What is the Best Kayak for Beginners?

“I love to be a senior kayaker but don’t know where to start, how to paddle and what is the best kayak for beginners,” Henry asked his friend who is a senior recreational kayaker. His friend replied, “The short and wide kayak with a unique hull design is best for beginners because it provides higher stability. With the right kayak, you learn speedily and perfectly.”

Apart from this, you must consider a number of factors including the different features and specific functionalities of a kayak. Talking about the factors to consider include your weight because weight could be an issue. Secondly, the required storage, right hull, and stability it provides. As per my experience, long and skinny kayaks are usually fast. In contrast, short and wide kayaks provide more stability.

The kayaks with flat bottoms provide higher stability than kayaks with round bottoms. Kayaks with a “V” bottom are specialized in open water because they separate and slide through the water.

Types of Kayaks Suitable for Beginners 

There are several kayaks suitable for beginners with different sets of features depending upon their use and specific operating functions. You can choose any considering your needs and the water conditions you are going kayaking on. 

1. Recreational kayak 

A recreational kayak is a type of small boat that provides stability, and strength and is mostly used to learn basic kayaking because of its simplified features. The boat is best for casual paddling rather than competitive adventures, so you learn to maintain stability on calm water such as rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. 

Using recreational kayaks for longer paddling sessions is great because of their adjustable backrests and comfortable seatings. In fact, they reduce the chances of tipping over water because of their wider hull. You can also enjoy storage compartments in them and afford them easily compared to the other racing kayaks. 

2. Sit-On-Top Kayak 

Sit-on-top kayaks are one of the best options for beginners because you sit on top of the kayak, rather than inside, which promotes stability and reduces the chances for tipping over. 

Preference for Beginners: 

• Beginners can easily learn to maintain stability with it 

• A great choice for new paddlers because of comfortability and safety due to the wide and flat hulls 

• Suitable for several activities including fishing, surfing, and recreational paddling 

3. Sit-Inside Kayak 

A sit-inside kayak is also suitable for beginners to develop advanced paddling skills because you sit inside the cockpit with enclosed legs within the kayak. This design is undoubtedly great but offers initial stability if you are not so experienced.  

Preference for Beginners: 

• Sit-inside features enhance protection in severe conditions. i.e., shield in waves, wind, warm weather 

• A good choice to learn serious paddling, and improve control and efficiency on water 

• Allows you to develop advanced paddling skills 

4. Fishing Kayak 

Fishing kayaks are somehow different from regular kayaks because of their specialized design and features specific for fishing in various water conditions such as seas, rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. Talking about the specific features, they include storage for gear and tackle, rod holders, wider hulk, stable bottom, and even live wells to keep bait fresh. 

Pay attention– Some fishing kayaks also come up with advanced features including integrated GPS or fish finder devices to locate fish and enhance the fishing experience. 

It has been found that fishing kayaks are also specialized for different types of water conditions. For example, some fishing kayaks are found to be great for rough waters but they don’t perform well in calm waters or vice versa. 

5. Portable Kayak 

These kayaks can be folded and are inflatable. They are quite lightweight, so you can easily transport and store them. Portable kayaks are suitable for different water bodies and offer great performance and durability. 

6. Composite Kayak 

They are faster than traditional kayaks because of their manufacturing materials including carbon fiber, fiberglass, and Kevlar. Composite kayaks require careful handling and are more expensive.

7. Rented Kayak for Beginners

Getting a rented kayak is also a handsome option if you are a beginner because you are learning the procedure of paddling, maneuverability, and everything else. But renting a kayak also requires great knowledge. Meanwhile, it directly depends upon the water condition. If you are going on big water like the ocean, you obviously need a longer boat. Also, consider the design and shape of the boat.

For example, if you are going through rough water – getting a “V” shaped shallow boat would be great because it separates and slides through the water providing you excellent stability. Similarly, choose a boat when going through calm water.

A Guideline on Kayaking for Beginners

Here are some detailed guidelines for beginners choosing the right kayak, ensuring the best paddling posture considering different water conditions, comparing preferences, and much more.

Let’s dive right into this.

Paddling Conditions: 

• Flat Water: Almost all kayaks cooperate with flat water while stability depends upon the hull and width of the kayak 

• Mild Rough Water: In mild rough water, sit-on-top kayaks are considered great because of their self-draining features. This is because of their wide and flat hulls. 

• Whitewater and Sea Kayaking: The fast-moving kayaks that support efficient speed and turn without zero compromise on stability are great for whitewater and sea kayaking. 

Portability: 

• Portable kayaks are great because they support advanced features and can be easily transported but you should consider the weight and material. They offer various features but compromise on durability and performance at the same moment. 

Preferences: 

• Stability vs. Speed: It depends upon the design of the kayak. We observe that kayaks with narrow styles are faster but are not suitable for beginners because of less stability. In contrast, wider kayaks offer more stability but they are found to be slower because they cannot separate water quickly. 

• Rocker: Rocker refers to the amount of curve in a kayak’s hull from front to back. Considering this, more rocker means enhanced maneuverability but less speed. In contrast, kayaks with less rocker are faster but are less maneuverable. 

• Pedal vs. Paddle: Pedal kayaks allow you to free up your hands and move forward only using your legs. In contrast, paddle kayaks rely on traditional methods but are lighter and easier to transport. 

Additional Considerations: 

• Camping: It would be great to choose a kayak with enough capacity and storage for camping gear 

• Pets: If you have a pet, getting a boat with enough storage to bring your pet along with you on kayaking trips is great. 

• Hybrid Options: Pack boats and pack rafts combine features of kayaks and other watercraft for specific needs. 

Beginners Guide to Whitewater Kayaking Gear 

Here is the whitewater kayaking gear you must pay attention to. 

1. Understand the Purpose of a Rudder 

2. Know Your Limits 

3. Invest in Quality Roof Racks 

4. Use Torso Rotation 

5. Prioritize Safety 

Final Verdict 

That was all about beginners’ guide towards kayaking in which we discussed what is the best type of kayak for beginners, what is the best kayak to buy for beginners, and much more. We shared tips and tricks with experienced kayakers, so you grow the best techniques. 

Now, we’d like to hear from you. Leave your kind opinions quickly inside the comment box below and contact us for more information.  

FAQs 

What is the best size kayak for a beginner?

The best size kayak for a beginner is obviously one which provides excellent stability. In which, he/she can easily learn basic paddling and the appropriate ways to stabilize weight.

What is the best sea kayak for beginners?

Delphin, Scorpio, Stratos, or Dagger Charleston are the best sea kayaks for beginners. These kayaks have specialized features for professional kayaking in sea water conditions.

What is the best inflatable kayak for a beginner?

Kokopelli Platte, Intex Challenger K1, and Hobie Mirage Passport 10.5 R are generally the best inflatable kayaks for beginners. But the best for you is obviously the one which provides you with maximum stability and other related features.

What is the best type of kayak for beginners?

The best types of kayaks for beginners include 9′ Sit-on-Top Kayak, 12′ Recreational Kayak, and 10′ Sit-on-Top Kayak. That’s because of the wide hull size, and other stability features it provides.