holders, and crate systems across sit-on-top and sit-in kayaks, I can tell you the best kayak fishing rod vault storage for is not one product but a category. A rod vault keeps rods organized, protected, and accessible during […]

Best kayak fishing roof rack ratchet straps keep a loaded 100 to 150 lb fishing kayak locked to your roof at highway speed without cracking the hull. I have strapped down everything from 10 ft sit-on-top kayaks to 14 ft pedal-drive rigs, and the right ratchet strap setup matters more than most anglers realize. After […]

I've spent the past decade fishing from kayaks in everything from redfish flats to mountain reservoir shoals, and I can tell you the best kayak fishing sandals are the single most underrated piece of gear on most rigs. Anglers obsess over rods, reels, and pedals, then ruin a 12-hour day because their feet are blistered, […]

Stock fishing kayak seats are thin foam over plastic. After three to six hours on the water, your lower back tightens, your tailbone aches, and the trip you planned for sunset ends early. Our team has logged more than 200 hours testing kayak seat cushions across freshwater lakes, brackish rivers, and Florida saltwater flats, and […]

After losing two plastic OEM bimini hinges to UV damage on my Old Town Salty in a single season, I started hunting for the best kayak bimini top mounts that would actually survive saltwater and sun. What followed was three months of swapping hardware between my Old Town, a Sea Eagle inflatable, and a buddy's […]

If you have ever fished from a kayak with a fish finder flopping around your lap and rods propped against the seat, you already know why a center console kit exists. After spending more than 60 hours on the water testing kayak center console kits across Hobie, Old Town, Wilderness Systems, and Pelican hulls, our […]

After 90 days of cooking ribs, brisket, chicken and pizza on eight different kamado grills in our test yard, I can tell you this category is genuinely different from anything else in the backyard. A single kamado grill replaces a smoker, a grill, a pizza oven and a roaster, and it does all of that […]

After three seasons of redfish trips, snook charters, and one truly embarrassing tournament where my shrimp went belly-up before the 7 a.m. blast-off, I have spent more time obsessing over the best kayak bait tank mounts than I care to admit. A kayak bait tank mount is a mounting system that secures a live bait […]

When I built my first kayak from a kit three years ago, the most expensive mistake I made was not buying a good book alongside it. A paddle buddy told me the kit manual would be enough. He was wrong. The right guide turned a 200-hour project into a boat I am proud to launch, […]