So, imagine I've been paddling for a bit and I want to buy some stuff.

[Douchier]

I know if you're going and buying your first set of gear it can be a bit scary.
Is this any good? Am I being ripped off? Is it suitable for what I want? Should this feel like this? Is it safe? How long will it last? What's the difference between this one and the one that costs €20 more? If everyone else has this, does that mean that it's good? Why is the guy in the shop smiling like that?

These are all questions that I've asked myself at some point. It doesn't make it easy.
Here are some suggestions - there'll be loads more. I think the most important things are to:

1. Get something that fits snugly but still allows a good range of movement.
2. Get something suitable for what you want (BA with rescue-harness? Cag with Latex seals? Probably yes.)
3. Pay the cheapest that you can - thus leaving money for more paddling gear. (Shop around, there are good deals online but if you call into shops you can probably talk them into a nice discount)
4. Only buy something if it's better than club gear enough to be worth the money.
5. Try it out if at all possible.

Talk to people that you trust, people in canoe clubs love talking about gear (if you're not sure, Maryanne has a Google-doc list of people who you do and don't trust - Captains know everything).
Just talk to the guy in the shop, even in they worst case they'll probably run out of "sales-talk" sooner or later and start giving good advice.

Most shops will give you a 10% discount for having ICU membership.

Helmets:
WRSI

Decks:
NRS - I might buy a slightly cheaper one than this to start with, but I reckon it's decent value

BA
- They all float, just get one that fits you well and does what you want it to.
Some here
Some more here

Paddles:
- There are loads of good ones; ones with plastic blades probably aren't worth it though.
Players
Sherpas

Feet:
Socks are great for fitting into things but you need some shoes in the back of the boat. Don't swim.
Booties fine but take up more room than you'd think and don't always have the best soles.
River shoes tend to be pretty bomber but could be tricky to fit into that playboat.

Second hand:
- Can be great, can be utter shite, check it out
Donedeal
Adverts
Irishfreestyle
Irish Whitewater


More people please suggest more stuff and I'll add it to the list.


Disclaimer: If you fail exams it's your own fault.

[HelenaC]

please stop severely undermining my attempts to study.......

[Karen]

Irishfreestyle is back online for boats and gear second hand.

[Eoghan]

also asking people who might know helps big time - even just for things to look out for! eg what to look out for when buying a boat, or not much of a point buying a bouyancy aid that doesn't have a the ability to have a quick release

[Karen]

Also, be wary of buying second hand gear. Ask why they are selling it.

If they are quitting the sport, or have just gotten free gear from sponsors etc, that's fine. If they bought new kit for themselves, there was probably a reason for it.

Same to a certain extent for boats

[Douchier]

Yeah, I think that helmets and BAs are the ones to really take a close look at when going second hand. A helmet can be totalled without showing it and a BA might not float as well as it should.
Boats cost a lot of money so I would definitely ask for advice on that one, maybe even bring someone with you to prod it a bit.

[kmck]

Look carefully at areas that show wear.

Drypants: Look at the knees, ass and seals

Cags: Elbows, wrist and neck seals, under the arms. Check inside to see if it is coming apart

Helmets: Do not buy second hand, there a good quality cheap helmets but this is something that should only ever have one owner.

B/Aid: As buoyancy ages they loose buoyancy. If it is older than three years it can have lost half it's buoyancy. Test it. In most cases this won't matter but it something to keep in mind that B/aids have a life span.

Blades: Lenght, feather and size of blade face. Look for obvious scratches or cracks or any sign of glueing. Do not buy the biggest blade face you can. Try out other people blades first if you feel pain or strains there is a good chance that the blade face is just too big for you.

Boats: Only used on grade 3 and surfing is the boating equvialent of elderly lady owner didn't drive much. Look for wear on the hull, kettling (Creek boats especially kettle(bending in) with age around the seat area), signs of repair to the out fitting, plastic welds and of course try it out if you can.

Order to buy stuff: Cag, booties/footwear, long johns wetsuit(the dry pant/cag versus cag/wetsuit combo is for another day, I still have my wetsuit from when I started, I do not have my first pair of drypants), Neoprene deck, B/aid and finally a helmet. Now start looking for blades and finaly boat. The reason for this order is what will amke paddling more comfortable for you and what will benefit you more also if you decide to quit you haven't spent money on things you won't use at another water sport.

[Garbhan]

Decks:
NRS - I might buy a slightly cheaper one than this to start with, but I reckon it's decent value

Slightly better deal That myself and I believe Rosin got
http://www.i-canoe.com/PEAK+CLEARANCE+KIT/PEAK+2011+CREEK+DECK.html

Order to buy stuff: Cag, booties/footwear, long johns wetsuit(the dry pant/cag versus cag/wetsuit combo is for another day, I still have my wetsuit from when I started, I do not have my first pair of drypants), Neoprene deck, B/aid and finally a helmet.

I'd be interested in some info on this as I think a wetsuit is the next bit of gear I will buy.

P.S Kerian, your wetsuit from when you started is in the boathouse...

[Douchier]

Order to buy stuff: Cag, booties/footwear, long johns wetsuit(the dry pant/cag versus cag/wetsuit combo is for another day, I still have my wetsuit from when I started, I do not have my first pair of drypants), Neoprene deck, B/aid and finally a helmet. Now start looking for blades and finaly boat

I wouldn't agree with that at all. It's all based on the assumption that there's not much progression and on minimising short-term discomfort at the cost of performance and safety (which in the end will lead to much more discomfort).

It all depends on what your aims are and how much resources you planning on committing to the sport.

A wetsuit is something that you'll have for a while and then stop wearing the moment it becomes an option. They don't keep you warm enough and they hinder performance. I certainly wouldn't invest in one ahead of something else at this time of year.

[kmck]

Really I have two wetsuits, one with arse and one without. I don't remember lending them to anyone, they are yak wetsuit blue on the inside with black on the outside.

A long john wetsuit does no hinder motion, a steamer on the other hand  does restrict motion. If I know I'm going to spend a long time in the water I go for the wetsuit. If I am just river running I go for the drypants. I stopped wearing shorts after running through nettles to rescue someone.

The order is based on cost and compromise.  In my case I bought a helmet soon after my cag, since I've a massive head, club helmets just weren't comfortable.

[Garbhan]

Well considering I can get along in a (way too small for me) club wetsuit, I think ill be okay in one that fits me. 

[Matt]

Personally I think the first piece of kit you should buy is a camera - then everyone can see how cool you look when you're out running the shiz-nit.

[kmck]

Matt, we where on a training day with Greg Byrne in one group and Cormac Lynch leading the other. Lunch comes round and Cormac pulls out the shelter and we turn to greg and ask were's his. His response," I can carry the camera or a shelter which do you want" of course camera won!

[DervM]

www.i-canoe.com/PEAK+CLEARANCE+KIT.htm

Peak spraydecks on discount. They're not bad. My one lasted a fair while.

[Niall Finch]

Having spent far to much time looking at this site for it to be justifyable, I just noticed this:
http://www.i-canoe.com/Package+Deals/Student+Kayaking+Starter+Pack.html