by Adrian Meissner

Remember when you bought your first car? Or maybe it was a bike. You may have chosen it for its color, or other non-functional features and realized later that you bought it for all the wrong reasons. Don’t make the same mistake with your first canoe. Before you go shopping, there are a few things you need to figure out.

Answer 4 questions about water type, water temperature, air temperature, and weather forecast to instantly check what you should wear before going paddling!

Dan of Headwaters Kayak shares the 5 most common mistakes new paddlers make, and how to fix them to make your time better on the water.

Great for one or two paddlers. I take it out solo all the time and have no issues paddling it.

Find kayaking trips in Virginia for every level of kayaker. Whether you're looking for a guided trip, kayak rentals, self-guided, day trip, multi-day trip, or anything in between, there's a kayaking trip in Virginia for you.

You may have seen the tagline of “Instagram vs. Reality” circulating on the internet. People post two photos simultaneously: a flawless photo and a blooper photo, to show the truth of what we perceive to be real. Here is the “Instagram vs. Reality” of paddling with dogs.

Treading water three miles offshore is no place for a wrong number. Christian Nelson didn’t know the trouble he was in. He was three miles out from Gulf Shores Alabama when the kayak he was trolling from developed a 9-inch crack between the scupper holes.

by Tom Watson

For the casual sun-worshipper, sunlight has a high vanity factor for those seeking the ultimate glowing tans of summer. For others, it's enjoying the simple pleasures of a healthy, invigorating wash of warmth. But there's an evil side to this golden wash of sunshine - the unseen ultraviolet rays. For most sunny day paddlers (or even those under cloud cover), exposure to the sun warrants the same level of safety awareness we have towards wearing a PFD.

Erik Sjöstedt - Mellbystrand, Halland, Sweden

Any experienced SUP paddler will tell you the same thing: once you've inflated it even a time or two with the manual pump, you're over it. It's the most exhausting part of the day! So unless you're really in it for the cardio and shoulder workout, it would be a big step up to consider an Electric Paddle Board Pump.

Amazon Prime Day is here! Take advantage of exclusive deals available to Amazon Prime members. There’s something there for everyone, including lightning deals that only last for a short time. Check out our top deal picks - updated regularly all day on July 12 and 13!

The key to tandem canoeing is to understand your role at whichever end of the boat you are paddling in. A canoe is essentially an elongated oval with a lever on each end. The cool thing is those levers can work at an infinite number of angles, their speed and strength can change on a dime and their reach can be adjusted for maximum efficiency.

• Win a Beach LP2 Inflatable Kayak from TAHE
• Win Any Inflatable Paddle Board from Grey Duck

All June Sweepstakes winners have been contacted and will be posted on the Sweepstakes Winners page.

Getting back on your sit-on-top kayak isn't that hard - if you know how. That's why it's a great idea to take a paddling safety class BEFORE you flip.

So, you’ve got your new kayak this season. You figured out how to transport it. Figured out how to pack it with gear. Most importantly, you figured out how to paddle it. Now, what about storing it? Hopefully some of these tips may help when putting your water companion away until the next adventure.

This video shows an example of why you should never drink and paddle.

by Allyson Saunders

The word portage loosely translates to “carrying heavy sh*t” and it is a time when most of us grit our teeth, lather ourselves in bug spray, and pray that we only have to carry one load. But when push comes to shove, you cannot get to the beautiful, isolated spots without a little blood, sweat and tears. It’s worth it, and to make it a little bit easier, here are 5 Tips for Becoming a Keener Portager.

Body Glove

Our Expert's Review

This is about as thick a wetsuit as we’d want for paddling. Everything but the arms is lined in the namesake Red Cell thermal insulation, including the hood. It’s like snuggling into a microfleece blanket, and really helps getting it on and off. We looked hard for defects and didn’t find any. There’s good reinforcement in high-stress areas, like the corner of the hood attachment. If you’re expecting to be in cold water a lot—surfing, portaging, running rapids, or exposed to spray—we’d choose this wetsuit!

The use of campfires, once a necessity for cooking and warmth, is steeped in history and tradition. Some people would not think of camping without a campfire. Campfire building is also an important skill for every camper. Yet, the natural appearance of many areas has been degraded by the overuse of fires and an increasing demand for firewood.