Sports & Fitness
Kayaking
Sit and paddle; an hour on flat water and you can hold a line
Rent before buying; lakeside and harbour outfitters usually include basic instruction. An hour on flat water is enough to look competent, and the power comes from torso and back rather than arms, as half an hour of arm-only paddling will teach you. White water is a different sport and needs a wet-exit course first.
First stepRent a sit-on-top on flat water or join a beginner tour, and spend an hour learning to turn and paddle backwards.
Barriers
Cost to start
Under $50
Going deep → $2k–10k
Alone or with people
On your own
Effort
You will sweat
Without a teacher?
Best with a class
One session takes
Half a day
Where
Outdoors, free
Why people take it up
Related guides
Keeping the spending in checkStarts at Under $50, going deep runs $2k–10kSkills
Needs firstCan swim ↗