Eskimos built the first kayaks by stretching sealskin over whalebone frames, then waterproofed the exteriors by coating them with blubber. Modern materials have thankfully rendered these methods obsolete: Wave Sport in South Carolina employed carbon fiber and Kevlar to craft the hull of its Project 54cx kayak, which will be produced in a series of only 50. The lightweight and extremely rigid materials represent the future of kayak construction, and make the $2,500 Project 54cx ideal for high-volume river running. 888.525.2925, www.wavesport.com