There are lots of choices available to you, but it can be confusing which is the best recreational kayak. Not every company makes it clear what their kayak is good for and who should use it. That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive review of the best one for you.
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Quick Summary: Top 5 - Best Recreational Kayak
The Intex Explorer K2 Kayak is a high quality inflatable tandem kayak that comes with a carry bag, 2 paddles, and a manual high output air pump.
The portable Intex Challenger K1 Kayak features a streamlined easily inflatable solo kayak design, with a surrounding grab line, cargo net for storage, and closed deck to keep you dry.
Set with the same features as the Challenger K1, this Intex Challenger K2 Kayak is a longer streamlined tandem kayak made from the same durable vinyl rubber material.
Made from heavy duty PolyKylar material, the Sea Eagle 370 Pro can fit up to 3 people, with a maximum weight capacity of 650lbs. This group kayak is also inflatable.
This sit-on-top PVC Kayak for solo kayakers is the Sevylor Quikpak K1 Kayak which comes with a large backpack, paddles, and an air pump.
Product | Photo | Material | Link |
---|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Vinyl Rubber | ||
Best Inflatable | Vinyl Rubber | ||
Best Tandem Kayak | Vinyl Rubber |
Our Reviews
Inflating this kayak takes around 10 minutes with the included air pump. There are 3 separate air chambers to fill and all are accessible through the Boston air valves that help prevent air from coming out when you pump air in. The 3 interior chambers are also made to prevent the entire kayak from deflating if ever the exterior material is cut. However, the vinyl rubber exterior is a thick and durable material. The floor and backrests are also separately inflatable.
The Intex Explorer Kayak also comes with 2 paddles, a carry bag, and a removable skeg. The skeg helps the kayak track well. The included paddles are 86 inches long and are easy to assemble. The parts securely lock in with each other so you don’t have to worry about the paddle falling apart while in use. By disassembling the paddles, you can easily fit the deflated kayak, paddles, and air pump into the carry bag.
The Challenger K1 Kayak is built for 1 person and can only accommodate people weighing less than 220lbs. Its design is streamlined and with the removable skeg, is able to track quite well even if you have limited experience in controlling the kayak. All around the kayak is a grab line which you can attach other items to. The kayak comes with a single 86in paddle, carry bag, and air pump.
This kayak also has 2 removable kayak backrests, 2 paddles, a carry bag, and a manual air pump. The back and front decks both have a border grab line. Only the front closed deck, however, has a cargo net that covers the entire area much like the K1 kayak. This feature gives kayakers a place to put small items without taking up any legroom.
Inflating the kayak is easy with the manual air pump and takes between 10-15 minutes. There are 2 separate air chambers to fill, excluding the separate inflatable floor and backrests. By keeping these parts separate, a single hole will not automatically deflate the entire kayak. Spotting holes is also easier since you can identify which area has been affected.
There are 2 skegs at the bottom of the kayak, giving it the better speed and tracking, especially when you use the paddles that come with this kayak. However, the paddles are a bit longer so it can be more difficult to control at first. The length of the paddles is no problem when storing them away because these can be disassembled into 4 parts each. The kayak and paddles can fit into the carry bag. The bag is a bit small so it can be difficult placing everything back into it unless fully deflated.
Along with the inflatable kayak and air pump, a removable backrest, a large storage backpack, and 2 paddles are included. The backpack is big enough to store everything in place as well as leave some room for other items that you might need while kayaking.
Perfect recommendation! Thank you! I am trying to find the best recreational kayak for my sister and me. Seems like I’ve found one that would fit us! By the way, great site! A lot of information about Kayaking that I found here, been new to this hobby and I am planning to invest more on this one. Thanks Andrew!