My Kayaking Essentials

I may or may not be buying a kayak tomorrow (follow me on Instagram to see if it actually happens) because I’ve come to the point where if I keep renting a kayak, I’m going to be paying more than if I just buy one for myself. It’s a little nuts and I’m not exactly sure I know what I’m getting myself into, but I have my eye on a super entry-level sit-on-top kayak that will be pretty perfect for the casual kayaking I’ve been doing for the past month.

While you don’t need much to go kayaking, I wanted to share what this beginner was bringing with her on her weekends on the water. Nothing fancy, but I know I would’ve liked to know about a few things before going out the first time…like, board shorts are a good idea because getting just the seat of my hiking short wet looked like I had an accident instead of being in the water.

My (Beginner-Level) Kayaking Essentials

• Lifeproof Case – I’ve been using my Lifeproof case for a while now and have used it in different circumstances (like The Color Run — PERFECT use of this case) and I will probably buy the Lifeproof Lifejacket soon because it won’t help that my phone is protected from water if it is at the bottom of the bay. I feel so much better knowing that I can bring my phone to take photos (because a GoPro is a little out of my budget right now) and to track our route using apps like RunKeeper or Ramblr.
• Keen Clearwater CNX Sandals – I wrote a review of these sandals when I first got them and I’m still using them! I like that they are light so I don’t feel weighed down when I step into the water and they are super comfortable. I’ll be earning my “Keen Stripes” soon, I’m sure. Alex wears his Clearwater CNX sandals, too, and likes them for the toe protection they provide.
• Patagonia Board Shorts – I missed the memo that board shorts are nearly impossible to find for women this year! Thankfully, I have a pair from two years ago I can squeeze myself into. I just ordered the ones in the photo above and I’m looking forward to having a second pair with a little bit longer inseam (I’m not going to lie, these board shorts will probably be in my next order…I like the pattern more, but the price difference pushed me to get the ones above). Like I mentioned, wearing board shorts over my swim bottoms is much more comfortable than my hiking shorts, which I wore the first time out. I have no idea what I was thinking…
• Hat, Buff - While we are having a bit of June Gloom right now, the sun seems to break through while I’m on the water and going without a hat or Buff headwear to protect my head/face is out of the question. I use my hiking hat (or my super-dorky visor from Disneyland if I can’t find my hat, like last weekend…this is the hat I will buy over and over again, I love it so) while on the water and it’s great because it’s super comfortable and I can get it wet without worrying about it. I also like to have my Buff with me because I can use it as a headband or wear it around my wrist (super sexy alert!) if I have really bad allergies (like last weekend) and need a “portable tissue”. Yeah, that.
• Sunglasses - How could I forget sunglasses?? Actually, I did the first time out and totally regretted it. Thankfully, Alex and I were sharing a pair of Cabana sunglasses from Fisherman Eyewear and while they weren’t comfortable for him, they felt just fine for me when on the water. They’re polarized and fit snugly on my face so I wasn’t worried about them falling off my face and they’re cheaper than my Tumbleweed sunglasses so I could easily replace them if needed. Another bonus? They survived the bottom of my overflowing tote bag for a few days — the cheapie glasses we bought (think: 2 for $20 swapmeet sunglasses) in the past would never be able to withstand that test! Lesson: get durable sunglasses that don’t feel like they’re going to fall off your face!
• Sea to Summit Dry Sack – I bought this when we went canyoneering a few year ago and I love having it tow whenever we go to the beach. Having my Sea to Summit bag in the kayak with me allows me to keep a few things handy (like my car keys and debit card) without needing to worry about them getting wet. I usually stow my phone in the bag, too, if the lifevest I’m wearing doesn’t have a zipper pocket. This is also a good bag to have when traveling, it’s super small and lightweight so it’s great in a carryon or in your luggage to keep things in one place and secure.
• Cleaning Wipes (Paper Shower) – I didn’t realize how salty/sweaty/sunscreen-y I would get after an hour or so on the water so I made sure to have wipes in the car for a quick cleanup before heading out to lunch after paddling. I normally have a box of baby wipes in my car, but after trying out Paper Shower, I’m hooked. The wipes are much larger than a baby wipe (10″ x 12″) so I can use less and there is a dry wipe for each wet wipe. Paper Shower donates to organizations like the American Cancer Society and homeless shelters and sends products to disaster relief efforts.

Items not pictured above but worth a consideration: A bottle of water to keep in your kayak! I would also suggest having a towel, change of clothes, a post-paddle snack, and sunscreen in your car.

What do you bring with you when you go kayaking?

Have you tried kayaking before?

Paper Shower and Fisherman Eyewear sent samples of their product to me for review. While I received free product in exchange for a review, the opinions expressed in this post are my own. Also, many links in this post are affiliate links. Shopping through these links supports Campfire Chic through a small commission from Amazon.com.

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