Kayak Skirts / Spray Skirts - Everything You Need to Know About Them

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For some kayakers, spray skirts are unnecessary. For others, spray skirts are a helpful piece of gear. For some kayakers, spray skirts are essential pieces of gear! In this video we talk in depth about kayak skirts (spray skirts) and answer the questions; do I need a skirt for my kayak? What skirt should I get for my kayak? Are kayak skirts dangerous to use? How do I use a kayak skirt properly?
Gear I have tested and recommend:
Paddles:
Aqua-bound Manta Ray Carbon 2-piece (rec/touring) bit.ly/43KLWQb
Aqua-Bound Manta Ray Hybrid 2-piece (Rec/Touring bit.ly/41VdlND
Aqua-bound Shred (whitewater) bit.ly/3L9h04E
PFDs:
NRS Chinook PFD (fishing) bit.ly/3AaGAzS
NRS Zen PFD (whitewater) bit.ly/3odrMxK
NRS Odyssey PFD (Touring and Rec) bit.ly/41yCpK0
Dry Gear / Layers:
NRS Flux Dry Top bit.ly/41EvCyC
NRS Riptide Splash Jacket bit.ly/3L9awmd
NRS Axiom Dry Suit bit.ly/3A6RdUj
Shirts:
NRS Silkweight Long-Sleeve Shirt - Mens bit.ly/3KOMegb
NRS Guide Short Sleeve Shirt bit.ly/41jskkf
Pants:
NRS Benny Board Shorts bit.ly/41fyAtm
Footwear:
NRS Boundary Boot: bit.ly/3Lb8Clo
NRS Kicker Wetshoe: bit.ly/3H6Sjna
NRS Paddle Wetshoe: bit.ly/3V3cYhx
Astral PFD Sandal bit.ly/41EiFVc
Sunglasses: Wiley X Outdoor Sun Glasses bit.ly/3NtJQKR
Other Paddling Gear:
NRS WRSI Current Helmet bit.ly/3L90rpz
NRS Drylander Shock Cord Sprayskirt bit.ly/41g8C9l
Surf Ears Ear Plugs bit.ly/3AbMl1y
GoPro Hero 11 Black amzn.to/3ZWVXHN
Rapid Pure Purifier amzn.to/3iuIo1C
Zoleo Satellite Communicator amzn.to/3kv0hOt
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Special thanks to my Global Partners for supporting my mission of helping get people on the water and creating life-long outdoor participants.
Outdoorplay: www.outdoorplay.com/
NRS: www.nrs.com/
Wiley X: www.wileyx.com/
Check out our full Paddling Gear Guide here: in4adventure.com/paddling-buy...
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[@maryhenry3257]

Love Ken’s gear reviews - so much good info! I remember hearing my first year paddling that you ‘wear your kayak, you don’t simply sit in it’. Years later and after paddling in rough conditions and larger waves, I get how true that is. I find wearing a skirt helps me engage my lower body below deck, much better; I feel more connected with my kayak. Re the dork factor, I wear a carabiner on my pfd and another on my skirt’s grab loop, and when not sitting inside the kayak, I link them - it gets the skirt mostly out of the way which also really helps climbing in and out of the cockpit.

[@chrisbresh8817]

Nice video, thank you. Another point nobody ever talks about is that Greenland paddles tend to drip a lot more than the European paddles.

[@GLGolden55]

Not my experience, love my Gram 3-piece. Drips seem to be a result of paddle angle rather than type of paddle, IMO.

[@slighwentwalking2024]

I use a skirt on some outings. My preferred paddling spots do not require one. Some of the places I paddle have trees and brush overhead.. A cockpit cover of some kind gives me peace of mind. I have seen debris from overhead fall into kayaks. ...small branches...bugs lizards and even snakes can fall into your kayak...I would rather not have that happen. We have fast changing weather in Fl...my shirt is handy when that happens. They also offer sun protection if wearing shorts.... sunburned thighs are very uncomfortable. Thanks for the tips.

[@PappaMike-vc1qv]

I would add that some boat designs work best with a skirt. The sea kayaks with a low rear deck and minimal clearance from the water line to cockpit combing are designed for easier rolling and maneuvering but will allow water to enter the cockpit without a skirt. When purchasing a boat keep this in mind if you do not like wearing a skirt then another boat may be a better choice.

[@bobbell853]

Ken, you are a top notch guy. Someone who’s word and knowledge I trust. Thank you for your reviews and for your paddling adventures. Take care, Bob

[@PaddleTV]

Thank you Bob. That's very kind.

[@WaterTrails]

I use a basic nylon skirt for protection from sunburn (legs), spiders dropping in, twigs and debris falling in (swamps), rain, paddle drips, warmth, wind, minor wave splashing, power boat wakes on an otherwise flat water, and concealing gear when left unattended.

[@wyomarine6341]

I paddled Jackson Lake in Grand Teton NP this morning, it was cool, light wind and gloomy. Used my Greenland paddle, was warm and never had a drop in the cockpit. I'm a big fan of spray skirts.

[@marcrobert1162]

Hi Ken, I love your videos. Do you have recommendations for ocean surfing kayaks?

[@barry4fish19]

After I learned how to wet exit correctly and practiced it several times, now I want to wear one more often. Many folks are scared to use one until they learn how to deal with being upside down under water. Get this down first, then reap the benefits. In the Great Lakes states, stable flies are bad during summer, always biting you on the calf’s and ankles, spray skirts keep them out of your cockpit. That’s enough justification right there!

[@PaddleTV]

Great point... keeping the bugs off! :)

[@bryandailey4174]

Thanks so much for the in-depth discussion. Love the videos.

[@chopperwitz]

Great video, funny and informative, the best kind!

[@kevchard5214]

I paddled with a cheep nylon skirt off shore for years. When my skirt started to die I made the mistake of buying a full neoprene skirt and hated it. They are extremely hot, uncomfortable and hard to put on. I can see the neoprene working for winter white water for short paddles but for warm or moderately warm open water for hours of paddling they are extremely miserable at best. I went back to higher end nylon and its usable but not in 100 degree weather.

[@kalindidogra9465]

Love the video. As always informative and fun to watch. Considering women have wider hips 😂 I always find putting it on like a shirt easier than wiggling into one like a skinny jean. Any thoughts on this gender based styling.

[@gazellahikers8702]

Thank you . Very informative video.

[@PaddleTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@NomadGio]

Perfect !!! Tks !

[@LetsGoPaddling]

Main takeaways from the video: dorky wedgie tupperware... 🙃 I've never thought of it looking dorky (or looking dorky wearing it for that matter). It's just another piece of every day kayaking equipment. That's my way to sort this problem - just don't think about it... 😅

[@CrazyCanadian5555]

Still sitting on the fence on getting on of these,I'm a Rec Kayaker.😊thanks for all the info.😊

[@FrankLadd]

How much water gets in your boat? If your boat is staying dry with the places you paddle, that is a signal that you don't need one.

[@CrazyCanadian5555]

@Frank Ladd Hi Frank I haven't taken my boat out yet,My old boat was a Pelican, now I got a Delta 12.

[@DarR1299]

I really enjoy your channel and learning a lot. Thank you. Wish I would have subscribed prior to our first purchase. My wife and I have been around boats for decades but we're kayak beginners. As a go big or go home guy which usually have served me well over the years, I overbought for my skill sets. Two Norse 18 footers for the lake with visions of day trip grandeur. Fast but not very stable nor that comfortable. Not to be undone, we doubled-down and bought two 14 footer Wilderness units shortly to be received. These should be more to our liking and will keep the Norses for the kids.

[@chopperwitz]

LOL! Funny and honest

[@Celisar1]

I used a neopren spray skirt for the first time yesterday. I was dry until I tried to exited my kayak. The neopren was soaking wet inside and while getting out the sprayskirt came in contact with my trousers which became completely wet immediately. This cannot be ok. Is that really the same with all neopren skirts or a design/ product fail?? What can be done to exit dry?

[@R-Barchetta]

Think of it as a "kayak kilt" and totally rock it! 🤘

[@PaddleTV]

I'll try... :)

[@jimmortlock7186]

Hi Ken. The only thing you didn't mention is positioning the skirt once you get in the boat. With my Neoprene skirt, I always get it too high or too low. I have to do a dry land sit-in and adjust to get an approximate height to wear it. As you said, there are different positions in different boats as well.

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks for sharing!

[@icarlsw34]

Maybe try a plaid kayak skirt.

[@charanvantijn541]

Putting a kilt print on it? Would that make it less dorky?

[@TouringKayakGuatape]

Hi Ken, in Guatapé Colombia, I use it to protect a little from splashing water, but most importantly for me, to protect me from the sun's rays. In the tropics and at 2,000 meters above sea level, the sun is very strong.

[@PaddleTV]

great point! Do you use a nylon skirt for that?

[@carlholm2765]

For the right person a SPRAY KILT might be less dorky.

[@hasselnutz]

I guess it totally depends where in the world you do paddling but at least around here (in Finland), you always wear a spray skirt. It's not like you're going there to impress someone :)

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

Ken, I've never used a spray skirt and all my kayaks are open cockpit. But I have to say, if you flipped in a kayak, wouldn't the closed cockpit design make re-entry far more difficult? And I would think with a spray skirt added, you could be upside down and if your not trained to do a barrel roll I'd think it could be dangerous. I've never tried whitewater and would have a kayak made for that if I did. I would probably be more in the bay that flipping would be more likely, but if it was in general that rough, I wouldn't be out there or I'd at least be on one of my very stable Paddleski kayaks, and that I have done from time to time.

[@FrankLadd]

When you first get a spray deck you learn a wet exit, so you can get out easily when upside down. So spray decks do require lessons, but most sports are better with some instruction.

[@robcarr8505]

This was the funniest kayak video I've seen so far. 😂👍👍👍👍👍

[@charlessachs4442]

Why not enter into a neoprene skirt from overhead. I have always done it this way: wrong?

[@charlessachs4442]

what say you, Ken?

[@coreyblaser]

I disagree about looking like a dork… but I also live in an area with a large outdoor/kayaking community.

[@floorhelmendach1339]

Very insightful video! I have a question. Imagine you accidently tucked the loop under the skirt because you were not paying attention. Your kayak flips and you have to do a wet exit because your roll sucks or you lost your paddle. How would you try to escape? Wiggle out of the tunnel? Cut the skirt with a knife? I imagine this could be a dangerous (although unlikely and avoidable) situation. Thanks!

[@NathanBonselaar]

Depending on the skirt, you can usually just lift your knee and give it a good push from inside. If the skirt fits tight on the kayak then you can grab some material along the side (right at the coaming around your thigh or hip) and pull the rand/bungee off from there. Don't try to wiggle out through the tunnel, that's a lot harder than it sounds and isn't likely to work in an emergency. Cutting yourself out is an option if you have a knife but that's really a last-resort option since there are some obvious risks while waving a knife around upside-down, blind, and panicking.

[@davemiller9570]

My mid range skirt will come off if I push myself out and I’ve never had it come off when I didn’t want it to. I do go for the ring to do it right and make sure I get it.

[@kellym3531]

I use it for sun protection, and the Greenland paddle would flood the yak.

[@jailen461]

I prefer wearing a skirt. Much drier and a you said on a cool day it helps with staying warm.

[@bootwheelwingandkeel5506]

Get trained. Being upside down underwater with a neoprene skirt holding you into the cockpit is not a good time to realize you don't know how to do a proper wet exit.

[@Kayakerlife84]

Why does everyone put their spray skirt on from the feet up??🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️ I have always put it on from head down. Way easier and no wedgies! 🤷🏻‍♂️ Just my opinion. If anyone has input on this I’d love to hear your reasons.

[@gingersmalls]

But I put my skirt on over my head to avoid the wedgie and ensure it’s high enough

[@CopperTOPDave]

finally first!

[@desertratz307]

Wear a kilt with it, start a trend

[@FrankLadd]

Dork? I look really cool with my spray skirt on. Just ask my friends!

[@mongolikechewchew2475]

I was searching for a video to explain what a "spray skirt" is & looks like (I know nothing about kayaking though it does look fun) after reading a sad story of a young woman from Columbia College who drowned this past Sunday 9/17 while kayaking with the college kayaking club. They were kayaking on the Potomac river through D.C. when she overturned while navigating through a part of the river known as "little falls." Locals have said the water level is lower than usual with rocks being exposed that normally aren't. When she tipped & fell out of her kayak her spray skirt got wedged in between rocks while she was face down. Witnesses were there within seconds to help her, but unfortunately they weren't able to get her unstuck and she drowned. Very sad & terribly unlucky for this to happen!! If I ever do go kayaking, I will be sure to carry a divers knife on me! Could this skirt be cut through if needed?

[@PaddleTV]

That's terrible to hear! That's the one problem with any Watersport - when accidents happen, they can become deadly. Yes, you could cut through a skirt with a divers knife if needed.

[@mongolikechewchew2475]

@PaddleTV Thanks for responding! Definitely terrible! Stay safe out there and enjoy!

[@danareed1656]

oh come on you look good in a skirt and if they made it in plaid you could call it a kilt lol

[@PaddleTV]

A plaid skirt... hmmmm. You might be onto something. :)