Article Archives
Check the list below for articles and their release dates:
February 25, 2008
Letter to the Editor: Paddling Tip - "Feet First"
Dan Bright, an ACA instructor, describes the importance of establishing a firm foundation with your feet on thefootpegs to allow an effective transfer of power during your paddling stroke.
February 18, 2008
After a long hiatus from this website due to a career change and move across the country, Wes kicks off a new building log as he begins to build a sailboat in his backyard.
October 28, 2007
Wes Kisting reviews the genuinely impressive features of the MSR Hubba Hubba tent.
October 26, 2007
Wes Kisting reports on his day-trip down the Little River, a scenic 3-mile branch of the Savannah River near Augusta, GA.
August 7, 2007
Wes Kisting describes a simple, cost-free tip to make tie-down straps quicker and easier to use. If you regularly find yourself fumbling to feed strap ends through their buckles, read this.
August 5, 2007
Wes Kisting enjoys a day paddle on Georgia's Clarks Hill Lake (a.k.a. J. Strom Thurmond Lake), the second-largest artificial lake east of the Mississippi river.
June 14, 2007
Did you Know?: Tips and Trivia for the Prudent Wilderness Traveler
An ever-expanding list of tips and trivia to help you become a safe, savvy wilderness traveler.
March 1, 2007
Estimating Distance While Paddling: Practical Geometry
Wes Kisting explains how to use simple geometry and knowledge of the earth's curvature to calculate geographic distances while paddling.
February 18, 2007
Dangerous Curves: Color Correction with Photoshop Curves
Wes Kisting discusses the amazing power of the Curves feature in Adobe Photoshop. Find out how Curves can help you neutralize color casts and restore vivid color like a pro.
February 15, 2007
The Paddler's Pantry: A Backcountry Cookbook
RoguePaddler is proud to announce the launch of The Paddler's Pantry: an ever-expanding compilation of simple, tasty camp recipes intended to inspire your inner chef. A special thanks to Fred Moore, who helped kick off this cookbook with some superb menu suggestions.
February 11, 2007
Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad: Packing Secret?
Wes Kisting shares a simple secret for getting your self-inflating sleeping pad back down to its original, factory-packaged compactness.
January 13, 2007
Shooting for Impact: Setting Up for High-Quality Shots
Wes Kisting offers some nuts-and-bolts practical advice for maximizing the quality of your photos.
November 29, 2006
Kayak Construction: A Safety Matter?
An excited Letter to the Editor purports that our article "Choosing the Right Kayak" contains snobbish, irresponsible advice which is sure to get someone killed. Read the exchange and decide for yourself whether the issue of kayak construction should be construed as a matter of safety or a question of informed decision making.
November 9, 2006
Paddle Comfortably: Nine Tips for More Comfortable Expeditions
Wes Kisting shares tips for improving your personal comfort during an extended paddling expedition.
September 28, 2006
Composing Great Photos: A Crash Course in Creative Composition
Wes Kisting shares tips for increasing the visual impact and dramatic effect of your paddling photos.
September 15, 2006
Paddling in Ports: Cautions when Kayaking in Commercial Shipping Areas
When kayaks and big ships collide, the big ships win! Professional seafarer Chris Stockman explains how to kayak safely in ports and commercial shipping areas.
September 7, 2006
Partnership and Planning: Mississippi Mishaps
Since bitter e-mails about this touchy subject continue to show up in his inbox, our editor finally breaks his silence: Here, he shares the real story about the partnership fiasco that occurred during his 2004 expedition down the Mississippi River—focusing on vital lessons every paddler should learn before their next partnered expedition.
September 5, 2006
RoguePaddler gets a sleek new look!
If you're a regular visitor to the RoguePaddler site, you've probably noticed our new look. Cool, isn't it? At last, our editor got around to giving our homepage the sleek, paddling-themed look it deserves! Now all our articles are accessible from the main page with a single click. Just make sure you set your browser to allow scripts; otherwise, the navigation buttons will not function properly.
August 21, 2006
A new Photography section has been added to our homepage!
The world of photography often seems baffling and elusive to budding amateurs. Wes Kisting demystifies the tools and techniques needed to capture your paddling adventures in stunning detail. Click the Photography button on the main page to begin exploring the following new articles:
Capturing the Canoe & Kayak Experience
Choosing the Right Camera System
Lenses, Film, & Dry Storage
Selecting Image Format and Quality
Coping with Highlights and Shadows
August 16, 2006
Shallow Beauty on the Iowa River
Wes Kisting learns that the under-rated and oft-maligned Iowa River has a lot to offer—enough to rival the beauty and abundant wildlife of the Maquoketa River when water levels are low enough to reveal the Iowa's shallow-water splendor.
July 22, 2006
Paddle Efficiently: 6 Tips for Efficient Travel by Canoe or Kayak
Wes Kisting discusses six techniques for more efficient travel by canoe or kayak. Conserve effort and make better progress on your next expedition by following these simple tips.
July 10, 2006
Wes Kisting discusses the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)—also known as a Palm Pilot or Pocket PC—and the space- and weight-saving benefits it may offer to serious expedition paddlers. Find out if a PDA can help you get organized while cutting the fat.
June 12, 2006
Wes Kisting explains why a GPS unit can be an appealing, valuable investment—not just to hardcore expeditioners but also to casual day-trippers. Find out what makes GPS units so useful, and which features are particularly desirable or convenient for paddlers.
May 26, 2006
Ease Your Expedition: 7 Simple Items of Convenience
Wes Kisting discusses 7 items which may not seem like "standard equipment" for an expedition, but which are extremely valuable and versatile for their weight. Find out how these items could help make your next expedition safer, more comfortable, or more enjoyable.
May 25, 2006
Wes Kisting recounts an expedition down the Maquoketa river in Iowa. His plan for a five-day, 140-mile trip from Backbone State Park to the Mississippi was cut short (reduced to two days, 67 miles) by a serious case of tendonitis, but not before he experienced the most scenic and rigorous half of the river.
Wes Kisting describes the art and the ethics of "ninja camping": the controversial practice of camping secretly on privately owned lands. Learn more about the circumstances that may necessitate this questionable practice, and what rules should be observed if it becomes your only recourse.
April 24, 2006
Review: Clark North American Jungle Hammock
Fred Moore reviews the Clark North American Jungle Hammock: It's low on weight and bulk, but high on comfort! Find out why this might be the ideal shelter for you.
April 4, 2006
Wes Kisting discusses six valuable, versatile knots that deserve a place in every expeditioner's bag of tricks. If you've ever found yourself fumbling with a tangled mess of rope or trying in vain to add tension to a line, these six knots will do wonders to boost your credibility and resourcefulness around camp.
March 14, 2006
Wes Kisting discusses some of the basic, but oft-overlooked considerations that go into planning a safe, enjoyable expedition. If you're relatively new to expedition kayaking, this article is for you.
February 1, 2006
Beat the Winter Blues with Greens: An Indoor Garden can Cure the Winter Doldrums
Wes Kisting learns that indoor gardening can be a great way to beat the winter doldrums. If you're restless for things to do before the weather warms up enough to paddle, read this article and try building your own indoor garden. It could do wonders for your soul.
January 27, 2006
Six Days on the Isle of Kings: The Circumnavigation of Isle Royale
Wes Kisting recounts the story of his 110-mile circumnavigation of Isle Royale on Lake Superior. Although the expedition took place in July 2003 and was considerably shorter than expeditions he has taken since, Wes considers Isle Royale to be the single most challenging and rewarding experience in his paddling career. Learn more about the aptly-named "Isle of Kings."
January 21, 2006
Most campers think their lightweight shelter options are limited to tents and tarps. Fred Moore describes the appeal and features of the oft-forgotten jungle hammock. Find out whether a jungle hammock is right for you, and how to choose from the many models available on the market.
January 18, 2006
Announcing the birth of the RoguePaddler Forum!
We've started a new online forum for paddling enthusiasts like ourselves. It will take time to grow into a valuable resource, so please be patient. Join now to help us build an online community we can all use and enjoy!
January 16, 2006
Wes Kisting revisits the complex discussion of weight which originally appeared in his editorial: The Weight of Myth. Find out how weight affects the performance of a kayak, and why lighter is not necessarily better.
January 14, 2006
Paddle Smarter: 5 Ways to Tweak Your Paddling Technique
Wes Kisting discusses five excellent ways to transform an ordinary stroke into high-performance propulsion.
January 13, 2006
For your convenience, we've added a few graphics to our homepage:
New articles are marked with a yellow star. 
Recently updated articles are marked with a green dot. 
January 6, 2006
The Weight of Myth: Misinformation and Kayaking
Wes Kisting discusses the complex cycle of myth and misinformation which spreads so much confusion and bad advice on the Internet. To illustrate the problem, he dissects the logic of a recent article saturated with problematic assumptions. Find out why you should be wary what you believe, and (in the process) learn more about how weight affects the performance of a kayak.
November 30, 2005
Rewards and Pitfalls of the Purist Philosophy
Wes Kisting discusses the pros and cons of the purist philosophy, which underlies some of the most influential modern approaches to wilderness minimalism.
November 20, 2005
Hyponatremia and the Dangers of Over-Hydration
Did you know that it can be harmful, even fatal, to drink too much water? Wes Kisting describes the dangerous, little-known, and often misdiagnosed condition known as hyponatremia. Learn how to recognize its symptoms and protect yourself against it.
November 15, 2005
8 Cold-Weather Paddling Tips to Keep You Warm
The combination of cool wind and cold water can leave a paddler chilled to the core. Wes Kisting offers a few tips for keeping warm and cozy on your next trip.
Compact Digital Cameras: Creativity Breeds Convenience
Wes Kisting explains how a high-quality compact digital camera can dramatically simplify your paddling photography experience, but still capture outstanding images worth showing to your family and friends.
November 10, 2005
October on the Upper Iowa River
Wes Kisting takes advantage of this year's spectacular late-season weather in Iowa by returning to the Upper Iowa River for a fantastic overnight paddling trip.
November 3, 2005
The Thrifty Paddler: Tripping on a Tight Budget
Jesse Rusch explains how to outfit yourself for a paddling trip on a very limited budget.
October 20, 2005
The Incredible Wonder of Waders
Wes Kisting explains how a good pair of fly-fishing waders can dramatically improve your paddling comfort, particularly in colder weather.
October 12, 2005
Cell Phones and Safety in the Wilderness
Wes Kisting weighs in on The Great Cellphone Debate, arguing for reasonable acceptance of the cell phone as a potential aid to safety in the wilderness.
September 1, 2005
Building the Princess 22 Sharpie
Our good friend Joe catches the boat-building bug from Wes Kisting and begins building a sailboat of his own.
May 2, 2005
Wes Kisting finally explains what's been keeping him so busy (and keeping this website so neglected) since last August. Read about his efforts to build a pocket cruiser with his fiancee, and their trip sailing down the Mississippi river for their honeymoon.
August 20, 2004
Applying Varnish and Rigging the Deck & Performance Review of the Redfish King.
Wes Kisting completes his article Building the Ultimate Expedition Kayak with an explanation of the final varnishing and rigging, and a full review of the Redfish King design.
July 8, 2004
Building Magnetic Kayak Hatches & Finishing the Coaming, Shearline, and Bulkheads
Wes Kisting updates his article Building the Ultimate Expedition Kayak by explaining how to build magnetic kayak hatches, create a carbon-fiber cockpit coaming, join the shearline, and installing bulkheads.
June 29, 2004
Where The Road Ends and the Water Begins
Bryan Hansel paddles in the floodwaters, visits the cormorants, and reflects on drowning rabbits and the art of paddle-making.
May 27, 2004
Review of the Bending Branches Viper double-bent canoe paddle
Review of the SnowPeak GigaPower WG stove
April 17, 2004
To the Bay: A Canadian Canoe Odyssey
Reader Hoz Joven recounts his exciting journey down Canada's Missinaibi River.
Review of the Brunton Optimus Nova multi-fuel stove
Review of the Brunton Liberty mantleless lantern
Review of the MSR Missing Link shelter
Review of the Bruton Firelight butane lighter
April 1, 2004
Bryan Hansel reflects on the appeal and drawbacks of multi-tools.
March 24, 2004
Wes Kisting updates his article Building the Ultimate Expedition Kayak by describing how to build the deck with attractive patterns and accents.
March 10, 2004
Sealing and Fiberglassing the Hull
In another installment of Building the Ultimate Expedition Kayak, Wes Kisting describes how to seal and fiberglass a cedar-strip kayak hull.
March 6, 2004
Wes Kisting planes and sands he hull of his cedar-strip kayak in the next installment of Building the Ultimate Expedition Kayak.
March 4, 2004
Wes Kisting discusses the essential safety equipment every expedition kayaker ought to carry.
March 1, 2004
Setting Up a Strongback and Stripping the Hull
As he continues Building the Ultimate Expedition Kayak, Wes Kisting builds a strongback and lays the cedar-strips for the hull.
February 25, 2004
After receiving many packing questions from readers, Wes Kisting discusses his Thin-Fish packing philosophy and lays out an all-star line-up of light, packable, versatile gear to help streamline your next adventure.
February 20, 2004
Solar Powered Battery Packs and Electric Bilge Pumps
In the process of Building the Ultimate Expedition Kayak, Wes Kisting designs a small, portable, self-contained power and water management sytem. Find out how to pump out your bilge and recharge your electronic gear with the power of the sun.
Paddling Solo in a Tandem Canoe
Bryan Hansel explains how a solo paddler can capably manage a canoe built for two.
Articles Prior to 2004
Choosing the right Kayak
Choosing the right Kayak Paddle
Choosing the right PFD
Paddle Performance Terminology
Sleeping Bags, Pads, and Liners
The One-Burner Kitchen
Cleaning and Storing Your Gear
Repairing Gelcoat: Getting Rid of Old Scars
Dog Lifejackets (a.k.a. Canine PFDs)
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