Start here · Essential guide
Kayaking Facts
Kayaking facts on history, kayak types, famous journeys, river difficulty, health benefits and safety, including the 120 rule and how likely a kayak is to flip.
Kayaking & canoeing
Get on the water, paddle with confidence.
Practical kayaking and canoeing guides: choosing a boat, paddling skills, safety, gear, laws and places to paddle.
71 in-depth guides
15 topics
Oct 2026 latest guide
Featured guides
Guides to start with
Each one links on to more specific articles in its topic.
Best Kayak for Beginners
Not sure which kayak to buy first? Learn what makes a good beginner kayak, from stability and size to sit-on-top vs sit-inside, plus safety and buying tips.
Kayaking Gear Checklist: Everything to Pack Before You Paddle
A practical kayaking gear checklist covering safety equipment, clothing, food and water, repair items and extras for longer trips, so you launch prepared.
Kayak vs Canoe: Differences and Similarities
Kayak vs canoe explained: how seating, paddles, stability, gear space and handling differ, what the two share, and how to decide which suits you.
Essential Kayaking Skills
The core kayaking skills every paddler should build, from sitting and holding the paddle to strokes, launching, self-rescue and judging conditions.
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Basics & Gear
Kayaking basics, choosing a kayak, gear and kayak versus canoe.
Kayaking Basics 3 guides, starting with Kayaking Facts. 3 guides Choosing a Kayak 4 guides, starting with Best Kayak for Beginners. 4 guides Kayaking Gear 3 guides, starting with Kayaking Gear Checklist: Everything to Pack Before You Paddle. 3 guides Kayak vs Canoe & Alternatives 4 guides, starting with Kayak vs Canoe: Differences and Similarities. 4 guides
Skills, Safety & Fitness
Strokes, whitewater, safety and the health side of kayaking.
Kayaking Skills & Technique 7 guides, starting with Essential Kayaking Skills. 7 guides Whitewater Kayaking 4 guides, starting with Whitewater Kayaking Guide. 4 guides Kayak Safety 5 guides, starting with Kayak Capsizing: What to Do If You Flip. 5 guides Kayaking Health & Fitness 4 guides, starting with Benefits of Kayaking for Body and Mind. 4 guides
Canoeing
Canoe history, types, parts and paddling skills.
Trips & Rules
Laws and regulations, destinations, river trips and canoe trips.
Kayak Canoe Laws 6 guides, starting with Kayak and Canoe Laws by State. 6 guides Kayaking Destinations 6 guides, starting with Best Places to Go Kayaking. 6 guides River Kayaking Trips 5 guides, starting with Kayaking the Mississippi River: Source to Gulf Planning Guide. 5 guides Canoe Trips 5 guides, starting with Planning a Family Canoe Trip. 5 guides