PaddlingLight

Today Garmin inReach Freedom plan subscribers received notification from Garmin that it is discontinuing the Freedom plans. With Freedom plans users would pay an annual $34.95 at sign up and then once a year. They could turn off their service and start it up whenever they liked without having to pay an activation fee. They could choose from three different plans when they reactivated the service. Now, Freedom plans are discontinued. Current Freedom subscribers will be migrated over to the new plans starting December 2024. Читать дальше...

Marcelo Rossi returns to the pages of PaddlingLight with a new kayak that he designed: A couple of years ago, a friend from the group of paddlers that we meet with on Saturdays told me that more and more new people are joining the group, so why don’t you design a kayak for beginners? It should have a wide and low rim so it’s easy to get in and out, and flat at the stern to make re-entry easier, as stable as possible, the length of an average car, for paddlers up to 85 kg (187 pounds), with hatches to carry water... Читать дальше...

A few years ago, I wrote about using a Sawyer Squeeze as a DIY gravity filter. Simple modifications using CNOC Vecto bags reduced complexity but filter one less liter per fill.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve been punting on a decision about the canoe and kayak plans. I haven’t been able to decide whether or not to remove them from my website. I’ve made the decision. The sales of these plans is leaving PaddlingLight. What I haven’t decided is, do I continue to sell them at all? There are various reasons that I’m doing this, but the primary one is that I don’t want to have to handle all the payments, orders, problems, etc. of running an online store anymore. I’m just not interested in doing it... Читать дальше...

If your sea kayak skeg gets stuck, use a cord to free it; alternatives include wire or household items. It's a simple fix that should be standard on sea kayaks. Act Now and Get the Fix.

The Eezycut Trilobite Knife is an effective, easy-to-use tool for cutting ropes and webbing, offering safety and versatility.

I find KÜHL The One jacket incredibly versatile, comfortable, and well-insulated, suitable for many activities and weather conditions, and highly breathable.

Camping on rocky ground is possible with the right preparation. Use durable cord for the stake out points and utilize rocks for secure tent staking.

A kayaker falsely claimed a Lake Superior speed record due to lack of easy access to existing records. Despite his correction, inaccurate news persisted. Reliable tracking of such achievements remains difficult due to limited record-keeping in the paddling community.

Dan Cooke, a beloved member of the Minnesota paddling community and creator of quality canoeing gear at Cooke Custom Sewing, passed away last night. His death is deeply mourned by friends and community members.