Well, what is essential? My dictionary suggests firstly absolutely necessary; extremely important' followed by, more philosophically fundamental or central to the nature of something or someone'.

Recalling recent kayaking trips, I suspect quite a bit of our kit doesn't come under the strictly essential category, although what might fail to pass muster under the first definition may sometimes still fall into the second.

Essentials will depend on what type of kayaking trip you have planned. For me it's usually day trips with friends, exploring the river and coast by sea kayak. Loading up the car in the spirit of not-quite-spontaneous adventure beloved of sensible middle class folk the world over, we check our equipment as we go. Typically the roll call is as follows: boats, paddles, buoyancy aids, splash decks, (so far so good) and a seemingly endless supply of stuff' most of which we probably will not need. This generally includes spare shoes, wind shirts, waterproofs, sun cream, spare trousers, flares (note: the last two items are not the same thing). Then there's water, tea, snacks, money, phone. We also seem to have to carry with us a different style of hat for every possible weather condition.

However, when considering absolute essentials, one might sensibly pare this list down:

Obviously and without need for further elucidation, a paddle.

Top of the Sensible List, you should always have a buoyancy aid too. It should be the right size for you and your weight, not just the trendiest one in the shop, and you should actually put it on and fasten it when you are kayaking. If you are a poor swimmer you might consider a life jacket instead, as buoyancy aids are just that - and not intended to keep you afloat if you are unconscious. A splash deck/skirt is also generally a vital piece of kit, especially as I'm writing this in Wales, where we are not generally troubled by endless baking summers and crystal azure seas playfully tripping the occasional wavelet into our hulls. More likely a stiff and stubborn breeze chopping up the grey waters and hurtling great chunks of cold into your lap. Splashdeck essential? Yes.

Next on my list I'd put two things that go hand in hand: a tide timetable (or knowledge of) and a weather forecast for the day. As we are almost always setting off from halfway up a river, the tide timetable is vital, if only in planning which pub we should aim to gently drift back from. Time it correctly and the water rushes out of

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