Step 1

Determine how you want to paddle

Start by thinking about where and how you’ll use your kayak. Are you picturing relaxing floats down local rivers? Peaceful mornings on small lakes? Floating 20 yards from the lake house and taking in the scenery? Or maybe more adventurous paddles on bigger open water where the elements could come into play? The type of paddling you are interested in will influence the models you should consider.

Also consider how long you plan to be on the water. A quick hour-long paddle or a half-day or full-day outing. Kayak Camping in the cards? Take the time to define what you want to do on the water.

Step 2

Come see us

Once you have a general idea of your paddling style, it’s time to visit Rocktown Adventures. This is where things really start to come together.

In-store, you’ll be able to see and compare different kayak styles, sizes, and features. We provide personalized service and paddle as well so we can talk from our own personal experiences while we help you create your own.

Being able to look, touch, and sit in a kayak removes some guesswork and ensures you’re looking at kayaks that fit your needs. 

Step 3

Test paddle before you decide


Test paddling a few different models lets you feel the difference firsthand. What looks good in the store may not fit once you are out on the water. You will learn more paddling a kayak for 3 minutes than you will watching 3 hours of videos. 

During a test paddle, you’ll learn what feels stable, how easily the kayak turns, and how comfortable you are after a few minutes of paddling. Most importantly, you will learn how the seat fits. At the end of the day, this one factor sells the kayak as much as any other. We are sitting when we are paddling after all! 😊

In addition to the paddling, you’ll pick up valuable tips and tricks that will make your paddling more enjoyable. It’s not just about buying a kayak; it’s about building confidence on the water.

Follow these three steps, and we will help you end up with a kayak that fits your paddling needs. 

Bonus: Step 4

Transporting your kayak. Many people do not think of this, but it should be the first thing you determine. Are you going to use a roof rack, truck bed, or trailer? This could very well be the determining factor in what kayak you choose. We trust Yakima products to get us and our gear to our destination.