What should I wear in my inflatable kayak?! This is a common question in the shop. There are a few things to keep in mind, depending on where you’re paddling and the weather conditions.
There’s probably a couple things on this list that you haven’t considered, like Transport Canada boating requirements. Below, and in the video, we’ll guide you through some key considerations, some optional ones, and a few pieces of advice we’ve learned over the years.
Something to keep in mind -- for any of the gear listed below, we carry several options for each and have expert staff standing by to answer any questions you have! And if you live near one of our stores please stop by, we’d love to see you.
So we’ll start our rundown of what to wear in an inflatable kayak, and the first item should (hopefully) not be a big surprise…
PFD/Lifejacket
First and foremost, with safety in mind, a PFD or a lifejacket is a must. If you find yourself in the water because you tipped over or the weather’s bad, you’ll be thankful you have a PFD on. They keep you buoyant so you can save your energy for getting back in your kayak or swimming to shore.
The PFDs we sell here at AQ Outdoors are designed for comfort and performance. They fit much better than PFDs found in department stores, which means more range of motion and easier paddling. Buying a cheaper PFD that is poorly designed might save a couple bucks, but they will make it more difficult to kayak as they aren’t always designed with paddling in mind.
They also won’t be as durable, or have as much functionality as a paddling-specific PFD.
To learn more, check out [Best Recreational PFDs for Paddling]
Sun and Thermal Protection
Secondly, if you’re out in the summer sun (which you probably will be!) you’ll want to consider sun and thermal protection as something to wear in your inflatable kayak.
This includes things like sunglasses, a wide-brim hat, sunscreen, and maybe a rash guard. Even in the hot sun, the temperature on the water can seem cooler and less harmful due to breezes coming off the water, but don’t be fooled!
You don’t want to step in the shower after a day on the water and jump immediately out because you didn’t realize you got sunburnt.
Thermal Layering for Cold Conditions
On the flipside, if it's cold or rainy, you’ll want to make sure you've got a way to protect yourself from the elements and stay warm when you’re paddling your inflatable kayak. if it's cold, consider layering some thermal gear. If it might get chilly, maybe throw an extra layer or two in your drybag.
If there’s a chance of rain, a splash top is a good idea, just to keep the moisture off you. A rain jacket can work as well if you’re leisurely paddling not too far from shore.
One important note: do not wear cotton! Cotton actually takes heat away from your body when it gets wet, which definitely isn’t ideal if you’re in a wet environment like the lakes and slow rivers you’ll be paddling.
AQ Outdoors Insulation Collection
Footwear
When it comes to what to wear in an inflatable kayak, a piece that is often not given enough thought is footwear. A lot of people don't wear footwear in inflatable kayaks. We do suggest having some type of footwear just in case you have to walk along a rocky beach.
It only takes one awkward pebble under your foot while carrying your inflatable kayak for you to either drop it, or stumble and maybe fall. The chances of losing something or getting wet increase quite a lot if you can’t get stable footing because of bare feet.
But having footwear doesn’t mean you have to wear it in your kayak! Easily take them off and stow them somewhere, just try to make sure they’re either attached somewhere or in a secure bag. If your kayak flips, footwear is often one of the first things to float away and one of the more difficult things to recover.
AQ Outdoors Footwear Collection
Helmet
The last piece when it comes to what to wear in an inflatable kayak is head protection.
If you're paddling in moving water with rocks and current, then a helmet is certainly not a bad idea. If you fall out, it's gonna protect your dome. Getting knocked unconscious in any body of water is bad enough, but if it happens on moving water in a river then it’ll make it difficult for your friends to chase you down and get you to shore.
If you're paddling on the lake, you certainly don't need a helmet.
Transport Canada Boating Requirements
A quick FYI kind of related to what to wear in an inflatable kayak is to make sure you meet Transport Canada’s guidelines. They require you to carry a couple of things in your inflatable kayak for safety. The first one is 50ft of floating rope, which is meant for towing and/or rescue situations.
You also need a signalling device, like a simple whistle. The 3rd thing is a bailing device. This can be as basic as a 4L milk jug cut in half. Or it could be a pump. There's a whole bunch of different options there.
And if you want to meet all these standards in a simple, compact, cheap product, you’re in luck because we carry this exact thing – the North Water 4 Bailer.
North Water 4 Bailer Throwbag
$53.95
North Water 4 Bailer Review The North Water 4 Bailer Throwbag is one of AQOutdoors' best selling safety accessories. The North Water 4 Bailer Throwbag contains a buoyant heaving line, a sounding device, a hi vis reflector, and lastly a… Read More
What To Wear In An Inflatable Kayak Closing Thoughts
There are any options for what to wear in an inflatable kayak. And for all the different things you can wear, there’s several different options for each. We wouldn’t want to list all the different kinds of PFDs, thermal layers, helmets, etc that we carry because that list would get long in a hurry!
Luckily we have expert staff who are also fellow paddlers that are happy to help you out with anything you need, whether that be the best PFD for your purposes, insulation recommendations, paddling locations, whatever you can think of!
So feel free to drop us a line at the contact below or visit us in store.
AQ Outdoors Contact
Edmonton: (p) 780 463-4892 (e) info@aquabaticsedmonton.com
Calgary: (p) 403 288-9283 (e) info@aqoutdoors.com
