Quick Summary
Leave your full wallet, spare cash, valuable jewellery and bulky extras somewhere secure before paddle boarding. Bring glasses if you need them for vision or sun protection, but secure them and consider a floating strap. For a short lake paddle, a small dry bag is usually more useful than a board covered in accessories.
Pack light, but keep your safety equipment, drinking water, sun protection and a way to call for help.
Things You Should Not Bring Paddle Boarding
1. Your Whole Wallet
You probably do not need every bank card, receipt and loyalty card on the lake. Leave your wallet somewhere secure. If you need identification or a payment card, bring only what your outing requires and protect it in a suitable waterproof pouch.
Empty your pockets before launching. Your board does not need your entire filing cabinet.
2. Loose Money
Coins can sink quickly, and loose notes can blow away or drift out of reach. Carry only essential cash, secured with your other protected items. Do your shopping before or after the paddle.
3. Valuable Jewellery
Leave expensive rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings somewhere secure. A ring can slip off a wet hand, and small metal items can disappear into the lake before you have time to react.
If losing it would spoil your day, it probably does not belong on your board. Do not dive after a dropped item or put yourself at risk trying to recover it.
4. Glasses You Do Not Need, or Glasses You Have Not Secured
If you need prescription glasses to see safely, wear them. UV-protective sunglasses are useful on sunny water too. The aim is to avoid losing your glasses, rather than paddling without the vision or protection you need.
Many pairs sink quickly once they hit the water. A properly fitted retention strap helps keep them on your head. Consider a floating glasses strap, sometimes called glasses floaties, and check that it can actually support the weight of your pair. A regular strap does not necessarily make glasses float.
5. Loose Electronics and Extra Keys
Leave tablets, spare cameras and a large bunch of keys behind. Bring your phone if it is part of your communication plan, but use a suitable waterproof case and keep it secure and accessible.
Water resistance is not a promise that a phone will survive every dunk. Follow the case instructions and do not assume a waterproof pouch floats.
6. Heavy Bags and Anything Dangling
A shopping bag, bulky backpack or loose strap makes a simple paddle more awkward. Keep essential gear compact and secure it to the board’s intended storage points without blocking your footing or creating loose loops.
Paddle Board Accessories You Probably Do Not Need to Buy
Some accessories have a purpose on longer trips or specialist outings. For a short, relaxed paddle, these are easy purchases to skip.
- A giant paddle board cooler: You are going paddling, not opening a floating deli. Keep the cooler you already own for your picnic on shore. A small dry bag works better for non-perishable snacks and everyday essentials. It does not keep perishable food safely chilled.
- A whole collection of dry bags: Start with one appropriately sized bag. Extra storage is only useful if you actually need to carry extra gear. Close it as instructed and do not treat it as guaranteed flotation or complete protection for electronics.
- A board-mounted Bluetooth speaker: Your playlist can wait until you are back on shore. Skip the extra weight, charging and worry about dropping it.
- A floating drinks tray: A secured water bottle is simpler. A tray of open drinks adds spill potential and more things to retrieve.
- Multiple camera mounts: Unless filming is the point of your outing, you probably do not need three angles of yourself wobbling. Keep any camera setup small and secure.
- A clip-on chair for every outing: For a short paddle, sitting or kneeling may give you the break you need. A suitable seat can be useful for comfort or access, but check compatibility before buying one.
- A fishing rack when you do not fish: Leave the specialist setup for an outing that calls for it. More attachments do not automatically make your board more useful.
What Is Worth Bringing?
- A properly fitted Canadian-approved lifejacket or personal flotation device, worn while paddling.
- The safety equipment required for your outing, including a leash suitable for the water and conditions.
- Drinking water, sun protection and clothing suited to the weather and water temperature.
- A protected, accessible way to call for help.
- A small amount of secured storage for the essentials.
Transport Canada’s paddle boarding safety guidance explains why a leash does not replace a lifejacket or PFD and why leash choice matters.
For the full packing list, read what to bring paddle boarding.
Try a Paddle before Buying All the Extras
If you are still working out what you enjoy, start with our Kelowna paddle board rentals. A few outings will tell you more about the gear you need than a cart full of gadgets.
New to the water? Our beginner paddle board lesson helps you get comfortable with the basics before you worry about accessories.
