The Best Kayaking Accessories and Equipment

When you’re planning a kayaking vacation, you have a lot of different options. You can invest in hardshell or inflatable kayaks, go ocean kayaking or stick to rivers and make it a whitewater adventure. You can even kayak in a still water source like a lake.

Regardless of where you’re going, or what your intentions are (relaxation or sheer thrill), you’ll want to bring along the best kayaking gear on the market. That means you need to know which paddles to bring and what kind of kayak you’ll prefer.

You need to get insight into the smaller gear that really makes your adventure carefree, like a one-handed water bottle that clips on so you don’t have to try to handle your kayak while fumbling for a drink on the water.

Every kayaker – from beginner to professional – needs to have the right equipment, or the fun outing turns into a nightmare. There’s always a new piece of equipment being released, so bookmark this page and stay on top of the best kayaking accessories you’ll need to make the most of your newfound hobby.

Kayakers call it gearing up – gathering all of the essential elements you’ll need for your boat, your safety, and your own personal comfort. From the boat itself and the paddles you use with it to the clothes you wear and the life jacket that protects you, you want the best – and that doesn’t always mean the most expensive.

The kayak that you choose will depend on where you plan on taking it. It also matters whether you have ample experience or you’re a complete newbie to the sport. Once you have a kayak picked out, then you can determine which paddle would work best. It should come decked with a spray skirt that keeps water out, but you may need to buy it separately.

A lifejacket and helmet are necessary in case disaster strikes. Always be prepared with a personal flotation safety device and head protection. Those are the essentials, but there are also extras you’ll want to have with you.

The convenience of these items is what can make or break your satisfaction of your trip. Try to make sure you have things like the necessary bags – a float bag (to keep from sinking), a dry bag (to keep your belongings dry), and a rope bag (in case you need to rescue someone else).

You’ll also want extras like a wetsuit if you’re in colder waters, a handy water bottle so that you can stay hydrated while out in the sun, a knife in case you have to cut loose, and gloves if you prefer to paddle without getting blisters on your hands.

Hands down, the best accessory you can take with you is the Titan Water Bottle. We give this two thumbs up because one of the most frustrating things we’ve found when kayaking is our inability to master one-handed tasks while maneuvering our kayak.

This water bottle, which is bpa-free in case you’re worried about the leakage of bisphenol A into your reusable plastic containers, allows you to hook it onto your kayak and with one swift motion (and a single hand), chug the water without having to stop for a break.

If you take an ordinary store-bought water bottle along, you either have to use two hands to unscrew the cap to get a drink, or you’re forced to live with that tiny stream of water that flows out when you squirt it into your mouth (not ideal for a sportsman or woman whose thirst it at a high level and they need a quick refreshment so they can get back to paddling).