5 Things Kayakers Should Keep In Their Life Jackets

We've all heard about carrying a watch, a whistle, and a knife with you down the river, but what about items to store inside your personal floatation device? Besides sunscreen, chapstick, and extra snacks, what else should kayakers pack in their lifejacket?

Here are our team's top recommendations: 3 Carabiners + 2 Prusik Cord + 1 Webbing
You shouldn’t keep a pin kit for
your kayak in your kayak - if
your kayak gets pinned, well,
you then can’t get your pin kit.
Also, familiarize yourself with
knowing how to use your pin kit.
If you are a visual learner, we
recommend learning from the
Z-Drag Crib Sheet.
3 Carabiners + 2 Prusik Cords + 1
10' Length of Webbing
Extra Noseplugs
 
You won’t know that you’ll need
these until you need these, so
go ahead and grab an extra pair.
It’s great to carry an extra pair of
noseplugs in your pfd in case
the pair on my helmet gets
pulled off. 
Earplugs

As a kayaker, protecting your ears is really important. Earplugs are great to store and hold inside your PFD until you need to use them - usually when you begin playboating/surfing or if you’re in big water where swimming is a possibility.

 
Honorable Mention: Tow Tether

Tow tethers are a great addition for any paddle under Class III. It's worth bringing along if you are teaching someone new how to paddle and can handle the added bulk in your PFD. 

 

1 comment

Kent

Kent

You should always carry a trash bag, keeping our rivers clean should always be a priority.

What do you think? Leave a comment

All comments are moderated before being published

About Us

We're a group of whitewater kayak, raft, and stand up paddleboard enthusiasts committed to stocking the highest-quality gear and deliver it to you as quickly as possible.

Learn more about us

Don't Forget About These

What else are we up to?

View all
First Impressions: Finding Her Flow in the Jackson Kayak Flow Whitewater Kayak

First Impressions: Finding Her Flow in the Jackson Kayak Flow Whitewater Kayak

Jonny Ortiz
A quick run down of the new Swiss Army Knife of Kayaks, the Jackson Kayak Flow from CKS customer Halie Orr! I was just taking off the river the day...
Gear Up for Fall Releases

Gear Up for Fall Releases

Jonny Ortiz
As the crisp air settles in for Fall Paddling season with popular events such as Beaverfest, Gorefest, Gauley Fest and Russell Fork Rendevous, make sure you are prepared with the gear you’ll need to have to stay comfortable and support your team on the river! Here are a few recommendations from CKS Online's Lead Buyer, Jonny Ortiz.
Jackson Kayak Rockstar V - Why We Still Love it in 2023

Jackson Kayak Rockstar V - Why We Still Love it in 2023

Jonny Ortiz
As water levels gradually drop, we find ourselves praying for rain and anticipating fall releases to alleviate the low water blues. My focus has s...