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. |
|
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.