SHOP REI REI OUTLET USED GEAR BETA REI ADVENTURES CLASSES & EVENTS EXPERT ADVICE CO-OP

EXPERT ADVICE CO-OP JOURNAL #OPTOUTSIDE

Search Stores Account

EXPERT ADVICE Camping Hiking Climbing Cycling Paddling Fitness Snowsports Travel Clothing Family Basics

Expert Advice Paddling Kayaking

Getting Started Kayaking

4.5  (70)

This article is part of our series: Intro to Kayaking.

It’s an iconic image of outdoor exploration: a kayak glides across a glassy stretch of water, its bow
Next Article  
kni ng through the mist and its wake shimmering in re ected light. If that sort of thing calls to you, we’re
Parts of a Kayak:
here to help. With some thoughtful preparation, you can slip into the cockpit and put paddle to pond.
Understanding Your
Chances are you’re not going to buy a boat immediately, though it’s certainly an option, and REI can help Boat
with that. And you probably guessed your other options for getting started kayaking:

Borrow a kayak from a friend. It’s even better if your friend is also an expert paddler who can
take you out and teach you the basics.

Rent a kayak. Go to an on-the-water out tter so you don’t have to mess with transporting the
boat. You’ll get the bare minimum amount of gear and instruction, but it’s a low-cost way to dip
your toes into the sport.

Sign up for a tour. You get boat, gear and fundamentals all in one package. Options range from
the parks department at your local lake to an adventure-touring company in an exotic locale.

Sign up for a class. Like a tour, everything is provided. An introductory class offers more in-depth
instruction than a tour, so it’s the better option if you plan to take up kayaking in earnest.

Kayak Gear and Clothing

This article assumes you’re in a classic kayak: one with a cockpit and a hatch or two for stowing gear. If
the weather and water are warm, your friend or guide might put you in a wide, stable boat without a
cockpit.
 
Essential kayaking gear: Anyone who provides a boat should also provide these items:

Coastguard-approved PFD (Personal Flotation Device) that ts properly

Paddle (make sure they check that it’s the right size for you)

Bilge pump

Spray skirt (optional on warm, calm days)

Proper clothing: Bring the following for a warm-weather, warm-water outing:

Swimwear or shorts (noncotton and nonbinding)

Short- or long-sleeve rashguard top (any noncotton top will work)

Neoprene footwear

Sun-shielding hat

Lightweight eece jacket or vest (weather-dependent)

Spray jacket or rain jacket and pants (weather-dependent)

If conditions are colder than 60 F (especially the water), a wetsuit is also required. For more details, read
What to Wear Kayaking.

Personal items: If you know your Ten Essentials, then many of these should be familiar:

Plenty of water

Snacks for energy, plus a lunch for longer tours

Sunscreen, lip balm and sunglasses (with a retainer)

First-aid kit

Signaling whistle

Watch (so you can give yourself plenty of time to get back)

Headlamp (in case you’re too slow getting back)

Dry bags (for things you don’t want to get wet)

How to Adjust Your Kayak

A well-adjusted kayak will be more stable and comfortable to paddle. Do your adjusting while the boat is
sitting on dry land, and focus on three points of contact:

Snug your butt rmly against the seatback. If your boat lets you ne-tune the angle of the seat or
seatback, do whatever feels most comfortable. For balance and power, though, you want to sit
more upright.

Place the balls of your feet on the footpegs; then check to see if you have a slight bend in your
knees. Most footpegs adjust by tilting them and sliding them along a track to preset stopping
points. It’s often easier to get out of the boat to slide the pegs.

Make sure your bent knees are in rm contact with each side of the cockpit. This helps you
control the side-to-side motion of the boat as you paddle. Your t should be snug but not so
jammed-in that you can’t get out if you capsize.

How to Launch Your Kayak

Most trips start off with a launch from a gradually sloping shoreline. Take care to avoid dragging the hull,
especially on rocky, sandy or cement surfaces:

Get a friend to help you carry the boat to your put-in point. Set it down in shallow water,
perpendicular to the shoreline. The bow should face away from the shore and the stern should be
close to the shore (but fully a oat).

Put one of your paddle blades under the deck line in front of the cockpit. (The shaft can stick out
sideways like an outrigger.)

Stand over the kayak, straddling the cockpit.

Grab the cockpit and set your butt down on the cockpit seat, then lift your legs and slide your feet
into the cockpit.

Scoot your butt rmly back into the seat and settle both feet comfortably onto the foot pegs.

Grab your paddle and use it to move your kayak past incoming waves and boat wakes. Then
attach your spray skirt if you have one.

When it comes time to get out of your boat later, simply paddle into your launch position, set up your
outrigger and reverse steps until your straddling your kayak again.

To learn more, including how to get in from a dock, check out our How to Launch a Kayak article and
video.

How to Hold Your Kayak Paddle

Start by grasping your paddle with both hands and centering your paddle shaft on top of your head. You
hands will be in the proper starting position when your elbows are bent at 90 degrees. Now lower your
paddle and orient it as follows so you’re holding it correctly:

Make sure the paddle blades are in line with each other. If you notice that the blades are offset
from each other, your paddle may be “feathered.” If this is the case, take a minute to adjust the
blades back in line via a push-button or twist setting in the center of the shaft. (Feathered blades
cut through wind better, but are trickier to use for rst-timers.)

Look at each paddle blade and make sure the longer edge of each blade is on the top. This is
the correct position to help your blades move smoothly and e ciently through the water. (If your
paddle blades are uniformly shaped, either side can be up.

Make sure the scooped sides of your paddle blades are facing you: Blade curvature is subtle, so
look closely.

Place your large knuckles on top of the paddle shaft so that they are in line with the top of your
paddle blades.

Relax your grip. Make an “O” with your thumb and index nger, then lay your other ngers gently
on the shaft. Gripping the paddle is unnecessary and tires out your hands more quickly.

The Basic Kayaking Strokes

The Forward Stroke

This is the stroke you do most of the time, so good technique pays dividends:

The catch phase: Wind your torso and immerse your blade fully on one side of the boat next to
your feet.

The power phase: Rotate your torso as the blade moves behind you. Follow the in-water blade
with your eyes and your torso will follow. Focus, too, on pushing against the shaft with your upper
hand as you move.

The release phase: When your hand reaches just behind your hip, “slice” the blade out of the
water.

To repeat, you simply immerse the out-of-water blade next to your feet. (Your torso will already be wound
correctly.)

Technique tip: To maintain the paddle shaft at a comfortable angle as you stroke, “check the time” on an
imaginary watch on your upper wrist.

The Reverse Stroke

This is the basic braking stroke. It can also move you backward if your kayak is already stopped. It’s the
exact opposite of a forward stroke: You immerse the blade next to your hip; the push is done with your
lower hand; and you slice the blade out of the water when it nears your feet.

The Sweep Stroke

This is the basic turning stroke. If you do repeated forward strokes on the same side of the boat, you’ll
notice that the boat slowly turns the other way. The sweep stroke simply exaggerates this effect. The
sweep is the same as a forward stroke, except that you alter the blade path so that it carves a much
wider arc on the side of the boat. Sweep strokes on the right side of the boat will turn the boat left and
left-side sweep strokes will turn the boat right.

Using Rudders and Skegs

Rudders: If your boat has a rudder, it sits at the back of the boat, and you use your foot pedals to control
whether the boat moves left or right. Push the foot peg on the right and your boat will turn right (and vice
versa on the left).

Skegs: A skeg is a xed-direction n that drops down from the bottom of the hull. It is used primarily to
aid with tracking (keeping your boat traveling straight), especially in windy conditions (rudders can also
play this same role).

Novices often use both rudders and skegs incorrectly and often forget to pull them up in shallow water,
which can cause damage. For this reason, it’s simplest to leave them undeployed. Paddling without your
rudder encourages you to learn better paddling technique more quickly. And if it’s so windy that you need
a skeg or rudder, you really shouldn’t be paddling without an experienced guide who can explain how to
use them properly.

Safety Precautions for Kayaking

Any time you head out on the water, bringing the essential gear and clothing is important. A few
additional safety measures are also in order on a non-guided tour:

Bring a paddling buddy. When no guide is along, you should always go with another paddler who
can summon help or provide assistance.

Make a togetherness pact. A buddy who paddles off out of sight or earshot won’t be much help.

Know your distance limit. If you haven’t had rescue training, never paddle farther from shore than
you’re easily able to swim. (Near-shore areas are more interesting anyway.)

Do your hazard research. Ask a knowledgeable local paddler about places to avoid, as well as
currents, tides and weather forecasts.

Know your water temp. You should always dress for a capsize—at a minimum, that means some
sort of wetsuit when the water is 60 F or less.

Check your PFD. Make sure it ts tightly and is only loose enough so that it won’t interfere with
your breathing. If temps heat up and you need to remove a layer, paddle to shore rst—never
remove your PFD on the water.

Be cautious about using a spray skirt. Don’t wear one unless you know how to properly pop it off
and do a wet exit.

Don’t forget your whistle. The universal distress signal is three long blasts.

If you plan to kayak in the future, consider taking a rescue class. And classes that cover navigation,
tides, currents and surf can help you avoid trouble in the rst place.

Tips for Your First Time Kayaking

Planning your rst non-guided outing? Make things easy on yourself:

Choose a small, calm body of water. Lakes or ponds with little or no powerboat tra c are ideal.

Find a gently sloping sandy beach to launch. Steep, mucky and rocky shorelines will be more
challenging.

Go on a sunny, windless day. You’ll keep complications low and comfort high.

If it’s breezy, start out by paddling into the wind. Paddling into a headwind on your way back is a
struggle; paddling with a tailwind is, well, a breeze.

Plan on an outing, not an expedition. For an optimum fun to fatigue ratio, keep your paddling
time under two hours.

Related Articles
Basic Kayaking Strokes

Kayaking Checklist

What to Wear Kayaking

Kayaks: How to Choose

Next Article 
Parts of a Kayak: Understanding Your Boat

The names of many kayak parts are easily understood; others, not so much. Our handy visual
guide shows you what’s what and what’s where.

How helpful was this article? Click a star to rate.

    
70 votes so far - average rating 4.5

   

Questions Ask a question

Reelay · 24 days ago   1

Here is a question that seems simple what are all the stretch answer

cord's user for and also can you add extras ? Thanks

Joe at REI Co-op · 18 days ago  

Hi Reelay. Most people use the stretchy deck lines to stash gear within reach while
paddling. For instance, you could keep a water bottle there (try clipping it with a
crabiner in case it gets dislodged by waves) or secure a dry bag with a camera (clip
the dry bag around one of the lines for added security). Many paddlers also choose to
keep safety equipment there, such as a bilge pump and paddle oat. There are kits
you can buy to add deck lines to your kayak. Check here to see what we offer:
https://www.rei.com/c/kayak-rigging.

Helpful? Yes · 1 No · 0 Report

Back to top

How are we doing? Give us feedback on this page.

Sign up for REI emails

Co-op offers, events & cool new gear

Email

Enter your email address Sign me up!

WHO WE ARE
At REI, we believe that a life
outdoors is a life well lived. We've
been sharing our passion for the
outdoors since 1938. Read our
story
BECOME A MEMBER
Join the REI Co-op community to
get an annual dividend, access
exclusives and give back.
Lifetime membership is just $20.
Learn more and join us
WHERE-TO-GO WITH MAPS &
MORE
Free, community-built maps and
resources connect you and your
outdoor passion to trails and
routes. Get the guides then go!
APPLY FOR REI CO-OP
MASTERCARD®
Earn a $100 REI Gift Card when
you apply, get approved and
make any purchase within 60
days of card approval. Details

Have it? Manage your card

Your Online Account Expert Advice Gift Cards About REI

Purchase Status Classes & Outings Gift Registry Stewardship

Shipping Info Store Events Wish Lists Jobs

Return Policy REI Adventures Trips Coupons, Rebates & Discounts Technology Blog

Membership Blog Free Shipping Details Newsroom

Find Member Number Find Trails A liate Program

Annual Dividend Lookup Outessa Corporate & Group Sales

Store Locator

 1-800-426-4840  EMAIL US  LIVE CHAT  HELP CENTER

Mon–Fri, 5am–10pm PT We will respond as quickly Mon–Fri, 5am–10pm PT Find answers online
Sat–Sun, 6am–9pm PT as we can. Sat–Sun, 6am–9pm PT anytime.

    

Get REI apps for
shopping & adventure

© 2018 Recreational Equipment, Inc. All rights reserved. REI and the REI Co-op logo are trademarks of Recreational Equipment, Inc.

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Interest Based Ads Product Recalls CA Transparency Act