Hat kayak should i buy? It’s the first question a kayaker asks, and often the hardest to answer. You have to choose the best kayak for you, but that’s the trick—finding the boat perfectly suited to your specific needs.
With dozens of companies producing hundreds of different models, there’s a kayak for every style of paddling and every type of paddler. If you can’t decide, buy two. There is no better way to grow as a kayaker than taking a friend.
This kayak buying guide will take you through everything you’ll need to consider before making a purchase, from finding the right size boat to deciding whether you need a skeg to picking a place to buy from. It will also recommend some of the top kayak models, to help you begin narrowing your search. Lastly, below you’ll find links to all of our buying advice articles about more specific types and brands of kayaks.
Let this be your start in finding the best kayak for your paddling dreams.
Shop kayaks
The links in this section will take you to our comprehensive paddling buyer’s guide, where you’ll find all the best kayaks on the market, including reviews, ratings and where to buy. You can choose to filter kayaks by type and application, such as fishing or whitewater, or by the number of paddlers (one-person or tandem), and so much more.
Then, click on specific models to see specs, prices, reviews and where to buy. We’ve also narrowed down the best kayaks at the most popular retailers including sporting goods stores, outdoors stores, and big box department and hardware stores. You simply will not find a better kayak buyer’s guide resource on the web.
Best kayaks
If you already know what type of kayak you are interested in buying, your next step is fairly straightforward. Below, you’ll find our buying advice articles about specific types of kayaks under the heading “best kayaks by type.” these articles will provide you with everything you need to consider when choosing a kayak in a given category, and even provide a roundup of top models to get you started.
If you’re new to kayaking, though, picking a kayak type isn’t always an intuitive choice. We also realize it can be time consuming to learn about all the different types to figure out which is best suited to you. Instead we’ve written articles that cater to the attributes you do know you want in a kayak.
For example, you might know you want a kayak that is great for lake paddling, or that costs less than $1,000, or that you can buy at the store down the street. You might also already be familiar with a brand and want to know what else they have to offer. These are all great places to start your search from. Browse the articles below and read the ones that touch on things that are important to you—whether it be price, material, where you intend to paddle, or who you intend to paddle with.
Each article will explain what to consider in making your purchase and provides a list of the top models for you to learn more about.
Kayak buying guide
What kayak should i buy? That’s the first question a kayaker asks, and often the hardest to answer. The goal is to find the best kayak for you—and doing so requires defining your needs and values in a kayak. That’s the biggest challenge in solving the riddle of how to buy a kayak.
Kayak type
Fortunately, there are dozens of kayak companies producing hundreds of different models, so rest assured there’s a kayak for every style of paddling and every type of paddler. The first step in how to buy a kayak is to think about what type of kayaking you enjoy doing, and how that might change in the future. From there, you can use resources like the paddling buyer’s guide to create a short list of kayaks that meet your needs.
Your ideal kayak will be determined by where you want to paddle and what kinds of activities you want to do in your kayak. For example, if you paddle open water and exposed shorelines look at touring kayaks, which are longer and more seaworthy—yet also require training and stronger skills to paddle. For more mellow conditions you’ll likely appreciate the stability and comfort (not to mention the cheaper price) of a recreational kayak. A separate category of kayak, known as sit-on-tops, don’t have a confining deck and make an ideal choice for casual paddling in warm water locations, as well as kayak fishing.
There are many different variations—and, fortunately for the prospective kayak buyer, just as many different types of kayaks designed for specific water conditions, trip lengths and activities. There are also options within some of these categories you’ll need to consider. For example, do you want a kayak for two people? Is a sit-inside or sit-on-top kayak better for your pursuits? Should you go with a hard-shell vessel or inflatable?
Here’s an overview of the various types of kayaks:
Recreational kayaks are ideal for paddlers who spend most of their time on lakes and slow-moving rivers. They typically have a flatter hull and are wider than most touring kayaks, giving them greater stability. However, the extra width also means they will drag more in the water and wind, making them a little slower than some other types of kayaks. Recreational kayaks are usually 10 to 12 feet in length, which may translate into improved maneuverability but less tracking (the tendency of the kayak to travel in a straight line) and efficiency than a longer design.
Touring and sea kayaks are typically 14 to 18 feet in length, making them longer than most other types of kayaks. The long waterline of these boats lends itself to superior tracking; however, the drawback is they are more difficult to turn. Their length also allows for ample storage space for overnight or multi-day trips. Touring kayaks also tend to be narrower and sit lower in the water, features allowing for greater speed and efficiency as the kayak cuts easily through wind and water. The narrower profile of touring and sea kayaks means these boats will feel less stable for beginners than recreational kayaks.
Fishing kayaks are built for stability and durability, and usually not speed. They generally have lots of storage space for fishing tackle and gear, in addition to specialized features such as rod holders, mounting brackets, bottle holders and anchor lines, among others. Some have pedal-drive systems or trolling motor mounts so anglers can reach the fishing grounds faster.
Whitewater kayaks are typically five to 10 feet in length. They have lots of rocker (the curve of the hull from bow to stern), which allows for greater maneuverability. Most whitewater kayaks don’t offer a lot of storage space. They also don’t track (travel straight) very well on flatwater and are not efficient enough to paddle long distances. Whitewater kayaks are designed to do one thing really well—paddle on whitewater. A crossover kayak is a subgenre of whitewater kayak that offers better performance on flatwater for greater versatility.
Single or solo kayaks are designed to hold one paddler at a time. There are solo kayaks for a variety of purposes, from whitewater to recreation to fishing.
Double or tandem kayaks are designed to hold two paddlers at a time. Some kayaks (often in the inflatable category) have modifiable seat positions that allow for solo or tandem paddling. You can find specialized tandem kayaks for everything from fishing to touring to whitewater.
Pedal-drive kayaks are a specialized genre of sit-on-top kayak (often used for fishing) that allow you to have your hands free for fishing or taking photos. These kayaks feature pedals that move fins or a propeller attached through the hull of the kayak. There is also a rudder to steer the vessel. Pedal kayaks have reduced clearance, meaning you won’t be able to get into shallow water the same way you could in a paddle kayak. However they are fast and efficient as they make use of the powerful muscles of the legs; pedal kayaks are also more intuitive for beginner kayakers, since you don’t need to learn various paddle strokes to control and propel the boat.
Sit-inside kayaks offer the best protection from the weather and water, especially important in colder climates and on exposed coastlines. They also tend to be lighter and offer more interior dry storage than other kayak types.
Sit-on-top kayaks are self-draining and easy to scramble back aboard after a capsize or upset. The open deck makes it simple to hop on or off, and these designs are also usually more stable than their sit-inside counterparts.
Inflatable and folding kayaks come in a huge variety of styles, suited to everything from tame pond paddles to extreme expeditions. These boats are lightweight and easy to store and transport.
Hard-shell or rigid kayaks offer superior performance to inflatable kayaks, but they require more space to store and a means of transporting to and from the water on top of your vehicle. They tend to be faster in the water and readily cut through windy and wavy conditions as they sit lower in the water.
Size
Once you’ve narrowed down the particular style of kayak that’s best for you, the next step is to determine the right size. In terms of length, longer boats are faster, track better and are able to carry more gear, whereas kayaks under 12 feet in length will provide you with better maneuverability in tight waters. Wider hulls are more stable and roomy, but take more oomph to get going. Narrow hulls are faster and easier to roll and brace. It all comes down to personal preference, comfort and the amount of space you need for storage in the boat.
Ultimately, fit and performance reinforces the need to try a kayak out before buying. A certain kayak could look great on paper, but be a poor fit in reality. It’s not just about the length and width of the kayak—the length and width of the cockpit also matters. You should be able to comfortably get into the kayak without having to wiggle and without scraping your knees on the front of the cockpit opening.
Material
In general, commercially made kayaks are available in plastic and composite construction. Plastics include durable and cheap rotomolded polyethylene and composites refer to fiberglass, kevlar and carbon fiber laminates, which are sleeker, lighter and more expensive. Thermoform abs is a material that bridges the gap between plastic and composite, both in terms of durability and performance and price.
Inflatable kayaks are constructed of tough pvc plastic with welded seams. If you’re handy, have access to tools and a workshop, and you’re looking for a woodworking project, there are a few brands of wooden kayaks offered as build-it-yourself kits.
Features
Kayak features are another important consideration. Does the kayak have a place for everything you want to carry, inside or on the deck? If you’re planning to take overnight trips or paddle open water, make sure your boat has waterproof storage hatches and bulkheads (interior walls that divide the hull into separate compartments).
For safety and convenience, look for perimeter decklines (non-stretch), deck bungees (stretchy) and grab or carry handles on bow and stern. You’ll be spending a lot of time on your backside, so make sure the seat, backband or back rest and outfitting are comfortable and adjustable.
Price
Price is often the bottom line in choosing which kayak to purchase, regardless of your objectives in paddling. The cost of a kayak will vary greatly depending on the materials used, size and features. For example, hard-shell kayaks tend to be more expensive than inflatables. Among hard-shell kayaks, those made from composites are more expensive than those made with polyethylene.
Expect to pay $400 and up for a decent quality, bare-bones recreational design and $1,000 and up for a more performance-oriented design. On average, whitewater kayaks tend to be around $1,000 and touring kayaks around $2,000.
Take the time to do your homework and be sure to try as many kayaks as possible before you commit to a purchase. Here’s a list of other common questions that may help you in buying a kayak.