Finding the best water shoes for kayaking changed how I paddle. After slipping on a slick riverbank last summer and watching my buddy roll an ankle on barnacles, I spent six weeks testing eight pairs of water shoes on flatwater lakes, moving rivers, and saltwater bays. Kayaking footwear has to do three things at once: […]

After spending the last three summers hauling kayaks across everything from a 4Runner to a Honda Civic, our team has tested dozens of roof rack systems. We loaded 14-foot fishing kayaks through New England rain, strapped 10-foot rec boats onto sedans without rails, and ran highway mile after mile with our hands hovering nervously over […]

I have been kayaking for over a decade, and if there is one lesson I learned the hard way, it is that water always finds a way in. My first multi-day river trip ended with a waterlogged phone, soaked wallet, and a very expensive lesson. That is when I started testing dry boxes for kayaking […]

I tested 8 of the best kayak carts over three months and 200+ miles of real launches. My fishing kayak weighs 87 pounds fully rigged, and I needed a cart that could handle that load across sand, gravel, and wooden boat ramps without slowing me down. After pushing each model through every terrain I could […]

Getting your kayak to the water should be the easy part of your day, not the part that stresses you out. After spending three months testing the best kayak roof pads on the market, our team found that the right pads make all the difference between a smooth drive and a white-knuckle experience watching your […]

Few things ruin a fishing trip faster than drifting off a school of bass every time you reach for a net. If you have ever watched your kayak slide sideways in a stiff breeze or spin helplessly in a tidal current, you already know why kayak anchors earn their keep. After testing folding grapnels, stake-out […]

After three weekends testing the best upgraded kayak seats on a sit-on-top fishing kayak, a recreational touring boat, and a SUP, our team logged more than 40 hours on the water. We measured how each seat handled lower back support, leg numbness after the 60-minute mark, sweat on a 92-degree day, and how securely it […]

I lost a paddle once. It was a calm morning on a midwestern lake, and one slip of my grip sent my paddle drifting faster than I could swim. That was the day I stopped treating a paddle leash like optional gear and started treating it like a seatbelt. After three years of testing paddle […]

Discover the best fly fishing kayaks for 2025 with our expert reviews. We tested stability, casting features, and line management to find the top performers for successful fly fishing adventures.

If you're shopping for an affordable kayak, you've likely come across the Pelican brand at major retailers. But have you wondered where these popular watercraft are actually manufactured? Unlike many budget kayak brands that have moved production overseas, Pelican maintains its North American manufacturing roots. Pelican kayaks are primarily made in Quebec, Canada, with facilities […]