It's hard for me to understand how you can dislike kayaks, but I myself know several people who don't like them. However, if you are reading this article I hope we are on the same wavelength :). A kayaking trip combines so many advantages! Adventure, nature at your fingertips, fresh air, camping atmosphere, physical activity, sunbathing, making interesting friends, or going with your loved ones, all for little money.
Speaking of kayaking, I mean something other than renting equipment for an hour or two. The most satisfaction comes from the kilometers "done" and the changing landscapes passed on the river, and for the more demanding, crossing over trees or locks and fighting the stronger current of the water. What kind of canoeing trip are you planning, remember that even the best fun can be spoiled by poor preparation. I have prepared for you a vademecum of good kayaking tips, I hope you enjoy them, feel free to join me.
You might be interested in this - How to Prepare for Kayaking - Tips for Beginners
WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU ON A ONE-DAY KAYAKING TRIP?
Wanting to pack for a canoeing trip, you need to know that each of them is characterized by certain peculiarities, which will depend on our way of packing the things we take with us.
We can distinguish between:
- one-day canoeing trip (short, a few hours)
- kayaking trip of several days (long, min. 1 day)
- individual kayaking trip
- organized canoeing trip.
These canoeing trips will differ: the type of accommodation planned (tents, agritourism accommodation, rooms), the method of catering (on your own - stove, campfire/barbecue in the camping area, delivered catering or catering in the accommodation), and the method of transporting luggage (by yourself in a canoe or by the canoeing trip organizer).
Kayaking trips are organized throughout the year, nevertheless, the most comfortable months for this activity are between April and October. Although at first, it would seem that the best time for kayaking is the middle of summer, it doesn't have to be that way at all. With time, you will find that full sun is not at all conducive to being on the water all day, and colder temperatures or rainfall need not keep you indoors. If you are just beginning your adventure with kayaking, choose a river of moderate width intersected by small lakes. Leave wider rivers with a more rushing current for later. To start, however, let's consider what to take and how to pack for a kayak under "normal conditions" and without an overnight stay.
KAYAKING TRIP - WHAT TO TAKE?
This is what to pack with you for a one-day kayaking trip:
- comfortable, quick-drying, and non-restrictive clothing
- a spare set of clothes in case you get wet
- warm clothing in case the weather changes
- swimsuit
- sports gloves without fingers
- comfortable shoes that can get wet
- a quick-drying towel
- garbage bags
- toilet paper
- power bank
- dry provisions for the day - bananas, nuts, egg sandwiches, high-energy bars, etc.
- drinking water, min 1.5 liters per person
- A thermos with a warm drink on a cold day
- sunscreen accessories (headgear: hat, baseball cap, sunglasses, sunscreen cream)
- insect repellents (such as Mugga preparations)
- first aid kit
- cash money protected from getting wet
- cell phone
- camera
- map
- rope and knife
Luggage can be placed in kayak luggage hatches - at the bow or stern of the kayak. Things are best secured additionally in large garbage bags or waterproof bags. I will write more about how to protect your luggage from water in the paragraph about overnight kayaking.
Protection from the sun: hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses + something for mosquitoes
When going kayaking in the summer months, you need to pay special attention to protection from the sun and insects. To do this, we need to protect our face, head, neck, and shoulders, as well as our eyes - the head and neck are best covered by baseball caps and wide-brimmed hats.
Wanting to shield your eyes from the scorching sun from above and reflect off the water, it is worth getting sunglasses. When choosing them, it is very important to pay attention to the fact that they have a UV filter - category 3 or 4. Otherwise, glasses without a filter do more harm to the eyes by amplifying ultraviolet radiation entering the pupil.
Sunglasses can also be divided into the amount of light transmitted, the higher the value the better:
- 0 - transmits from 80% to 100% of light,
- 1 - from 43% to 80% of light,
- 2 - from 18% to 43% of light,
- 3 - from 8% to 18% of light,
- 4 - from 3% to 8% of light.
Another mandatory protective item is sunscreen - the sun on a kayak catches extremely hard. To lubricate the body: especially the shoulders, thighs, and forearms, it is worth using at least sunscreen 30, and for the face and neck 40 or 50. Here, as in the case of sunbathing, people with lighter complexions must be very careful, the cream alone may not be enough, then it is worth covering the shoulders with a towel or T-shirt. Sunscreen should be smeared on before the kayaking trip, but also repeat the process during the trip.
In pleasant circumstances, time flies by quickly, and good fun puts our vigilance to sleep. Let's remember our sun safety on the kayak and to stay hydrated all day.
KAYAKING WITH A CHILD
You can decide to go on a short, leisurely 2-3 hour canoeing trip already with a three-year-old, but you need to prepare well for it. Much, of course, depends on his disposition and impetuosity, it is worth paying attention to several important elements. Although canoeing seems to be a pastime providing new attractions around every corner, the child may quickly get bored, so take along some of his favorite toys. Remember also that the toddler will not be paddling and may get cold faster - so it is essential to prepare a long-sleeved blouse, a warm fleece, and a blanket. A must-have item is a life jacket worn at all times on the kayak. The equipment to pack with you is quite similar to that in the first chapter, it would need to be supplemented with:
- waterproof clothes and underwear for change
- shoes with a non-slip sole
- favorite snacks and drinks
- toys (you can choose floating ones and attach a string to them)
- rain jacket
- child's hat - check the available models
- blanket (e.g. bamboo) and pillow
- sunglasses and cream with the strongest sunscreen for children
- a fitted life jacket
I conclude that the sooner a child is accustomed to outdoor activities and the deprivation of home comforts, the sooner they will be considered a natural part of life, where challenges and adventures go hand in hand.
LIFE JACKET (KAPOK) VERSUS BELAY VEST FOR KAYAK - WHAT IS THEIR TASK?
A life vest, also known as a kapok, has the absolute task of keeping a person afloat in the water, even when losing consciousness. Among other things, it has a collar that keeps the victim's head above water. It can be filled with Styrofoam, foam, cork, kapok (kapok is also the name of a seed fiber derived from the kapok tree) or synthetic material, and in the past, seaweed.
The belay vest is designed for people who can swim, it does not have a rigid collar. It is used for belaying during water sports. The properties and length of holding a person on the surface of the vest here depend on the buoyancy class.
Canoeing, whether on calmer waters or more vigorous ones, can surprise in many ways:
- canoes like to capsize
- the temperature of rivers is always lower than that of a lake or the sea
- during capsizing, there is a risk of hitting yourself in the head with a kayak or paddle
- the shape and height of the river bottom along the route are unknown to us and can be deep
- kayak routes often cross lakes
- the current of the river in more extreme rafting can be very strong
One usually takes belay vests on kayaks, which are disregarded by some people and used as a back cushion. Regardless of how confident we feel on the water, we should not forget that we wear a vest for our own safety.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING COMFORTABLE, SPORTY RAINWEAR FOR A KAYAK?
So far, the most popular summer kayak outfit has been a short-sleeved shirt and short shorts. However, I encourage you to check out the wide range of breathable and airy synthetic fabrics, which will dry much faster than natural fiber fabrics.
In summer, quick-drying thermal shirts (preferably with UV protection) and stretchy shorts are the best options.
For the colder seasons, go for thermal underwear, fleece, and a jacket and pants that protect against water and wind, with a breathable rain membrane.
HOW TO PROPERLY CHOOSE A RAIN JACKET FOR RAFTING?
It is important that it does not have additional warming fill - this function is to be performed by ready-to-remove layers under the jacket. It is also worth paying attention to such aspects as underarm vents, adjustable sleeve welts, an adjustable hood, and a high, but not the highest collar. For those who want to "get serious" about kayaking, kayak jackets have been created that have neoprene trims on the collar, widened shoulders, and waterproof zippers, among others.
PROPER FOOTWEAR FOR RAFTING - WELLINGTONS AND BOOTS FOR WALKING ON WATER
One of the last items of clothing for kayaking is footwear, which should be appropriate for the season and the prevailing weather. Typically, lightweight, thin, and comfortable shoes that can dry quickly, such as sneakers or sneakers, are recommended. Flip-flops and flip-flops are certainly discouraged, as they have no traction and, if you have to enter the water - they will float off your feet. An interesting alternative for summer is:
- shoes for walking on water, i.e. for water sports
- sandals
- wellingtons
Committed kayakers can invest in kayak shoes or neoprene shoes and socks, which will work all year round - a type of lightweight foam that adheres firmly to the foot and dries quickly.
WHAT TO PACK IN YOUR BACKPACK FOR AN OVERNIGHT KAYAKING TRIP?
Perhaps you have chosen a canoe trip in which the organizer transports your belongings, or perhaps you go with them in a canoe. With either of these options, our luggage from the first paragraph must be augmented with more typical camping items. They can - depending on the nature of the adventure - be:
- tent
- sleeping bag
- mattress or mattress pad
- cooking utensils
- fleece and rainwear
- flashlight
- gas bottle and burner
- campfire meals or freeze-dried food, which you can prepare quickly if you have access to hot water, a hiking stove, or a flameless heating kit
- shovel
- knife
- flint, etc.
In case the organizer does not carry our transport, it is on our side to carry it safely and dryly to the accommodation point. In the case of sleeping in tents, this luggage gets really big, and then it would be necessary to divide it into at least two canoes. We can transport the luggage in a variety of ways. These can be: a backpack tucked into a hatch, bags made of thick plastic, a sailor's bag, an airtight container, or a barrel. All items should be tightly packed including those we use most often: maps, phones, and cash.
Since few people have a professional sailing bag or barrel, you may ask yourself - what kind of backpack will be comfortable for rafting? In the case of backpacks, the best criterion will be their size. For a kayak, the best backpacks will be max. 30 liter, without a rigid carrying system with an additional rain cover. An interesting solution and addition to the protective function is a waterproof bag, which can be placed in the luggage. The whole thing is best additionally tightly placed in a waterproof carrying bag, or a thick, large (at least 60 liters) garbage bag.
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