Best Recreational Kayak Money Can Buy In 2021 – The Seasoned Paddler’s Guide

Obviously, the choice between the two almost entirely depends on personal preference or, to put it simply, on deciding if you like to paddle alone or in a pair. Be careful though, because if your paddling partner bails on you, it will be quite hard to paddle a double kayak alone, sometimes even impossible.

Furthermore, single kayaks are much easier to maneuver, rescue, and pump dry than doubles while the tandem kayaks tend to be more stable. My first recreational kayak was single.

Sit On Top style kayaks are more popular with paddlers who want to get perfectly tanned, combine paddling with diving, fishing or surfing. They are easy to paddle and nearly impossible to sink. If the kayak does flip over, you just need to flip it upright, climb back in, and you can continue your way.

However, sit on top kayaks feature a higher center of gravity, and since they are wider, they are also slower and harder to manage on and off the water. They can be used only in summer season as they offer no protection from the cold water.

Sit In style kayaks are primarily more efficient, offer a dryer ride and allow for a longer paddling season as they can be comfortably paddled in cold waters as well. The walls of the kayak limit water infiltration and provide more safety and a dry storage space.

To get more information, you can read at the artcicle "Differences Between Sit On vs Sit In Kayak"

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Vapor 10 Recreational Kayak is made from plastic, or more precisely single layer linear polyethylene, which makes it durable. This sit-in kayak weighs around 50 pounds and is 10 foot long, quite wide and its weight capacity is 325 lbs.

The cockpit is pretty large and features a shallow, uncovered cargo bin in the back. Besides the cup holder and a tray at the front, this is the only storage area. There are no ropes to hold anything in if you tip. If you want your belongings to stay dry, there is a cover available at extra cost.

Getting in and out is easy. After kayaking on some flat waters, I have concluded that it is very stable and tracks decently considering the width. The seat and foot rests are adjustable; I had to add a cushion to the seat back as it is not adequately padded.

The only drawback is the position of the drain plug, as it not on it cannot drain the water out of the kayak efficiently, and I had to sponge the most out.

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Pungo 120 kayak is a 12’ long, it weighs around 48.3 pounds and its weight capacity is 100 lbs. It is made from GEN2 polyethylene and seems durable enough.

The cockpit is very roomy and has plenty of storage options in the front as well as the rear. I especially liked the console in the front - a removable console with cup holders and a small water-tight compartment. Hatch cover is easy to put on and take off and seals tightly.

The seat is very comfortable even after hours of paddling. Foot braces come with an ergonomic handle and can be easily reset; their shape alleviates foot fatigue. The Pungo 120 is extremely stable and tracks excellent easily reaching very good speeds.

However, the length prevents it from making sharp turns, and it is therefore not convenient for narrow channels and creeks. I have encountered some moderate waves while testing it but the kayak handled them extremely well.

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Caper Classic Recreational kayak is an 11-foot long sit-on-top kayak made from polyethylene. Its weight capacity is an incredible 425 pounds which makes it excellent for people who are above average height or weight. It weighs only 45 pounds and can be handled out of the water easily, and the padded carry handles provide extra comfort when carrying it.

It features a 19 ½” wide molded-in seat and the Comfort Plus backrest, which allow for an entire day of comfortable paddling. The tank-well also has an elastic bungee cord to secure all your belongings inside and a large bow hatch that will keep your essentials dry and safe. Molded-in footrests allow for maximum power transfer. Moreover, it has quite a large number of features for a decently priced kayak.

For a rather small and light kayak, Caper is very stable in the water and does not feel like it would tip over easily. It tracks excellently and glides on the water easily but is also easy to maneuver. It has proven to steer well against moderate waves as well. Achieving speed and maintaining it is relatively easy.

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Skipjack 90 recreational kayak is 9 foot long and 32 inches wide with a weight capacity of 300 pounds. It weighs only 46 pounds and can easily be handled by one person when out of the water. It is one-piece mold constructed of roto-molded High-Density Polyethylene.

I was immediately disappointed with the seat as it has proven quite uncomfortable after short paddling. On the plus side, it features many storage options such as a drywell directly in front of the seat and the zippered storage pouch on the back of the seat which will keep all your valuables dry and safe. The cargo storage area at the back can also fit a cooler or a crate. It also comes equipped with a paddle, four flush mount rod holders ideal for fishing trips and six scupper holes with scupper plugs.

As it is rather lightweight and small I was worried that it would flip easily, but even when I tried to do it on purpose it would not give in; it can, therefore, be considered very stable as far as initial stability is concerned. Secondary stability is not excellent though. It is maneuverable and tracks well.

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The Lagoon 2 Kayak is unique for two reasons - it is the only inflatable kayak reviewed and the only kayak that can be used by two people. However, it performs as good when paddled by one person, if not better. It is 12-foot long and packs down to the size of a suitcase to be stored or transported easily.

The topside is made from a high denier Polyester with a PVC laminate, and the bottom (Hull) is made with a PVC tarpaulin. It features a Quick-inflating Twistlok and high-flow spring valves which allow easy setup that takes about 10 minutes. I used the optional double action pump though, and recommend that you do too. The 350-pound weight capacity should be taken rather seriously as I loaded it with around 300 lbs. and it was quite low in the water.

It is comfortable, but there is almost no storage space. It does have some unexpected features such as the gear bungees, storage pouch with compass and several hooking grommets.

It does not track or go fast in comparison to other kayaks, but it is surprisingly stable. Getting back in from the water is relatively easy.