The UK's Watersports Boom: Why Organisation Matters More Than Ever

The school holidays are here, the days are longer and there has rarely been a better excuse to get on the water.

From stand-up paddleboarding before work and open water swimming at sunrise to weekend sailing, canoe trips and training for a first or fiftieth triathlon, more people across the UK are building time on the water into everyday life.

Recent findings shared by Paddle UK show how firmly that habit has taken hold. In 2025, 77% of UK adults took part in at least one watersport or coastal activity. Paddlesports participation rose to 24%, up from 18% in 2023, while outdoor swimming reached its highest recorded level. Four in five adults also said they would like to take part more often.

At KitBrix, we have seen that change first-hand.

As a proud Paddle UK member, we are passionate about supporting the growing paddling community. We supply practical kit-management solutions to paddle clubs, open water swimmers, triathletes, sailing teams, canoeists, kayakers and outdoor adventurers across the UK.

Why More People Are Choosing Life on the Water

The appeal is straightforward: time on the water combines physical activity with mental space. Lakes, rivers, canals and coastlines give us somewhere to step away from screens, clear the head and reconnect with the outdoors.

And participation is no longer limited to experienced athletes or lifelong club members. Today, you will find:

· Stand-up paddleboarders exploring inland waterways.

· Open water swimming groups meeting before sunrise.

· Wild swimmers discovering hidden lakes and coastal coves.

· Sailing clubs introducing newcomers to the sport.

· Canoe and kayak clubs welcoming complete beginners.

· Triathletes training across several disciplines every week.

This is not a passing summer trend. The earlier participation research reported by Marine Industry News showed that interest remained high after the pandemic restrictions ended. The latest figures suggest that paddling, swimming and other water-based activities are now an established part of how people choose to spend their free time.

Built for Water. Engineered for Everything Around It.

Anyone who spends time around water knows that the challenge is not always the activity itself. It is everything that happens before and afterwards:

· Wet kit and muddy shoes.

· Changing on a beach, riverbank or slipway.

· Packing several layers for unpredictable weather.

· Keeping dry clothing separate from wetsuits and towels.

· Protecting valuables.

· Loading damp or sandy gear back into the car.

That is exactly why KitBrix was created.

A KitBrix is not simply another soft sports holdall. It is a structured organisation system designed to make kit visible, keep different types of gear under control and cope with the wet, rough and often messy places where outdoor adventures begin and end.

The Patented BaseBrix™ Difference

Every adventure starts and finishes somewhere. Often, that means a muddy riverbank, gravel slipway, wet pontoon, sandy beach or damp field.

Our hardwearing, waterproof BaseBrix™ is designed to stand securely on demanding surfaces. The freestanding structure makes packing easier and keeps the bottom of the bag away from the water, mud and grit that would quickly soak into an ordinary fabric holdall.

· No soaked kit-bag base.

· No unnecessary mud inside the car.

· No balancing your gear on rocks, walls or crowded benches.

Put it down, open it up, organise your equipment and get moving.

Designed for Every Watersport

Paddleboarding (SUP)

From inflatable boards and pumps to buoyancy aids and extra layers, paddleboarding soon becomes a gear-heavy sport. A well-organised bag keeps the smaller essentials together and makes it easier to move from the car to the launch point in one trip.

 KitBrix helps paddlers organise:

· Buoyancy aids.

· Leashes.

· Pumps and accessories.

· Waterproof clothing.

· Towels and changing robes.

· Footwear.

· Food, drink and valuables.

As a Paddle UK member, we are proud to support paddlers with organisation systems designed for real days out, not perfect changing rooms.

Open Water and Wild Swimming

Changing beside a lake or on a cold beach is rarely glamorous. Keeping dry clothes genuinely dry matters, particularly when the temperature drops.

Wet-and-dry storage makes it easier to separate swimwear, wetsuits and towels from clean clothing, while rugged materials cope with sand, gravel and damp changing areas.

We are also proud to work alongside the outdoor swimming community through relationships with Outdoor Swimmer and Wild Hebridean Swimming, supporting people who embrace Britain's extraordinary natural waters.

Triathlon

Transitions reward preparation. Triathletes need organisation, speed and the confidence that every item is where it should be.

Separate spaces for a wetsuit, cycling shoes, helmet, running kit, nutrition and recovery equipment allow an athlete to focus on the race rather than search through one overfilled bag.

Canoeing and Kayaking

Club sessions and day trips often involve carrying several pieces of equipment between a car park, clubhouse and launch point. KitBrix's modular design keeps smaller items together, makes loading and unloading easier and helps protect essential kit from the elements.

Sailing

Whether you race every weekend or enjoy family cruising, sailing kit quickly becomes bulky, salty and damp. Technical clothing, gloves, boots and personal equipment all benefit from dedicated storage. Our durable construction is designed for repeated use in demanding outdoor environments.

Supporting Paddle Clubs Beyond Race Day

Our partnership with Paddle UK is another step in our commitment to supporting paddlers, clubs and coaches with practical kit solutions that work both on and off the water.

We've already had the pleasure of working with Manvers Waterfront Boat Club to create customised KitBrix products featuring Team Manvers branding. Alongside personalised Tote, Dobi and PoKit bags, we also developed a bespoke club ICON for our Hero bag range, allowing members to order directly from KitBrix while choosing the Hero bag colour that best suits them.

The result is a simple solution for the club, no additional stock to manage and greater flexibility for individual members.

As the Manvers team shared:

"The feedback from our members has been overwhelmingly positive. They consistently comment on the exceptional quality and versatility of the products, using them for competition days, regular training at the club, and everything from day trips to holidays."

It's exactly why we enjoy working with clubs and organisations. Every community is different, but the challenge is often the same: helping athletes keep their equipment organised, protected and ready for whatever comes next.

Safety Starts Before You Launch

As participation grows, preparation matters more than ever. Paddle UK, the RNLI and HM Coastguard regularly remind people to:

· Wear an appropriate buoyancy aid.

· Carry a phone in a waterproof pouch.

· Use the correct leash for the environment.

· Check the wind, tides and weather before setting out.

· Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

Good organisation is part of that preparation. Knowing where your safety equipment is, checking it before leaving home and arriving with everything packed properly means you can concentrate on the water ahead.

More Than a Sports Bag

At KitBrix, we do not simply make bags. We build organisation systems for active lives.

You may be heading to a local lake before work, racing an Ironman, coaching a junior paddle session or travelling to Scotland for a week of wild swimming. Wherever you are going, your kit needs to be protected, visible and ready when you need it.

That is the job KitBrix was built to do.

Ready for Your Next Adventure?

The UK's watersports community has never felt more energetic or more welcoming. We are proud to play our part through our Paddle UK membership, our support for clubs and communities, and our work with organisations including Outdoor Swimmer and Wild Hebridean Swimming.

Whether your next adventure takes you to a local river, lake, reservoir, beach or coastline, KitBrix helps you stay organised from the moment you leave home until the wet kit is safely contained and the car is pointing home. 

EXPLORE THE KITBRIX RANGE

Discover rugged, modular organisation for paddleboarding, swimming, sailing, kayaking, canoeing and triathlon at www.kitbrix.com.

Paddle clubs and teams can also speak to KitBrix about personalised organisation solutions.