Paddling Education

Last spring, I was the first person to enter Houlton, Maine’s Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race with a stand-up paddle board (SUP). It was also my first time stand-up paddling a river.

Paddling on rivers—whether with a kayak, canoe, packraft or paddle board—requires a knowledge of how rivers flow and a solid foundation of paddling skills. The faster the river and bigger the rapids, the more knowledge and skills you need.

When it comes time to choose a SUP board (stand-up paddle board) there are a few questions you’ll want to answer.

Kayak portability is a huge must for some paddlers. In this video, our friend Dan Arbuckle (of Headwaters Kayak) compares two highly-portable kayaks: a small hardshell model and a folding model.

How do you know which fishing kayak is right for you? Aqua Bound Ambassador Ken Whiting goes over several tips for you to choose the right fishing kayak in this video…

Aqua Bound Ambassador Caj Koskinen and his wife Katja are avid packrafters in the Scandinavian wilderness areas of Sweden, Norway and their home country of Finland. Here Caj shares his favorite packraft destinations in Sweden.

So you want to buy a kayak. How do you know if a sit-on-top or a traditional sit-inside kayak is best for you? Here are some things to consider.

We’re excited to announce that Aqua Bound’s Sting Ray Carbon kayak paddle has won Paddling Magazine’s award for 2023 Best Paddle!

Kayaking is such a great paddle sport for beginners. It’s easy to learn, fun and a great way to get active in nature. But there are things to learn, both for your enjoyment and safety.

Should you buy an inflatable or a solid paddleboard? Let’s take a look at the advantages of each to help you make your decision…

When Canadian wildfire fighter, Ben Kwiatkowski, contacted us about a partnership with his adventure racing team we were excited to jump on board with them. We knew our paddles are tough enough to help them compete with the world’s best.

Aqua Bound Ambassador Charles Bauer loves to kayak in new places both in the US and abroad. He’s found his Tango 4-piece paddle to be his favorite traveling companion…

Modern packrafting was born out of innovation by packrafters, and continues to be driven by that same innovation. You can be sure the products made will live up to the rigors and demands of this paddlesport.

The Paint Rock River in North Alabama is a perfect choice for anyone who loves a relaxing day on the water. No tough rapids, lovely scenery, a refreshing summer float—whether you’re a new kayaker or an experienced one, you’ll love the Paint Rock.

Here’s a wrap-up of our readers’ favorite content for 2022—a great place to start if you’re new to Aqua Bound or just looking for fun paddling content.

What would it be like to kayak in Antarctica? Aqua Bound Ambassador and pro kayaker, David Horkan, knows first-hand. He works as a guide for an expedition cruise ship company that takes their guests there.

It’s nothing new to kayak in the dark, especially with a full moon or with lots of city lights to show us our way. But with new technology, glow-in-the-dark paddling opportunities are emerging.

It’s that time of year when gift giving is on our mind. We want to help you out by suggesting some of our favorite kayak, SUP and packraft brands for all your paddling friends and family.

The Red Deer River starts its journey in the Rocky Mountains. It winds across the province, north of Calgary, where it drops through class II to class IV rapids, and eventually widens and calms north of Drumheller in the Badlands.

Most people hesitate to try whitewater kayaking because what they usually think of are the daredevils throwing themselves off waterfalls and other equally risky situations!

One of the most wonderful things about kayaking—and all paddle sports, really—is that it’s easier on our body than many outdoor activities. But the aches and pains do come sometimes, so how can we minimize them?