Kayaking Essentials — 5 Needed Items for Comfortable Kayaking
It is important to be comfortable on the water! Comfort means different things to different people. For me, the first level of comfort is
knowing that I am safe and prepared. In my last blog post I discussed items that every kayaker needs to be safe out on the water. You can read that blog post here.
But comfort also goes beyond safety. Comfort greatly depends on why you are out on the water and how long you plan spending on the water. For example, what you need to bring along with you for a short daytime bird watching trip is quite a bit different from what you need for an all day or even multi day fishing excursion! This blog will break things down a bit and highlight the must have comfort items that will make for a successful and memorable trip.5
Must Have Items for Everyone
Float Plan
There are some items that every kayaker must have. While we have already covered safety, one “piece of mind” item that was not mentioned was a float plan. 
This is not something that you bring with you, it is something that you leave behind! No matter if you plan for being on the water for days or for just an hour two.
Please let someone know that you are going. Tell them where, when, for how long, when you plan on returning, and what kind of equipment you have on board. And be sure to give them specific instructions about what to do in case you are overdue in returning. Every year people in our community fail to do this and are needlessly lost forever. FILE A FLOAT PLAN!
This will not only make you more comfortable, it will make your loved ones more comfortable as well! Comfortable kayaking is a team effort!
The US Coast Guard has an extremely easy to use tool to file a float plan and you can find that link here.
Dry Bag
Enough of that rant! 
Another item that will increase comfort and relieve anxiety is a dry bag. You can never have enough dry bags! We do live in the age of electronics, and typically, electronics and water do not get along.
Shoes
An item that is simply overlooked until it is often too late is good footwear! Especially if you are a peddler and not a paddler! When I first purchased my Hobie Adventure I would often return home from an epic day with sore feet and blisters! Regardless of your type of locomotion, the right footwear should be a priority if comfort is your goal.
I hesitate to recommend one type of shoe over another, because, well…. Everyone has feet and everyone of them is different! I will say that if you plan on getting out of your kayak at all, it is good to have a water shoe with closed toes and good traction. If you are in an area with sharp rocks or coral, be sure to get the type of water shoe that offers maximum protection. Otherwise, wear what you are comfortable with! It may take some trial and error to find the perfect shoe for you!
Seat
One of the most overlooked aspects of comfortable kayaking is a good seat. Simply put, while kayaking most of your time is spent on
There are several factors that go into posterior comfort: type of kayak, duration of the kayak trip, type of activity while on the water, and your size.
Of all the different accessories that you can spend your birthday money on, I think that upgrading the seat on your kayak should be at the top of the list. If kayaking is something you genuinely love to do, make sure that you are comfortable as possible while doing it! Don’t settle.
Paddle
Similar to your seat, your paddle is not an area that you want to skimp. This one your life could depend on it!
Conclusion
These are just a few items that I recommend for comfortable kayaking out on the water Of course, some of them you already have, but you probably ought to think about upgrading if you have not already.
To recap, make sure you leave a float plan with a responsible adult that you trust. Be sure to bring a dry bag… or several drybags! Find yourself some good comfortable shoes for the type of kayaking that you do. Do not go cheap on your seat, your backside, not to mention your back, will thank you later! And finally, consider upgrading your paddle. Do these simple things and you will be well on your way to a comfortable trip on the water!
Make sure to check back soon. The next www.allthingskayak.com blog post will begin to look at specific types of kayaking trips and what to bring! You will not want to miss it.
Great content! Safety + Comfort = SATISFACTION and FUN!
Loved the Float Plan. I have the SPOT Gen3 but a plan makes so much sense! Thanks for expanding my information!
And you are SO right about shoes. One of the kayak YouTubers I follow (an older fella like me) was saying how he had to go down a size in the water shoes he bought — I explained I had to go up a size! Narrow vs. wide.
Thanks for the education!
Roger, The Smiling BassHole