buying advice

Whitewater SpraySkirts: A Buyer’s Guide

Author: AQ Staff

A whitewater sprayskirt is essential gear for any river kayaker. Without one, water will easily splash into your kayak and it won’t take long till you’re floating in a bathtub with no control.

Whitewater sprayskirts come in various types, each with distinct features and price points. You’ll find options ranging from budget-friendly, easy-to-use skirts that aren’t as watertight, to top-of-the-line models that offer superior water resistance and better implosion resistance—though they may be more complex to use.

We stock three main types of sprayskirts: bungee, bungee with flange, and rand. These terms refer to how the sprayskirt seals around the cockpit rim of your kayak, which is a crucial factor in determining the skirt's performance. Keep reading to learn the difference between these various sprayskirt types, and learn which may be the best fit for you and your paddling style.

basic BUNGEE WHITEWATER SPRAYSKIRT

Sprayskirts using a basic bungee to secure the skirt to the kayak cockpit are the most basic and affordable kind of skirt. The tradeoff is that they don’t keep water out as effectively as higher-end options.

Ideal for Milder Waters

Bungee-only sprayskirts are good for Class I/II water, and Class III as long as there aren’t too many waves crashing down and you aren’t playboating in holes. Just pack a sponge to soak up any water that finds its way in so you don’t have to get out of your boat to empty it.

This kind of skirt isn’t implosion-resistant. Implosions can happen in dynamic environments that push down with enough force to break the bungee off the cockpit rim. You typically only find these issues in bigger, crashing, strong river features or waterfalls.

Budget-Friendly and Functional

Bungee sprayskirts are a great budget option that will get the job done for people just starting whitewater kayaking, or for anyone who is just going to do up to cruisy Class III without too much dedicated time playboating, or for those who are of smaller build or with mobility issues. These skirts perform well on milder whitewater and for those not looking to paddle anything harder than class III, they can do the job nicely.

BUNGEE WHITEWATER SPRAYSKIRT WITH NEOPRENE FLANGE

This type of whitewater sprayskirt is similar to the pure bungee style, with the main difference being the flange. The flange is an extra extension of material running around the outside of the bungee/skirt.

This extra flange keeps the water out better than just the bungee and provides a tighter seal. Popular products like the Immersion Research Klingon Empire Sprayskirt (link below) offers a silicone grip strips on the underside of the casing for a sticky grip, similar to rand but not as tough to put on.

The tradeoff is that these kinds of skirts are a bit more difficult to put on and cost more than an entry-level whitewater bungee spray skirt, but they will give you a dryer ride

[Also Check Out this how to Put a Sprayskirt on a Kayak Video]

RAND WHITEWATER SPRAY SKIRT

A spray skirt with a rand instead of a bungee is your highest-performing, but most costly, option.

Superior Seal and Implosion Resistance

The rand is much stiffer and more solid compared to a bungee, which provides a strong seal to keep water out. Rand skirts are also much more implosion-resistant, ensuring the skirt stays in place even in the gnarliest whitewater or off bigger drops and waterfalls.

Challenges for Beginners

However, a rand skirt is also more difficult to put on, which means beginners will likely struggle with it. If you are a beginner who finds themselves with a rand skirt, make sure you get it damp first! Or pray that you have the upper body strength to force it on. Consider spending time practicing on your kayak on dry land—no one wants to be that person holding up their group because they can't get their skirt on.

Ideal for Advanced Paddlers

For paddlers who regularly paddle Class IV+ rapids, run bigger drops, or playboat in freestyle holes, you can’t beat the dependability and waterproofness of a rand skirt. For those who are on the water several days during the season (and especially if paddling year-round), the price easily pays for itself with improved confidence and less water seepage into your boat.

Choosing the Right Whitewater Spray Skirt

So that’s a rundown of the three main types of whitewater spray skirts we carry here at AQ Outdoors.

For beginners, those on a budget, paddling anything under Class IV, or just cruising around without too much playboating, a simple bungee skirt will do the trick.

Looking to be on Class III most of the time or parking and playing at your local wave or hole? A bungee with a flange is a great choice to help minimize the amount of time spent emptying water out of your boat.

Going to be on Class IV+ or spending long days surfing your local spot? A rand is a go-to choice for its tight water seal and high performance in challenging conditions.

If you have any further questions about whitewater spray skirts, feel free to contact us below or visit us in-store!