Best Kayaking Apps

Want to map your route? Wondering how many calories you burned on that last paddle? Interested in the water levels and conditions on your next float? Well, at the risk of sounding cliché. . . there’s an app for that.

Indeed, there are a number of popular apps that are excellent for kayakers to track their fitness, their routes, their water condition, and more.

While we highly encourage you to get out on the water to DISCONNECT, we understand that there are benefits to those ubiquitous devices that we carry everywhere. They can provide safety and information that can improve our health and peace of mind.

In fact, many of the apps can run in the background so you can still focus on the paddling. . . and people. . .  in front of you.

Strava

This fitness tracking tool has options for hiking, running, riding, . . . and paddling. It records all types of movement, suggests popular routes based on your preferences, helps you build a support network through its social channels, shares your real time location with loved ones so you can be safer, and syncs with many favorite apps and devices. It offers both a free version and a subscription option. Rated: 4.8/5.0 in the Apple app store and 4.5/5.0 in the Google play store.

Go Paddling

This completely free app is loaded with tens of thousands of locations for kayak paddlers (as well as canoers and SUPers). You can browse the maps to find a nearby spot to hit the water or check out the comments from other users to read about their experiences. You can add your own locations or report on existing ones. Rated: 3.8/5.0 in the Apple app store and 3.6/5.0 in the Google play store. 

RiverApp

This app is a no-brainer for anyone tackling river-related activities. It reports on water levels of 15,000 rivers in the USA (and around the world), gives a map review of accessible kayak routes and gauges, notifications of your custom river levels, 2000 river sections showing put in and take out locations, water temperatures in many rivers and lakes, warnings of conditions (trees, dangers, etc) on rivers, and even more with the premium subscription. Rated: 4.1/5.0 in the Apple app store and 4.1/5.0 in the Google play store.

FishBrain

For the kayak fisher, this is a great app. Locate the best fishing spots by seeing confirmed catches from users, predicting spots with Fishbrain’s own AI-algorithm, and using navionics high resolution depth maps of US and Canada. Then learn about the top baits being used in your area as well as log your own insights. Get the free version or upgrade to FishBrain Pro for even more options. Rated: 4.7/5.0 on Apple app store and 3.8/5.0 in the Google play store

CrewNerd

If you are looking to up your paddling gains, then this app is for you.  Using the accelerometer built-in to your device and GPS, CrewNerd calculates stroke rate, stern check, speed, pace, and distance. You can customize your workouts, courses, and review your data. There is a lite version as well as a paid version. Rated: 4.4/5.0 Apple App Store and 4.0/5.0 in the Google Play Store. 

There are so many other apps available - some specific to one platform or another - but these are some of the best apps to get you to your goals.  Just a few more things to consider when installing an app for kayaking: battery life, connectivity, compatibility, and price.

Almost any app that you have running on your phone is going to consume power. Look for battery friendly apps if you are planning on spending the day without a recharge.

Compatibility is important, especially if it is an app that you want to share with others.

If you are going to “get away from it all”, make sure that your app can go with you. Many apps are designed to be used without cell phone access but not all of them are. Check before you go.

Many apps offer both free and paid versions. Check that you can get the features that you want/need and decide how much you are willing to pay for it.

Even as your kayak adventure can be a time to get off the grid, there are still reasons to have that device – and these apps - handy.