Website: paddlinglight.com

Paddling Light (formerly Nessmuking.com) is a website dedicated to lightweight travel via canoe or kayak and it’s primary author/publisher Bryan Hansel has provided a wealth of resources from articles, reviews and interesting news. One unusual aspect of Paddling Light is the library of free kayak plans which can be downloaded for would be boat builders. This is an amazing resource and worth looking at even if you do not have the desire to build a sea kayak, purely as a glimpse into the history of Sea kayak design.

As well as publishing an interesting article on his philosophy on Lightweight Paddling, Bryan also has a simple statement to explain the ethos of the site:

Paddlinglight.com offers information about lightweight canoe and kayak travel. We promote self-direction by emphasizing the do-it-yourself culture in the sport of paddling, and we believe growing paddlesport participation advances wilderness protection.

Another draw for me with Paddling Light is that Sea Kayak Instructor Bryan, who is based in Minnesota, USA, is also a damn fine photographer. Although his gallery and photography is found on the Bryan Hansel Photography website, his pictures are often used to illustrate articles in Paddling Light.