Guides, how-tos & gear advice

Field Notes / Safety & Skills

Expert-desk guides on paddling, surfing, tow sports, snorkeling, safety and gear — researched, practical and written for real water.

Lightning bolt striking over a dark body of waterSafety & Skills
The Safety Desk8 min read

Reading Weather and Lightning Risk on the Water

How to read marine forecasts, wind and storm clouds, the lightning facts that matter, and exactly what to do when a storm catches you on the water.
Assorted orange and red life jackets piled togetherSafety & Skills
The Safety Desk9 min read

Life Jacket Types Explained: USCG Labels, Fit and Sizing

New USCG life jacket Levels vs old Types, what federal law requires, how to read labels, and how to size and fit-test jackets for adults and kids.
Paddler in a red life vest kayaking on a calm lakeSafety & Skills
The Safety Desk8 min read

The Water Safety Checklist to Run Before Every Outing

A five-minute pre-launch checklist for paddling, boating and swimming: plan, conditions, people, gear and craft, plus federal equipment basics.
Young boy holding a paddle while riding a board on the waterSafety & Skills
The Safety Desk8 min read

Teaching Kids Watersports Safely

Supervision, life jacket fit, swim skills and step-by-step progressions for introducing kids to paddling, snorkeling, bodyboarding and tubing.
Two red kayaks on a rocky shore with icebergs floating in cold waterSafety & Skills
The Safety Desk8 min read

Cold Water Shock and the 1-10-1 Rule

What cold shock does to your body, where the 1-10-1 rule helps and falls short, and the gear and steps that make a cold-water fall survivable.
Kayaker wearing a headlamp on a dark lake under the Milky WaySafety & Skills
The Safety Desk8 min read

Paddling at Night: Lights, Visibility and the Rules

What the Navigation Rules require of kayaks and paddleboards after dark, night distress signals on coastal waters, and a lighting setup that gets you seen.

Our expert desks

Advice from people who get wet.

Every guide is built by a topic desk, checked against official safety sources and manufacturer documentation, and cited at the bottom of the page.

The Paddle Desk

SUP and kayak sizing, technique, care and trip planning.

Read the desk The Surf Desk

First boards, forecasts, etiquette and the small gear that matters.

Read the desk The Tow & Wake Desk

Tubes, ropes, wakeboards, skis — and how to run a safe tow.

Read the desk The Dive Desk

Masks, fins, snorkel skills and underwater photography.

Read the desk The Safety Desk

Life jackets, cold water, weather and teaching kids.

Read the desk The Gear Desk

Wetsuits, dry bags, waterproof ratings and storage.

Read the desk The Fishing Desk

Kayak and small-boat fishing setups and electronics.

Read the desk The Field Notes Team

Lake days, transport, beach shade and trips.

Read the desk
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