Best Kayaks – Find The Right Kayak For Your Needs

The Sun Dolphin Aruba is a good beginner kayak, since it’s light and portable, inexpensive, and has a durable body.

We found that the UV-stabilized Fortiflex High Density Polyethylene body could be dragged over almost any terrain with minimal damage. This allows anyone to transport the kayak to the water easily. A huge plus is that a hard-body kayak also doesn’t need to be cleaned before being stored.

This kayak has what’s called a “sit-in” style, which leaves more room for dry storage. We also found that the “sit-in” style makes it easier to manoeuvre more intuitively, using your body’s weight, rather than using the paddles. The seat is also comfortably padded and can be adjusted for your length.

This kayak is perfect for calmer rivers and lakes (in other words, it’s a touring kayak). We dragged it to the lake a few yards away and went for a late afternoon paddle to destress. It’s so easy and simple to use.

The storage offered is ample, but we found that we could only really access it on the shore or if someone paddled up next to us and got what we needed, since it’s behind you. It stays completely dry in spray, unless you tip over completely. When submerged, the seal doesn’t hold as well as we might have liked.

Our favourite thing about this kayak is that at only 40 pounds, it was really easy to move and use at a moment’s notice. We had no trouble lifting it into a truck bed or on top of an SUV (using a ladder).

The No products found. is a great choice for anyone who doesn’t live close to the coast and doesn’t have enough space to store a hard-body kayak in their garage. It’s easy to inflate and can be customised to fit up to three people or one person with a lot of gear.

For flexibility and a range of options the Sea Eagle 370 offers a dependable solution. This inflatable kayak packs up into a bag that will fit into any car, making it easy to transport. If you’d like to be able to invite a weekend warrior to join you, simply add an extra seat.

Because of the space and stability the Sea Eagle provides, it’s a good option for going fishing. Just be careful with hooks and knives since they could give you a puncture. Otherwise, we found that the hull holds up well against rocks and pebbles on the beach.

The set up and disassembling process is relatively easy, but it does take at least thirty minutes, and you will have to clean the boat before storing it to protect against mould.

The two skegs on the bottom provided tracking and probably helped our speed. But you will find yourself going slower than in a hard-body kayak. We also missed having foot paddles to brace against.

Overall this kayak is a good option for both less experienced and regular sea-paddlers. We recommend it if you want to buy a less expensive and novice-friendly kayak for occasional use. We also think more experienced boaters who want to be able to have a large kayak with plenty of space and ease of transport will enjoy this kayak.

The No products found. is more of a touring kayak for lakes and rivers, but works well in the sea too. We would recommend it for intermediate boaters who want to go out alone and move fast.

We found that once you’ve figured out how to do it, inflating this kayak takes less that 5 minutes. You’ll be ready to head out after 10 minutes of unloading it from your car.

The inflatable seat is very comfortable and the vinyl is strong enough to scrape on a shallow bottom without any problems. A sharp stick or rock might be a problem, but patching is very easy.

If you do go out on choppier water you’ll be happy to know that speed and tracking are excellent for an inflatable. You’ll also easily be able to get back in if the kayak capsizes.

It does need to be cleaned and dried off after every use. This maintenance is routine with an inflatable kayak.

This kayak is light and simple to use. It’s perfect for one person, especially someone without much space at home, a smaller car, or as a second kayak for visitors.

This No products found. kayak is designed for kids aged 5 and up. It’s easy to handle, durable, and safe.

The weight limit is 130 pounds, but there’s no limit to how early a child can start. As soon as you feel your child is ready to paddle themselves, this kayak is the ideal first experience.

This kayak will also be able to handle two smaller children sitting in it together, especially if they’re being towed.

The weight might be too much for a smaller child to carry around on their own. But once an adult has launched the kayak it’s easy to manoeuvre. We recommend starting on lakes and rivers, as this is a touring kayak.

It’s easy to climb back into the kayak after tipping or falling out. The centre of gravity is set up to be extremely stable. This means your child can sit or stand with full confidence that they won’t capsize.

The handling is easy and intuitive. You might struggle to keep up once they get the hang of it!

This kayak is a great introduction to a sport that will return a lifetime of happy memories. We would recommend it as a starting kayak for any youngsters interested in getting on the water.

No products found. is a stable kayak designed for fishing. It’s a “sit-on-top” style and can accommodate a lot of gear.

This kayak performs well in lakes and rivers, with decent speed, great stability and excellent tracking. We were able to comfortably cast from on board while sitting. The higher up “sit-on-top” style makes casting easy. If you’re confident enough to stand the kayak should be stable enough.

There are two flush mounted fishing rod holders that work well, although if you’re short you might find the placement difficult to reach. There are also two storage compartments that are easy to access.

The UV-Protected High-Density Polyethylene body will last a long time and require almost no maintenance. We can see this kayak being a long term buy.

We found the adjustable seat comfortable, but you might want to add some cushioning if you’re going to be on the water for hours at a time.

This kayak’s stability doesn’t stop it from being responsive and easy to use and steer. We would use it for an afternoon paddle on the river, since it doesn’t feel like a slow fishing kayak.

You will need a rack to transport this kayak, or else a space close to shore to store it.

This kayak is a great all-round buy. We recommend it for Yak anglers as well as someone looking for a stable and reliable kayak to use for the occasional fishing trip.