Obsessed with kayaking? We are too. Tell-tale signs of being kayak-crazy include making kayaking your main conversation topic, obsessing over the minutiae of new gear and considering kayaking skills a crucial quality in a potential romantic partner.
Some paddlers take it a step further and forever cement their love of two-bladed fun on their bodies. See below for the wild, ridiculous and beautiful ways kayakers illustrate what paddling means to them. Will you be getting inked with any of these kayak tattoos?
The silhouetted angler
No one will ever ask you, “So what are you doing this weekend?” again.
The backcountry kayaker
Sometimes you just need to bring a piece of the wilderness home with you.
The low-key kayaker
When you’re not quite ready for the sleeve.
The just-wants-to-have-fun paddler
Can you identify someone’s outlook on life from their tattoo?
The kayak angler’s dream catch
Why bother relaying the story of your latest catch when you can just show someone this tattoo?
The kayaker with the overactive imagination
Lesson learned from this tattoo? Never kayak a salmon near a grizzly bear.
The triumphant tourer
It’s not about being the fastest or the most skilled—the most important thing is getting out there.
The classic whitewater enthusiast
Good form + wearing a helmet and PFD = Paddling Magazine approved.
The tackle lover
Kayaking on a fish is a popular motif in the kayak tattoo world.
The hardcore kayaker
Just in case you thought kayakers were too wholesome.
The sea kayaker’s nightmare
We don’t know what’s going on here, but our best wishes go to the owner of the paddle.
The paddler you definitely want to be friends with
Wearing her love for whitewater proudly.