What type of kayak

With this in mind, hopefully you can make a decision about which type of kayak best suits your needs as a paddler. One of the most traditional types of kayaks is the sit-on top kayak. This kind of kayak is commonly used for recreational paddling on lakes and slow-moving rivers. Sit-on top kayaks are unique because paddlers literally sit atop the kayak compared to sit-in kayaks which have seating inside the boat itself.

Many novice kayakers enjoy using sit-on top kayaks over sit-in kayaks because the elevated seating alleviates any sense of claustrophobia you may feel while inside the boat.

Also, paddlers will long legs especially like sit-on top kayaks because the extra space means no leg cramping— an extra bonus! For your lakeside adventures, we recommend a sit-on top kayak like the Hobie Mirage Passport Although sit-on top kayaks tend to be heavier than sit-in kayaks, the Hobie Mirage is made of lightweight materials so you can easily transport it from land to water.

The straight and narrow design of the traditional sit-in kayak makes it one of the best types of kayaks for lake and river paddling. Besides sit-on top kayaks, sit-in kayaks are the most commonly used type of kayak for recreational use in all types of water.

While the narrow design of most sit-in kayaks means less leg room, the ability to maintain many points of contact with the boat with your arms, knees, buttocks and legs gives you much more control of the speed and direction of the boat.

Because of this, sit-in kayaks are better if you are paddling with a destination in mind; a lower center of gravity and lightweight design means you will fly through the water to reach your destination.

Whether you are exploring a coastline or are coasting down river, we recommend using a sit-in kayak like the Aquaglide Deschutes Inflatable Kayak. This type of kayak is great for day trips and touring new places. Best of all, its covered cargo space will help protect your kayak gear from any spray so you can cruise through the water without worrying about getting wet.

The name says it all; sea kayaks are uniquely designed to be used recreationally for paddling in the ocean and along coastlines. Therefore, if you live near the coast or are planning an ocean adventure, using a sea kayak is a wonderful way to get the most out of your experience paddling.

Upon first look, sea kayaks do not appear to be too different from traditional sit-in kayaks. However, sea kayaks are different from traditional types of kayaks because they are made from lightweight materials that allow you to easily maneuver through ocean waves.

Unlike freshwater lake or river kayaking, sea kayaking is a whole different type of kayaking— we recommend that you practice paddling and get your sea legs on calmer waters before heading out into the ocean. For your thrilling ocean adventures, we recommend using a sea kayak like the Advanced Elements Convertible Inflatable Kayak. Pro tip— if the waves start to become a little daunting while you are paddling, try aligning your kayak perpendicular to the waves.

This helps you to cut through the waves with more control and stability, always a plus when sea kayaking. Unlike the fiberglass and composite mixtures of traditional types of kayaks, inflatable kayaks are made of flexible and puncture-resistant materials that perform well in most types of moving water.

The natural flexibility of inflatable kayaks not only makes them great for paddling around lakes, rivers and streams, but also makes them super portable. Therefore, if you are planning a paddle trip with a portage, using an inflatable kayak will certainly lighten your load!

In general, inflatable kayaks are easy to use for all ability levels and often come in single person and tandem kayak styles. This type of kayak is truly all about flexibility— both in its design and use. Although it may not be as durable as traditional types of kayaks, it offers a great starting point for anyone interested in kayaking and exploring the great outdoors.

Best of all, this alternative type of kayak has dominated many recreational and touring boating shops, so they are relatively inexpensive compared to fiberglass kayaks. If you are new to kayaking or want to test out owning your own kayak, purchasing an inflatable kayak like the Aquaglide Chinook Inflatable Kayak is an awesome way to ease into paddling. Folding kayaks are a relatively new kind of kayak that have totally changed the way outdoor lovers can interact with nature! If you live in an apartment or plan to paddle in a remote destination that requires hiking to water, a foldable kayak is great option to make your travels easier.

In almost every spect, folding kayaks are the same as traditional sit-in kayaks. However, their ability to fold in half means that the materials are slightly less durable. For most kayakers, the many benefits of using a folding kayak outweighs this one con; the ability to easily store, portage and pack a folding kayak is making it one of the most commonly used types of kayaks today. So, if you are tight on space or are eager to travel with a kayak, we recommend purchasing a folding kayak like the Old Town Loon Angler Kayak.

This kayak is similar to the other common types of kayaks listed above, and will provide you with the flexibility to kayak anytime and anywhere. Most avid kayakers interact with whitewater rapids at some point in their paddle careers. Whether happening upon whitewater rapids is an intentional choice or not, paddling through rapids is equally thrilling and treacherous.

Both kayaks have pros and cons, depending on what conditions you are paddling in. A spray skirt is attached, which stops water from coming in over the top. The downside of a sit-in kayak is that if you do happen to capsize, exiting and re-entering your kayak is much more of a challenge than it is with a sit-on design. Learning how to exit and re-enter a sit-in kayak underwater requires a few lessons with an instructor.

Additionally, with the space in the hull flooded, will need to bail out your kayak or paddle it to shore to drain it before you can continue. Spray from the waves, riffles, and paddle splashes will have you spending most of your time a bit damp. With this in mind, sit-on kayaks are best used in warmer temperatures and over warmer water. Designed to be stable and easy to steer, recreational kayaks usually feature a wide hull, are generally less than 12 feet long, have a small area to stash essentials, and include a large cockpit for easy access.

They are best used on lakes, flatwater streams, or areas of saltwater that are protected from wind and waves. Pros: Recreational kayaks are built wider at the beam the width of the hull for increased stability, lessening the chance of you capsizing. Shorter than touring kayaks, recreational kayaks are also more maneuverable.

This means they can be difficult and tiring to paddle for long periods of time. As a jack-of-all-trades, the crossover kayak will allow you to dip your toes into more rarefied forms of kayaking while still delivering solid, dependable performance in most conditions.

They are also an ideal choice for journeys that might feature multiple environments, like a river that has both low-grade rapids coupled with long slow-moving sections.

By comparison to specialized kayaking hulls, a crossover kayak will lack the high-end performance and additional features that a purpose-built kayak has. Most inflatable kayaks are designed to be recreational, however, there are some meant for whitewater. Before use, you can inflate them with a foot or electric pump. Their wide and sturdy hulls make them suited to calm water. Inflatable kayaks can be folded down to a convenient size, some models can even be worn as a backpack.

Inflatable kayaks come in both sit-on and sit-in styles. This means they can handle weather and slightly rougher waters. They are stable and easy to maneuver, making them a great first craft for children or beginners.

Some high-end models feature internal ribbing for extra stability and are designed as serious touring kayaks. While they are rugged, any holes in an inflatable will render it useless if unable to patch, which is known to be difficult. Additionally, their high rocker and light weight mean they can be difficult to paddle in high winds or rough water.

Longer and sleeker than recreational kayaks, with a hull typically 18 feet in length, the day-touring kayak moves more efficiently through the water. This allows the boat to stay on track for longer and reduces the effort needed to paddle. Day touring kayaks are ideal for beginners looking to take extended kayaking journeys and develop their skills before moving to a touring or sea kayak.

Pros: Day-tourer kayaks combine the stability and portability of a recreational model but with greater control in rougher waters. They offer more storage space than recreational designs but maintain the more substantial, easy-to-access cockpit. On top of this, as a result of them being shorter than a true touring kayak, they are easier to stow and transport.

Cons: Because day-touring kayaks are designed for a very specific purpose, the day-touring kayak only really excels in that one role. If you are planning on only taking day trips, then this design is ideal. If you want something more multi-purpose, then I recommend investing in another kayak. Long and robust, the touring kayak is fast and efficient over long distances. Between 12 and 24 feet long, most designs come with one or more internal bulkheads that allow for a significant amount of internal storage.

To compensate for wind or tidal movement, touring kayaks are often fitted with a rudder or skeg a fixed rudder to aid steering. This reduces the physical strain on the paddler and makes the kayak ideal for lengthy journeys. Larger storage capacity lets more equipment be kept on-hand. Lastly, a spray deck, and internal bulkheads lessen the chance of the kayak getting flooded. Cons: The same length and narrow beam width that allows a touring kayak to cut efficiently through the water makes it far more difficult to make tight turns.

This makes them unsuitable for narrow watercourses or those that feature a number of bends or switchbacks. Learning to evacuate and re-enter a touring kayak requires taking lessons from a professional instructor, as you have to learn to disentangle yourself from the spray deck when exiting underwater.

A variant of the touring kayak, the sea kayak has a higher rocker the curve from bow to stern that helps it crest into oncoming waves. It also has a narrow, V-shaped front profile. This design makes them able to deal with rougher waters, but at the expense of stability. Pros: The sea kayak is easier to control, tracks straighter, and is less likely to be swamped by waves than a standard touring kayak.

This makes it specifically designed for journeys on coastal waters. Junior paddlers wanting to progress their kayaking skills will progress better with a junior kayak. Inflatable Kayaks are the perfect choice of kayak for compact storage and transport.

Inflatable Kayaks are designed for recreational paddling on flat water. The inflatable canoes and kayaks available are easy to inflatable in minutes and very stable to paddle. EMAIL: sales kayaksandpaddles. Call For Advice - There are many types of canoes and kayaks available, details of each style can be found below.