My most useful piece of personal kayaking kit is my Ouch Pouch.  It is a small waterproof case that fits my buoyancy aid pocket and it contains a few essentials for dealing with the common mishaps that occur on the water.

• a few adhesive dressings for minors cuts and abrasions;
• a medium sized dressing for bigger cuts and abrasions;
• a roll of electrical insulating tape (for minor repairs, to hold dressings in place and to use immobilise fractures or dislocations);
• a Denso tape patch for boat repairs (more important on the sea than on rivers, where any repairs can be completed on the bank).

The biggest cost is a waterproof pouch or case, but now whilst I still often carry a first aid kit and repair I rarely need to open either.

First published August 2008