Elbow pads for kayakers come in many shapes, sizes, and styles. Kayakers need protection for their elbows on the water and land when they are loading up the kayak and getting it ready to go back out into the water. So what is the best option you should purchase? This article will go through some of the popular options that people use and why they work so well.
Many people neglect their elbows when they are out whitewater kayaking because it isn’t a part of their body that often takes a hit. In fact, you will be much more likely to hurt your knees with a small scratch from getting scraped on a rock or hitting your thigh on a tree limb while running a particularly difficult section of whitewater.
However, over time you are still very likely to get hurt in the elbows if you are out there kayaking frequently. That is why it is important to have the right gear for protecting yourself when you go out whitewater paddling.
What are the best Elbow Pads?
There are a host of different elbow pads to choose from. Considering from the most basic, to some high tech designs that look like they have come out of a video game. The more expensive ones often come with full armor protection, but if you want to buy just the elbow pads for whitewater kayaking, you can get away with much less money. Below are the things you should consider when choosing elbow pads:
1. Protection
The first thing you want to consider with elbow pads as well as the helmets are the protection that they will provide. Different pads are designed for different applications and some are designed to offer more protection, while others do not offer as much.
Some of the more popular designs will help protect your elbows while running down a waterfall or climbing up a cliff face. These can protect you from getting hit in the elbow and being knocked off your feet when climbing or running between rocks. Therefore, you should make sure that these pads offer enough protection for your activities in whitewater kayaking without compromising any of your performance needs.
2. Profile
Another important aspect to consider is the profile. There are many different shapes and patterns for these pads. The strap of the pad can often be removed to make them easier to put your elbows in and out of for portages or storage. This will also help you to adjust them once they are on your elbows so that they are not too tight or restrictive.
These pads can come with palm padding, which adds a little more protection over your palms when using your hands on your paddles while running rapids or climbing up a cliff face.
3. Price
A drawback of some of the designs out there is that they tend to go up in prices depending on the ones you purchase. Many different designs range from very simple foam-lined strips with a strap handle to more expensive full armor protection pads. The more protection you need, the more money you will be spending.
However, plenty of cheaper designs than plenty of cheaper designs that offer enough protection for nearly all whitewater kayaking needs. These should suffice even if you are looking for a simple solution to protect your elbows when loading up your kayak and getting it ready for another run on the river. You can get some amazing deals on these pads which may make them well worth the money spent. Remember that these have got to be good quality pads as well, so make sure they are sturdy enough to protect your elbows without becoming uncomfortable after a while of use.
4. Versatility
If you are looking to use these elbow pads for more than just kayaking, you may want to consider getting some that are a little more versatile. Some of the designs out there are not very versatile and will only work with your kayak and maybe a few other sports like rowing. However, if you want to use these pads for all sorts of activities, it is worth spending a little extra money on some of the better quality designs that offer greater versatility.
5. Storage
Another thing to consider is how easy these pads will be to store. Some of the designs are quite bulky and will take up more space than some people need for storing their kayak gear. You need to make sure that you can store these easily to have a footlocker full of kayak gear that is difficult to carry when you have to load it on your vehicle.
A good option is a design that comes with buckles or straps so that you can attach them to your kayak, or anywhere else for easy storage. While these pads look great, they should be durable enough for long-term use without damaging your elbows in any way.
6. Weight
Another thing that you should consider is the weight of the pads. Some of them can be quite heavy which can be a lot to handle when trying to get on and off your kayak, run rapids, or climb up a cliff face. There are some lightweight and small designs that will be easy to carry for many situations. However, you should still spring for some of the lightweight designs if you know that you will be carrying these around with you when doing all sorts of different activities throughout the day.
7. Material
In terms of the material that these pads are made off, you have quite a few options. Many of them will be foam-lined, which does not offer much protection. These should typically be fine for minimal use. Other pads may be lined with a tough nylon material or even plastic. This will give you a lot more protection and is always worth spending the extra money on if you need that sort of protection for your activities in whitewater kayaking.
8. Grip and Adjustable Straps
It is also important to consider how well these pads will grip onto your elbows and adjustable straps to ensure that they do not slip when using them during your whitewater kayaking endeavors. It is worth spending a little extra money on the designs that offer increased grip.
9. Reviews
It is always a good idea to check out some product reviews for some kayaking outfit ideas before you making your final decision on which elbow pads are best for your whitewater kayaking needs. While it may be tempting to go with something cheap, this may end up costing you in the long term in terms of poor experience during kayaking and even injury that could have otherwise been avoided if you had spent a bit more on a better design from the start. It is always best to find some reviews that other people have written, especially those who have been using these types of pads within their kayak activities.
10. Durability
This may be a somewhat subjective consideration, but you should always make sure that the elbow pad is made with a durable enough material. Some kayaking pads may look great during your first few paddling adventures, but they are not going to be able to handle the wear and tear from repeated use over time.
Importance of Elbow Pad In Whitewater Kayaking
A pair of elbow pads are very important for whitewater kayaking that can minimize the posibilities to injured and have tennis elbow. Apart from the fact that they help to protect your elbows from getting hurt while you are playing on the water, they also help to make your paddling more efficient. These pads will put you in a better position when out on the water, and your paddling skills will become much better as a result of this.
This is important because you will be able to paddle faster and with more power, meaning that it is easier for you to paddle against the currents in rivers and down rapids. This will make it easier for you to do things like kayak up and down larger rapids, so you will be able to get closer to the rapids and pound your paddle into the water with more power than before. With healing in mind, these pads are also a great investment for the long term as they are designed to be more comfortable over time once they have had a chance to start healing.
Elbow pads are simple pieces of equipment that most kayakers will do well to invest in. This is because they offer protection for your elbows while out on the water, and this makes them much better than most other products that you can use on your paddling adventures. If you can’t swim and still want to go kayaking, consider to have life best or PFD (personal floatation device) to ensure your protection and avoid drowning.