shopping guide

Your First Day: The equipment and gear you need for your first time is fairly minimal. Most of the clothing and gear share a common characteristic, the clothing is synthetic, not cotton, and it dries quickly as a result.

For the body

For pool sessions in the winter all that is needed is a swimsuit and shorts. A lightweight synthetic shirt of fleece or thin neoprene will do the job to take the chill off in the pool, add a pair of nose plugs and you are all set.

In the spring and fall when water and air temps are cooler, dressing in layers is recommended. First, you have a wicking layer next to the skin. Second, is the insulating layer to keep you warm. Third, is the paddle jacket, which we provide. With this combination you will be comfortable when paddling in cool water. A lot of skiing, biking and jogging clothing works great for paddling too.

Even on hot or warm days, a lightweight synthetic layer is good for extra warmth and sun protection. Shorts and swimsuits are great for the guys and a lot of women find it more comfortable to wear board shorts over their swimsuits when in the kayak.

For the feet

Footwear is one of the most overlooked pieces of gear. There will be many times when you will find yourself walking and carrying your boat or wading to shore. Appropriate kayak footwear is close-toed, stays on when swimming and is flexible so it fits in the kayak. Pool shoes and water shoes from target or Costco are great options at first. In addition, neoprene dive booties are an excellent alternative. Most students end up investing in a better pair of shoes when they decide to take up the sport. Here are some great examples of shoes out there. The Kicker Wetshoe and The Desperado Sock are great all around pieces of footwear. While "teva" type sandals can work, we do not recommend them because they often do not fit in boats and they leave the foot unprotected.

Boats

So now you tried kayaking with us and you are hooked. At some point you will find it more convenient to get your own boat and gear so you can get to the river anytime you want. This is a big decision and it warrants some thought. LAKS instructors have a great knowledge base and can help you pinpoint decisions or at least narrow down your search. We recommend finding a used boat similar to the ones we have been teaching you in. Many factors go in to deciding which boat to pick out. Here are some thoughts from our good friends at NOC and many other professionals in the field, no sense recreating the wheel.

An agressive, fast learning student would likely benefit from the extra challanges and rewards that a playboat offers. Students with a more average rate of progression often prefer river running type boats such as those we use for teaching. Don't forget to ask yourself, Can I be comfortable in this boat for a few hours? In addition, identify your aspirations. Do you want to be running Great Falls in a few years? Or would you be happier enjoying a saturday afternoon confidently running rapids like those found below Great Falls? Either way we can get you there. But it is important that you choose a kayak that is going to keep you challanged, but not frustrated. Expect to spend between $350 and $550 for a used kayak of a somewhat modern design (planning hull).

If you are a quick learner consider the-

Pyranha Recoil / Ammo they have sizes to accomadate paddlers from 100-250lbs

Eskimo Xeno, 140-180lbs

Jackson Fun, 60-250lbs

Liquid Logic Trigger / Lil' Joe / Hoss, 80-220lbs

If you are learning at a more average pace, consider the-

Eskimo Salto, inspires a lot of confidence and is easy to roll. 120-180lbs

Eskimo Kendo, a speedy little boat great for all kinds of rivers and is easy to roll. 120-180lbs

Dagger Mamba, 100-250lbs

Liquid Logic Trigger / Lil' Joe / Hoss, 80-220lbs

* We have a large fleet that we sell off bi-annually, once in the fall when river classes end and again in the spring when we come back from Mexico *

Other Equipment

If you bought a used boat you may have saved a bit of $$ and can afford a bit more on gear. Good thinking. These will be listed in order of what you could consider spending more on.

Paddle – A straight shaft fiberglass Werner is a true classic. Look for a good mid range paddle between $150 and $250. You may loose your first paddle, so don't spend a fortune.

Helmet – Try these from Shred Ready, get one that fits well and is designed for the sport. No real need to go Fiberglass or Kevlar on your first helmet, unless that is all that fits you.

PFD – Same advice and you can try something from Astral for the design and environmentally consciousness, or try something from Extrasport.

Skirt – Immersion Research makes some really dry skirts and are good friends of Tom and Liquid Adventures. We have also had good experiences with Snapdragon and Mountain Surf. Note that skirts are sized for the waist and the boat, tunnel and cockpit size respectively. Most modern river runners and playboats are a large keyhole.

Local outdoor stores to shop:

NOVA – EMS, Casual Adventure, REI, Hudson Trail
MD – REI, Hudson Trail
DC – Patagonia, Helley Hansen, Hudson Trail
Online Favorites – NRS, Immersion Research, Sierra Trading Post, Zappos (for shoes), NOC, Colorado Kayak Supply

Although, a bit further away Starrkmoon offers a great selection of new and used boats. Appomattox River Company is known to offer great deals on new gear.