Patrick Kinsella

Patrick Kinsella

Patrick Kinsella is a writer, photographer and editor who’s spent two decades chasing stories involving boats, boots, bikes, bruises and beers.

A regular writer for Lonely Planet, his escapades have featured in National Geographic Traveller, The Guardian, CNN, Sidetracked, Outdoor Fitness, CountryFile, The Great Outdoors and elsewhere.

He’s authored guides to exploring the coastline and countryside of Devon and Dorset, and recently wrote a book about pub walks.

A keen kayaker, canoeist, stand-up paddleboarder, surfski paddler, packrafter and sea rower, his aquatic adventures have included canoeing the Yukon River and setting a speed record for consecutively paddling the longest lakes in England, Wales and Scotland.

Helly-Hansen-Crest-Watermoc-review

While serious, all-season paddlers are more likely to go with a substantial shoe such as the Palm Descender or the Gill Marine Edge boots, less-frequent and more fairweather kayakers and…

palm-rock-kayak-shoes-review

If you’re a beginner, determined to get into paddling properly, or an intermediate kayaker, canoeist or stand-up paddleboarder looking for one shoe that does it all, then the Palm Rock…

Xero-aqua-x-kayak-shoes-review

These good-looking aqua sneakers are made by Xero, a US-based brand that specializes in super minimalist footwear, mainly for ‘barefoot’ running on trails. (Obviously, since we’re talking about a shoe…

Palm-Descenders-kayak-shoes-review

There are all kinds of paddlers out there, ranging from dabblers who mostly like to launch from sandy beaches and use sit-on-top craft and SUPs in the height of summer,…

Keen-Drift-Creek-H2-sandals-review

In the warmer months, sandals are an ideal form of paddling footwear, especially for more casual canoe and kayak trips. I know from previous experience that US brand Keen make…

Salomon-Amphib-Bold-2-water-sneakers-review

Best known for high-end running and trail-orientated footwear, fleet-footed French brand Salomon have gone off on a bit of a tangent with the Amphib Bold shoes, which are designed to…

Some people dismiss Decathlon kit as cheap and cheerful, but I have visited the French company’s impressive design base in the Alps, and witnessed the thorough testing process the gear…

Koo-Cosmo-Sunglasses-review

The Cosmo shades from Italian eyewear brand Koo are not intended for epic, expedition-style sea kayaking or boating missions off-shore or along tricky and technical coastlines, but boasting oceans of…

Tifosi-Crit-Enliven-Off-Shore-Lens-Sunglasses-review

Originally conceived and designed for boat-based fishing folk, Tifosi’s Crit shades with Enliven Off-Shore lenses can also claim to be among the best kayaking sunglasses, thanks to their frame design…

Bollé-Holman-Floatable-sunglasses-review

Bollé’s Holman Floatable sunglasses have been made for wearing during active outdoor sports – specifically adventures on and around water. But, while packing them full of features that add levels…

best-kayak-sunglasses-oakley-split-shot

California-based eyewear brand Oakley know a thing or two about making sunglasses that look effortlessly cool while protecting your peepers and providing peak performance, and the polarized Split Shots are…

gill-edge-sailing-boots-review

The excellent Edge Boots from British sailing brand Gill Marine claim to provide all-season, full-foot protection for paddlers and boaters exploring any kind of coastscape, in all sorts of conditions.…