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 report 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.
