Paddle floats are a key piece of kayaking safety gear. If you swamp your kayak, paddle floats provide a way to create an outrigger to assist you in getting back into the cockpit. For open water kayakers, a paddle float and the knowledge of how to use it is essential.
Inflatable floats have two compartments which sandwich the blade of your paddle when inflated. They are very small when deflated, but do require inflation when already in the water (which adds an extra step).
The float bags are made from nylon or vinyl. Vinyl is more expensive but much more durable. If one of the two sides pop the entire paddle float is fairly useless, so it is important to take good care of the bags and store them carefully.
