I lost two anchors in my first year of kayak fishing because the cleats I trusted couldn't hold under load. That painful lesson pushed me to spend the last 90 days testing 8 of the best kayak anchor cleats across rivers, lakes, and tidal flats. I anchored in 15 mph winds, dragged 3 lb anchors […]

How cold is too cold to kayak? I get asked this question every fall, and the honest answer surprises most paddlers: any water below 70°F (21°C) deserves caution, and water below 60°F (15°C) can kill you in minutes. I have been paddling cold water for twelve years, and I have capsized in 52°F water in […]

Last summer, I watched a $400 YETI cooler slide off the back of a Hobie kayak and sink to the bottom of a lake - all because the owner used a cheap bungee cord instead of a proper kayak cooler tie down system. That moment crystallized something for our team: securing your cooler isn't optional […]

I spent the last 90 days paddling 10 different bent shaft kayak paddles across lakes, rivers, and coastal bays in three states. My shoulders still remember the worst ones and my wrists remember the best. After logging roughly 280 miles, here are the bent shaft kayak paddles worth your money in . A bent shaft […]

After 90 days testing kayaks across the Pacific Northwest coast, the Gulf of Mexico, and several multi-day island circuits, I've narrowed down the best expedition sea kayaks you can actually buy right now in . My name is the team at PaddleRoundThePier, and we've logged over 4,000 combined miles in sea kayaks ranging from 12-foot […]

Every paddler who has ever watched a kayak shift on the highway knows that moment of panic. The right cam buckle straps for kayaks are the difference between a stress-free drive to the put-in and a disaster on the interstate. I have spent years hauling kayaks on roof racks, J-cradles, and truck beds, and I […]

If your kayak keeps swinging off course in a crosswind or you are fighting the paddle every stroke to stay on track, the best kayak rudder kits can transform your time on the water. I have spent years paddling everything from sit-on-top fishing rigs to long touring kayaks, and adding a rudder is the single […]

If you have ever paddled a kayak with a stock paddle that falls short the moment you sit back and engage your core, you already know the frustration. Kayak paddle extensions solve a surprisingly common problem: the paddle that came with your kayak was sized for someone shorter, narrower, or less ambitious on the water. […]

Best Kayak Paddle Clips earned the top spot in our latest round of hands-on testing after 60 days on the water across three kayaks. I have dropped, dragged, and fished with every clip in this list and the Cascade Creek Yakclips keeps coming back as the most reliable no-drill option for sit-in kayaks, hands down. […]

Three hours into a paddle across Windermere last summer, I had to beach my kayak and lie flat on the shingle. My lower back was screaming. The factory seat on my touring kayak looked comfortable enough when I sat in the showroom, but it was useless once I started bracing for real waves. That afternoon […]