Why every kayaker should use GPS to track their sessions
For kayakers, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro, GPS tracking each session using the Paddle Logger app on your iPhone or Apple Watch can be transformative. If you don’t already track your routes, the ability to monitor distance, speed, pace, and heart rate brings new insights to your paddling experience, enhancing enjoyment, safety, and performance. GPS tracking has become an invaluable tool for many kayakers, helping them explore further, paddle smarter, and gain insights into their progress on the water.
Measure Your Progress Over Time
Tracking your sessions gives you a detailed log of your progress and achievements, whether you're looking to increase your stamina, get faster, or simply paddle further than you did last week. By recording each session's distance and pace, you can review your progress over weeks or months. Seeing your paddling improve is incredibly rewarding and makes it easier to set realistic goals and work towards them.
For instance, if you're consistently covering 3 miles in an hour, but you start noticing improvements in your time and pace, it’s direct evidence of your increased fitness and endurance. With GPS tracking, you can visualise the hard work paying off during each session, motivating you to reach new personal bests.
Optimise Your Paddling Performance
For kayakers interested in refining their technique, tracking speed and pace is essential. Kayaking isn’t just about covering distance; it’s about paddling efficiently. Monitoring metrics like your speed, pace and heart rate allows you to make adjustments to improve your technique and performance on the water. Are you maintaining a steady pace? Do you tend to slow down in certain conditions or after a particular time? Can you get faster whilst keeping your heart rate low?
To see your speed, pace and mile or kilometre splits, head to the Paddle Logger logbook, tap on a session and scroll down to view your trip details. You’ll see a whole section for data. With this data, you can identify trends, such as whether you perform better using specific paddling techniques or how to pace yourself if the average speed for your whole session tends to decrease when you push too hard early on. Small adjustments based on this data can yield big improvements in how you move through the water, helping you get the most out of every session and potentially even compete with other kayakers.
Heart Rate Monitoring
If you’re using the Paddle Logger app on Apple Watch, you can see your heart rate data on your wrist whilst you’re paddling and a detailed graph in the logbook. For kayakers who paddle long distances or push their physical limits, heart rate tracking offers valuable safety insights. Knowing your heart rate zones allows you to monitor your effort and avoid overexertion, especially on longer trips where fatigue could lead to mistakes. By knowing your heart rate zones, you can pace yourself better and stay within safe limits, ensuring that you have the energy needed to paddle back to shore safely.
Heart rate data can also help kayakers improve their aerobic base by identifying heart rate zones that build endurance without exhausting you too quickly. For paddlers interested in optimising their physical conditioning, heart rate monitoring brings a valuable layer to each session. To find out more about using your heart rate zones, check out this article!
Explore New Routes with Confidence
For more adventurous kayakers, GPS tracking with Paddle Logger opens up a world of possibilities for route exploration. You can safely explore new routes by plotting waypoints and get directions while monitoring your progress along the way. By tracking your location, distance, and direction in real time, you can confidently explore new waterways, navigate with precision, and retrace your path if needed. Paddle Logger helps you stay on course even when exploring unfamiliar areas.
In the app, you also have a logbook of all your paddling adventures, helping you remember favourite spots and discover new ones. For those who love venturing into new waters, GPS tracking offers both freedom and security, allowing you to focus on your surroundings without worrying about getting lost.
By measuring distance, speed, pace, and heart rate, you’re not only setting yourself up for physical and technical improvement but also ensuring safer, more enjoyable paddling experiences. Whether you’re a recreational kayaker looking to stay safe or a more experienced paddler eager to push your limits, GPS tracking brings tremendous value to every trip on the water. So, the next time you set out, consider tracking your session with Paddle Logger – you might be surprised at how much more you gain from each stroke.