Partner: Big Adventures

Most kayakers only learn how to paddle forward and how to turn their kayak. But the draw stroke is a very valuable stroke to...

Ken Whiting takes the Hurricane Tampico 130 out into the Okefenokee swamp on a 3 day review of this light touring offering.

Ken Whiting takes us kayak camping in the Okefenokee Swamp via kayak showing off the incredible facilities the park provides campers!

Award season continues with my picks for the Best-in-Class kayaks of 2022. In order to claim such a crown, these kayaks had to demonstrate...

Whether you are dealing with an injury, or simply the realities of Father Time (often a mix of both), many current and would-be paddlers have to navigate these physical barriers. Things like back pain, shoulder pain, and of course, butt pain are common deterrents - but they don't have to be!

One of the joys of flat-water paddling is that you don't need proper technique in order to have a good time. I would argue, first and foremost, that the most important thing is to simply unplug from the rat-race, get out on the water, and have a genuine outdoor experience. That being said, by developing an effective approach to paddling, you will open several doors that will only serve to enhance your adventures.

When it comes to flatwater recreational kayaks, there are a lot of options to choose from. For entry-level paddlers who are feeling overwhelmed by the choices, I think a sit-inside style that comes in around 12-feet is what you want to aim for.

The big question for new paddlers is: Do I go with a canoe, a kayak, or a stand up paddleboard? Well, you'll certainly find passionate defenders of all three options. The key is to narrow down what kinds of adventures you envision yourself going on. It's also important to compare things like performance and stability with the budget and ability of yourself and anyone else in your family or group. I'm going to break down many of the common questions and concerns for each of these vessels and, hopefully, shine some light on the best choice for you.

A little less than a decade ago, Bonafide stormed onto the scene with kayaks that were highly stable, paddled well, and were consciously designed to enhance the all-round user experience.

When you’re trying to decide what kayak to buy, your biggest question is whether to get a sit-on-top style, or a sit-inside. The former is typically for someone who is willing to give up some paddling performance for a range of other benefits. The Native Watercraft Falcon 11 is a recreational, sit-on-top kayak that offers an ideal platform for fishing enthusiasts and calm-water paddlers. What it sacrifices in performance (i.e. efficiency), it makes up for in stability.

What makes a kayak one of the top kayaks of the year? A variety of things qualify a kayak to be chosen best in class. It could be a kayak that's special or unique in some way. A kayak that offers exceptional value could be selected. A kayak just puts a smile on your face can also be a qualifying factor. Whatever the criteria, the only way to really know if a kayak deserves to be considered one of the top kayaks of the year, is to test it.