Paddling Education

Delicious Kayak Camping Recipes
When you kayak camp, you have some flexibility with food freshness and weight that you don’t in other outdoor adventures like backpacking and canoe camping with multiple portages.
Independent Retailer Spotlight: Next Adventure
Next Adventure is a Portland, Oregon-based full-service outdoor retailer with a 20-year history and a national presence. Their robust paddlesports department serves customers from beginner to elite paddlers of all kinds.
Safety Keys for Backcountry Packraft Trips
Aqua Bound Ambassador Johan Grönblad is an avid packrafter in his native Sweden. He’s also a former military medic and knows that safety must always stay top-of-mind when in the backcountry.
Paddlesports Trade Coalition: Supporting Paddling in North America
Aqua Bound is one of the founding members of the Paddlesports Trade Coalition, an organization initiated in 2023 and dedicated to becoming the “voice and soul of paddlesports” for the US and Canada.
Kayaking Injury Prevention and Recovery
Alexander “Jalle” Stjernberg is a member of Aqua Bound’s Ambassador team and is uniquely qualified to talk to us about common kayaking injuries and how to prevent them.
Custom-Crafted Ultralite Packrafting Gear
Aqua Bound Ambassador Dan Ransom was looking for better ultralight packrafting gear for his own expeditions. So he did what many outdoors folks have done before—he started to make them himself.
Packrafting Canada’s Nahanni River
In the summer of 2023, Aqua Bound Ambassador Jeremie Lamart joined a crew to packraft Canada’s Nahanni River over 10 days. This remote national park in The Northwest Territories offers stunning scenery, abundant wildlife and in this case, a chance to meet new friends while outdoor adventuring.
New Zealand Packrafting: Hollyford-Pyke Loop
By: Eszter Horanyi I could feel tears welling up in my eyes as I struggled in the seemingly bottomless pit of mud, my heavily loaded packraft fallen to the side into some trees, my drysuit zipper, which had been unzipped...
Bikerafting Trip to New Zealand’s Dillon Cone
Bikerafter and filmmaker Deane Parker and a few mates headed into the mountains surrounding New Zealand’s Dillon Cone by way of the Clarence River. The goal of their trip was the tackle the summit and descent by bike, after an unsuccessful 2017 attempt.
Packrafting Washington’s Methow River
In scenic northcentral Washington lies the Methow River, the “home river” of Aqua Bound Ambassador Jessica Kelley. Here she shares with us an expedition she’s been wanting to take for a long time—the Methow from start to finish.
Why Do YOU Love to Paddle?
There are so many reasons we choose to kayak, canoe, paddleboard or packraft. Here are some of the main reasons we love to paddle. Which are YOUR reasons to love it?
How to Choose the Right Water Conditions for Kayaking
The kinds of water conditions that make ideal kayaking, packrafting and paddle boarding depend on a couple of key factors: your experience and the type of boat and gear you have.
Where Do YOU Go for a Backyard Paddling Adventure?
Traveling to epic kayak and canoe destinations is amazing. But paddling locally can be equally wonderful and is a whole lot more accessible.
“Blackwaters: Brotherhood in the Wild” Film
Blackwaters is a film by adventure photographer/creative director Chad Brown that follows five black outdoorsmen of diverse backgrounds into Gates of the Arctic National Park.
How to Choose the Best Life Jacket for You
Aqua Bound Ambassador Ken Whiting covers the essentials of how to choose the best life jacket for you, no matter what type of paddling you do:
How to Introduce Kids to Paddling
If you’re on the lookout for a wonderful way to get kids more interested in the great outdoors, water activities are a perfect place to start. In this blog, we dive into tips to get kids started paddling and learn about 5-year-old Astrid's first time packrafting!
Packrafting the John Day River: Double Rainbows and the Doors of Destiny
Scott Nechemis is an avid backcountry backpacker, but this was his first time packrafting. He, his partner Jordan McKinney, and Aqua Bound ambassador Dan Ransom took an overnight trip to the John Day River. This blog encapsulates his experience.
Our Top Paddling Safety Tips
Safety should always be a top priority when you kayak, canoe, packraft or paddle board. Here are some essential safety guidelines, including tips from a couple of our Ambassadors.
Kayak vs Packraft: Comparing Inflatables
Inflatable kayaks have become very popular while packrafts are still being discovered by many paddlers. Both are great options for the right situation. We compare them here so you can decide which is the best choice for you.
What’s Your Favorite Local Kayaking Spot?
We asked some of our Ambassador team members to share their favorite local kayaking or packrafting spot with us. Maybe you live near these places, too, or are looking for a great travel destination.
Packraft Trip in Muddus National Park, Sweden
Aqua Bound Ambassador Katja Koskinen is an avid sea kayaker and packrafter in her native Finland and neighboring Sweden. Here, she tells her story of a multi-day packraft trip she took with friends in Muddus National Park.