15 Outstanding Benefits of Inflatable Kayaks

By: Nicole Munoz

Where will you go in your kayak? Will you take a pleasant trip across a calm lake? Or will you battle the white water rapids down a river? Regardless of where you go in your inflatable kayak while sporting one of your attractive Round Breakaway Neck Lanyards, it is both helpful and interesting to know where the kayak has been. In other words, how has the kayak evolved throughout history? Becoming more aware of that information will help to enhance your appreciation for the camping activity's past. With every stroke of the paddle, you will also become more motivated to keep moving forward.

The guts to kayak

When were the first kayaks used? At least 2,000 years ago, the Inuits used kayaks for various activities. Aside from going from Point A to Point B, they also utilized kayaks for fishing and hunting. These Inuit kayaks usually weighed roughly 26 pounds (12 kilograms). They were also about 18-20 feet in length, and 20 inches wide. That is equivalent to about 5.5-6 meters by 51 centimeters.

While the Inuit unfortunately did not have amazing Flat Breakaway

Round Breakaway Neck Lanyards to make their kayaking easier, their boats were quite innovative. They used animals' guts or sinew (used to connect muscle to bone) to tie driftwood or bone together. Next, the skins of caribou or seals were tied together, immersed in water, and then positioned over the kayak's frame. Though the amount of materials available limited the Inuits, their kayaks were still sturdy and elegant.

On-the-go kayaks

Let's jump to roughly 900 A.D. At that point, Europeans were already using kayaks. New and improved frames and coverings made the kayaks more ideal for transporting along land. During the 19th century, Germans produced a collapsible kayak that shares the spirit of today's inflatable kayak. A canvas outer layer covered a tube-shaped frame that folded up. This kayak was so portable that it fit inside a pair of suitcases!

From killing to killing time

As time passed, the main function of kayaks moved from transportation and hunting; to fun and sporting, which made it practical to do while wearing a quality Lanyard Badge Reel. In the late 19th century, people began to kayak for pleasure, on lakes and rivers. Later, during the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Germany, kayaking became a competitive sport. Then in the 1950s and 1960s, Percy Blanford made sea kayaking popular with his new kayaks. They were wooden kayaks covered with canvas.

Bunch of benefits

In the spirit of kayaking for fun during a camping trip, inflatable kayaks provide several benefits:

• Easy to assemble
• Can be repaired quickly
• Allows for easy transporting of multiple boats
• Can be carried in a backpack, bicycle, motorcycle, car, bus, train, tent-trailer, RV, boat, ferry, helicopter, etc.
• Can be enjoyed in slow or rapid water
• Lighter than most kayaks with a hardshell
• Easy to store in various locations, such as home, or in a cottage.
• Can be toted in a backpack while hiking
• Can be repaired easily with replacement parts
• Simple to prevent against theft
• Can be used for one or two kayakers, depending on the model
• Can be used for other camping activities, such as fishing and swimming
• Very safe for families and even novices
• Extremely durable
• Do not require a trailer or rack

I am always fascinated with the history of everything under the sun. Maybe you are also a history buff, or maybe not. In either case, the history of kayaks can definitely improve our appreciation for inflatable kayaks. This modern version of an ancient vessel will allow you to enjoy kayaking for hours upon hours, just as the Inuits did 20 centuries ago!

Recreation and Sports
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