Paddling Education

Why You Need Polarized Sunglasses for Kayaking
One of the most important gear items for kayakers, canoeists, paddle boarders and packrafters—that doesn’t often get a mention—is a good pair of polarized sunglasses.
The Ottawa River: A World-Class Whitewater Kayaking Spot
In the middle of agricultural country and just over an hour away from Ottawa, Ontario is one of the top whitewater kayaking spots in the world.
Packrafting Skills Session: Whitewater Safety
Whether new to whitewater and packrafting or looking to shake off the complacency cobwebs, getting out to practice whitewater safety skills is a fun and valuable time on the river. Here are five skills to get you going!
When To Wear a Kayak Helmet
A kayak helmet, while not the normal piece of gear most recreational kayakers think of, is essential for a few specific types of kayaking. Anytime kayakers, canoeists or packrafters are in intense paddling situations a helmet is a wise idea, and could even save your life.
Best Tips for Winter Kayaking [Video]
When kayaking in the winter there are considerations to think about in addition to general kayaking safety. In this video, Aqua Bound ProStaffer, Ken Whiting, discusses winter kayaking. He covers suggested gear and also the important question of whether you should head out alone.
Our Most-Viewed Content of 2021
At Aqua Bound, we love a good adventure and enjoy providing content that prepares people to enjoy more time on the water. We rounded up our top posts full of product details, safety tips, trip recommendations, and more.
Aqua Bound: A “Build to Order” Company
In the manufacturing world, there are two types of companies: Build to inventory and build to order. 20 years into our history, Aqua Bound switched from the build to inventory model to become a build to order company.
Dry Bags for Kayaking: What You Need to Know
Dry bags are one of the kayaker’s most convenient and useful gear items whether you’re on the water for a couple of hours, a full day or a multi-day trip.
Use GoPro to Film Your Own Kayaking Adventures
Expert kayaker and Aqua Abound ProStaffer, Ken Whiting, shares his tips and strategies for filming your own kayaking adventures with a GoPro action camera in this video.
Need Gift Ideas for Your Kayaking Kids? Here are 13
Do you have kids on your gift list who love to kayak, canoe or paddle board? Here are 13 fun gift ideas for them to enjoy on all their paddling adventures.
What to Wear Kayaking: Dress for Immersion
When you’re considering what to wear kayaking, one of the most important safety tips to keep in mind is: dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature. Dress as if you’ll be in the water…just in case you end up in the water.
Paddle Logger App: Track Your Paddling Adventures
Paddle Logger is an iOS app designed by paddlers for paddlers to track your water routes and miles, give you safety features and more. This app helps add even more value to all your paddling adventures.
Packrafting the Grand Canyon: Adventures & Tips
Winning a follow-up permit lottery from Grand Canyon National Park allowed Johnathan and Hannah Shininger an opportunity of a lifetime: to packraft 90 miles of the Colorado River through the Canyon.
Aqua Bound’s Shred Family of Whitewater Paddles
There are seven members of our Shred family of whitewater paddles, each ready for your next epic paddling adventure.
Paddle for a Cause with Plastic Tides
Want to contribute to a great cause for every mile you kayak, canoe or paddleboard in 2021? Join the Global Rising Tide Relay and help raise money to take on plastic pollution in our world’s waterways.
Kayaking & Canoeing Ontario’s Madawaska River
The Madawaska River in Ontario’s Highlands is one of the best rivers in the world to learn how to whitewater kayak or canoe. It’s no surprise that with its do-able rapids, relatively warm water and reliable flow it’s also home to the original whitewater school.
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…
Kayak Camping & Muskie Fishing on Ontario’s Petewawa River
Ken Whiting of Paddle Tales journeyed to Ontario’s Petewawa River in Algonquin Provincial Park for six days of paddling, fishing and kayak camping. He was joined by James McBeath of Jackson Kayak and Brendan Mark of Heliconia Media.
Are Your Kayak & Gear Ready for a New Season?
When you treat your kayak, paddle and other gear well you can have confidence it’ll last you for years of enjoyable paddling. Spring is the perfect time to give it all a good cleaning and to check it over for any damage.
ProStaffer Profile: Kevin Whitley
Aqua-Bound ProStaffer Kevin Whitley is an active kayaker in several venues: ocean touring, kayak fishing—both salt and freshwater—and whitewater kayaking.
The New Whitewater Kayak Generation
In this video, kayak pro and Aqua-Bound ProStaffer Ken Whiting and his family take us on some beginner-friendly whitewater on the Ottawa River. This short film, part of the Paddle Tales series, was selected for the 2020 Kendal Mountain Festival...