: They are necessary to take a boat that doesn't fit you and at least make the
: cockpit fit you so that you can impart "body English" into the
: boat. If you can't make contact with the boat, you're not
: "wearing" it. If you're not wearing it, it's a separate vessel,
: not an extension of your body.

: If the boat fits you, then hip pads aren't necessary.

: Shawn

Some folks are also just not ready and/or comfortable in a narrow boat that "fits" them physically but not skill wise. A wider boat/higher volume boat can give more initial stability and can be fitted to "wear" by hip and other pads. The paddler can sit flat on the water and not worry about flipping over. A narrower boat requires more attention or at least until the paddler becomes truly one with it and don't feel s/he will tip over at the slightest miscue. However narrower boat will allow and spur development of more "amphibian" skills.

sing