Whitewater kayaking? Bring Along The Helmet

I was amazed recently when I was on a paddling excursion on the Roaring Fork river here in Colorado and saw a group of paddlers negotiating a set of Class III rapids, and not one of them was wearing a helmet. Now I know that there’s a daredevil attitude among a lot of young people these days (as I suppose there always has been), but there’s a big difference between riding a motorcycle without a helmet and paddling a whitewater kayak without one.

Unfortunately, the media and advertising industries only perpetuate this idea that a helmet is optional equipment while kayaking. Many magazines and product catalogs show people gleefully paddling away as bare-headed as the day they were born. It’s as if they’re afraid of losing sales if they show people acting responsibly on the water.

Now I know that a lot of sea and flatwater kayakers figure that they don’t need a helmet, but they can be at just as much risk for a head injury, especially in heavy surf.

I realize that it’s a free country and there are no government regulations mandating the use of helmets while kayaking. But nothing would spoil a great outing faster than having to fish a paddling buddy with a fractured skull out of the water. Or worse yet, suffering the fractured skull yourself.

Most paddlers understand this, of course, and would never go near whitewater without their helmet strapped securely to their head. But sea kayaker and even canoeists need to realize the risk of paddling without a helmet. Anytime there’s a risk of dumping your boat and slamming your head against something hard, you need to
seriously consider buying and wearing a good helmet.

And it goes without saying that if you’re bringing your kids along on your next paddling adventure, each one of them will need helmets too. Even if you’re kayaking on a placid lake, the weather can change in a hurry, and there’s always the possibility of accidentally clocking your child in the head with your paddle.
So take my advice and go out and buy yourself a good helmet. Ignore the magazine ads. Leave the bravado at home – or at least until your back on your motorcycle.

No Play in that old Playboat?

Are you losing ground--not to mention bragging rights--to your buddies in their sleek new playboats? Has your trusty old kayak been dinged and patched so many times it's beginning to resemble a crash test dummy? Or are you new to the sport and looking for your first whitewater kayak?

If so, you might consider purchasing your next boat from one of the online merchants. Retail paddling shops are great if you can find one, but most only carry one or two brands, and expect to pay the full retail price. Online merchants, on the other hand, often carry several brands and dozens of kayak models, and usually at very competitive prices. They have secure ordering systems, good warranty and return policies, and will ship virtually anywhere in the world. And you won't have to spend a weekend driving all over town in search of that perfect new boat.

If you've got a moment, check out one of our recommended merchants. You'll be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

Backcountry.com
Shop Backcountry.com for a great selection of name brand whitewater kayaks, including Perception and Dagger.

Tips & Tricks

Testing new equipment.

Always test new equipment before going out on the
water. A seat cushion may come loose and get jammed
forward when you reenter the cockpit. That new bilge
pump you just bought may be defective. Or the
batteries that came with your new VHF radio may only
work for 20 minutes. The same rule applies to gear
that's been in storage for a long period of time.
Always test, and you won't be surprised at a
critical moment on the water.