Paddling Education

Reading Rivers with W.O.R.M.S.
The conservative line? The gnarliest line? Looking at a section of whitewater can be overwhelming at first, but breaking down what you see into W.O.R.M.S. can help simplify scouting. From class one to class five, this tried and true mnemonic provides a straightforward method of thinking and talking through reading a river to safely pick your line.
New England Kayaker, Paul Clack
Paul Clack kayaks almost daily on the waters of his native New England during the paddle season. We wanted to tell his story about his favorite local kayak spots, some unforgettable encounters with nature, and why he’s a solo paddler.
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.
Packrafting Adventures on New Zealand’s Waingaro River
Deane Parker, filmmaker and outdoor adventurer, joined a few of his mates for a hike-in packrafting trip down the Waingaro River in his native New Zealand.
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.
Kayak Guide and Outdoor Photographer, Rob McNamee
Rob McNamee is an Aqua Bound ProStaffer, kayak guide and outdoor photographer from the UK, currently based in Sweden. We managed to align our time zones for a video interview with Rob, who gave us an in-depth look into kayaking in his area and the work he does there.
Aqua Bound Tango Fiberglass is 2022 Best Kayak Paddle!
We’re thrilled that our Tango Fiberglass kayak paddle has just been awarded “Best Paddle” by 2022 Paddling Magazine Industry Awards!
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.
Skills Session for Whitewater Packrafting
Getting bored of the same whitewater runs and want to improve your skills? Head to your local river for a skills session! You’ll fine tune techniques like boat angles, body positioning, and balance points to work them into muscle memory. Here are a few skills to get you started.
New Whiskey and Tango Kayak Paddle Color: Northern Lights
We’re excited to announce a brand new color pattern for our best kayak paddles, the Whiskey and Tango, for 2022: Northern Lights.
Our Whiskey Fiberglass Kayak Paddle Wins “Best in Class”
We’re so pleased that PaddleTV just announced Aqua Bound’s Whiskey Fiberglass kayak paddle as a “Best High Performance Paddle of 2021”! Paddle TV’s Ken Whiting gives the round-up of their Top 5 Kayak Paddles of 2021 in this video…
Kayak Paddles: High-Angle vs. Low-Angle
If you’re new to kayaking, you might think “a paddle is a paddle.” But before long you’ll learn there’s a big difference in the types of paddles available. One of the major differences is in choosing between a high-angle and a low-angle blade shape.
Kaizen = Continuous Improvement: In Fine Dining…and Kayaking
Mark Lutz is a fine dining chef who advocates what the Japanese call kaizen, which means “continuous improvement.” Mark is also an avid sea kayaker who applies kaizen to his paddling as well.
Aqua Bound’s New Apparel for Fall 2021 and 2022
Hey Aqua Bound fans, we have new apparel to cap off your look on and off the water. It’s easy to spread the word about your favorite paddle brand when you wear the merch! Here’s a look at our 2021/22 collection…
New to Kayaking? Don’t Make These 11 Mistakes
Are you a beginning kayaker? Here are eleven mistakes brand new kayakers sometimes make that can, at minimum, take the fun out of your first kayak trip.
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.
Inflatable Kayaks 101: What to Know
Inflatable kayaks have been increasing in popularity in the past couple of years. What should you know about them so you can make a good buying decision? Let’s take a look at a few of the main factors.
A Packrafting Power Couple
Healthy relationships take trust, commitment, and dedication. This packrafting power couple takes the importance of these elements to a whole new level.