Kayaking Report 

Kayaking is a fun and adventurous way to get in a good workout while also enjoying the 
great outdoors. The more you can get outside, the happier you will feel, not to mention 
the benefits from all that fresh air.

It can seem a little intimidating to some, but kayaking is not as difficult as it looks. Even 
better if you can learn it with others who are already experienced with this activity.
Here are some things to know about kayaking as a workout.

1. Health Benefits of Kayaking

Have you ever tried kayaking? This amazing hobby is packed with a multitude of 
benefits far beyond the simple act of sightseeing in a body of water. The act of kayaking 
is one of the most engaging and rigorous workouts seen in boating. 

Popular as a social sport, or a solitary activity, kayaking offers one of the most 
rewarding workouts around. If you continue reading, you will find that the purpose of this 
article is to share a few of the great health benefits of kayaking. 

You’ll Lose Weight

As soon as you get into the water, you’ll realize how much energy it takes to get going. 
If you want to travel at about 6 miles per hour, you are likely to burn up around 400 
calories per hour. This means that an all-day trip with 5 hours of paddle time is going to 
burn about 2000 calories, which isn’t a bad workout at all. 

That doesn’t even include the part of the trip where you have to carry the boat to the 
location, or any of the additional hiking that may need to be done. 

It Reduces stress

Even though you’re using a lot of energy to move through the water, the emotional 
gains you’ll receive from spending time on the water will be priceless. Each moment that 
you spend in nature will give you a relaxing peaceful feeling as you paddle slowly 
through the water. 

Your observation of color will give you perspective and appreciation for the world 
around you before you return to work, not to mention all of the endorphins you’ll be 
pumping through your bloodstream. 

Intense Upper Body Work

It should be fairly expected, but kayaking provides a fierce upper body workout. As you 
paddle through the water, you will perform hundreds of low impact reps that will be great 
for your arms, back, and chest. This repetition of movement practically guarantees that 
you will slowly gain a much firmer, toned physique.  

Great For Your Core

Another great part of kayaking is the constant use of the core muscles. This will give 
you more better balance, toned trim abs, and great cardiovascular health. As you turn 
and paddle through the water, you lower back, abs, arms, and legs will all carry a small 
amount of weight to help you to stay balanced in the boat and control its movements. 

2. Gear You Need to Start Kayaking

Kayaking can be one of the most rewarding boat experiences that you can have 
because of its multifaceted nature. As you paddle through the water on your journey of 
discovery, you will find health benefits of several types, but how do you get started? 
It should be noted that kayaking takes a level of preparedness as well as safety, so this 
article has been compiled for the purpose of telling you the gear you need to start 
kayaking. 

Kayaking Life Vest

If you are planning to go kayaking, one of the most important pieces of gear that you 
need to be sure to include is a kayaking life vest. A kayaking life vest is different from a 
regular life vest in a few small ways. A kayaking life vest is made to give you room to sit 
properly, while being a very snug fit and cut to allow for a much wider range of motion. 
They often include a utility area with pockets that allow you to keep other small supplies 
close to your body for easy availability. Some models even include a utility belt 
attachment option. 

High Quality Paddle

Since the paddle is one of the most important parts of kayaking, it would probably be a 
clever idea to make sure to get something that will suitable for long term use, and is 
also less likely to break. Better quality will see lighter, more durable paddles than the 
less expensive options. 

Size can also be a factor when you’re making your purchase. You should be able to 
hold onto the paddle comfortably without straining. If the paddle doesn’t fit you properly, 
it increases its chances of being lost or very difficult to paddle in your kayak. 

Bilge Pump

This little device could provide a large amount of security for you. A bilge pump has the 
job of getting water out of your kayak that may naturally happen because of water 
lapping the sides of your kayak in fast moving water. 

Water makes your kayak less stable, and the extra weight could cause you to capsize, 
so because the last thing you want is to be upside down in the water, it is essential that 
you remove the water from the boat as quickly as possible.  

Compass and Map

Lastly, you need to have a way to keep track of where you’re going. A compass and 
map will help you to be able to keep track of where you are. If you have purchased the 
life vest that has pockets or a utility section, they will fit nicely in one of the pockets. 

3. Where to go Kayaking

Once you have bought your kayak and are ready to go out, the next thing you need to 
do is decide the location. Every town or city will have certain bodies of water that are 
best for kayakers, but here is a rundown of the three main options you can choose from.

Ocean

The first body of water where you can go kayaking is in the ocean. Naturally, the area 
you go will determine how calm or rough the waters are. With ocean kayaking, you need 
to be really careful with the weather, wind, and how far out you go. This shouldn’t be 
something beginners do on their own. Wear a wet suit so that you remain warm in the 
cold ocean water. 

When you are a beginner, try to go out with others the first few times and head to the 
calm area of the ocean. Heading out from a marina is a good idea because you are not 
near the shore where waves are knocking you around.

River

Another good option for kayaking is find a location in a nearby river. If you like the 
potential for rougher waters and more of a challenge, but are not near an ocean, a river 
is really the next best thing. Just remember you need a kayak specially made for 
whitewaters, along with the right type of paddle. This is also not good for beginners if 
you are going out on your own, but good for kayakers with a little more experience.

Lake

The final option you have is to go kayaking in the lake. This provides calmer waters that 
are good for any skill level. It is good for practicing, learning, and training even if you are 
more advanced.


4. How to Choose the Right Kayak

An important part of kayaking is not just learning the skills, but choosing the right kayak 
for you. There is a lot to think about, from what paddling you are doing to what the 
kayak is being used for. Here are some different options to help get you started on your 
search. 

Decide On Your Paddling

The first choice you will make when deciding on the right kayak for you is looking at the 
type of paddling you are going to do. Think about your current paddling skills and how 
long you will kayak for. 

You want to use a recreation kayak if you are just starting out in calm waters. These are 
meant to give you a little more freedom and are not meant for those rough rivers. So if 
you are in a calm area of the ocean or trying it out in a lake, a recreation kayak should 
be good.

Touring kayaks are better for rougher waters, and are good for longer stretches of water 
and more professional kayaking.

Pick the Right Style

Next up is the style of the kayak. There are two main styles to choose from, including 
the sit-in kayak and the sit-on-top kayak. Here is a rundown of these options:

Sit-In Kayak – For people who really want to learn kayaking and not participate in other 
water sports with the boat, the sit-in kayak is probably more suitable. You will be inside 
the kayak, fitted much more comfortably in a hull, as well as have better storage inside. 

Sit-On-Top Kayak – On the other hand, the sit on top kayak naturally does not have as 
much of a hull design. This is flatter on top since you are sitting on top of the kayak for a 
good amount of time. This type of kayak is best if you also want to fish or play in the 
water while also kayaking, not necessarily just doing kayaking as a sport on its own.

5. Tips For Kayak Camping

Camping is great way for you to get out of the fast-paced modern world and back into 
nature. As a celebrated hobby for people all over the world, camping keeps people 
close to our natural roots. With the introduction of kayaking and camping, people are 
finding greater opportunities for health, and mental well-being, but what do you need to 
know to go kayak camping? This article will be sharing just a few tips for kayak 
camping. 

Pack Light

As far as packing is concerned, you won't have to travel as light as you would for 
backpacking, but you will want to pay strict attention to what you are planning to bring. 
Remember that a kayak does not have a lot of room to house appliances and other 
tools. Be sure to include only the most compact versions of any tool you plan to bring or 
you might find yourself having to leave it on an embankment somewhere. 
 
Bag Sizes

It would be a great idea to use smaller bags than big ones because they have an easier 
time conforming to shape of the kayak. Always be sure to have a way to know which 
bags are for what purpose by using labels or by color coding them. This will help to 
make sure that you know what bag you are grabbing, particularly in case of an 
emergency. 

At this point it would be good to mention that you’ll want to have some relatively high 
quality bags to help protect your items, and make them easy to extract in a hurry. The 
best bags seem to be made of nylon, but contain a spill proof interior that will keep your 
stuff from getting everywhere. Bags that seal and keep wild animals from smelling your 
food supplies are also a very good idea, because encountering a bear in the wilderness 
with a can opener as your only source of protection could be disastrous. 

Keep Your Balance

Be sure to pay very close attention to how you pack your kayak. A safe trip in your 
kayak requires that your kayak stay balanced and upright on the water. If you have 
packed poorly, then a bit of water in the kayak could easily turn into a life-threatening 
situation. Be sure to keep the weights evenly distributed so that the kayak doesn’t begin 
to lean or do anything else that could put you in the water. 




