Our Story

The YakShade was born out of necessity. After taking up ocean kayak fishing in 2013, the prolonged exposure to the sun inspired a search for a solution to the intense nature of sun exposure while kayaking. After 5 years of intense field testing, a half dozen prototypes and hundreds of hours of exposure to some of the most challenging weather conditions a kayaker will ever face, the YakShade became a reality. Using a proprietary material that was adapted for shade structures used at Burningman, inventor Emanuel Dimitri Volakis blended several ideas into a functional sun shade that could resist the shear wind forces often encountered while kayaking on the ocean while providing substantial shade protection without fear of collapse or capsizing of the watercraft. YakShade can be assembled in minutes and installed with no permanent modification to the kayak. The YakShade reflects up to 70% of the harmful UV and IR rays directly back into space while allowing wind to pass through the shade structure with minimal resistance. The design is elegant yet effective and does not hamper or interfere with angling or rowing. Designed out of aluminum and utilizing the most durable materials on the market (Aluminet, Sunbrella) the YakShade will provide years of protection from solar rays for a very affordable price.