What Are the Five Essential Pieces of Kayak Gear Necessary to Get Started?

Once you have your kayak, it's time to get the necessary kayak supplies. Kayaking gear comes in a dizzying array of brands, styles, and price ranges. A good rule of thumb is to buy the best quality kayak gear you can afford, especially when saftey is on the line. Below are the top five kayak supplies you will need.

1. Kayak Lifejacket (Or kayaking PFD) - Don’t get in a boat if you don’t have one of these. Your lifejacket is one piece of kayak gear you never want to hit the water without. Just make sure your kayak PFD has been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard and is designed for paddling. A kayak specific lifejacket is designed to give you a wide range of motion when paddling and this will make a big difference in comfort. We sell all the top kayak PFD brands including Stohlquist, Astral, NRS, and Kokatat!
2. Kayak Paddle - There are several factors to consider when choosing a kayak paddle. Blade length and shape, feathered or unfeathered, and material are all important. You'll be holding your kayak paddle all day, so weight is also a very important consideration. We sell a wide range of every type of kayak paddle from all the major brands in kayak supplies, including Werner, Bending Branches, and Aqua Bound!
3. Kayak Spayskirt - These are mostly needed for whitewater and more active sea kayaking. This key piece of kayaking gear fits around the opening of the cockpit and keeps water out of the boat. Most are custom fitted to the cockpit opening of the boat. Finding the right size is easy after you know the make and model of your kayak, and we sell the top kayak gear brands including Seals Sprayskirts. Note that a kayak sprayskirt is intended for use with a sit-inside boat and will not work with sit-on-top kayaks or inflatable kayaks. You may also want to consider buying a cockpit cover to keep bugs out of your boat when not in use.
4. Kayak Helmet - A helmet is a must-have piece of kayak gear for whitewater kayaking - it goes without saying you’ll want to buy the best one you can afford. Our most popular brand for kayak helmets is Sweet Protection, but we also have great options from WRSI, Pro-Tec, and NRS. If you plan to go sea kayaking in rough water, or if you will be exposed to surf, then it is also a good idea to wear a kayaking helmet.
5. Kayak Clothing - Dressing for kayaking can be tricky. The day may be warm and sunny, but that water beneath your kayak could be only a few degrees above freezing. Safety rule #1 is to make sure you're dressed for immersion. There are many different options for dressing, and all can be broken into two groups, either kayak layering or kayak outerwear. Layering consists of fleece and other undergarments, while outerwear includes kayak wetsuits, dry suits, dry tops, paddling pants, and paddling jackets. You’ll also need a good pair of kayak footwear, and some paddling gloves if it’s cold.
6. After you have all that kayak gear, you might also want to shop kayak anchors, kayak backbands, fishing accessories, navigation, outfitting, rod holders. There are always great deals in our used gear section as well!