Getting out on a boat in the water can be an enjoyable hobby, but sometimes it's hard to decide just which type of boating to try. White water rafting can be a lot of fun, but so can other using other types of white water crafts, such as kayaks. Understanding the differences will make it easier to choose which is better suited to you.

Number of People Transported

With white water rafting, quite a lot of people can go down the river together, with the exact number depending on the size of the raft. This is a good option for those who want to travel on the water with friends or family members. When kayaking, it's typically only one person per kayak, although they do sell kayaks that can carry two people.

Closeness to the Water

People in a kayak tend to get closer to the water, especially if going through white water, since the craft sits down in the water and is made of a very thin material. It isn't uncommon for them to end up in the water themselves. Being on a raft, you're a little more insulated from the water due to the larger, inflatable craft that sits on top of the water. Of course, you'll still need a life jacket, helmet, and goggles to be safe.

Type of Paddle

Multiple people can help move a raft downstream using paddles with a blade at one end. Should one person get tired, another person can take over their paddling duties. With kayaking, a double-bladed oar is used so that one person can move the craft downstream and steer by paddling on both sides of the kayak. There typically isn't anyone to help should the person in the kayak become tired or injured unless there's another watercraft nearby. The paddling motion required by each type of watercraft is very different because of the different types of oars.

Calories Burned

When white water rafting, only the people actually paddling the boat get a good workout. The calorie burn is similar in white water rafting and kayaking, with the exact number of calories burned by the people doing the work to move the craft through the water depending on their weight. For example, a 125-pound person burns about 150 calories in 30 minutes of white water rafting or kayaking, while someone who weighs 155 pounds would burn about 186 calories in that same amount of time.

Those interested in giving white water rafting a try can contact a company like Redwoods and Rivers for more information.