In my last post I began a discussion regarding the advances in paddling gear design and the difficulty in knowing what type equipment to buy.  We first looked at kayak paddles.  In this post we'll take a look at whitewater helmets.  At this point you may be thinking, "how difficult could it be to buy a whitewater helmet?"  

While it is true that you can simply go to a paddling outfitter and buy any whitewater paddling helmet that fits you, wouldn't it be better to make an informed decision?  Paddling helmets actually offer a number of different features that you may want to consider before making your purchase.

Read How to Buy a  Whitewater Helmet for more details.

Buying kayak gear seems like a straight forward endeavor.  While that may have been the case just 10 years ago, the advances in materials and gear design has made things a bit more complicated. Take kayak paddles for instance.  Kayak paddles have many different options that the untrained paddler would not generally notice.

Read How to Buy a Kayak Paddle for more details.

In the last post I petitioned you all for what would make some great presents to give paddlers this holiday season.  The American Whitewater Holiday Offer is one gift that will keep on giving all year long while helping to support a great organization.  When you join American Whitewater you will not only get their magazine throughout the year, you'll also receive a free copy of Doub Ammon's book, "Whitewater Philosophy."

Well, if most of the country can't paddle due to the weather, it doesn't mean you can't think about paddling and get some new gear.  "Black Friday" is right around the corner.  Whether or not you'll get any new gear that day, it should trigger your thinking for some Christmas presents to hit up your loved ones for.

Let's start up a list of great Christmas presents that paddlers can use.  What new gear or paddling paraphernalia will you get in this paddling offseason?