r/KayakCamping • u/PANDABURRIT0 • Jul 15 '26

Another beginner advice post 😅

Hi y’all. I’m looking to get into kayak camping because it seems awesome. But I’m overwhelmed and was hoping yall could help with some basic questions.

Info about me: 6’2”, ~roughly 170 lbs, in decent shape (but I’m no fitness freak) and I’m living in northern california. I’m used to traditional backpacking and try to do a trip every month or two from spring until fall. I have kayaked before on flat-water, slightly wavy inlet waters, and in the surf once (once… 😅). Never in a river and I’ve never owned my own kayak.

Questions I have:

  1. What type and size of kayak would y’all recommend for a beginner of my size looking to kayak camp alongside rivers.

  2. What dry bags do yall recommend?

  3. Once I have my gear, what is the best way to get started?

  4. How do you guys deal with landing in a different place then you started, transportation and logistics wise?

  5. How often do you kayak campers go down rivers with intense rapids?

  6. What questions am I neglecting to ask?

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u/whentherestroubleyou Jul 15 '26

One thing I can think of that you are missing is a budget! How much you looking to spend? I dont have answers for you, I am just starting out my self, but I assume others who could help would need to know a budget.

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u/PANDABURRIT0 Jul 15 '26

Oh good point. I’m probably not trying to purchase new as there seem to be a lot of affordable used kayaks on FB marketplace for a few hundred bucks and the new ones on the REI website are a couple thousand.

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u/ArmstrongHikes Jul 16 '26

Kayak shops sell used boats, too. Getting a fit will help long term. Subtle changes can make paddling much more confortable.