The following items are necessary for all levels of whitewater paddling. Click on any item to go to that category.
Kayak. Whether freestyle, creek, river-running, touring,
recreational or inflatable, your boat is the first and most obvious of the “five
essentials.”.
Paddle. The
equivalent of both the pedals and handlebars on your bicycle, a paddle provides
your propulsion and steering.
Sprayskirt: Your
skirt needs to be sized correctly for both waist and boat (don’t worry we can
easily figure this one out for you). The skirt is worn by the paddler, and
attaches to the kayak cockpit to keep water out. This allows a paddler to
roll a kayak and paddle whitewater even when the boat is submerged.
Helmet. While
no one plans on hitting rocks and underwater objects with their heads, it’s
imperative to have a properly fit whitewater helmet. Think of a good helmet as
an extremely affordable insurance policy.
PFD
(life jacket). Your
Personal Flotation Device (PFD) is designed to keep you afloat, and aid in self
rescue. This is considered a good thing by those that like to breathe.
Drytop-
The unofficial ‘6th essential’. Paddlers
in all cold-water states have adopted an unofficial ‘sixth essential’ to
include gear that keeps us dry and warm, and therefore able to paddle in
varying weather conditions. A drytop is the most favored piece of equipment to
stay dry, and often necessary to be safely protected from hypothermia.
