When you’re out in the water, you might want to keep your kayak steady for a while to enjoy the scenery or take some time to catch some fish. Having the best kayak anchor will efficiently keep a kayak in place. It’s an especially useful tool that keeps your kayak on the docks. However, some people often forget about the need for kayak anchors, which is why I’ve put together a list of the best kayak anchors.
To help you out as you pick the best anchor for your kayak, a detailed buyer’s guide is at the end of this article to give you some helpful tips on what you need to consider when you purchase kayak anchors.
Our overall top pick for the best kayak anchor is Best Marine Kayak Anchor from BEST Marine and Outdoors.
To check our must have fishing kayak accessories list, you can click here.
Quick Summary: Top 6 - Best Kayak Anchor
Our seasoned editors have picked and rated these products for each specific category and area of expertise to recommend you the best models and products we can. We receive commission from some of these affiliate links.
Best Overall: 1. Best Marine Kayak Anchor
This rust-resistant Best Marine Kayak Anchor comes with a buoy, storage bag, and carabiner clip. This foldable anchor is made from a durable galvanized iron.
This rust-resistant Best Marine Kayak Anchor comes with a buoy, storage bag, and carabiner clip. This foldable anchor is made from a durable galvanized iron.
Best Construction: 2. Airhead Complete Grapnel Anchor System
Best Value: 3. Extreme Max Complete Grapnel Anchor Kit
Best Folding: 4. Gradient Fitness Marine Anchor
Best Set: 5. Seattle Sports Kayak Anchor Kit
Weighing only 1.5lbs, this lightweight Seattle Sports Kayak Anchor Kit comes with a 50ft rope and large storage bag. A ring and 2 carabiners are also included.
Weighing only 1.5lbs, this lightweight Seattle Sports Kayak Anchor Kit comes with a 50ft rope and large storage bag. A ring and 2 carabiners are also included.
Best Budget: 6. Attwood Grapnel Folding Anchor
Top 3 Quick Comparison
Product | Photo | Material | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall |   | Galvanized Iron | |
Best Construction |   | Coated Metal Steel | |
Best Value |   | Galvanized Steel |
Our Reviews
Best Overall
This rust-resistant Best Marine Kayak Anchor comes with a buoy, storage bag, and carabiner clip. This foldable anchor is made from a durable galvanized iron.
Quick Specs
The Best Marine Kayak Anchor is made from a rust-resistant galvanized iron. It features a foldable design that has a secure locking mechanism that holds the prongs closed while in storage and also keeps it open when in use. The prongs can be put in either locked or open position by sliding the color upwards or downwards. The 40ft rope that comes with this anchor is a marine-grade anchor line that is attached to a white buoy ball and carabiner clip made of durable stainless steel material. (1)
The anchor weighs just around 3.5lbs, which is a sufficient weight to hold down up to 10ft long kayaks. If you have a larger kayak or boat, the anchor will still be able to slow down the drift of your kayak. The buoy ball is a small and white piece that can be detached. The main purpose is to give kayakers an idea of where the anchor is set. Unfortunately, the buoy ball is a bit too small and cannot be seen clearly in rough waters. The Best Marine Kayak Anchor is best used in calmer waters. The anchor and rope are meant for either sea or freshwater use. Another thing included in the package is a nylon bag which is great for storage.
Product Review
"Works great with my Kayak and I am able to fish more comfortably now. It's lightweight, but yet holds me and my Kayak in place. I would highly recommend it!"
Best Construction
Available in 2 size options, the Airhead Complete Grapnel Anchor System is a bright red-coated steel anchor complete with an in-line buoy, snap hook system, and a padded nylon storage bag.
Quick Specs
The Airhead Complete Grapnel Anchor System comes in 2 available size options; the smaller anchor weighs around 3.3lbs and comes with a 25ft rope while the larger size option is 5.5lbs heavy and has a 50ft marine-grade rope included. Both options feature the same foldable anchor design made of a steel metal coated with a shiny black or red gloss to give it a nice clean look. The anchor line has an in-line buoy which is a bright and clear red that is easily visible in the water. At the end of the rope is the stainless steel snap hook which is quite easy to lock and secure to your kayak. (2)
The entire anchor system is made of high-quality and durable materials. Even the nylon pouch which is meant to store away the anchor when not in use has internal padding to keep the anchor in good condition. Because of the padding and construction of the nylon bag, it also floats in the water like a buoy; this can be helpful in case anyone accidentally drops the bag into the water.
Product Review
"This worked perfectly to hold our River Run floats in place. Dropped out in the middle of the lake and attached to one of our floats."
Best Value
This complete Extreme Max Grapnel Anchor Kit is an affordable anchor set completely built to support small to large kayaks.
Quick Specs
This Complete Grapnel Anchor Kit from Extreme Max is a full anchor system, complete with a galvanized steel foldable anchor, 25ft polyethylene rope, steel snap hook, marker buoy, and nylon storage bag. The entire set is easily portable inside the bag. While the anchor is lightweight, it is still heavy enough to keep a 10ft kayak or small sailboat in place.
The anchor from this set is made from a durable galvanized steel while the rope features a hollow braid pattern which makes it more buoyant and long-lasting. The Extreme Max Anchor Kit feels very high quality in hand but is actually available at an affordable price range. It’s built to fit different types of watercraft but is essentially a great fit for most kayaks.
On top of the build and value, the kit is designed quite well. It has a foldable anchor with 4 prongs or flukes that fold inwards and are locked in place with a central locking ring. The buoy is also made from a marine-grade foam instead of a typical polymer or plastic shell.
Product Review
"A very good Anchor for the price. The anchor is well built galvanized steel and painted red making it easier to find should you lose it. The claws can be locked in either the open or closed position. The bag that comes with it is made of sturdy nylon and is also padded."
Best Folding
The foldable Gradient Fitness Marine Anchor is a bright green coated galvanized iron that weighs 3.5lbs. The compact anchor is complete with a bag, buoy, and a hook.
Quick Specs
This 4-fluke Marine Anchor from Gradient Fitness is built from galvanized iron and coated with a lovely bright green color. The anchor material is rust-resistant, which makes it great for either marine or freshwater kayaking. Its foldable design allows it to fold into a 12-inch x 3-inch piece that fits snugly into the included nylon padded storage bag. When not in use, you can easily put it under your kayak seat or inside one of the storage hatches.
The anchor comes with a 25ft marine-grade rope that is made of a black and green braided material; the anchor line is quite thick at around 7mm. An in-line white PVC buoy is weaved through the rope. The buoy is movable but can also be locked in place with a double loop knot. The 25ft length of the rope is better suited for when sailing on shallow rivers, lakes, or seas. Attaching a longer rope may be necessary if you want to venture deeper.
Product Review
"I love this anchor, very strong, well coated, not too heavy, just right for the job. Use it in sand and mud, in the beach, river and lake."
Best Set
Weighing only 1.5lbs, this lightweight Seattle Sports Kayak Anchor Kit comes with a 50ft rope and large storage bag. A ring and 2 carabiners are also included.
Quick Specs
The Seattle Sports Kayak Anchor Kit is a complete anchor set that comes with a foldable anchor, 50ft rope, 2 carabiners, a ring, and a drawstring storage sack. The anchor is made of a canvas material that weighs 1.5lbs. It is quite lightweight but can still anchor down small to medium-sized kayaks. Because of its weight, it is really easy to carry around with less hassle.
The long yellow rope that comes with the anchor is thick and feels like it will last a while. The bright yellow makes it really easy to find. In addition to the rope and anchor, 2 carabiners and a ring are included to help you set it up on your kayak. You can easily attach the anchor to the stern or bow.
Product Review
"Anchor holds well even now/wind. I have used it many times with my 10' fishing kayak and really like it. Folds up for portability and the rope that comes with it doesn't twist up and tangle easily."
Best Budget
The Attwood Grapnel Folding Anchor is a reliable anchor, rope, and mesh bag set that is budget-friendly.
Quick Specs
The Attwood Grapnel Folding Anchor is a simple anchor that comes with a rope and bag, The rope is only 20ft long but is made from a braided multifilament propylene (MFP) rope, which is a utility-grade material. It is actually both a soft and durable material that is easy to tie but also easy to untangle when in knots; the braided MFP rope is just a quarter inch thick. The set also comes with a drawstring mesh bag that allows water to drain out. The bag’s design minimizes the hassle of having to constantly wash and dry the bag.
This silver grapnel anchor weighs 3lbs, and can efficiently fold up into a compact form, allowing for easy storage. The anchor, along with the bag and rope, comes at a very budget-friendly cost. However, unlike the other anchors on this list, it does not come with any hooks, rings, carabiners, or buoys.
Product Review
"Good anchor, holds even in mild current. I am only anchoring a three person inflatable boat, but am very confident in this product"
Things to Consider Before Buying a Kayak Anchor
Your reason for purchasing a kayak anchor should be simple - you want to stop your kayak from moving. In order to achieve this, reliable kayak anchors have a few key characteristics. These factors are some of the things you need to look for as you browse the market. While the anchors listed above are some of the best, there are still a few more anchors out there. When picking out the best anchor for your needs, these are some of the things you need to keep in mind.
Anchor Weight and Size
If your kayak is a small inflatable single-seater, getting a large anchor isn’t the most practical choice. However, larger and heavier anchors are necessary if your kayak is also one of the bigger ones. Essentially, an anchor’s holding power is determined by its size and weight in relation to that of the kayak.
An important thing to note is that bigger is not always better. A bigger anchor is not always heavier. In this case, a large but light anchor may only end up getting dragged instead of being able to successfully anchor down your kayak. An advantage when having a larger set is that the prongs are usually better able to hold onto the ground.
Foldable or Not
The convenience of a foldable anchor is that it is less likely to scratch up the sides of your kayak and is also a lot easier to store when you are not out in the water. However, some people may find it difficult to constantly fold out and fold in an anchor when they need to. On top of that, a foldable anchor should have a secure lock that will keep the prongs open or close.
Rope and Bouy
While the rope and buoy of an anchor can actually be replaced, this can be an added expense that most people want to avoid. A good rope is necessary to ensure that the anchor will stay attached to your kayak. At the same time, a good buoy is also essential since it makes your kayak visible.
Our Top Pick
Best Overall
This rust-resistant Best Marine Kayak Anchor comes with a buoy, storage bag, and carabiner clip. This foldable anchor is made from a durable galvanized iron.
References
(1) galvanized iron - https://www.gsa.gov/real-estate/historic-preservation/historic-preservation-policy-tools/preservation-tools-resources/technical-documents?Form_Load=88553%3FbypassAkamaiCache%3D1507917842
(2) stainless steel - https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/metals/what-is-stainless-steel-part-i/
The Extreme Max Complete Grapnel Anchor Kit should be on top, but I understand that this depends on someone’s preference tho. Great article guide!