Cool Kayak Gear & Accessories

Most of us start off kayaking with just the basics… a kayak, a paddle, a PFD and maybe a dry bag.

That’s all you really need for a short day trip but as you find yourself paddling more and more you may want to add some cool kayak gear and safety accessories to your paddling trips.

The below items are not all necessary, it will depend on the type of kayaking trip you are doing and what’s important to you.

However they are all great items that may be worth considering at some point.

DRY CASE DUFFEL BACKPACK

This is one of my favourite kayaking accessories. I don’t actually take it kayaking with me but I use it to store all my kayak gear such as my PFD, my gloves, my bilge pump, dry bags, sunscreen, my paddling booties and usually a towel and change of clothes.

My brother bought this bag for me and I now wouldn’t want to be without it.

It is so handy for keeping all of my paddling gear in one place and the fact that it is waterproof means that I can bring it out in my kayak if I choose to.

It’s an 80L bag and can hold quite a bit of stuff so I would normally only bring it out in my kayak if I am going for an all day adventure. For shorter trips a simple dry bag usually does the trick to keep my essentials dry.

I love having all my stuff stored in one bag so that nothing gets lost and I don’t have to think too hard about what I need to bring.

You can find the Dry Case Duffel Backpack at Amazon.com.

YAK GRIPS

Hands down the number one kayaking accessory I suggest to friends and family are the Yak Grips.

I love these things. Every one I know who uses them loves them.

They basically stop you from getting blisters while paddling. Gloves of course can help too but in hot weather, gloves aren’t always that comfortable.

The Yak Grips provide a little extra cushioning and really make paddling long distances more comfortable.

I find that once they get wet they can move around a little but overall they are totally worth getting and cost very little.

You can find the Yak Grips in a variety of color options and for a great price at Amazon.com.

FOLDING ANCHOR

This is a cool accessory that you might not have thought of with a kayak. It’s great for those who love to fish and need to anchor the kayak to one spot.

I don’t use one myself because I don’t fish but I think it would be very handy for a lot of people.

There are a couple of different ones out there. Advanced Elements makes one but the best one I’ve seen is the Squid Anchor, which is now sold at NRS and Sea Eagle.

It’s well priced and very well made; it constantly gets 5-star reviews, people seem to love it.

DOG WATER BOWL

This one is a must for me because I almost always have my dog with me when I am out kayaking.

Even if you are paddling in fresh water, it’s nice to have a bowl to fill to keep your dog hydrated.

Even though your dog is not exerting himself, he can still get hot and thirsty when out for a couple of hours.

Any little container will work but there are some great packable dog bowls available at most online paddling stores.

STORABLE KAYAK DOLLY

This one isn’t always necessary with an inflatable kayak. The great thing about an inflatable is that it is easy to transport to and from the water as you can carry it in its kayak bag.

However some people choose to inflate their kayak at home. If you have trouble carrying your kayak by yourself to the water, a kayak dolly is a big help.

A storable one means that it folds up and is easily stowed away either in a closet or in the trunk of your vehicle.

WATERPROOF CELL PHONE PROTECTOR

Although it might be nice to completely disconnect from your phone while out on the water, realistically it’s important to have with you.

Besides staying in touch, you may want to use it to take a picture or check in at home. It’s an important safety item.

Keeping your phone dry is paramount. You can keep it in a dry bag but personally I like to have mine close by such as in the pocket of my PFD.

Therefore it needs to be in a waterproof case. There are tons of waterproof cell-phone cases available. Most kayak stores sell them now.

KAYAK SEAT PAD

I find the majority of seats in inflatable kayaks fairly comfortable. Longer trips however can sometimes use a little more cushioning.

You can get a kayak seat pad that will sit either on the floor of your kayak or else on top of your already existing seat.

NRS sells both a firm one and a soft one. I would recommend the soft one personally. It’s not totally necessary but it’s a nice comfort item that some people like.

KAYAK SAIL

These are so cool and there are quite a few to choose from now.

A kayak sail will allow you to ride the wind, take a break from paddling and have a lot of fun.

They come in several different shapes and sizes and a wide price range. There is really one to suit every need.

PADDLING GLOVES

Although I don’t use my paddling gloves as often as I used to now that I have the Yak Grips, I still am very happy to have them.

For longer paddling trips or colder weather, they are a must. They will protect your hands from the elements and from nasty blisters.

TOW TETHER

A tow tether is a great idea if you will be out kayaking with other people. It’s a handy safety tool to have. If anything goes wrong with someone else’s kayak, you can help tow them back to shore.

This is especially nice to have if you will be kayaking with kids.

As you kayak more and more you will get a very good idea which gear is necessary for you and which is not.