CanoeSport Outfitters

Paddling is one of the best ways to connect with the outdoors — but it comes with real risks that are easy to manage when you're prepared. From always wearing your PFD to dressing for water temperature (not just air temp), these six safety tips will help keep you on the water and out of trouble. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned paddler, a quick refresher on the basics could make all the difference. Head to the blog and check it out before your next launch!

The ice is out. The days are getting longer. Your kayak or canoe has been sitting in your garage since October, and you’ve been thinking about it every time the temperature nudges above fifty degrees. Spring paddling season is here, and there is absolutely no reason to wait for summer to enjoy it.

There is nothing quite like pushing a sea kayak off a fog-covered shore at dawn and knowing the day belongs entirely to you.

Whether you're heading out onto a glassy lake at dawn or paddling a stretch of river you've had your eye on all summer, a well-packed kayak is the difference between a great day on the water and a miserable one. The good news is that day trips are forgiving — you don't need to overthink it. But there are some essentials you absolutely cannot leave on shore.

I have led over 2 dozen wilderness destination trips and countless instructional lessons and have been fortunate to never have a serious medical emergency occur to a student or myself. This December I had the opportunity to travel to Landmark Learning an affiliate of NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) and take part in a 9-day intensive Wilderness First Responder (WFR or pronounced 'woofer') course, which blew any of my previous training out of the water!