When you are looking for a kayak to buy, things that you need to consider are what kind of activity you are trying to do, what size of the kayak you need, how much weight can the kayak support, and should you get a solo or tandem kayak. There’s kayak for normal flat water to white watering to fishing, so there is a wide range of different kayaks for you to choose from.
Solo or Tandem or Three-Seater Kayaks
Solo Kayak
This type of kayak is for single kayakers, its very popular for whitewater rafting. Solo kayaks are the lightest which make it easier to carry and transport around, most of the time one person can carry it around.
Tandem Kayak
This type of kayak is for two kayakers at a time. Its popular for flat water and the open ocean. Tandem kayak is heavier, which most likely need two people to carry and transport around.
Three-Seater Kayaks
This type of kayak can be use by one, two, or three people at a time. If one person were to use this kayak, he/she must sit in the middle to balance the kayak in order to maneuver around. If two people were to use this, one person sit on the front and one person sit in the back like a tandem kayak. When three people use this kayak, we recommend the third person to be a child which will sit in the middle and not have to paddle. Instead of a kid you can kayak with your dog.
This kayak is the heaviest of the three types, you will need multiple people helping to carry and transport it around.
For all these types of kayaks you can get a kayak cart, which will help transport the kayak around on land. You will need help lifting the kayak onto the cart but once the kayak gets onto the cart one person can push or pull the kayak around easily.
List Of Different Types Of Kayaks
- Sit-on or sit-in kayaks
- Recreational kayaks
- Crossover kayaks
- Inflatable kayaks
- Day-touring kayaks
- Touring kayaks
- Sea kayaks
- Whitewater kayaks
- Folding kayaks
- Fishing kayaks
- Diving kayaks
- Surf kayaks
- Sail kayaks
- SUP kayak hybrid
- Specialist kayaks like squirt boats, surf ski and wave ski, and slalom kayaking
Sit-in VS Sit-on Kayaks
Sit-in
Sit-in kayaks are ones where the kayaker’s legs and lower body is inside the hull of the kayak. Best use in colder water
Pros
- It can help keep the kayaker warmer in colder weather by keeping the water out, usually these types of kayaks are used in whitewater rafting
Cons
- If you capsize, it will be much harder exiting and get back into the kayak.
Sit-on
Sit-on kayaks are the popular ones that most people know about when it comes to kayaking. For these kayaks your legs and lower body is exposed to the weather. Best use in warmer water.
Pros
- Its easier to get in and out of the kayak even if you capsize.
Cons
- Your legs and lower body will most likely get wet from all the paddling. Your legs will be exposed to the sun.
Recreational kayaks
This kayaks are made to be more stable and easier to maneuver, it’s very beginner friendly.
Pros
- Its more stable than other kayaks, its mostly used in flat water such as lakes
Cons
- Its not good for going through waves and it has a hard time going straight when there is a current.
Crossover kayaks
This kayak will allow the kayaker to go into different number of environments without changing kayaks. These can go from ocean to whitewater to fishing, it’s a jack of all trades.
Pros
- This kayak can help you go into different kayak environment without having to spend more money on other kayaks.
Cons
- These crossover kayaks won’t have high-end features and performances that some harsh environment requires.
Inflatable kayaks
This kayak are mostly designed for recreational use in flat water. You must inflate this type of kayak with a foot or electric pump. We strongly suggest using a electric pump for this kayak.
Pros
- These kayaks can be deflated and stored away, it won’t take up a lot of room unlike the other kayaks. It’s a great beginner/ kids kayak, because most are made with rubberized nylon that won’t bend or dent on impact with rocks or wood.
Cons
- You will have to inflate the kayak for every single usage. If there’s a hole that can’t be patched, then the whole kayak must be replaced. These kayak are lighter than normal kayaks so it maybe hard to paddle around during rough water and high wind.
Day-touring kayaks
This type of kayak is longer and sleeker than normal recreational kayaks. Day-touring kayak are more efficient when moving in the water. This type of kayak is ideal for longer kayaking trips because of how efficient they are in water which means less paddling is needed.
Pros
- It has great control in rough waters, and has more storage space than normal touring kayaks.
Cons
- Since its longer than normal recreational kayaks, it’s a bit harder to store away when it’s not in use.
Touring kayaks
This type of kayak is long. Its great for going long distance because its efficient and fast. They usually come with one or two internal storage space.
Pros
- Since its long and sleek, it can cut through water faster and track in a straight line for longer distance. Which means the paddler doesn’t need to put a lot of effort into paddling
- Each internal storage space has a lid to cover it, which means if the kayak ever flips over your stuff inside the storage space will have a lesser chance of being lost in the water.
Cons
- It has a harder time with making tight turns since its longer and narrower.
Sea Kayaks
This kayak is a different version of a touring kayak. It just has a higher rocker which is the curve from the bow to stern. The rocker helps with going through oncoming waves. Its V-shaped front profile is also narrower. This kayak is good for dealing with rough waters but at the expense of stability.
Pros
- It can track straighter and easier to control. It can handle going through waves and be less likely to end up swamped by them.
Cons
- It is only designed to work well in one environment which is the open ocean. The higher rocker makes it harder to maneuver in flat water.
Whitewater Kayaks
This type of kayak is very short in length, they are made to move quickly down fast flowing water. There are two types of whitewater kayaks, playboat and creekboat.
Playboats
They are the shortest whitewater kayaks with a scooped bow and blunt stern. They are used in a sport called rodeo boating, this is a sport where they do tricks with the kayaks.
Pros
They are good for moving through rocky waters that have fast flowing water. Its very hard to damage this kayak.
Cons
Its slower in open water because of its scooped bow.
Creekboats
They are the longer whitewater kayaks that are used in narrow and low volume waterways.
Pros
Can be used on larger rivers. Its very stable and has a great buoyancy
Cons
Its not built for comfort so its not that great for long trips. There is no storage space.
Folding Kayaks
This kayak is unique because it can fold down into a compact size that can fit into a suitcase. You don’t need additional gear to transport it with a car, you can just place it into the trunk and go. Since its foldable it’s also light weight making it easy to carry around.
Pros
Its compact size when its folded down and easy to carry around
Cons
Since its light and foldable the material that they use is not as durable as the normal kayaks. After awhile the kayak is prone to cracking. Each time you use it you have to assemble it together and unassembled it when you finish kayaking. There is no storage space.
Fishing Kayaks
This type of kayaks is very popular with the fisherman. Some have built in foot pedals so that you don’t have to use the paddle to get around. They have rod holders built in and lots of storage room. And sometimes an area made for a cooler so that you can put in your fish.
Pros
You don’t have to paddle with your hands, you can get around with the foot pedals. Built
in rod holders so that you don’t have to hold onto your rods all the time while fishing.
Cons
This type of kayak is expensive, it will cost you at least a couple grand.
Diving Kayaks
This type of kayak is for divers that want to reach diving spots without using a motorized boat
Pros
They have large storage area for divers to carry their air tanks.
Cons
Unsuited for kayak touring because it needs a narrow beam
Surf Kayaks
This type of kayak can be very large, its for people who want to kayak and surf at the same time.
Pros
It allows people to experience kayaking and surfing.
Cons
Its only good for riding waves, its pretty much useless at other kayaking activities.
Sail Kayaks
Any kayaks that has a sail attached to it would be consider a sail kayak. The sail will help with the paddling it will increase the speed of the kayak.
Pros
- It will increase the speed of the kayak and reduce the strain of paddling for the kayaker.
Cons
- You will have to be able to know how to control the sail. You need wind power to use the sail. You will need external floating device attached to the kayak on the sides so that the sail won’t capsize the kayak.
Stand Up Paddleboard Kayak Hybrid
This kayak is for people who like stand-up paddle boarding. People can stand then sit down to rest or continue to kayak when they are tired of standing.
Pros
- Since paddler can stand and sit they can go for a longer distance/ trip
Cons
- While standing you may lose balance and fall into the water.
Specialist Kayaks
There are three different kinds of specialist kayaks, squirt boats, surf ski/wave ski, and slalom kayak. Each are design for a specific kayaking activity and/or environment. In environment that are different from what the kayak is designed to be in, they will perform very poorly. Most people will not need a specialist kayak because they are used for a single purpose, mostly kayak based sport.
Squirt boats
They are ultra-light and flat, about 70 to 80 percent of the boat is underwater. The reason why so much of it is underwater is because the squirt boat can use the underwater current to make quick maneuvers.
Surf Ski and Wave Ski
These two are made to cut through large broken waves. They are very similar to surfboard, long and narrow front profile to help with cutting through waves.
Slalom Kayaks
This kayak has a flat, saucer shaped hull and a high rocker. This type of kayak is specifically used in the whitewater slalom races. They are designed to easily maneuver through whitewater and make tight turns at high-speed. The downside of this kayak is that it is really slow in open water.
Which Kayak Should I Buy?
This question highly depends on what kind of kayaking activity you wanting to do. For beginners you should try renting a kayak first to see if you really want one before spending the money.
My suggestion for people who want to be out on the water for a long period of time to enjoy the natural beauty of mother nature, they should look into buying a touring kayak. Touring kayak will have a lot of space for personal supplies and they are built for long term comfort.
For those who are into whitewater rafting, you should look into buying a playboat. They are very rugged and easily maneuverable.
Fisherman should look into buying a fishing kayak because it will have all the extra features like rod holders, foot pedals for paddling, extra room for coolers to put fish in, and a place to attach a fish finder.
The foot pedals is a lifesaver for fisherman because you will need your hands to be free to use your rods while wanting to move forward. All of those extra features that you find on a fishing kayak will be needed to have an enjoyable fishing trip.
Don’t forget to wear your life jacket at all times when using any of these kayaks. Whichever one you end up getting always remember to stay safe and to enjoy your time on the water.