Whitewater Kayaking Gear

Besides the mandatory gear a nose clip, drinking water and a snack should be brought along. Another key item is a dry sack, available at most canoe and kayaking stores. They're perfect for packing lunch, a disposable camera, extra Polypropylene top, sunscreen, etc. It should be clipped into the boat, so it doesn't float away if you end up swimming.

Getting the best gear from the beginning will be cost effective. Even as a beginner you'll appreciate the differences, such as a dry drytop and a light well balanced paddle. Good quality equipment will last a long time and will take you from beginner to an advanced boater. Also, the "cheap" beginner equipment isn't that cheap, so you might as well get good quality from the start. Your boat is the only equipment that makes sense to start with a beginner level and moves your way up slowly.

Most kayaking equipment is unisex, such as boats and paddles. And as in most extreme sports, fit is important. Though rarely avaiable in store, most kayaking equipment does comes in xsmall sizes. There are a few companies that are committed to producing kayaking products for women. Kokatat offers a full line of paddling clothes for women. Also relatively new to the market are lifejackets or PFDs that are cut for women. Even boat manufacturers are beginning to look at lower volume kayaks for lighter paddlers.

Women's equipment solutions are relatively new, and some still need some refinement. SheGear with your help is working with manufacturers to produce better products for women. All comments and suggestions are encouraged.

Boats

There are a lot of boats on the market. When shopping for a boat you'll quickly become familiar with the basic boat design terminology. The length of a kayak effects its speed and maneuverability. The longer it is the straighter it tracks. The more volume a boat has the more buoyant it is. The boat's rocker refers to the upward curve of the bottom of a boat. More rocker will help the boat to maneuver and turn quickly. A flat bottom will help the boat to plane and surf.

Beginner boats are usually high volume; longer with a rounded bottom compared to advanced play boats. Your first boat should give you confidence; easy to roll up, fits well, and you feel good in it. You'll probably want to up grade your first boat within a year or two. That's why it's best to get your first beginner boat used. Getting a good beginner boat used is not difficult. There are plenty on the market.

To get a used boat, you'll need to get the word out in your boating community. First tell everyone you know what type of boat you're looking for. Find out if local clubs have bulletin boards to post notices. There are also regional web sites, which offer bulletin boards. Another great place to look for a used boat is at the paddling festivals, where you can find lots of good used equipment. Check the ACA's and AWA's events schedule for a festival near you. You should be able to pick up a used boat for around $400 compared to a new boat that costs around $900.

Clothing

Drysuits

For extreme cold weather and water a drysuit will be safer than a wetsuit. Drysuits also come in handy for sea kayaking, sailing and windsurfing. They're expensive, so you should try to get one the meets all your needs.

Helmet

This is mandatory. A good helmet should fit something like a biking helmet. It should be secure but not too tight. It shouldn't move around much when you're wearing it. Make sure to get a kayaking helmet and not your bike or ice hockey helmet. They're available at all canoe and kayaking stores.

Lifejackets or PFDs

For kayaking a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) is also mandatory. The great thing about a kayaking PFD is that they're so comfortable compared to other PFD styles. You'll wear them for lots of other water sports. They're perfect for dinghy sailing or working the foredeck on a sailing boat. The kayaking PFD is short waisted and has large armholes that won't hinder your mobility. They also have well positioned cinch straps to get a secure fit. Some of the better manufacturers are now making women's models, which offer an even better fit and more comfort.

Pockets are an important feature of a lifejacket. For whitewater kayaking an easy access pocket mean you won't have to pop your sprayskirt just to get the basic items. Most boaters attach their nose plugs and a whistle to their jacket and keep their sunscreen and Chapstick in their pocket. Most pockets also include an internal loop to attach your car keys too. Best to have your keys on you and not attached to your boat.

Paddles

There are a lot of aspects to a paddle and by no means is it a simple purchase. You need to consider length, materials, weight, feathered or unfeathered, shaft, and blade shape.

For whitewater kayaking you'll need a shorter paddle (194cm to 202cm) with a fairly large blade. With more play boats on the water, paddle lengths are getting shorter. The average women will use a paddle between 196cm and 198cm long. Strength and weight are also important. Whitewater strokes like ruddering and bracing can put a lot of stress on a paddle. Weight is also a factor because it takes more effort to use a heavier paddle. Though it is much less crucial than in a touring paddle.

The other aspect of paddles is the degree in which the blades are feathers. An unfeathered paddle is where both blades are in the same position. This is a relatively new concept to kayaking. The benefits are still being debated. The blades on a feathered paddle are in usually rotated 60 to 45 degrees. Paddling with a feathered paddle requires that you have a control hand and a slip hand, which is either a right-hand or left-hand control. The control hand rotates the shaft so that both blades enter the water smoothly. Most people feel this is a natural movement. However, others believe that this repetitive movement can cause tendentious. It is strictly your personal preference. One advantage to a non-feathered paddle is an easier set up for your offside roll. It does take a while to get used to and is very difficult to switch between.

You'll be surprised at the cost of paddles. They're expensive. But a good one is worth it. The price of paddles usually coincides with the materials it's made with. The high-end paddles are usually made with graphite because it's light and incredibly strong. These paddles will cost between $200.00 and $300.00 but are as light as 2-3 lbs. Other materials include fiberglass, wood and aluminum. Aluminum paddles are the cheapest and heaviest. The low-end paddles start around $100.00. It's worth spending the extra money and getting a high-end paddle, something you'll use for a while.

Nimbus Paddles
233 Tyner Street, #6
Port Coquitlam, B.C. Canada V3X 2Z1
Tel. 1-604-941-8138

Rough Stuff Kayak Paddles
Mill Lane, Palmerstown
Dublin 20
Ireland
Tel. 011-3531-626-4363

Sawyer Paddles and Oars
299 Rogue River Parkway
Talent, OR 97537 USA
Tel. 1-503-535-3606

Safety Gear

The two most important safety items you'll wear are your lifejacket and your helmet. As stated before, never go out without them. They should be comfortable yet fit snuggly. There are also several other items that you should have. A whistle attached to your lifejacket is an easy device to signal for help. This should only be used when you are in an emergency, not just to get someone's attention.

Hypothermia is not uncommon in whitewater kayaking. It's important to dress wisely in order to avoid getting cold. As a beginner you should plan on bringing more clothes. You'll be spending more time in the water, which can quickly reduce body heat. The most common signs of mild hypothermia are shivering, exhaustion, and blue lips. Don't ignore it. Work on getting warmed up.

Advanced kayakers who have safety training will also carry a throw bag and knife. Taking a class in proper rescue techniques is highly recommended once your skill level has increased. For more information about rescue and safety, you should contact the ACA www.aca-paddler.org.

Sprayskirts

Wetsuits

A wetsuit is helpful for staying warm in cold water. The water temperature and how often you end up swimming will determine if you should be wearing a wetsuit or a drysuit. A sleeveless farmer john style wetsuit is usually preferred. The full sleeve styles can be constricting and chaffing around the arms, making it uncomfortable to paddle. The wetsuit vest also works well to insulate your core body, useful even in the summer.

A cousin to the wetsuit is the dive skin. These originated for scuba diving in warm water. They are less restricting than neoprene but offer the same insulation and warmth. A dive skin is good for cool days, but not the coldest of winter paddling.