Taking the Pain Out of Paddling! How to Kayak in Comfort

Kayaking is awesome, but it's not so awesome if you're hurting when doing it. This video talks about different ways you can make kayaking less painful. In particular, it talks about back pain while kayaking, shoulder pain while kayaking, and certain 'pain in the butts' involved with paddling.
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[@waynebrucemanbat5787]

One thing I'd like to mention is that even with an inflatable kayak, kayak carts are very helpful. It can be difficult to get all your gear and your kayak to a launch spot, and then inflate your kayak on the spot. Typically I have a ton of gear in my car and it's just easier to set up the inflatable kayak by my vehicle, load it up with gear, and then pull it to the launch using the cart.

[@6yjjk]

One thing NOT to do (and I speak from experience here) is get one of those cheap-ass luggage trolleys, throw all your gear on it, and pull it down to the water. The weight of the kayak and the stuff on top of it made the boat sag until it rubbed on the wheel, and the wheel munched through the bag and then through the kayak. It was an Intex Challenger, so I was only out 90€, but it would've been nice to have got it wet before I destroyed it.

[@nunyabidness3075]

@@6yjjk Ouch dude. Sorry to hear that.

[@PaddleTV]

That'll ruin a day of paddling!

[@6yjjk]

@@PaddleTV Would've been even worse if I'd done it on a portage somewhere far from the put-in, but yep!

[@labtrainer09]

I have already left favorable comments on your EXCELLENT channel ever since discovering it six months ago. But I just need to say that this highly useful session is a prime example of how valuable, practical AND easy-to-digest your "coaching" is, no matter what it's focus. I have chronic lower-back issues and, in fact, had spine surgery this summer. I have been very concerned about kayaking next season and had decided that I need to switch to a sit-on-top model for this reason. Getting some validation for my thinking from your fine discussion of pain prevention was just what I needed! Thank you SO much for doing Paddle TV. Please keep up the great work, and PLEASE don't change a thing about your personable, helful approach! Chris (in Maine)

[@roygraham6665]

I have an 2016 Ascend 12T S.O.T yak. I'm 66 yrs old. The seat set too low for me. I took 2x4's and raised my seat. Now almost no back pian or knee pain. I put one 2x4 on the Rail where the back of the seat slid in and 2 under the front of the seat. It did not affect the stability of the yak (to me) at all. For anyone that does not have an adjustable yak seat try this. You do have to drill holes in the floor of your yak to mount the 2x4's under the front legs. Be sure to use silicone around the screws and under the 2x4's to prevent leaks. Now my yak is easier to paddle and get in and out of. no more dropping into the seat then sitting in the yak trying to get knees working so you can get out. Hope this helps someone out there to have a better experience in their yak. Great tips Paddle Keep them coming.

[@bluedotoutfitters2578]

Ken - thanks so much for providing some great information about the Blue Dot Outfitters kayak cart. Appreciate the shout out!

[@Richard-bs8xe]

Great topic! I started using a kayak cart several years ago. One of the best decisions I have made. As you get older and if your by yourself it makes it so much easier to get to and from a launch point. Load up and go with all your equipment. My cart breaks down and fits in my rear compartment.

[@bluedotoutfitters2578]

Hi Richard - the Blue Dot Outfitters cart breaks down and fits in a hatch too. Check out the product video on our site to see how.

[@steveringwood2224]

At 66 I just made my third paddle in a folding kayak (never kayaked before) and it solves an issue which you don't talk about, getting the kayak from home to water, the size and weight allows me to to put it on a bike trailer and bike to were I want to paddle. Yes it does limit distance but I am still learning and there are plenty of places close by. And something that may help people with shoulder pain, is how they paddle. I have tight muscles and have limited reach above my head and found myself naturally paddling horizontally which caused it's own issues. A little research and a trip a local paddle, I have a longer paddle (250 cm vs 230 cm) and it helped last time .

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks for sharing Steve!

[@deaninchina01]

Yoga and stretching also help heaps in paddling comfortably.

[@danareed1656]

wonderful video!

[@learntechwithruth2147]

Great video as always. We went out yesterday and I was in a bit of back pain upon return to the house. Must have been from carrying the two kayaks up the hill. I have a cart but couldn’t get it to work. Fortunately the pain was short lived. I love being on the water so much. Good thing my broken humerus neck is completely healed up and there’s no shoulder pain.

[@PaddleTV]

Yikes! Broken humerus! Glad to hear it headed well.

[@lanarkwanderer]

Another great video. All good points. I’ve had lower back pain and bought a Concept II rowing machine that helps build core strength. That’s my winter time exercise program. I bought some good wheels when I bought my kayak. My challenge is lifting my 55 lb Loon 126 onto the roof of my 4x4 pickup truck. I just added a Hullivator to solve that problem. The seat in the Loon was one of the reasons I bought it, very comfortable, adjustable. Being able to brace my knees against the padded cockpit gunnels helps my back when paddling. I couldn’t do that in a sit on top. The right life jacket helps proper seating position as well.

[@PaddleTV]

Great point... having support on the outside of the leg can be a huge 'pain reliever' too.

[@jimtaylor6930]

I have knee problems and tried both sit in and sit on top. The sit in had trouble getting in to and out of felt to confined. Tried the sit on and no problem getting on or off. I'd recommend a sit on top to any one that has knee problems, it took just one sit in to make my decision for a sit on top.

[@DominiqueB]

Another consideration re (the highly recommended) cart is what you do with it once you get to the water and unload your boat. You can walk it back to you car and stash it there, you can lock it to a tree, a fence, a post, etc. (so you need to get some kind of lock, that will secure all the parts of the cart, you can hide it in the woods or under a dock and cross your fingers it will still be there when you get back, or if it's small enough and designed to break down, you can stash it inside a hatch. That latter cart can prove very handy when touring, maybe to solo drag a boat up or down a beach at low tide, to take you boat on/off a ferry, or if you have to portage across an isthmus, etc.

[@bluedotoutfitters2578]

One of the great features of the Blue Dot Outfitters kayak cart is that the bunker bars detach allowing for it to break down and fit in a hatch. Check it out.

[@indyschlumpf728]

Wish I knew about this before I bought my first kayak two years ago. It is nothing like a canoe. I just treated myself to an iSUP because it seems easier to get on and off. Unfortunately the weather has turned cold. In north Georgia we’ll soon have warm weather again this winter. Please come down and make a video on the Altamaha River. Bring the family. Georgia is a great state!

[@patricks905]

Great video, thank you! Any tips on combatting numb feet when paddling? I think it's down to tightness in the lower back and hamstrings, with stretching of the sciatic nerve. Does anything else work (raising the seat, padding under the hamstrings, lumbar support)? :)

[@glendaglass7264]

I’m 72 and I love my kayak cart. I can haul my Sitka by myself and it fits in my back hatch.

[@alvinmarentes3315]

I have a pelican oddessy 100x costco special and the seat sux but for 3 bills what can I say. I wear a life jacket that's full and goes all the way down my back and sitting/paddling is hard cuz it wants to start riding up my back. Tried my wife's jacket that is high on the back and totally fit in the seat a lot better with minimal back pain but that's just me. Hoping to upgrade my boat here soon. Especially one with a good seat. Great video and thanks for sharing your info and opinion.

[@charlesc8751]

Thanks for the tips, Ken. Any suggestions or work-arounds for arthritis in the hands? We have a pair of sit-in kayaks, and my wife has had growing difficulty gripping the paddle. We initially slipped a couple foam grips onto the paddle to provide some cushioning, but that did little to allieve the pain. Don't know whether getting a paddle with a thinner shaft, and perhaps some gloves, would help.

[@chantallabelle8571]

there are also wrist problems which can be corrected by using a paddle with a bent shaft or feathering paddle. For the cart, I have a C- tug that I really like.

[@deaninchina01]

Lots of wrist pain can be fixed by better technique. A session with a good flat water coach is a great investment.

[@jaksmith6465]

would love to see something about rigging a sail to a kayak and how well it works or fails

[@nunyabidness3075]

Sailing canoes have been around forever and there are specialized racing versions. Many have decks, like a kayak, which support the mast and reduce water intake. Cape Falcon has rigged up his canoes, and I think has tested his kayak designs. His vids might be helpful because he discusses his design and testing. There’s also the Waterlust kit available from CLC, but it’s more of a sailing boat you can paddle rather than a paddle craft with an opportunistic sail rig.

[@waynefatguyinakayak7408]

It depends on the sail rig. There are a few out there that seem to work well. Those folding circle shaped ones don't have great reviews. One thing I would suggest is if you do add a sail to a kayak, make sure the kayak has a rudder to help you turn.

[@nunyabidness3075]

@@waynefatguyinakayak7408 After reading your comment, I did some searching. I had no idea how common the kits were. I’m eventually going to have to try doing this.

[@camorrisiii]

Another awesome and informative video. If I’m using an elevated seat, would I need a longer paddle?

[@PaddleTV]

Yes! Great point. You have further to reach to the water, and so depending on how high the seat is, you'll likely need an extra 10 - 20 cm paddle. This is where a 'telescoping' paddle is helpful - if you're moving from high to low position, it's nice to change your paddle length as well.

[@paulmphoto]

I used two kayak straps to attach a millennium marine seat onto my canoe and can paddle all day.

[@nunyabidness3075]

If you aren’t going for rough water (Class 3 is doable if skilled), there’s a single solution for everything discussed here except the shoulder pain: Ditch the Deck. Get a Pack Canoe. Light weight - 11 to 25 pounds is common (lightest I know of are Hornbeck and slipstream) Raised seats standard in many models Easy in and out. Just sit in the seat like a sit on top kayak and turn forward. (If support or balance while standing up is an issue, get the carbon fiber gunnels as put on Swift, Placid Boatworks, Northstar, and others).

[@BaconPretzel]

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the SeaEagle FastTrack. I have one and it's an absolutely phenomenal vessel.

[@PaddleTV]

I agree! I'm a fan of the Fast Track too.

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

Got to say that, as a guy with a very bad back, a partly paralysed leg and two frozen shoulders, that kayaking is my relatively pain free activity. I can, and do, paddle for hours.

[@PaddleTV]

Great to hear! What kayak do you use?

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

@@PaddleTV I have 3 Sit on Top (Viking - Espri, Ocean Kayak - Prowler 13, McKee - Largo) and recently picked up a Liker Kayaks Expedition 16.5 touring kayak that is still to get wet. On the lookout for a white water yak that I can learn to roll in and at some stage a surfski, though they are scarce way down under. Can never have too many, they get used by youth groups a fair bit.

[@robertmaddox1441]

Please Cover Seat Position (front-to-back), in fishing kayak - Thank You

[@gordon1545]

I started kayaking this summer and pretty quickly it gave me tendonitis in my left elbow - the classic tennis elbow injury. Even after not kayaking for a couple of months it's still sore. Wish I knew what to do about it.

[@peterkitchener8787]

Leaving the boat to dry out and bobing about for a bit in the water really helps with muscle pain.

[@amandined7868]

Do you have any tips on how to put a sit on top kayak on a car roof top support easier? I have a pelican sentinel 100x eco blue lagoon and find it dificult to put in on and of my car alone

[@kevinharding2099]

Your comments are appreciated. Two more points. One: don’t stay in the kayak (or canoe) for hours. Take a break, get out and stretch. Two: some padding for the butt like foam or thermarest.

[@johncheung4005]

low angle paddling can reduce shoulder pain.

[@prometheusboat]

Is there a way to fit a raised seat on a Oru Coast, or will any attempt to fit one will damage the plastic?

[@charanvantijn541]

Pain point; Getting out of a sit-in kayak where there is a dock that is higher than the kayak deck. So you can not stabilise yourself with the paddle.

[@alberttickle1106]

Once at the water you have to take the cart with you...or risk leaving it on the shoreline....

[@karenwhitford358]

I was wondering about wrist pain.

[@BoomVang]

Yes, pedal kayaks rule due to employing larger muscles. Also fin pedals rule over propeller types which have you mostly pushing at an inefficient angle on the crank. Fins are always pushed directly by levers, and can even adjust the pitch of the fins. Hobie sells the most advanced fin drives, but their old designs have fallen out of patent and are available from cheaper sources..

[@jannevellamo]

I think my shoulder pain has almost completely gone away after I took up paddling. These days, it only hurts if I twist my arm into extreme positions. I've come to the conclusion kayaking is exactly the kind of exercise I was lacking.

[@PaddleTV]

Great to hear!! Something else that I would recommend, if it doesn't cause discomfort, is to warm up with some reverse paddling. It works/strengthens the front of the shoulders.

[@jannevellamo]

@@PaddleTV Good idea.

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

No plastic kayak weights less then 70 lb. I had a 17ft Kevlar kayak that weighted 35 lb. That us the lightest kayak Ive ever seen.

[@PaddleTV]

Thermoformed kayaks are plastic, and they weight considerably less than 70lbs. I have a Delta 15.5GT which weight just over 50lbs for 15.5 feet long. Rotomolded plastic kayaks are a different story though. They're 30% heavier.

[@canajian]

👋😎👍

[@IamNothing82]

Talking abt paint in the butt, what abt paint in the butt? I've a surfski and a tour kayak (perception expression). In the perception my legs go numb after an half hour, i've changed every point so many times, replaced the backrest for a backband, replaced the seat with a gel seat, installed hip pads. Some things made it better, but nothing really works for my legs going numb, while i have no problems in the surfski. See link below. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6utn6x9pr2Jd8k The difference i can think of is the position of the legs. In the perception my legs are spread while in the surfski the legs are next to each other. And i think i close a nerve in my butt when my legs are spread in the perception. Hope you have an idea to solve this. Greetings from the netherlands.

[@stevensoutdoors]

I was really hoping this vid would have something more profound to say about shoulder mechanics and pain than "use a pedal kayak." 😥

[@PaddleTV]

Here's a shoulder specific tip... try a Greenland paddle if you have nagging shoulder pain while paddling. It reduces the impact when your paddle 'catches' water at the start of the stroke, and it spreads the load of the stroke better.

[@stevensoutdoors]

@@PaddleTV thanks for the additional tip. 👍

[@Richard-bs8xe]

Hello Ken, Is phone number you sent valid? Was it really you? Way too many scams out there. Thanks

[@PaddleTV]

There has been a scammer posting. We try to watch for the scammer posts, please don't text or ever send anyone money.