Our MOST READ kayaking stories, tips & articles [EPIC 2023 round-up]
As we say goodbye to 2023, we at Flatwater Kayak Club take a moment to reflect on a year filled with incredible journeys, shared stories, and invaluable kayaking insights.
Our flatwater paddling community has grown stronger and more vibrant, with each article and discussion bringing us closer to the heart of kayaking (we read each and every one of your emails – so thank you for being a kind, inclusive, and engaged group).
In this year-end round-up, we revisit the most popular content themes that have captivated our digital community throughout the year…
1. Kayak Reviews and Comparisons
This year, we dove even deeper into the world of folding kayaks, bringing you thorough reviews and comprehensive comparisons. From updating our two-year review on the sleek and portable Oru Inlet to various other models, our articles helped you make informed decisions about your next kayak purchase, focusing on aspects like usability, design, and durability.
Our top 2023 articles in this category:
Oru Beach LT folding kayak review (tested in Oregon!)
NEW green edition Oru Inlet kayak (a visual journey)
Oru Inlet vs Beach LT folding kayaks – which one is right for you?
2. Kayaking for Fitness and Health
We explored how kayaking goes beyond recreation, serving as a low-impact, fun way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Our discussions highlighted scenic routes ideal for fitness paddling and tips for integrating kayaking into your regular exercise regimen.
We documented our calories burned from kayaking. (For example, one hour of recreational kayaking on calm waters can burn upwards of 400 calories. Since you’re likely to spend a few hours paddling, you can average close to 1200 calories on a flatwater adventure!).
During off season here in the Pacific Northwest in 2023, I walked 400 miles in 3 months, and wrote how it prepared me for 3 different kayaking experiences (with weekly mileage screenshots too!).
3. Adventure Kayaking and Experiences
For the thrill-seekers, we shared exhilarating adventure kayaking stories and documentary reviews, such as Netflix’s The River Runner. These articles not only showcased the adrenaline-filled side of kayaking but also the profound connections formed with nature and wildlife observations.
Our top 2023 experiences and articles in this category include:
Kayaking Ballard Locks – a water elevator that takes you from salt to fresh!
Top 5 PNW guided kayak tours: unique experiences on the water
Night kayaking in Oregon (we followed the Milky Way, in full view!)
Kayaking Cold Water Lake at Mt. St. Helens (and the first time I was recognized by someone, and the first time I fell out of my boat during exit).
I tried out whitewater kayaking for the first time with a pool class (it was fun AND hard).
We documented the perfect day for kayakers in Portland – and this in-depth article, written by a local, provides incredible tips for anyone who lives or visits the area.
4. Kayak Maintenance Tips
Maintaining your kayak is crucial, and our tips this year focused on ensuring your kayak's longevity. We covered regular cleaning, care for specific kayak parts, and general maintenance practices.
Our most frequently visited 2023 article on this topic is: Maintaining your Oru kayak: top tips from an owner.
5. Wildlife and Nature Exploration
This year, we celebrated the joys of wildlife observation and nature exploration while kayaking – and saw more wild animals in their natural habitats than ever before! Our 2023 articles provided guides on responsible wildlife watching and enjoying the natural beauty accessible by kayak.
Our top-visited articles on wildlife and kayaking:
20 breathtaking Pacific Northwest animals (you can see by kayak boat)
Migrating Chinook Salmon near Seattle
6. Family Bonding while Paddling
Finally, our family-focused articles took you on a journey to some of the best kayaking destinations that create unique bonding experiences with loved ones. We provided insights into hidden gems and popular spots, enriching your travel plans with local tips and recommendations – and hopefully we helped inspire some memorable moments too.
Some of my top family kayaking moments this year?
In 2023, I took my 79-year old mom on a unique guided sunset kayak tour in the Columbia River Gorge. It was truly unbelievably beautiful, and we had so much fun together. She lives in Florida, so it was a real bucket list bonding moment for us both.
This was the year that my kids started to look forward to our kayaking experiences – especially my middle school aged son. We took a weekend excursion up to Seattle, and kayaked Ballard Locks in a tandem kayak, seeing harbor seals, a sea lion, jumping salmon, and so many beautiful water birds right from our boat. It was amazing and so fun!
My husband got out on the water with me several times this year, and it’s been so fun to share these paddling moments together. He’s got his eye on some Wilderness systems kayaks and other hardshell models, so we may end up growing our kayak gear collection in 2024.
7. Increased Safety Education & Expertise
Safety is always at the forefront of my mind while paddling, and I love taking guided tours and kayaking lessons to continue to grow my skills.
This year I wanted to keep my safety skills fresh, so I renewed my American Red Cross Adult and Pediatric CPR/AED/First Aid Certification. The content refresher, hands-on manekin demos, skills training, and group role play was SO helpful, and I pulled together some key insights and resources for the site. These training programs provide critical skills that can literally make the difference between life and death in emergency situations.
This 2023 post continues to be a top article on our site, which makes me really happy to know that others in our paddling community care about paddling safety (and the safety of others) too. And remember to always wear your PFD!
8. More Conservation and Kayaking Content
We’re always promoting ways to protect our rivers, lakes, and other waterways in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, and in 2023 we shared key resources on how kayakers can be responsible and ethical adventures.
Some of our top posts in this category include:
Staying safe from toxic algae in freshwater
10 Code of Conduct rules for Kayakers (free PDF infographic to download & share)
Conclusion
As we bid farewell to 2023, we're filled with gratitude for the stories shared and the wisdom gained. The Flatwater Kayak Club community has shown an unwavering passion for kayaking, and we're excited to continue this journey into the new year.
What I’m looking forward to most in 2024?
I bought my son an Oru Lake+ kayak for Christmas, so I can’t wait to get our folding boats out on the water!
We’re aiming to paddle even more new spots in the Pacific Northwest, share more guided tours, and grow even more in our paddling experience and expertise (hello Idaho, here I come).
We’re also continuing our search (and research) on if buying a floating home is right for us.
And finally, I just love the feeling of paddling flatwaters and living in the mindful, awareness of the moment. You just never know what each kayak adventure will bring – inwards and outwards – and that’s sometimes the best part of all.
A big thank you to our Flatwater Kayak Club online community for reading our posts, sharing our articles, sending us messages, and shopping from our affiliate links to help support the curation of these free online resources with you.
Our 2023 website traffic skyrocketed, and we’re thrilled that our free paddling content is resonating with you.
Our data shows that people in America are paddling more than ever (learn about U.S. kayaking industry growth),
that you love sharing your kayaking adventures on social media (check out our full list of the best kayak quotes and captions), and
you responsible paddling folks even care about kayak permit laws!
Remember, always feel free to use the hashtag #flatwaterkayakclub to share your Instagram paddling pictures with our community – we love to see you on the water.
It truly means the world that we can continue to nurture this little digital dream and increase inclusive, kind, and supportive community around such a fun and beautiful sport.
Thank you for kayaking with us in 2023 – and we can’t wait for 2024!
xo
Jodi, the founder of Flatwater Kayak Club
About Flatwater Kayak Club
Flatwater Kayak Club is a leading woman-owned online platform dedicated to supporting beginner and intermediate kayakers in the Pacific Northwest. Our company founder, a former writer for The National Geographic Channel and a current ACA member, guides our mission with her passion for kayaking, nature, and storytelling.