Paddling Education

The Next Step Up from a Box Store Kayak
If you’re new to kayaking like millions of people are in 2020, you’ll want to watch this video from our good friend, Dan Arbuckle, from Headwaters Kayak in Lodi, California.
13 Great Gift Ideas for Paddlers
The holiday shopping season is here again! We have you covered with 13 of our best gift ideas for all the kayakers, paddleboarders, canoeists and packrafters on your list.
A Packraft & Bike Adventure along New Zealand’s “Forgotten Highways”
Four Kiwis from New Zealand’s South Island journey through historic routes in the North Island in this award-winning film by Deane Parker.
Make Your Own Dehydrated Meals for Paddle Trips
If you love extended paddle trips, learning to make your own dehydrated food can save you money and add a ton of flavor to your camp meals.
Learn from “The Bikeraft Guide” Video Series
One of the most helpful resources out there for bikerafters is a video series called The Bikeraft Guide, produced by Four Corners Guides.
Launch Etiquette for Kayakers, SUPers and Packrafters
When you share a launch with motor boats, our friends at Paddle TV suggest four basic etiquette guidelines to follow…
Cold Weather Paddling Clothes: What to Wear on Top
As the weather cools down into fall and turns cold for those in the north, you can get by wearing anything in your closet for paddling. But there are tops designed specifically for paddling that’ll be more comfortable, and keep you warm and dry even in the coldest weather.
20 Days of Backpacking & Packrafting the Brooks Range in Alaska
Colorado Outward Bound instructors, Noah Larsen and Arthur Shain, took on Alaska’s Brooks Range for a 400-mile packraft and backpack expedition in August. We were able to nail them down for a video chat…
Outfitter Spotlight: Four Corners Guides, Colorado
We recently had a great virtual conversation with co-owners Lizzy Scully and Steve “Doom” Fassbinder to talk about Four Corners, their ranch, and running an outdoor tour business during COVID.
How to Paddle with Young Children
Paddling with very young children is different than with those old enough to learn to paddle their own kayak or SUP board. Our friends at Paddle TV have several helpful videos about getting on the water with our little ones.
How to Choose a Kayak or SUP Board that’s Right for You
Beat “analysis paralysis” when it comes to choosing a kayak or stand-up board!  The folks from Happy Paddlin’ have a wonderfully helpful formula for folks to choose a kayak, canoe or SUP board with less confusion and more confidence: FIT.
Learn Kayak Strokes: The High Brace
Both the high and low brace are important kayak strokes to learn so you’re able to keep your kayak upright in a self-rescue situation. The high brace is the most powerful stroke you can use to recover yourself on your way to a capsize, even when your kayak is almost upside down.
When to Teach Kids to Kayak & Paddleboard
When we get kids into paddling—kayaking, SUP, canoeing or packrafting—they can have a lifetime of fun and adventure on the water. But how young can they start?
Your Best Options for Paddling Shoes
For both comfort and safety, having the right footwear is an important discussion for paddlers of all types of boats—kayaks, canoes, packrafts and stand-up paddleboards.
Aqua Bound’s Long Distance SUP Paddles
Paddleboarders who love to be on the water all day or who head out on multi-day trips (or dream of multi-day trips) need two things from their paddle: durability and light weight.
Aqua-Bound’s “Edge” Whitewater Canoe Paddle
For whitewater canoeists, Aqua-Bound’s Edge canoe paddle is a durable and affordable choice that provides maximum power in every stroke.
Tips for Kayaking Urban Waterways
One thing we’ve all learned in the past few months during COVID season—paddling close-to-home can be wonderful! For many of us, that means paddling near urban centers large and small.
Aqua-Bound’s SUP Paddles for the Cabin
Aqua-Bound has you covered for budget-friendly SUP paddle options for days at the cabin or local lake. If you want a stand-up paddle that’s fun to use, easy to adjust and far above most clunky entry-level paddles, look no further…
Thoughts on Local Paddling during COVID
Kayak surfers and Aqua-Bound ProStaff team members, Adam Constantine and Pete Lavigne, share with us some of their insights and photos about paddling close to home in these days of social distancing...
How to Kayak & SUP with Your Dog
We can tell a lot of you love to kayak, canoe, packraft and paddleboard with your dogs—we see so many of our 4-legged friends in your social posts! If you haven’t tried taking your dog along with you yet, but have wanted to try, we’ve collected some tips that’ll help you…
Plan a Multi-Day SUP Trip: 10 Things to Consider
So you want to go on a multi-day SUP trip? Here’s a collection of 10 things to keep in mind when you plan your trip, culled from around the paddleboard world…