If you are looking for the best inflatable kayak for whitewater, 300x Explorer by Sea Eagle is the way to go.
It is tough enough for class four whitewater!
With its unique modular design, a super rigid, high pressure floor and reinforced outside fabric, it can bounce off rocks, logs, and other objects.
The kayak has 16 rapid self-bailing drain valves, which drain off water as quickly as it enters!
If you want to find out what people are thinking about this inflatable kayak for whitewater, go here now!
At the time of writing this article, you can save $400 on this boat. So be sure to click the link above to see how much you can save today.
Whitewater Kayaking Gear
Let’s now talk about some of the gear associated with whitewater paddling.
We are going to take a look at all the gear that you really do need to get started off with as well as some gear that you might want to think about that’s going to make paddling a bit more enjoyable.
And some of those luxury items that really only come into play when you’re doing specific types of paddling or you have got a specific use in mind.
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Whitewater Essentials
Boats
To get into kayaking, you are going to need a kayak. These things come in all different shapes and sizes: river running boats, creek boats, play boats. It’s going to depend on where you are in your paddling career.
If you are specifically looking for an inflatable kayak, go with 300x Explorer we talked about earlier.
Paddles
If you want to get out on the water, you going to need to start off with the paddle.
Paddles come in all different shapes and sizes and once you have your budget set, there are a few things you want to think about:
- the length that’s correct for you
- the type of paddling you’re doing
- the type of construction
Essentially the more you spend, the lighter and stiffer that paddle is going to become.
PFD
In North America, a PFD or lifejacket is a requirement by law for all watercraft users.
In whitewater, we generally have two types of PFDs.
There’s a basic PFD that offers really good flotation but in a slightly smaller, more ergonomic, package.
When you move into a rescue PFD, this is more for the advanced paddler, who wants to have a few of the bells and whistles that with a bit of proper training is going to make you a better rescuer in the event of an incident on the river.
Helmets
Not regulated by any laws, helmets are crucial for your safety on the river.
They come in a variety of different shapes, sizes and budgets.
There are things right from plastic helmets that give you really good coverage at an affordable price, up to full carbon fiber helmets that protect all the way around your head, including your jaw.
Spray Skirt
Unlike recreational paddling, in whitewater paddling we really do need to start off with a spray skirt. Whitewater skirts generally have two types of closure systems.
There is the bungee style skirt, which is a lot easier to get on and off the boat, but it does allow a little bit more water through.
The other type is a rubber rand skirt. These ones are a much more watertight seal and tend not to come off the boat quite as easily, but they are more difficult to get on.
Safety Gear
As you progress with your paddling, there’s a lot of safety kit that might start to become more relevant to you as you progress into harder and harder whitewater.
Float Bags
The first bit of safety gear that you’re going to need when you buy your first boat are float bags. These are air filled chambers that fill the void in the back of your boat to make rescuing your boat and yourself easier in the event of a swim.
They’re going to protect your investment from sinking or from wrapping around rocks and obstacles.
Signal Device
One of the necessary parts of your safety kit is a signal device. In kayaking we generally refer to that as your whistle.
A pea-less whistle is great for just communicating on the river or for really getting someone’s attention in the event of emergency.
Wants
When you’re starting out, one thing to consider when you’re thinking about dry layers is what goes underneath. These are our base layers.
One of the best base layers you can start off with is neoprene or a wetsuit.
A wetsuit is a fraction of the price of some of the other alternatives and it’s going to offer a lot of impact protection if you
go for a swim.
If you’re not going with a wetsuit, you might want to consider some other tops or bottoms. These are generally going to be synthetic material, like polyester or polypropylene.
Dry tops are a great consideration. These coupled with a wetsuit are going to offer you the warmth and the protection that you need if you do go for a swim, but do it at a fraction of the price as a full dry suit.
In colder climates or areas that have really cold water, one of the best ways to boost your confidence is by thinking about getting a dry suit and these are really going to help improve your paddling skills by taking away the threat of a swim.
You’re going to be warm and dry and this is also a great thing to consider in the event of a rescue or it might be in the water for a really prolonged period of time.
You should also have neoprene socks, watersport shoes or paddle wetshoes, paddlers gloves.
Luxuries
Once you’ve done a little bit of paddling and you really want to start thinking about the next piece of safety gear, it’s definitely a throw bag.
This is something that every whitewater paddler needs to be carrying on the river. They come in a variety of different shapes, sizes and even rope types.
What it comes down to is the type of rescue you want to be doing. Are you rescuing your friends or you’re trying to unpin a boat from a rock.
If you’re carrying rope in the river, one piece of safety gear that you need to have is a knife. A river specific knife is going to attach directly onto your PFD.
90% of the time it’s going to be used for cutting avocado and spreading peanut butter but in the case that you need it, you want to make sure it’s there and easily accessible.
Something you may want are dry bags. These are really important for helping you stay organized on the water. These are waterproof bags that fit easily in the back of your kayak and are great for carrying electronics, camping gear and the bit of food as well.
As you progress into more difficult whitewater, you may want to consider a pin kit as a vital piece of your safety kit. Pin kits are used to unpin kayaks using mechanical advantage when ropes are just not enough.
One of the great parts about kayaking is being able to get really into remote places that other people might not be able to see.
The important part about that is that we need to be self-sufficient on the river. Having a first aid kit and proper training is the really important part to your safety.
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