The Best Summer Paddling Gear for 2023
Do you love spending sunny summer days out on the water? Are you constantly planning your next canoeing, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding trip? Then this gear guide is for you. We’ve rounded up 12 of the best gear items you need to hit the water this season.
Mustang Survival MIT 100 Convertible A/M Inflatable PFD
Canadian law requires every person on board a watercraft to have a lifejacket or PFD. This includes human-powered vessels like canoes, kayaks and SUPs. To be safe while paddling, we recommend always wearing a PFD. For one you won’t want to take off, check out Mustang Survival. My partner and I were stoked to use the MIT (Membrane Inflatable Technology) 100 this summer. The thin, front-entry PFD sits flush against your chest without restricting movement while paddling. With the new automatic/manual model, you can easily convert between an automatic and manual inflation by swapping the included inflator caps. Most paddlers will like the manual option.
Buy it here: mustangsurvival.ca
Serene Life Stand-Up Paddleboard
Due to a previous back injury, I can’t currently SUP, so I asked my friend and explore contributor April Thompson to share a bit about her search for a SUP: “I decided to go with the brand Serene Life because they had great reviews and were within my budget. Before getting my paddle board, I was super worried about the fact that I needed to get an inflatable one due to not having much storage space. I thought it would surely pop! I had rented paddle boards before, but none of them were inflatable. Luckily, the material is very durable and thick, and the board comes with a repair kit in case it gets damaged. I find that it’s easy to balance on and it isn’t as difficult to inflate as I thought it might be. I also love that the board came with a paddle, pump, repair kit, carrying bag and everything I needed to start paddling.”
Buy it here: amazon.ca
Tobin Sports Wavebreak Inflatable Kayak
For our first kayak purchase, my partner and I were looking for an affordable, portable kayak that would take us to more places offshore. A water-bound vessel equals freedom and less crowds, especially in Canada’s popular outdoor hotspots. We love this kayak, which we found discounted at a big box outlet, for short trips on calm lakes. It isn’t sleek or high-performance, doesn’t slice through waves effortlessly and I wouldn’t trust it on the open ocean, but it floats and gets us where we want to go. The paddles are a bit short, so we get soaked from the swinging drips—but on hot summer days, it’s quite refreshing. With comfortable and adjustable seats with backrests, a hand pump with PSI gauge for easy setup, two removeable fins and a conveniently storable fold-down size, it’s a great beginner kayak.
Buy it here: costco.ca
Outbound Slip-on Water Shoes
We dashed to Canadian Tire for a pair of affordable water shoes to wear on a hike to a hot spring river in Iceland, but I’ve been wearing them consistently throughout the summer in Canada, too. I’m no longer stumbling over slippery or sharp rocks or cringing as coarse seaweed threads between my toes. These low-cut, flexible water shoes do exactly what you’d expect: they keep your bare feet from touching the lake, river or ocean floor while offering grip and protection. The nylon and mesh uppers allow water to drain out easily, although sand and mud stick to the shoes, requiring a thorough cleaning.
Buy it here: Shop Women’s | Shop Men’s
The Happy Camper Canoe Paddle by Badger
Kevin Callan
If you want to paddle in style this summer, invest in this limited-edition paddle made in collaboration with our columnist Kevin Callan, aka The Happy Camper. Here’s what he has to say about this paddle: “The tripper design is the perfect all-around paddle. The beaver tail shaped blade carries its volume a little higher with a thin tip allowing for a smoother entry into the water, with plenty of volume once the full blade enters the water in the midpoint of your stroke. The custom grip is a blend between the classic and woodland grip, with a flared-out portion to create a larger surface allowing for changing hand positions. It’s called ‘palming the paddle’ and was a paddling technique used by the voyageurs to help travel great distances with less strain on the hands.”
Buy it here: badgerpaddles.com
Brixton Beta Packable Bucket Hat
Keep the sun off your face and paddle into sunset without squinting while wearing the Beta Packable Bucket Hat. With a two-inch brim, it shades your eyes from the sun and saves your neck from sunburn. It’s packable, folding or scrunching to fit in any bag or side pocket, only to pop back into shape easily. Made of 100 per cent cotton twill, it’s a comfortable bucket hat to wear while paddling. I like how it protects my scalp and hair from the frigid drips off my paddle.
Buy it here: ca.brixton.com
Devold Lauparen Merino Collection
Roirecreation.com
Devold Lauparen are soft and light garments knitted with 100 per cent fine Merino wool. This quality ensures excellent temperature regulation, breathability and comfort. Lauparen is equipped with strategically placed mesh panels to ensure optimal ventilation. Flat seams and side panels provide optimal comfort under a dry suit or PFD. Lauparen offers performance for warm and cold weather paddling. This rib knitted collection is hard-wearing, elastic and comfortable with fine, 18.7-micron wool at a weight of 190 g m/2. It’s machine washable (tumble dry).
Link: roirecreation.com
MEC Landscapes Nalgene
It’s important to stay hydrated while out on the water. This classic Nalgene bottle has been a staple in outdoor adventurer’s gear stash ever since it first hit the scene in 1949. I’ve already dropped my new bottle a ton of times, and it’s durable, leakproof and hardy. The 50 per cent recycled plastic bottle is lightweight, easy to carry, quick to clean and offers a wide mouth for gulping down water while paddling on the water. The one-litre capacity lasts me for all-day water-based adventures. I went ahead and got two—the loop top is easy to clip onto our new kayak.
Buy it here: mec.ca
Waterproof Map Pouch
Cell phone batteries can die, external battery chargers can lose their juice and even GPS watches might not work. Knowing how to read a physical paper map can be a life-saving skill… unless that map gets wet, soggy and unreadable. Made of thick waterproof vinyl with a zip-tech closure, nylon webbing straps and four carabiners, this map pouch is a must-have for canoe trippers, day paddlers, kayakers and SUP’ers. Attach it to your vessel of choice (SUP, kayak or canoe) with one of the corner clips.
Buy it here: explore-mag.com
Australian Gold Botanical Mineral Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50
Londondrugs.com
After testing several different options, I’m happy to report a clear winner for my favourite sunscreen. This mineral sunscreen absorbs into the skin impressively well. Made with eight per cent titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, it is a non-chemical sun protection lotion. It leaves skin soft, matte and smelling wonderful with a subtle citrus oasis scent. It’s not greasy or sticky, and it’s water resistant for up to 80 minutes. Bring it on your boat and reapply as you paddle.
Buy it here: londondrugs.com
Kathmandu Flaxton Women’s Long Sleeve Shirt
Kathmanduoutdoor.ca
After launching in New Zealand 30 years ago, Kathmandu is the number-one outdoor brand in Australasia. The company’s purpose is to improve the wellbeing of people around the world by getting more people outdoors. I was delighted to try this comfortable yet professional long sleeve shirt as a coverup while paddling. It’s difficult to find shade on the water, so toss this on as a lightweight top to avoid sun overexposure while paddling around islands and floating in peaceful bays. It features sustainable hemp material paired with cotton and wears like a crisp, breathable, collared shirt.
Buy it here: kathmanduoutdoor.ca
MEC Classic PolarPlus Long Fleece
Warm up after a day on the water with this warm, cozy fleece that will have you snug as a bug in a fleece rug. I zipped up the 100 per cent recycled polyester jacket in the Oat Milk/Foliage colour post-kayak. While relaxing at the campsite, I was pleased to find it shrugged on like a luxury sherpa wool coat/blanket. The hidden chest pocket (marked with a bright orange pull-tab for those who struggle to find it) and the reinforced elbows in a gorgeous green fabric are my favourite features. The short version is unisex, so size down; the long is women’s-specific, so I chose to size up. The length is impressive—the XL goes down almost to my knees (and I’m nearly six feet tall)—I couldn’t imagine anything comfier after a day battling wind, weather and waves.
Note: This item launches July 27th and will likely sell out. Sign up for early bird access here.
Buy it here: mec.ca
Check out more gear:
Roundup: The Best Summer Camping Gear
The Best Summer Hiking Gear for 2023
The Way of the Wolf: Kayaking Through the Place of Spirits
