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Interested in striking out on your first kayak trip? There is a lot to talk about so I will break this up in separate parts so this don’t get to boring. First we’re going to cover what’s important when it comes to planning your first kayak trip. What’s the most important thing you think about when you decide to plan a kayak trip? Ok now packing the cooler isn’t the number one! But more on that later. Whether planning a trip with friends or a solo trip, your first thought should be about safety, I know it’s boring, but trust me coming home safe and sound should be your number one priority
Life Jackets:
What’s the most important thing you think about when you decide to plan a kayak trip? It’s really not to hard, but it’s something that we have to discuss. First thing is a good life jacket! You may not realize it, but there is a difference. Yes I know that a good life jacket is not cheap, but with that being said you can find an inexpensive life vest that will do the job. Where I live in Alabama it is the law to have it with you (but not on you) at all times while on the water. Oh and a little bonus don’t forget about the whistle, that is mandatory too in Alabama as well. You really should check your state and local laws to make sure you have everything you need. Not just to be safe, but so you don’t get a ticket while you are out there. Below are just a few that will do the job form inexpensive to more expensive. Just remember some are geared toward fishing, but they all will work just fine. This is for everyone that chooses to embark on this fun and exciting adventure.
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First Aid Kit:
I always have in mind what if something happens while I’m on the water. Keep in mind that we are talking about kayaks and you are limited on space and you have to think about weight also. I always have a small first aid kit with me on my kayak that is accessible. Just don’t pack it in the bottom of some random dry bag that you will have to ask yourself (now what did I do with that thing). It don’t have to be something really big unless you are kayaking with a large crowd and want to be prepared then by all means go for it! Below are a few that range from a basic kit to something more for a survival situation, but all are compact enough to fit on most kayaks.
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Water And Food:
I will include water and food together on this one, but if you notice I’ve put water first! I’ve seen to many times people don’t bring enough water or none at all. For me if I’m going to be gone for a day trip in the summer I try to bring 4 or 5 bottles of water. I have also used what some call a camelbak water bladder. The water bladder that I have will hold around 4 16oz bottles of water. The only thing is it will not stay cold for very long, but if you don’t mine that it works great. I have seen insulated ones also but they only stay cold for so long in the heat. What I do is have a cooler that will fit in my kayak and I can put water along with some food in there as well. We don’t want to forget about the food so what I take is a zip lock bag for anything that I have with me to eat. You may be thinking what to bring on a kayak to eat, well I always try to keep it simple. Try to avoid things that you think will melt, such as candy or chocolate . I’ve found that some nuts, peanut butter or peanut butter and jelly sandwich for your sweet tooth, beef jerky or something along those lines work good and will give you a little boost to get you though the day.
Dry Storage :
This is another area that some don’t put a lot of thought into! Do you bring along extra stuff? If so a dry bag is a must! I know we are talking about just a day trip, but I’m sure you will appreciate having one with you. You can take a small dry bag and pack plenty of what you may need for the day. I will link some below that are plenty big enough for a few things you may want to bring. The link below is for the small 5L dry bag that I use for a day trip, but you can choose the size that fits your needs.
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Extra Clothing:
I’ve made this mistake so you don’t have too lol! Nine times out of ten you may never use extra cloths you bring, but I know you have heard (it’s better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them). Extra cloths is something I always have with me. For instance if you get caught up in a storm and when it’s all cleared up it sure is nice to have a dry towel to dry off with and some dry cloths to put on. Even if you get out somewhere swimming just to have a dry towel is nice to have with you. One last place you will want to have some dry cloths is for the ride home especially if you have to drive very for at all.
Sunblock And Bug Spray :
I don’t want to forget to talk about this. This is as important as some of the other stuff we talked about. I’ve been sunburned and tore up by mosquitoes and what we in the south call red bugs lol. This may sound simple, but trust me on this you will be glad you did!
Part 1 : Conclusion :
Having fun is the whole purpose of getting out there, but safety should be on your mind at all times. Having a life vest is not only a good idea it’s the law.
First aid is something you may not think about, but there is a lot of hazards out on the water. Believe it or not people throw there trash in the water and I’ve seen so much broken glass in the water, so just a simple first aid kit can be priceless.
Water and food is a must to stay hydrated and to give you that little boost to get you though the day.
Dry bags for food, clothes and a dry towel is something some may say is not necessary, but trust me it sure is nice to have with you on the water even if you do need it.
We will talk about kayaks, paddles and other gear in another post so we will have more on this topic soon!
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Bama Outdoors 
Enjoyed your blog.
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Thank you sir! This is new territory lol.
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