Kayak Gear and Accessories: Everything You Need To Go Kayaking

Last Updated on April 3, 2024 by ETC Team

Kayaking is a great outdoor activity, especially when you have the proper kayak gear. Kayaking involves moving through water in a small water vessel with the aid of a double-bladed paddle. It allows the occupant to maneuver through waterways by sitting face-forward and propelling ahead with alternating side-to-side paddle strokes. The paddler sits in the cockpit with the legs extended beneath a closed deck on sit-in kayaks, or on an open hull with a seat and areas for your legs, leaving the upper body free and exposed.

The kayak has been around for centuries as it was a pragmatic way to hunt, fish, and transport passengers across the water. Its easy access and basic functionalities have made it the thriving recreational activity known around the world today.

It is a great activity for enthusiasts of all levels. It can be a wonderful way to quietly discover the shallow waters at the edge of a lake, or an exciting high-energy sport to race along rushing waters. The right kayak with proper gear and accessories, allows you to enjoy time outdoors on the water, safely and comfortably. Kayaking is open to everyone, requiring no previous experience in its basic form other than a passion for exploring open waters.

Kayaking can be combined with other outdoor activities like camping and fishing, giving an outdoor adventurer an added layer of immersion on any given adventure. If you plan on ski touring or rock climbing in areas that require water travel, a kayak can be an excellent tool for accessing the remote beauty of a region.

What Do I Need?

As always, what kayak gear you need depends on the type of trip you are taking. You’ll find on warm and sunny summer afternoons at the lake, you may need just a life jacket, a paddle and a few other safety items compared to what you may pack for a week-long kayak camping trip on open waters or a run down a class III whitewater river.

The gear and equipment you need to go kayaking depend on many different factors, like: the type of kayak, the waterway you’re paddling, the conditions, the temperature of the water and air, the distance and duration you’ll be paddling, and the reason for venturing out in the first place. There is a basic list of kayaking gear essentials for every type of kayaking and then there is all the extra stuff—the fun stuff like the equipment and gear that can take you trip to the next level by making it more comfortable and enjoyable.

The Basics

Before your fun on the water can begin, there are a handful of items you will need to cover basic safety requirements in many regions. Please check your local regulations to be sure.

• Kayak
• Life jacket (PFD)
• Paddle
• Rescue throw rope
• Emergency whistle
• Bailer or pump
• Spray skirt (for cold water/weather)
• Dry bag for personal items

Recreational Kayak Gear

Recreational kayaks are typically used in calm, flat, near-shore waters. Also think of shorter trips that usually take less than a full day. Recreational kayak gear is typically less rugged and less expensive than the kayak touring gear required for bigger adventures in more adverse conditions.

These more casual trips call for less adventure-type gear and in warm weather can look more like a day at the beach. On a nice relaxing river with plenty of sun, you’ll find yourself cruising along using your paddle to steer and letting the current do most of the work. But as with any day at the beach, you’ll be glad you have a few items to make the most of your trip.

• Kayak
• Paddle
• Life jacket (PFD)
• Lightweight, fast drying apparel or swimwear
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen/bug repellent
• Hat
• Water shoes
• Water/drinks/snacks
• Dry bag for personal items
• Safety gear (whistle, bailer or pump, rescue throw rope)

Touring Kayak Gear

Touring kayaks and recreational kayaks are quite different and require different kayaking gear and accessories. For example, touring kayaks require smaller spray decks whereas recreational paddlers may not use them at all. Secondly, if you’re using a touring kayak it implies you are going somewhere, often for a trip longer than a few hours, maybe a weekend, possibly longer.

Kayak touring gear and accessories will look similar and offer similar functionality as recreational kayak gear and accessories, but it’s manufactured with premium materials, it’s lighter, more durable, more comfortable, breathable, more expensive and generally better quality. The general thinking is, if you’re going to be using it or wearing it for longer periods of time you’ll want a better version of whatever it is.

Also, if you’re out for longer and paddling in more adverse conditions, there are gear and accessory items a touring kayaker may bring that a recreational kayaker may never need on a sunny afternoon on the lake, like VHF radios, drysuits and helmets. Kayak touring takes your water adventure to a new level and thus requires more items for the trip.

• Touring kayak
• Paddle
• Life jacket (PFD)
• Wetsuits and neoprene
• Sprayskirts and cockpit covers
• Wetsuits and neoprene
• Fast drying apparel and durable footwear
• Cases and packs for equipment
• Safety and rescue equpiment
• Accessories

Fishing Kayak Gear

Shopping for kayak fishing gear is just like shopping for recreational and touring kayak gear. But add all the kayak specific fishing gear you will need for finding, catching, and handling fish. The basic gear such as fishing life jackets tend to have extra pockets for gear and kayak fishing paddles are more adjustable with features to aid anglers. Even the kayak itself will be outfitted with more features to hold rods, nets, tackle trays, anchors, and other helpful tools. Most items you will find on a bass boat can probably be mounted on a fishing kayak.

• Fishing kayak
• Paddle
• Life jacket (PFD)
• Apparel
• Storage
• Trolling motor
• Fishing gear
• Accessories

Whitewater Kayak Gear

Oh, the adventures you will find yourself in during a whitewater kayak trip. It presents a whole list of extra challenges such as, running rapids, cresting waves, and dropping waterfalls. And those challenges require a list os specialized whitewater kayak gear and accessories. A life jacket with greater range of motion becomes a necessity. You’ll also want items like a helmet, a rugged paddle, and river shoes with sticky tread. Anyone kayaking whitewaters should also carry bag with a throw rope, whistle, and rescue tools as basic whitewater kayak safety gear. Whitewater apparel is designed to keep you dry and warm. What you decide to wear will depend on water and air temperature.

• Whitewater kayak
• Paddle
• Life jacket (PFD)
• Sprayskirt/cockpit cover
• Technical outerwear
• Helmet
• Proper footwear
• Safety and rescue equipment (throw rope, whistle, rescue tools)

Kayak Camping Gear

Kayak camping is a chance to combine two great outdoor activities. Similar to backpacking, you will bring all the gear required for camping except on this trip, the boat does all the carrying. With the proper expedition kayak, you can quite comfortably carry the necessary gear for a awesome adventure.

You’ll need a tent, tarp or other type of shelter and gear for sleeping. For sit-in kayaks, make sure tent poles and other cumbersome items fit through the hatches. You’ll also want enough dry bags and storage for other items.

Kayak camping kitchen stoves and cooking utensils must be small enough to find into storage hatches as well. Sit-on kayaks can be more easily loaded with storage cases and dry bags. Food should be sealed and stored dry.

A little preplanning and organization will make the packing process and trip a lot easier than getting on the river to find that items are loaded improperly. This type of trip gets easier with experience and you’ll figure out which items are must-haves depending on the length of you trips.

• Touring Kayak or kayak suitable for carrying camping gear
• Life jacket (PFD)
• Paddle
• Tent, tarp or other shelter
• Sleeping gear
• Dry bags and storage
• Camping kitchen stove with fuel
• Cooking utensils
• Kitchen utensils (plate, bowl, spork, mug, etc.)
• Water purification system
• Toiletries