So you’re a fresher, you’ve just had your first few sessions and had a great time with some amazing people and now you’re thinking, “I could really get in to this, maybe I should get some better stuff to wear.”

Here’s something to get you thinking about what you could buy first, and then as you progress in the sport.

Let’s start with what you’ve probably got already. Your current kit will most likely consist of trakie bottoms, a t-shirt and trainers with a cag, deck and helmet provided by the club when you need it. It’s worth keeping in mind that the club will always be able to lend you these when your with them so do you really need to buy what for the moment you can borrow.

So what’s the first thing you should buy? Well some people might suggest to you that you buy a wet suit, and that could be a good option but you should think about both the short and the long term. A wet suit is good in the beginning when your taking regular swims but if you’re a planning to work yourself up to dry gear do you really want to spend money on something that eventually you not going to use.

“What do you suggest then?” you ask. Well, there are two things I would say should be you first bit of kit, shoes and rash top or thermals.

Shoes because they might be the most important bit of kit you will own, you will be wearing them no matter what you’re doing and they’re will cause loads of discomfort if they don’t fit right or do their job properly. Plus it means that you can stop ruining those trainers that you’d usually still wear but grabbed because they were your oldest pair.

Secondly thermals or a rash top so you have something to keep you warm when the temperature starts to drop. These can be worn under your trakies and club cag or under any dry suits you may find lying around. If you were considering a wet suit you could pick up a neoprene rash top that would do the same job when you swim but would more appropriate when you don’t.

Next, you could start looking at the club kit that you’re constantly borrowing, but doesn’t quite fit properly. Maybe you find yourself using club helmets a lot, but your head is human shaped, unlike the people who design them. Club BA’s not fitting correctly can also be an issue, mainly for girls who can end up having to wear a large or suffer with squashed boobs. If you don’t have these problems then whats wrong with continuing using club kit, for now at least. Why not save the money for the next social.

A while later you’ll probably find yourself in a place called Hexham for what their calling “Tyne tour.”  This is a great place to pick up some kit as it’s full of stall with sale racks and discounts for students and a good buy might be to grab a nose peg as it’ll be handy for practicing in the pool session.

Any kit you don’t have now can be picked up when you have the cash, probably when the next loan comes in. Just remember that this is just to give you something to think about. Everyone has there on opinion and you know best what you want and need, but if you are looking at buying kit, just asking people is a great way to get a little bit more knowledge, before parting with your money.

Andrew Sinclair.

It’s pretty common practice, your kit is not great or just non-existence and your mate has a good set that he’s not using. That’s when you go, “do you mind if I borrow it?” Well here are a few tips to keep you, the kit and the person lending it happy.

The first thing to remember is whilst it always ok to ask don’t be offended if someone says no. Kayaking kit can cost hundreds of pounds and can be used every time that person gets on the water so naturally would become attached to it and be protective about it. So don’t take it personally if they preferred you didn’t use it.If they do say it’s ok then great, but they will probably add on “prostitute rules apply,” in other words, “you screw with it, you pay for it.”

Still confused, well, it’s just a way of saying that if the kit got damaged or broken whilst you were using it you would then pay to get it replaced or repair.It is very important that you understand this and although you would of course be as careful as possible if anything were to happen you would be held to this and expected to shell out.

With that in mind, once you’ve got the kit, make sure you look after it.
All the gear will have Do’s and Don’ts specific to taking care of them. Things like not walking around in the socks of dry trousers and dry suits or squish a BA in the bottom of your bag. Make sure you follow these. If you’re not sure what they might be, ask the guy you’re borrowing it off. They’ll know how to look after it and will gladly tell you, they want it taken care of as well.

Finally after you’ve used it and it’s time to give it back, and here there are two ways to really make someone regret lending you there stuff. Make sure you give it back the way you got it. If your given it nicely dry, clean and folded and you hand back soaked from your swim, covered it whatever makes up the bank you pulled yourself out on, they’re not going to be happy.

So here’s what you do. Offer to take it home. Give it a wash, they’ll be Do’s and Don’ts for this as well, and then make sure it’s dried out. Last but not least make sure you give it back to them in good time. It may be washed, dried, pressed and folded, but if it then spends two months in your room, that’s no good.

Follow this and you’ll keep everyone smiling.

Just remember, it’s not your kit but until you thank them and hand it back, it should be looked after as if it was.

– Andrew Sinclair