You hear it quite often, that "the weight doesn't matter, because I paddle". Of course, it matters less than when, for example, hiking where you carry everything on your back.
Like many other things, one can simply decide that it doesn't matter.
Because of course there is a difference. Then of course it is the case that the faster you have to move and the longer, the bigger the difference.
The biggest difference is probably noticed by most of us top luve paddlers, fika paddlers, tour paddlers, excursion paddlers on land when the kayak has to be carried around and unloaded from and onto a car or trailer or in and out of a storage or up and down from the water, the cliff and the campsite.
The ones who most loudly tend to claim that weight doesn't matter are of course the ones with the heaviest kayak and the most gadgets 😉 Usually they haven't tried paddling a lighter kayak either. If they have tested a lighter kayak, it is perhaps a rank(er) exercise or competition kayak and it/they were rank and scary and so you connect it only with the weight in mind 😉
I have the advantage of having two kayaks of the same model but with different materials and a weight difference of about 5 kilos and then it is easy to compare. Big difference both in acceleration and maneuvering, I think. When paddling slowly, no major difference is immediately noticeable, but after a full day you can probably be a little less tired in the body.
In the case of short and slow tour paddling, which most of us do, of course it matters less what kayaks and equipment weigh, but there is a difference. Easier is always more pleasant. A really heavy and well-loaded kayak, however, has the advantage of lying still even if it's windy like hell and is also more stable in the water if you now buy a kayak that is too tall 🙂
Start saving on the heaviest
Where is it easiest to save weight then? as a rule, it is easiest with what weighs the most. And in descending order, it is usually for us paddlers: the paddler, the kayak, tent, clothes, sleeping gear, food stuff, etc. Jörgen Johansson, who wrote the book Wander Fjäderlätt usually talk about 3 for 3; i.e. that the heaviest items should weigh under three kilos together. In his case, the three are Sleep, Protect & Carry. The easiest way to save weight during the excursion is of course to leave stuff at home 🙂 Buying a lot of lighter stuff can of course be expensive, therefore the trick to save weight on yourself is perfect, eat less and you save money and can paddle easier 🙂
Starting by drilling holes in the toothbrush is probably the wrong end to start at, even if many streams are small... Maybe better to eat a couple of rolls or pizzas less during the year 🙂
When is the difference noticeable?
It is basically impossible to say. For a good paddler with a lightweight boat, good technique who is also well-trained, a difference can certainly be noticed at a couple of hecto. Most of us sea/touring paddlers might need a couple of kilos to notice a difference when paddling. When carrying a kayak, a kilo or two is quickly noticed.
Lighter is almost always better just as less is usually more 🙂
