Introduction to Kayak Polo Gear
Although it is similar to equipment used in other kayaking sports, kayak polo gear is specialized for safety and performance in kayak polo games.
Ball
We play with standard water polo balls. They're about the size of a volleyball and rough on the outside to make them easy to grip.
We usually play with a men's ball in practices, men's and mixed games. For women-only games we play with a women's ball, which is slightly smaller and lighter.
The picture shows a men's ball.
Boat
Kayak polo boats are typically made out of plastic or carbon-kevlar. Plastic boats are cheaper and more durable, but carbon-kevlar boats are lighter and faster.
Our club boats are plastic, but as they gain experience many players choose to buy composite carbon-kevlar boats.
The boats are 9-10 feet long, slightly diamond-shaped, and have bumpers on the front and back for safety.
Polo boats have displacement (rounded) hulls and tend to sit relatively close to the water. Most are scooped at the front and back to make the bow and stern easy to dive. Whitewater paddlers may initially find them somewhat tippy compared to wider, planing hull whitewater boats, but they are also correspondingly easier to roll.
Helmet
Polo helmets have foam padding on the inside and a face mask for protection. Not all of them float, so be careful about dropping them in the water!
Portable Floatation Device (PFD)
We play in reversible numbered PFDs that provide flotation and team identification. They have additional padding on the sides to protect against accidental impact.
Paddle
Kayak polo paddles are typically made of carbon. They have thicker blades than equivalent whitewater or touring paddles to prevent injuries from sharp edges.
There are several different common blade shapes (the picture shows a common asymmetrical shape), but in general they are optimized for a fast, vertical stroke.
Players typically use paddles in the 194 - 210 cm range, depending on the player's height. Polo players usually use paddles that are slightly longer than an equivalent whitewater paddle, but shorter than paddles used for sea kayaking or recreational kayaking.
Sprayskirt
As in many other kayaking disciplines, we wear sprayskirts to keep water out of the cockpit of the kayak. The sprayskirt is worn around the waist like a skirt and then grips the edge of the cockpit to keep water out.
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