Paddling Education

How Covid has Impacted the Paddlesports Industry
Covid-19’s impact on our world has been unprecedented in so many ways. While there’s plenty of bad news from this pandemic, there’s also some good news that came out of it—millions of people have rediscovered nature and the outdoors.
Our Best Advice for Beginning Kayakers
Millions of people entered the kayaking world in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. If you’re one of these beginning kayakers, we’ve collected 11 our most popular and important kayaking articles to help you out…
Don’t Say This to Beginning Whitewater Kayakers…
Whitewater kayaking is a different animal than flatwater kayaking. River levels, water hazards and varying degrees of rapids make it complex and demand respect in a different way. Here we bust common misconceptions beginning whitewater kayakers are sometimes told…
The Health Benefits of Stand-Up Paddleboarding
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?
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...
How to Choose a Paddle Bag
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.
How to “Get Back in the Boat” after a Bad Paddling Experience
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.
A Packrafter’s Guide to Paddle Feathering
If you’re a packrafter—whether beginner or experienced—paddle feathering can give a boost to your performance and enjoyment.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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…
10 Cheap “Dad” Hacks for Kayakers
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.
Leave No Trace: Let’s Paddle Responsibly!
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.
Are You Making this Common Paddling Mistake?
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…
Bent vs. Straight Shaft Kayak Paddles

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…
8 Ways to Find Kayaking Spots Near You
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?