Paddling Education

One of the most wonderful things about kayaking—and all paddle sports, really—is that we can do it well into old age. It’s easier on our body than many outdoor activities. But these aches and pains do come, so how can we minimize them?

One of the best things about stand-up paddleboarding (and all paddle sports) is that it’s not just fun, but has so many health benefits. Let’s take a look at some of them...

When is it too cold to kayak? The short answer: When the water is frozen solid! For example, here in Wisconsin at AquaBound headquarters we’re not kayaking in February because our lakes have a foot of ice on them...

If you’ve invested some significant cash into quality paddles, consider buying a paddle bag to store and transport them so they’ll stay in tip-top shape.

Kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, packrafting, canoeing—these are all paddle sports meant to be fun, enjoyable, sometimes exhilarating. But if you’ve a bad paddling experience, that fun can quickly go out the window and even be replaced by anxiety and fear.

If you’re a packrafter—whether beginner or experienced—paddle feathering can give a boost to your performance and enjoyment.

When you share a launch with motor boats, our friends at Paddle TV suggest four basic etiquette guidelines to follow…

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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…

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…

Our good friend, Dan Arbuckle of Headwaters Kayak, along with pal, Ethan, heads into a local retailer to check out their supply of their list of 10 cheap “dad” hacks to bring along on all your kayak trips with your family.

There are so many new paddlers out this summer due to COVID restrictions and social distancing practices. That’s great news! But inexperienced paddlers may not know how to paddle responsibly and with Leave No Trace principles in mind.

One of the biggest mistakes we see novice paddlers make—whether kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding—is using just their arms and shoulders to paddle and not their whole core…

A common question we get as we’re helping people find the right paddle for them is: What’s the difference between straight shaft and bent shaft kayak paddles? Why should you choose one over the other? We’re going to help solve this dilemma for you…

Stand-up paddle boarding—or any paddling—isn’t rocket science! But as with any activity, there are tips and tricks that’ll make it a whole lot easier to get you started and having fun right out of the gate.

If you’ve not paddled much before—or even if you have, but haven’t fully explored the waterways around you—how do find the best places to kayak (or canoe, stand-up paddle board or packraft) near you?

Watersports are generally very safe, but we still need to know what to do in case of an emergency. For kayakers, that includes knowing self-rescue skills. Watch this video from expert kayaker, Ken Whiting, and the ACA…