ok, so i raised the seat in my Merlin so i could try kneeling when i paddled vs sitting. Was out on sunday @ Fish Lake for 2.5hrs in the canoe, found it awkward at first getting in the canoe and a little unstable. Once i got comfortable it seemed to go pretty well. found it seemed to be easier on my back, no aching after 2hrs, turning was easier and i sliced through the water more efficiently in the kneeling position. My feet were totally flexed out, but thinking i should try curling my toes under next time. Initial con was moving from the kneeling to a sitting position when i exited the canoe. again, with a little practice it went much smoother.

Interested to hear how others solo paddle when their on a trip?

kt

I'm a sitter - much easier on my knees. If the water is a little rougher, i will kneel, plus i use a good seat back. After 25 plus years, it's hard to change.

I was raised a kneeler. The older I get, the more I sit. Sitting took some getting used to for me.

Now, I only resort to kneeling if the water is rough or I need more power in my stroke.

My Merlin has a raised seat too. I do both. But I'm thinking about lowering it. I wear muck boots when I paddle and it is a tight fit under the seat. I'm concerned about getting my feet stuck in the seat when I get tipped over by a wave.

Sitter here...rarely kneel...

I sit, only kneel when doing whitewater.

Sit on it.

Sit...knees are too old and crabby

sounds like alot of sitters, maybe i just need to get a back rest to help me out if i decide to take the same approach :)

I kneel exclusively in a solo, sit in a tandem.

I keep my feet flexed out, if you do it enough your flexibility gets better and your body gets used to it. The first few times out each year is tough for me, but now I can kneel all day if I need to. Also if you have your seat set right, much of your weight is still carried on your butt, with the knees only carrying part of your weight.

I'm a kneeler. Just feels more comfortable.

I’m going to try kneeling on my next trip, it seems to be much more comfortable for me. I don’t get when people says their knees can’t take the weight, if your seat is adjusted just right it feels almost weightless, I don’t feel anything on my knees or my rear end, it’s the best of both worlds, plus I can take better/longer strokes and make better turning maneuvers. Also I have noticed my back gets less sore kneeling, when kneeling you have much more rotation at the hips, especially when you cant your body on the side you are paddling, it seems like my reach is extended via the torso rotation vs sitting where your reach is much more a function of leaning forward or rotating your buddy further up the spine and not as much at the hips. Being a newbie to kneeling my ankles are not as flexible as some, after 45min- a hour they sort of fall asleep, but they still don’t hurt, it’s just when I go to get out of the boat they can be a little iffy, but hopefully that lessons with time and it’s much better than having a sore ass lol

@Ragged - In another 30-some years or so you'll get the knee thing ;). I never used to get it either, but now I do. Arthritis is a real pain.

I have always sat when paddling a canoe. The only exception was sometimes for real whitewater, which is almost never what I am paddling in the BW/Q. I imagine kneeling makes for greater stability, more efficient paddling, and might even by easier on your back, but all that is canceled out by the fact that my knees could never take it.

quote boonie: "@Ragged - In another 30-some years or so you'll get the knee thing ;). I never used to get it either, but now I do. Arthritis is a real pain. "

Right on the mark boonie! My ankles also cause trouble for me.

butthead

quote boonie: "@Ragged - In another 30-some years or so you'll get the knee thing ;). I never used to get it either, but now I do. Arthritis is a real pain. "

I completly understand, but at the same time there are plenty of 50+ units kneeling every urban paddle get together, so as long as your body is willing I say go for it!

Yeah, I might try it for a while as a change of pace, Ragged. It hurts sitting anyway or lying down. Or standing. Or walking. Old athletic injury; had surgery, etc. Got it other places too as butthead noted - hands, thumbs, toes, neck, back, shoulders.

Yeah, I might try it for a while as a change of pace, Ragged. It hurts sitting anyway or lying down. Or standing. Or walking. Old athletic injury; had surgery, etc. Got it other places too as butthead noted - hands, thumbs, toes, neck, back, shoulders.

quote KTorell: "sounds like alot of sitters, maybe i just need to get a back rest to help me out if i decide to take the same approach :)"

You will note that sitting, especially with a back rest, uses a very different set of muscles than when kneeling.

When sitting with a back rest, it is all in your arms and shoulders. Kneeling permits you to use your torso for a far more powerful stroke.

I have always sat, brought up in tandems. This past summer i got a Merlin with an angled seat. I got myself a 1" thick solid foam kneeling pad from a garden center ( i rope it to the seat for portaging). I really like kneeling, much more stable, especially in a narrower boat than a tandem. Still getting used to it though.

quote mooseplums: "Sit...knees are too old and crabby"

+1

It all depends how your bodies built, I work on cars so my upper bodies is way stronger then my legs, and you's a yak paddle and out canoed my two friends going to Insula using 17 foot alumacrafts and i was sitting.

Kneeler for the most part. For me it is easier on the back. However nothing wrong with sitting so you don't stiffen up. That is a real factor with age.

Torso rotation is possible both sitting and kneeling though sitting limits rotation a little..its easier for me kneeling. Seat backs pretty much take away all torso rotation. I have never used one of those.

Torso rotation is important to me. I don't ever want sore shoulders and arms.

magic is a sitter, i dont know the the wildifire well enough yet....i do know i cant kneel with footware until i raise the seat.

I will go with whatever makes me feel like I've not been kicked multiple times in my hips/groins by a large, cloven hoofed critter, and that sure as hell is not sitting in a Magic for any extended time, at least without a foot brace.

I got to paddle a Wilderness with a foot brace last week for a spell, and it was really nice!

I've been kneeling more in my newly aquired Independence and have grown to like it. I've tried it before in other solos and thought it to be hard on knees and ankles. When the seat height and angle are right, it makes a big difference. I'm going to rig up some pads to see if I can make it more comfy yet.

quote cowdoc: "I'm going to rig up some pads to see if I can make it more comfy yet. "

Cowdoc -- If you are interested in some very inexpensive padding, I have found that the foam from a child size life jacket works very well. I cut the foam out of the life jacket and then trim it to fit my knees. It's very tough, durable padding for little money.

I like to do both.

was out paddling last night and kneeled the entire time. Really no issues on the knees since my ass was on the edge of the seat the entire time. just felt much more comfortable, no back issues and in control, personally i am sold on paddling in the kneeling position.
just need to update the knee pads and away i go.......

quote OBX2Kayak: "

quote cowdoc: "I'm going to rig up some pads to see if I can make it more comfy yet. "

Cowdoc -- If you are interested in some very inexpensive padding, I have found that the foam from a child size life jacket works very well. I cut the foam out of the life jacket and then trim it to fit my knees. It's very tough, durable padding for little money."

Thanks for the idea. I have a variety of foam laying around but I'll keep that in mind.

Don't go cheap on the kneepads. Dan Cooke makes some nice foam pads in a variety of sizes. Thickness does matter as well as resistance from compression. The old Bell pads were poor in the latter respect.

Generally a sitter but kneel in rough water or against the wind, which I've noticed seems to generally hates me, when I do have to kneel for any long periods I place a 1 inch foam pad between my ample bottom and the back of my legs, really comfortable, takes the pressure off my lower back. FRED