Paddling Education

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.
Packrafting & Hiking 2,500 miles of Alaskan Wilderness
Dan Binde, from Lake Park, Minnesota, recently completed his third long traverse in Alaska, totaling 2,500 miles of hiking and packrafting over the past three years. We asked him to tell about his trips in this interview…
Bikerafting New Zealand’s Mikonui River
New Zealand is known worldwide for its spectacular natural resources. The Mikonui River and river valley are no exception. Deane Parker and a couple friends take us on a short tour of this beautiful river via bikerafting in this video…
Top 5 Pieces of Paddling Gear You Need [Video]
Paddling expert, Ken Whiting, gives us a quick overview of the top five pieces of gear he believes every paddler should own. This is true whether you kayak, canoe, packraft or stand-up paddleboard.
Kayak in Canada’s Amazon [Video]
Ken Whiting and Paddles Tales take us kayaking down the “Canadian Amazon,” Ontario’s Big Creek.
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.
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.
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…
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?
Aqua-Bound Goes to Patagonia
Entomologist and packrafter, Dr. Isaí Madriz, recently covered remote areas of Patagonia by packraft, bamboo bicycle and on-foot in search of some of the rarest groups of insects on the planet.
Why Kayaking, Canoeing and SUP are Great for the Whole Family
We think paddling is one of the best things your family can do together! Here’s why...
How to Size Kayak & SUP Paddles from Home
When you can go into a paddle sports retailer and size a paddle, that’s great. But if you don’t live near one or they’re not open when you want to buy a paddle, it’s easy to size yourself from home, too.