Planning a kayaking trip this year? Whether it’s a whitewater adventure or a small river run, ensuring you have all the kayaking kit you need is crucial for both a safe and enjoyable trip out on the water. From safety equipment and clothing to useful tools and additional extras, here at NorthShore Watersports, we’ve created a kayaking equipment list for you to check off to make sure you have all the kayak essentials you need before your trip!

Clothing

First things first on our kayaking equipment list is clothing. Ensuring you have the appropriate clothing for your trip is one of the most important parts of your kayaking kit in keeping you warm, safe and dry during any watersports venture. We’ve listed our clothing kayak essentials below.

A Buoyancy Aid

Regardless of how long you plan to stay in the water, a buoyancy aid is a must in your kayaking kit. Safety is paramount when kayaking, so finding a well-fitting buoyancy aid is of the utmost importance for enjoying your time on the water responsibly. Here at NorthShore Watersports, you can find a large collection of ergonomically designed buoyancy aids for men, women and juniors that are comfortable to wear in your boat and help you swim safely should you enter the water.

A Helmet and Headwear

The next thing to tick off on our kayaking equipment list is your helmet and headwear for keeping your head protected. A helmet is a really important part of your kayaking kit and essential for helping prevent any serious injuries out on the water. Alongside helmets, it’s worth considering if you’ll need any additional headwear such as neoprene hats or thermal hoods to ensure you’re kept warm and well insulated too. You can find all the headwear you need here at NorthShore Watersports.

A Wetsuit

Alongside your buoyancy aid and helmet, another important element of clothing you’ll need when kayaking is a wetsuit, especially in colder weather. From winds and rain to cold river or sea water, you can face a lot of weather conditions and choppy waters that you need sufficient protection from. Providing a thick, insulating layer between you and the elements, a wetsuit is vital for keeping you warm and dry in any kayaking activity. Explore all expertly designed wetsuits here for high-quality designs for all ages.

Hand and Footwear

If you’re kayaking in cold weathers, an important piece of clothing to add to your kayak equipment list is watersports gloves or mitts to keep your hands sufficiently warm and dry when exposed to very cold water temperatures. Similarly, thermal and protective footwear such as neoprene socks and shoes will keep your feet properly warm and comfortable when you’re spending hours on the water.

Safety Equipment

Once you’ve got all the correct clothing you’ll need in your kayaking kit, next thing to consider on your kayaking equipment list is all the necessary safety and emergency equipment you’ll need with you. Below you’ll find the kayak essentials you’ll need when it comes to safety.

A First Aid Kit

Number one on our list of safety equipment to pack with you is a first aid kit. Accidents can easily happen out on the water, so it’s a good idea to keep a first aid kit with you at all times to cover you for every eventuality. From bandages and plasters to antiseptic wipes and painkillers, a well-stocked first aid kit is a really important piece of kayaking kit to have in your bag.

A Whistle

Alongside a first aid kit, another piece of safety equipment that can come in handy and even save lives is a whistle. A small whistle takes up next to no room in your pack but can make a big difference if you’re in need of help out on the water, for alerting people to your location or warning others of danger. Explore all our safety rescue gear here for any other bits you may need.

A Tow Line

Tow lines are another really important piece of kayak equipment to keep in your pack, should you need to connect your boat with another. If a paddler is fatigued or injured, a tow line can be a crucial piece of emergency equipment to have to hand.

Additional Accessories

After you’ve ensured you have all your safety equipment and kayak essentials packed, you can start thinking about all the additional extras and watersports accessories you need to make your trip more comfortable. Here are our recommendations to add to your kayak equipment list:

Spray Decks

Fixing a spray deck to your kayak is a great option for keeping you warm, waterproofed and comfortable while kayaking by preventing all the cold water from entering into your boat. These are especially useful if you’re planning an activity like whitewater kayaking where there’s a high chance of spray and splashing.

Dry Bags

Another handy bit of kayaking kit to add to your kayaking equipment list is a selection of dry bags and waterproof cases to keep all your important belongings safe and dry. Whether that’s maps and navigation devices, technology like your mobile phone or spare clothing, dry bags are a really useful way to store all your loose items.

Water Bottles

It’s very important to keep hydrated out on the water, so keeping a water bottle in your kayaking kit is a must. Here at NorthShore Watersports, we have a large selection of flasks and bottles that have been specially designed for watersports ventures, created to be lightweight and not take up a lot of room in your pack.

Once you’ve checked off these kayak essentials from our kayaking equipment list, you’re all set to enjoy your trip safely and comfortably! With the right clothing, safety equipment and accessories in your kayaking kit, you can be sure you have all you need for any watersports trip you have planned.