The Top 6 Things That Every Kayaker Needs - But Never Brings

Ok, so this is about the top 10 things that kayakers most need to bring with them on any trip. You're probably expecting to hear us tell you to bring your life vest and bottles of water, but this is not going to mention the obvious gear that every kayaker already knows to bring. We will discuss some important items that you may be forgetting about but need nonetheless, so let’s get started!

1) The first item that we will discuss is one that every avid outdoorsman knows to bring. You need a knife! And preferably not just any knife. You should get a dive/scuba knife! 

Dive knives are made of rust resistant metals such as titanium or stainless steel, and they often come in sheaths that one can wrap around their arm or clip to the kayak for easy accessibility. 

Another feature often employed by dive knives is that of a blunt tip. A blunt tip can prevent accidental stabbings, for handling a knife when wet and in choppy conditions is a bit different than when your feet are firmly planted on the ground. And though you definitely want to check with your local authorities for the legality of carrying a knife, a blunt tip gives less appearance of the knife being a weapon since it is clearly not intended for stabbing. 

Obviously a knife can be used to cut through unexpected entanglements such as fishing line. Perhaps your paddle becomes entangled in the stuff for instance, but because the blades are metal and reflective, they can also be used as emergency signaling devices. If you were ever in an emergency situation and needed to capture the attention of a ship off in the distance, you can use the blade of a knife to reflect sunlight at the ship in order to signal SOS!

Check out this top rated Scuba Knife on Amazon with a serrated and smooth edge blade along with a notch for cutting fishing line!

Scuba Choice Compact Black Stainless Steel Blunt Tip BCD Knife

This top rated stainless steel dive knife comes with a smooth and serrated edge along with a notch for cutting fishing line.

2) Some people may debate this one, but we here at mad kayaking believe that one should always bring a spare paddle. The reason why is pretty obvious. Imagine if you are a mile away from shore and, for whatever reason, you lose your paddle. Maybe your kayak flips over and you panic and let go of it. Or maybe you hit the paddle on an underground boulder and break it. It would sure be nice to have another one so you can chase down your lost paddle before it floats away and, more importantly, so you can get home.

Your spare paddle does not have to be an expensive one. It doesn’t even have to be a full size paddle if storage space is a consideration. It can be something like a Greenland Storm Paddle, which is a small, often constructed out of wood, paddle that is used to cut down on wind resistance. Having this tucked away somewhere on, or in, your kayak can make a great second paddle to get yourself out of a jam.

3) So you’ve read this article, you're floating on the water in your kayak with your buddies, and you're showing off your new dive knife. But even though it’s a blunt tip you still manage to cut yourself with it. That’s why this next item should be another mainstay in any kayaker's essential gear, a waterproof / boating first aid kit! 

Boating first aid kits will contain much of what a standard landlubber first aid kit has, only it will come in a water proof container and many of the items are designed to work when wet. The bandages of a waterproof first aid kit, for instance, are designed to stick better to wet skin than those in traditional kits. The kits are often fairly small and should pose little problem for cramming into a bulkhead so why not have one?

Breakwater Supply Waterproof First Aid Kit Preloaded with Emergency Survival Supplies for Boating

Top rated boating first aid kit on Amazon. Comes preloaded with first aid items that are ready to be used on the water.

4) There are various methods of emptying out your kayak when it is filled with water but depending on how much water is in it and if you're alone, it may not be an easy task. That’s why all kayakers should find a place to store a bilge pump. A bilge pump can quickly bail water out of a swamped kayak in case you flipped over and need to wet exit, for instance. You can also slip the pump between you and your spray skirt to bail out water while you're still in the kayak. Perhaps you’ve been practicing rolling and water has trickled in from the spray skirt and gradually filled up your cockpit. A bilge pump can help in this situation too. 

Seattle Sports Paddler's Bilge Hand Pump for Kayaks and Small Boats

This is a great pump for a kayak. Without the hose attachment it will not take up as much space but the hose attachment is not needed anyway.

5) Everybody always mentions bringing sunscreen while you go kayaking. And sunscreen is great to have. But sunscreen is often not enough. You have to remember to reapply it often and reapplying it while your skin is wet can be hit or miss. 

This is where the next item on our list comes in, sun clothes! Sun clothes are loose fitting, usually light colored clothes that offer UPF protection and, by allowing ample airflow, keep the wearer cool and comfortable in the summer heat. 

Unlike with sunscreen, one need not remember to reapply anything when wearing sun clothes. Once you put the shirt on you are protected from the sun until you take it off. One can get pants that work in the same way but these usually aren't needed for kayaking unless you're not wearing a spray skirt. 

NAVISKIN Men's Swim Shirts UPF 50+ UV Sun Protection Lightweight Quick Dry

This type of shirt will keep you cool in the summer heat and will also protect your skin from sun burns.

And don’t forget about wide brimmed sun hats to protect your neck and face. Oftentimes you can find stylish ones such as this one!

EINSKEY Unisex Sun Hat, Waterproof Wide Brim Bucket Hat

A hat like this will shade most of your head from the sun, though some sun screen may still be needed in spots.

Wearing such clothes will significantly reduce the amount of skin exposed to the sun and therefore reduce the amount of sunscreen that needs to be applied.  

6) Lastly, we will round off our list with one last safety device. This one is extremely small, weighs nothing, and can be stored around your neck or in a pocket. One should always bring a whistle. There is simply no excuse not to. 

A whistle, according to some manufactures, such as this one, can be heard from up to a mile away. And since they cost very little and pose no problem for storage, again, the real question is why not have one?

Emergency Whistles with Lanyard Shrill Loud Blast for Kayak Life Vest Jacket Boating Plastic 2 Pack

This waterproof whistle boast up to 120 decibels of sound!

Well there you have it. Our list of the six most important, but often forgotten, gear items that kayakers need to bring along on any trip. Please check out the links posted in this blog to see the gear items mentioned and please share a link to the blog on your social media and sign up for our email list to be alerted of new content, entertainment, and recommendations from the Mad kayker!