As we continue to expand the line of paddles we offer, today we are happy to announce that the Cascade Paddle is now available at Comfykayak.com. 

This lightweight and all-purpose recreational kayak paddle from Cannon Padles comes with a standard black aluminum shaft or with the option of a carbon shaft and either black or yellow fiberglass-reinforced nylon blades.  It is a great paddle for beginners at an affordable price.

The February 2013 Newsletter from Comfykayak.com is now available:
click here to read the online version. 

This month we are featuring our Winter Sale.  Right now you can Save Big on Dry Bags, Kayak Covers, Canoe Seats, Tackle and Bait Holders, Cushions & Pads and many more Paddling Accessories.

Comfykayak.com is also announcing the availability of Ocean Kayak brand products, beginning with five seat backs or backrests:

• Comfort Zone Seat Back ◊ sale price: $119.95
• Comfort Pro Seat Back ◊ sale price: $88.95
• Comfort Backrest ◊ sale price: $63.95
• Comfort Tech Seat Back ◊ sale price: $58.95
• Comfort Plus Seat Back ◊ sale price: $39.15

Lastly, the newsletter announces a way for you to save $5 on your next purchase simply by submitting a review of a product you have purchased at Comfykayak.com.  Read the newsletter for instructions.

Note: We are now on Facebook: Visit Our Store on Facebook.

On December 17th, merchants across the US will be offering free shipping.  Comfykayak is joining in by offering free shipping on any order of $50 or over (normally $100 or over) for orders shiping to the 48 contiguous states. For Alaska and Hawaii, we offer free shipping on orders over $150 (normally over $200).  Plus, with the exception of made to order items, we promise delivery by Christmas Eve or we will contact you immediately. Take advantage Free Shipping Day, a great opportunity to save on a great selection of paddling supplies for yourself or a loved one. 

The number one question we get at Comfykayak.com is: "I have a sit inside kayak and all the seats on your website appear to be for sit-inside kayaks.  What should I do?"  As we refer customers on our recently revised homepage, the short answer is that you will want to visit our Kayak Back Bands page and have a look at several options available for sit-inside kayak owners. Out of these the Tall Back Band (TBB100) from Surf to Summit is the only one that offers what many sit-inside kayak owners are looking for: mid to upper back support. Most back bands essentially only support your lower back, but the Tall Back Band is a 14" high seat back that also flexes to allow some contouring to the shape of your back.  The one major drawback of the Tall Back Band is that it is 23" wide and many longer kayaks like some ocean or touring kayaks have very narrow cockpits. A general rule is that the Tall Back Band will flex to accommodate cockpits as narrow as 19" across, but if you are a larger person, this could feel quite snug as it will need to flex, coming forward on the sides to wrap around your body.  We have encouraged Surf to Summit to come up with a smaller version of the TBB100 for smaller kayaks.

The next best option is the Deluxe Back Band from Watersports Warehouse, which at 12" high is a little shorter but still offers more mid back support than your average narrow back band. It lacks the solid PVC plastic backing of the TBB100 so while it is not as sturdy, the support coming from two short plastic battens on either side of the main part of the seat back, it will also flex much easier and so will fit in a wider variety of cockpits.

As for the seat cushion, you can select from several options on our Cushions and Pads page.  Our top-seller is the Classic Paddling Cushion from Skwoosh, now available with AirFlo-3D, a fabric designed to breathe and stay drier. Pairing a Back Band with a Seat Cushions is the simplest solution for the sit-inside kayak owner.  Why is that?  And have you got your eye on one of the many full kayak seats with seat back and seat cushion attached that we offer? Here's the thing: figuring out how to install a full kayak seat inside of a sit-inside kayak can be very challenging and basically none of our suppliers offer any support for such an endeavour. This is not to say that it cannot be done, just that you're basically on your own.  The first step would be to match the measurements of your cockpit with the dimensions of the seat. Many of the seat backs on full seats could be too wide to allow the seat to slide down inside your kayak and so just wouldn't work.  The next major issue is strapping. Most full seats, being designed with sit-on-top kayaks in mind are engineered so that both the forward and rear straps angle downward and sort of anchor the seat in position. In a sit-inside kayak, generally, your forward straps go straight forward and the rear straps, when there are any, generally go straight back. Some sit-inside kayaks offer no space behind the seat back, so you are left with the only option being to attach your rear straps atop the rear deck of your kayak. Since sit-inside kayak manufacturers will not have thought to accommodate this option, you will either need a rivet gun and some rivets to install some pad eyes (a/k/a deck loops or grommets) for attaching the brass clips, or some steel screws and as screwdriver to attach the the straps directly (less recommended). [Note: We do offer a rivet gun on our site that can be purchased along with pop rivets and pad eyes as well as screws, but at this time we do not sell the hardware separtely.]

So as you can see, installing a full seat in your sit-inside kayak can be a lot of work and we cannot guarantee you'll be happy with the result.  Still, if you are determined, we recommend you look at our selection of Skwoosh brand seats as a first option, since these are quite flexible and can in some cases be fitted over an existing seat back. Plus they have the wonderful gel cushion built right in.  Watersports Warehouse seats have a very similar design and come with the option of upgrading to the Deluxe Comfy Foam padding for extra comfort.

If you are a sit-on-top kayak owner reading this, well, the world is your oyster! Basically all you need to do is find the seat that suits your fancy, buy it, and clip it on.  For full seats, the brass clips come standard and the length of the forward and rear straps are adjustable, so you're good to go. 

The July 2012 Newsletter from Comfykayak.com is now available: click here to read the online version. 

This month we are featuring three products from Danuu, including the Pacific Angler, the Paddi Bag Adjustable Paddle Bag and the Outback Kayak Seat.  Also featured is the GTS Pro Kayak Seat from Surf to Summit, among other items on sale.  We are also introducing our new line of Dry Cases for Personal Electronic Devices and other personal effects.

If you would like a copy of the Newsletter e-mailed to you, just go to our Contact page and either click on our e-mail address or fill out the comments form and provide us with your e-mail address. 

Thanks and stay cool out there in the July heat.

We've just added a new product: the Back Pack Cooler from Watersports Warehouse. This is a handy item for your paddling adventures because it allows you to basically put your cooler on your back and still have two hands for carrying other gear. Summer will soon be here and you'll be needing a good cooler for those hot days.  (Note: This is a made to order item: please allow about 4-5 weeks for delivery.)