Paddle It! Gear Recommendations

We will be creating a more comprehensive gear guide soon. For now, we’ve compiled some of our favorite gear recommendations for beginning and novice paddlers on this page. Amazon product links will take you to any items available there for more details. If something is not available on Amazon, we’ve included links to wherever the product can be purchased.

Kayaks

Sit Inside Kayaks – Hardshell – Recreational and All-Around Use
Under $500
Lifetime Cruze 100 – This is your basic kayak from Lifetime. It will be more durable and track a little better than similarly priced boats from Pelican, Sundolphin, and the Menard’s Viper.
$500 to $1000
Perception Joyride 10 – The Perception Joyride is one of the best all-around recreational boats in its price range. It will track better than most of the other kayaks in its range, and the seat is fairly comfortable. It also comes in a 12 foot version.
$1000 and up
Once you go over $1000, the options greatly open up, especially since numerous boats on the market were in the $800-900 range before recent price increases. The Pungo is our choice in boats just over $1000.
Wilderness Systems Pungo 120 – The Pungo is one of the first boats to be considered when looking for a sit inside with a large cockpit. The Phase 3 Pro seat is one of the most comfortable seats on the market. It can be used with or without the console that helps keep water bottles, phones, etc. close at hand. Pungos track well, but even the 12 foot 120 is still maneuverable enough to handle up to Class I+ whitewater. It is also available in a 10.5 foot version.
Pakayak Bluefin 142 Stackable Kayak – Pakayak makes a series of kayaks that consist of a series of modular pieces that stack inside each other for storage and transport. This is the first realistic portable entry in the hard shell market. We’ve witnessed this boat in action, and it tracks and paddles very well in all types of conditions.
Sit On Top Kayaks – Hardshell – Recreational, All Around, Fishing
Under $500
Lifetime Teton 100 Angler – This is a solid boat that typically retails for $480. Dick’s frequently has these boats 25% off. There aren’t many sit insides or sit on tops of this quality for under $500. The lawn chair style seat is very comfortable for a boat in this price range. It has two flush mount rod holders plus gear tracks for attaching additional accessories. It will track better and be more durable than Pelican, Sundolphin, and other sit on tops in this price range.
$500 to $1000
Vibe Yellowfin 120 – The Vibe Yellowfin 120 is an excellent sit on top for the $800 to $1000 price point. This 12 foot boat has flush mount rod holders, gear tracks, and numerous other details that make it ideal for angling or just running rivers. It is also available in a 10 foot version. Dick’s frequently has sales at 25% off for these boats.
$1000 and up
Wilderness Systems Tarpon 105 – The Tarpon has been one of Wilderness Systems’ best-selling sit on tops for years. It has top-notch rigging, and it can be paired with numerous accessories to make this one of the best boats for the money. This 10 foot, 6 inch long boat has one of the most comfortable seats on the market. It also comes in a 12 foot and 13.5 foot tandem version.
Vibe Sea Ghost 110 – This is a solid angling sit on top in the under $1500 price point. It has excellent rigging, flush mount rod holders, gear tracks, and a rudder. It is also available in a 13 foot model.
Sit Inside Kayaks – Inflatable and other portable
Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Inflatable Kayak – The AdvancedFrame is the least expensive inflatable kayak on the market that still has excellent tracking and durability. This is made in a longer single version as well as a tandem 2-person version. This boat will stand up to plenty of abuse on rock or gravel bottom rivers and mild whitewater.
Tucktec Foldable Kayak – Tucktecs are an interesting entrant into the market for portable kayaks. They are a nice starter option for anyone who doesn’t have the budget, storage, or transportation for hard shell or more expensive inflatables. The chief drawback is that these kayaks are not recommended on rivers with significant current – if you are pinned sideways, the structure collapses, and it will quickly fill with water. We’ve witnessed this very phenomenon a couple times already.
Oru Inlet Foldable Kayak – Oru Kayaks has an entire series of kayaks made from fairly durable corrugated plastic sheets. The Inlet is their entry-level model. These are another good option for anyone who does not have the storage or transportation setup to use a hard shell boat. While they do not suffer from the easy collapse problem of the Tucktec kayaks, they still won’t hold up to long-term abuse on swift rivers with rock or gravel bottoms or significant whitewater.
Sit On Top Kayaks – Inflatable and other portable
Advanced Elements StraitEdge Inflatable Kayak – The Advanced Elements boats boast superior tracking compared to other inflatables on the market. The aluminum bow and stern rib helps create a knife edge that allows these boats to track more like a typical hardshell. Durability is very good – this can be taken on swift rivers with rock or gravel bottoms and whitewater up to a solid Class III (Class II or higher requires thigh straps).
Advanced Elements StraitEdge Angler Inflatable Kayak – The StraitEdge Angler adds a removable pipe for attaching rod holders and electronics and abrasion pads (to further prevent hook punctures) to the regular StraitEdge body.
Advanced Elements StraitEdge Angler Pro Inflatable Kayak – The Pro version adds a lawn chair style seat and second gear mount rail to the Angler version.

Kayak Paddles

Under $100

Bending Branches Whisper – The Whisper is the least expensive paddle in the Bending Branches product line. It is lighter and more durable than most of the other paddles on the market under $100. Most retailers, including REI and Rutabaga, will carry this paddle and have periodic sales on it. The only drawback is that the blade is fairly small – larger paddlers will need more strokes to power and maneuver their kayaks. However, this is the best starter paddle on the market for most novices.

$100 to $200

Werner Tybee FG – The Tybee FG is an excellent paddle in the under $200 price range. This high angle paddle is perfect for anyone who wants a lighter paddle than the BB Whisper with a larger blade. This is a good starter or intermediate paddle for larger paddlers, those paddling sit on tops, and/or those who paddle with a high angle style.

Werner Skagit FG – The Skagit is essentially the same paddle as the Tybee but in a low angle, touring blade profile. The longer, narrower blade is ideal for those who paddle a low angle style in sit inside kayaks. It is much lighter than paddles in the under $100 price range.

$200 and up

Bending Branches Angler Ace – The Angler Ace is the first BB entry in the over $200 price range. This paddle is ideal for high angle paddlers, especially anglers. It has a lure retrieval notch and measuring markings. It can be adjusted within a  5 cm range for total length. It is very lightweight, with a carbon fiber shaft and nylon blades.

Werner Shuna – The Shuna is one of the standards for carbon fiber shaft, fiberglass blade paddles. It is available in 1 and 2 piece versions as well as straight or bent shaft to minimize wrist fatigue. It is designed for high angle paddlers, especially those with strong upper bodies using sit on top kayaks.

Werner Camano – The Camano is essentially the low angle, touring version of the Shuna. You’ll note that the 2-piece straight shaft model is the same price as the equivalent Shuna. This is the perfect lightweight paddle or low angle style paddlers.

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs i.e. Life Jackets)

Under $100

Onyx MoveVent – The MoveVent is the minimum quality PFD we would recommend for novice paddlers. Numerous cheaper or similarly priced PFDs are on the market, but many of them are not properly designed for paddling. They are often lacking either thin back or high back flotation, either of which are necessary for proper comfort. The MoveVent is one of the least expensive PFDs that has high rear flotation and a fairly open design to allow freedom of movement.

Stohlquist Ebb – The Ebb is Stohlquist’s primary entry in the market under $100 while still delivering comfort and quality. High rear flotation and an open design are standard. The Ebb has a good amount of storage in its pockets as well.

$100 and up

NRS Chinook and Shenook – The Chinook has been one of the standards in the kayak angling world for a long time. This PFD has standard high rear flotation and plenty of pockets. NRS recently introduced the Shenook, which is essentially a more female-friendly tailored version of the Chinook. Both vests are angling versions of their venerable C-Vest.

NRS C-Vest – The C-Vest is one of the standards in affordable, quality PFDs. It boasts a couple pockets along with high rear flotation and an open design for freedom of movement while paddling.

Stohlquist Fisherman – For anglers who like to paddle and fish streams with some whitewater and other obstacles, the Fisherman is an ideal PFD. It is similar to the NRS Chinook, but its pockets have a harder shell and smooth exterior, so they are less likely to get caught on brush and other snags. This also prevents your own sleeves, paddles, and rods from catching on anything on the vest.

Waterproof Cases

Keeping electronics, toilet paper, key fobs, food, and other important items dry is a constant challenge for the typical paddler. There are many hard and soft cases on the market to protect these items. We’ve included our favorites here.

Plano Guide Series Field Box – This waterproof case comes in a number of sizes. Its mechanism for sealing and locking is superior to most other cases on the market. We use one of these for a wellness kit – sunblock, water filter, insect repellent, medications, and anything else that should stay dry. It can also be used to keep electronics and anything else dry and secure. Each size has a handle or lanyard for securing it to your boat.

Dry Pak Soft Case – Many soft waterproof cases can be found from just about every retailer. We prefer the DryPak line of cases. They boast clear windows on the back to allow you to take photos with various style phones or cameras. The opaque part of the back is also padded to help prevent damage to your device. Each case comes with a lanyard and carabiner for securing the case to your boat or around your neck.

Sun and Blister Protection

Sunblock and protective lip balm are obvious items to include in your kit. However, if you want to protect your face, lips, and hands from the sun and from other causes of blistering without using chemicals, the items below might be of interest.

Yakgrips – A looser grip and proper paddling technique can help prevent blisters without the use of gloves or these paddle shaft grips, but Yakgrips are a great option if you also have trouble because your hands are large. Even the largest diameter paddle shafts can produce blisters and fatigue for paddlers with big hands. Just slip these on any 2 to 4 piece paddle to increase that diameter and reduce fatigue regardless of paddling style or technique.

Buff Solar Gloves – These are our favorite sun gloves – they protect your hands from the sun while also preventing blisters. Most other sun gloves and biking gloves will do the same for blister prevention.

BUFF Neck Gaiter – Neck gaiters, aka buffs, are a great option for protecting your neck, ears, and face from the sun and wind. It can also take the edge off when it’s cold outside. This option is the BUFF brand’s gaiter for warm to hot conditions. They also make merino wool versions for colder conditions. As per usual, numerous brands offer this type of accessory.

Transportation Systems

Crossbar Systems The systems below are for use with raised siderails. If you have flush siderails or no siderails, you’ll need a crossbar system specific to your vehicle from Thule or Yakima.

Good – Malone Universal Roof Rack – This is the minimum quality crossbar system we would recommend. We’ve seen numerous generic brand systems from Amazon fail. This is a standard system that will attach to most raised siderails.

Better – Malone AirFlow 2 Roof Rack – This is a modular system from Malone that auto-centers the aero style crossbars. This will be capable of supporting more weight than the Malone Universal system. It will attach to most raised siderails.

Best – Thule Crossroad System – This is Thule’s standard system for raised siderails. The footpacks allow you to use second generation squarebars or any aero crossbar. This system is the most secure for cars with raised siderails. One could also go with the equivalent system from Yakima, especially if you prefer round crossbars.

Kayak Blocks To properly secure a kayak to crossbars and prevent crossbars from cracking or denting the boat, kayak blocks are the minimum standard.

Malone Universal Car Top Carrier Kit – This kit comes with two large kayak blocks which can be used with or without crossbars. It is far more secure with crossbars. The kit also comes with two cam straps, a set of bow and stern tie downs, and two straps to run into the car doors/windows when not using crossbars.

Cradles aka J-Racks or J-Hooks Cradles are usually the most secure way to transport kayaks on roof rack crossbars. There are numerous generic brand cradles available on Amazon and elsewhere, and they usually don’t come close to the safety and quality of the options from Malone, Thule, and Yakima.

Good – Malone J-Pro 2 – This is the minimum standard for kayak cradles. This set comes with two cradles, two cam straps, and a set of bow and stern tie-downs. The padding protects your kayak from dents and warping, and the cradles are designed to fit just about any type of crossbar – round, square, or aero.

Better – Malone Downloader – This is the next step up from the Malone J-Pro 2. These cradles fold down so they can be left on the roof if your garage doesn’t allow enough clearance. This set comes with two cradles, two cam straps with neoprene boots, and a set of bow and stern tie downs.

Best – Thule Hull-A-Port XT – This is Thule’s top of the line foldable cradle. These can be locked to your crossbars with Thule lock cores. The set comes with two cam straps and a pair of bow and stern tie-downs. Thule also makes a new Aero version of this set, and Yakima makes the JayLow and BowDown that will be of similar quality to the Thule cradles.

Other Options There are a few other options for securing a kayak to a set of crossbars. These including “stackers” and horizontal carry options such as saddles, rollers, and sea wings.

Malone SeaWing Saddles – The SeaWing is Malone’s basic option for carrying a kayak horizontally on top of crossbars. This set comes with a pair of cam straps and bow and stern tie-downs.

Yakima DeckHand and HandRoll – These saddles and rollers are the most secure way to carry a kayak horizontally. In theory, one can use two HandRoll or two DeckHand sets for each kayak, but most people combine a HandRoll in the rear and DeckHand in the front to carry one kayak.

Malone Stax Pro 2 – This is what is known as a kayak “stacker.” This allows up to four boats to be carried on one roof rack system. It comes with enough equipment to carry two kayaks – two sets of stacker blocks, two sets of cam straps, and two sets of bow and stern tie downs. They offer a separate kit that includes the equipment to carry an additional boat. Thule and Yakima also offer stacker systems.

Trailers Malone offers a number of trailer systems, and Yakima offers two trailers specific to paddling.

Malone Top Tier – this is a set of vertical supports and crossbars that can turn any utility trailer into a canoe/kayak trailer while still allowing the bed of the trailer to be used to carry other items.

Malone EcoLight Trailer System – This is Malone’s least expensive trailer system. The one linked here includes a stacker set for carrying four boats.

Malone MicroSport Trailer System – This is the second tier trailer from Malone. This versatile system can be configured to carry up to four canoes or kayaks, and by adding some additional hardware more boats and equipment can be carried. There is a retractable tongue option so the trailer can be stored upright in your garage to save space.

Transportation Accessories

Many of the systems detailed above come with versions of all or some of the accessories below. However, you might decide to upgrade those items or choose accessories that make securing your boat easier. If you purchased roof rack components second-hand or lesser-quality generic components, they may not have included some of these items.

NRS Buckle Bumper Tie Down Cam Straps – The NRS cam straps are the gold standard for primary tie down load straps. They are available in 9, 12, 15, and 20 foot lengths. The poly bumper guards protect your boat and vehicle from buckle damage. They are a bit easier to use than most other straps on the market that feature protection from buckle damage. Malone, Thule, and Yakima all have options with rubber or neoprene boots that will offer this type of protection, but it can be difficult to slide those boots back over the buckle, especially if your fingers are cold. Note that ratchet straps are not recommended for securing boats made out of any type of plastic. Polyethylene and other common canoe and kayak materials can get very pliable in sun and/or heat. One click too far, and you can significantly buckle or otherwise damage your boat.

Ratchet Pulleys – There are numerous name brand and generic versions of these pulleys available from Amazon and just about every other retailer. These have a ratchet system for tensioning your bow and stern lines with vinyl coated hooks on both ends for securing them to your bow and stern handles on canoes or kayaks and to any available spot on your front and rear chassis. The mechanism has a choke to prevent over-tightening. The typical challenges with this style of bow and stern tie down are finding a place to attach them under your vehicle, getting down on your knees, rear, back, or stomach to do so, and preventing damage to your vehicle’s finish from the cord rubbing against it. That problem is solved by wrapping a towel or rubber tubing around the cord. One can also use hood loops as detailed next.

Malone Hood Loops – Hood loops are available from a number of manufacturers in the paddling market. The Malone version is built to be slightly more durable than many other options – most competitors use a section of rubber hose to secure the loop rather than the hard plastic t-body on the Malone version. You can use a set of these per boat – one slips inside the hood, and the other slips inside your hatch or trunk before closing each. Hooks or birds-eye loops from your bow and stern tie-downs attach to the loops.

Nite Ize CamJam XT Tightener – We use these CamJam XTs rather than any other bow and stern tie down tightening option. We use a birds-eye loop of 5mm paracord detailed below, and then the same paracord for the running line attached to hood loops on our vehicle or trailer. These can’t easily be overtightened, and they are a bit more durable than all but the largest ratchet pulleys.

Glow in the Dark Paracord – Most 5mm paracord is strong enough to be used as bow and stern tie-down line. This option glows in the dark AND has reflective strands built in. It never hurts to make every part of your transportation assembly as easy to see in the dark as possible, especially if you carry everything on a trailer.

Starrey Reflective Tape – This is one of numerous options for making your boats and trailer more visible, especially in the dark. If you paddle in low light or darkness, this may help a motorized boat spot you in time to avoid running you down. When transporting your boats, strategic placement of strips of tape can make your whole assembly easier to see and help prevent collisions.

Boat Security

Numerous options exist for deterring theft of your watercraft. If you have a sit on top kayak, cables can be run through your scupper holes or molded handles. You can run cables around thwarts and bow and stern carry handles on a canoe. If your paddleboard has a hole for carrying it, a cable can be run through that. Sit inside kayaks present a bigger challenge. If your kayak has molded handles, you can run cables through those. Otherwise, you must run cables around parts of your kayak seat (if possible) or use a lasso style cable lock. The same is true for paddleboards without any holes in the structure. Any coiled, vinyl-coated steel cable combined with a combination or padlock will work for this purpose, but consider the options below.

Lasso Lock-All – This item has a 4 digit combination lock coupled with a steel loop on the other end and a figure-eight collar to give you multiple options for securing a boat. The only drawback is the lack of coiled tension, so you have to be careful to use up all available length to prevent it from flopping around.

Lasso Touring Kayak Lock – From the same maker as the option above, this product adds enough length to be able to create loops around the bow and stern of any sit inside kayak, especially longer touring and sea kayaks. You still need to be mindful of using up any excess length to prevent it from flopping around.

MasterLock Bike Locks – This set of three locks primarily designed for locking bikes is a great option if you need to secure more than one boat. We use a set of these to lock up to three kayaks or canoes to our Malone trailer. Because they have coiled tension, you don’t need to worry about excess length. The tension will prevent anything from moving during transport. The set is keyed alike, so you only need the one key for all three locks.

Kanulock Straps – One innovative option for securing your boat to your roof rack or trailer is the Kanulock security cam strap. These have lockable cams and two steel cables running through the straps to prevent easy cutting. They come in a few lengths, and similar options are available from Yakima, Thule, and other paddle equipment makers.

Kayak Carts

There are numerous kayak carts on the market. Below are three recommendations for various types of boats. Note that scupper carts are also an option, but they can crack or otherwise damage your scupper holes.

Malone Clipper – This is one of the most affordable carts on the market while still maintaining high quality construction. It comes with cam straps to prevent a boat from moving or falling off the cart.

Railblaza C-Tug – The C-Tug seems to be the most popular cart on the market. We see more of these at landings than any other option. It can be used with just about any style canoe or kayak.

Wilderness Systems Kayak Cart – This cart boasts one of the best designs for heavier fishing kayaks or canoes. The two padded bunkers provide dispersed support to prevent damage to your boat. It comes with a cam strap for additional security. It is one of the easiest carts to use of the ones we’ve tried. Despite its large profile when assembled, it breaks down to fit in almost any dry hatch.

Storage Systems

It’s generally a good idea to store canoes and kayaks off the ground or other flat, hard horizontal surfaces. Sun and/or heat can make most materials very pliable, so warping can occur. Boats can’t warp as easily when stored on either side with proper support. Getting boats off the ground also helps prevent rodents and insects from doing any or as much damage. Rodents especially like to nest and eat holes through canoes and kayaks.

Garage Hoists

Rad Sportz Kayak Hoist – This kayak hoist is one of many on the market. Slightly less expensive versions are available at most retailers that sell canoes and kayaks. Fleet Farm and Cabela’s are among the retailers at which you can purchase this style hoist. If your joists don’t run the correct direction, simply create faux joists running perpendicular to your garage’s joists. You might also need to do this to raise the location of the pulleys, as it is common for it to be difficult to raise your boats high enough to clear your vehicle roofs.

Storage Racks

Rad Sportz Kayak Storage Rack – We’ve used this storage rack for a couple seasons, and it has done a great job keeping kayaks off the ground where we don’t have garage space on the walls or ability to use hoists. This rack stores two fairly large kayaks. Assembly can be a bit of a challenge, but it’s still fairly quick to assemble.

Rad Sportz Wall Hanger Pro – The Wall Hanger Pro is one of many garage wall cradles on the market. The combination of the included padding and straps to further secure your boats are a huge plus. As long as your garage studs are exposed or you can easily find them, this type of cradle is  a good solution for getting your boats off the floor.