The Journal

Heliconia is excited to announce Ken Whiting’s picks for Best Paddling Gear of 2024.

Each year, Ken Whiting recognizes the top gear that he’s tested with PaddleTV Awards. To put the gear to the ultimate test in 2024, Ken embarked on a number of extensive backcountry paddling adventures, which included a 5-day whitewater trip down the Petawawa River, a packrafting mission down the Noire River, and a 5-day sea kayaking adventure on Lake Superior.

The 2024 PaddleTV Awards winners reflect the latest advancements in paddlesports gear, while also supporting Ken’s mission of getting more people on the water and ensuring those experiences are as safe, comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

PaddleTV’s Best in Class Paddling Gear Award Winners

GearLab Outdoors Deck Pod Pro
This versatile deck bag provides paddlers easy access to essentials like water, snacks, and sunscreen. Unique to the ‘Pro’ model is a camera-mount system, which allows easy mounting of an action camera or phone to capture the adventures.

NRS Swig Hydration Pack 
The NRS Swig Hydration Pack includes a 2L bladder and attaches seamlessly to select NRS life jackets. The Swig Hydration Pack makes it easy for paddlers to stay hydrated on the water quickly and easily, without the need to pop a skirt, open a hatch, or unzip a deck bag.

NRS Odyssey PFD
Newly designed for 2024, the Odyssey PFD features NRS’s innovative orbit fit system that improves the comfort of what was already a very comfortable PFD. It has 4 large zippered pockets and attachment points to accommodate the Swig Hydration Pack. 

Hurricane Prima 125 Kayak
This lightweight, thermoformed flatwater kayak offers a great balance of speed and stability, which makes it attractive to both beginners and experienced paddlers. The Hurricane Prima 125 also provides the comfort of a removable, framed seat, has dual bulkheads for safety, and a stern hatch for storing gear.

Recreational Barrel Works – The Works Harness Package
Highly customizable and comfortable, this barrel and harness system makes it easier and more comfortable than ever to portage barrels on canoe trips. The accompanying barrel buckets and organizers also take barrel organization to a new level. 

Aqua Bound Aerial Whitewater Paddle 
Beautiful, strong, and confidence inspiring, the Aerial Whitewater paddle is a whitewater kayaker’s dream.  Available with either fiberglass or carbon blades, the Aerial paddle uses Aqua Bound’s new LamLok technology to dramatically enhance the strength of the blades.

Aqua Bound Tetra Ultralight Touring Paddle
Available in the spring of 2025, the Tetra Ultralight touring paddle is a beautiful, full-carbon paddle whose blades pop out of the water with each stroke. The paddle features Aqua Bound’s LamLok technology, which dramatically enhances the blade strength, without adding extra weight.

If you would like to submit a product for Ken to review on PaddleTV, please email ken@helipress.com 

About Ken Whiting
Ken Whiting is a world-champion kayaker, author of 12 books and videos about paddling, and the host of the world’s largest paddle sports YouTube channel, PaddleTV. Ken is also the host of Facing Waves, a leading outdoor paddlesports adventure television show, and is one of the most accomplished and respected paddlesport professionals in the world. Through his project, Ken hopes to help get people outdoors and have positive, enriching experiences that will result in them being life-long outdoor participants.

About Heliconia
Heliconia’s goal is simple – to get more people outside and help them become lifetime outdoor participants. The award-winning video production company does this by showcasing outdoor adventure and adventure travel through inspiring and educational content with industry-leading influencers. Heliconia currently produces seven unique media projects, providing authentic storytelling opportunities for every adventure and every destination. These series include Epic Trails, Facing Waves, Adventure Cities, Great Family Adventure, Hook, Line & History, Road Trip Angler, and Outdoor Eats.

For media inquiries, please contact:  

Jenna Hill
Communications Manager 
jenna@heliconia.ca

and/or

McKenzie Dolan  
Digital Project Manager  
mckenzie@heliconia.ca