* Dying to run the Futaleufu but lacking confidence in your weakside roll? The Shredder from Airtight Inflatables ($1,400) is a blow-up two-person cataraft (you can also pilot it solo) that stows in an 18-feet-by-28-inch duffel, yet is capable of challenging Class V­plus rapids. It's also fast enough to surf standing waves, stable enough to 360 in some holes, and nimble enough to nip into tiny eddies for a break. Now, if only they could find room for a mainsail, you could take it 'round the world.

* The Waterstick Flash Pro-Bend paddle ($250, far left) is computer-designed, but to produce the radiating reinforcement patterns in the fiberglass blade, the manufacturers looked to leaf veins and spiderwebs for inspiration. Result: The design adds tremendous strength to your whitewater stroke while retaining perfect flex. A carbon-fiber version called the Karma goes for $360.

* To propel a loaded sea kayak you need an efficient paddle, like Voyageur's wide, dihedral-bladed Tasman ($300, middle left). Constructed of carbon fiber and weighing a mere 28 ounces, it has ample blade area for powering through surf, and comes in three lengths to suit different paddlers and boats.

* This laminated butternut, basswood, and walnut Touring Special paddle from Mitchell Paddles ($142, near left) is perfect for long, flatwater days in an open boat. At just over a pound and a half it's light enough to paddle for miles at a time, and in low-water conditions the wood acts as a natural shock absorber. Slam the Touring Special into a rock and it won't feel like you're clutching a giant tuning fork.

* Shred Ready's Vixen helmet ($95) boasts a multiple-impact EPP foam liner, a tough Kevlar/fiberglass composite shell for protection, and a mini-cell fit kit for personalized comfort. Available in pearlescent colors like Mint and Buttercup.

* The Mountain Athletics Slot Canyon ($83) from Timberland is an ideal water shoe for sea kayaking or rafting (sorry, it's too bulky to squeeze into a whitewater playboat). The high-traction sole, with its funky Doc Martens-like stitching, sticks to slickrock or seaweed-covered granite, and multiple drainage points ensure prompt emptying of the bilge.

* The best sea-kayaking PFDs combine safety and comfort in equal proportions. Lotus Design's Locean ($114) does it right with big armholes for freedom of movement, reflective tape on the shoulders for visibility, and pockets large enough for a VHF radio. It's even got a strobe holder on the back of the shoulder—out of the way, but accessible if needed.

Photos: Clay Ellis