One of my favorite travel activities is kayaking. While you can kayak in just a swimsuit, I don’t find that very comfortable. I prefer to wear some board shorts and a rash guard shirt. These cut down on chafing from the kayak and also allow me to paddle longer without worrying about sunburning my shoulders.

It took some searching, but I found some board shorts that I absolutely love. In fact, I love them so much that I wear them pretty much anytime I’m in my swimsuit. My favorite board shorts are Maui Rippers. I like the 5 inch inseam, but they also come in a 9 inch inseam.

One piece of advice on sizing: I sized up, based on the comments in the Amazon listing. That was a good decision, and I’d recommend it for anyone who doesn’t wear Juniors sizing. I wear a size 14 in trousers, and bought a size 16 in these board shorts, and they are the perfect fit.

My favorite rash guard comes from Carve Designs. I have the Dawson style. I like the zipper at the top, because it makes the rash guard easy to get on and off, and I love the feel of the fabric. I like this rash guard so much that I’m planning to get a long sleeve version soon.

Here’s a photo of both the board shorts and the rash guard in action, from a recent family stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking outing on Mission Bay here in San Diego: