Tips on Buying Kayaks

Quick Tips on Buying Kayaks

The biggest thing to consider when buying a kayak is what you want it to do. Do you want to take leisurely tours in calm water or do you want to battle the rapids for a thrill ride? According to Canoe Kayak, there are four types of kayaks:

• Recreational kayaks are good for those who just want to take the equivalent of a Sunday afternoon drive through calm water. These are easy to turn but hard to coax into just traveling in a straight line.

• Touring kayaks, or sea kayaks, are harder to turn, but they travel in straight lines better than the recreational type. You will also find that these can carry more than other kayak types, mainly because they're designed for what the name suggests—touring. You can take these down the river to spend days in the wild. Don't let the name fool you; you can take these into more bodies of water than just the ocean.

• Whitewater kayaks have a name that says it all. These are designed for those tough rapids, thrill rides, and the need for easy maneuverability. The ends are more upturned than on other kayak types and they're shorter than other types of kayaks. Since they're designed for negotiating rapids, they are not meant for steering in a straight line and will not do so very well even in calm waters.

• Downriver kayaks are the ones to consider if you want to do any racing because they move swiftly, in a straight line, and they're difficult to turn. Those new to kayaking probably don't want to start out with racing, and they should not start out with downriver kayaks either, simply because they're the easiest type to flip over.

Use caution when selecting your kayak. There is no "one size fits all" kayak type. Of all the tips on buying kayaks you'll encounter, let this one be the most important. Your safety and satisfaction are both at risk if you choose the wrong kayak for the type of water you plan to enter.

The second tip is to never just go online and order a kayak, even if you do take into account what you want your kayak to be able to do. Researching online is fantastic. You will know which types are out there, which stores offer the best prices, and you can even read consumer reviews. Before purchasing one, however, you need to sit in it. You need to practice a paddling motion in it. Make sure you're comfortable in the kayak and that any cushioning inside is exactly where you need it. If you already have equipment, you'll want to make sure it meshes well with your potential purchase.

Tip three is to buy a shorter plastic kayak if you're a beginner. They're the most durable and the easiest to maneuver. Look to recreational kayaks. Later, you can move into the longer fiberglass types that are harder to maneuver and easier to damage. Fiberglass kayaks are prettier to look at, but a plastic one will give you less grief when you're just learning to navigate the water. Save aesthetics for later if you can.

Where to Buy Your Kayak

Of course, as mentioned above, you'll want to try out the kayaks you're considering in the store, but here are a few places to get you started with your research. You can find out the details of specific models you think you may be interested in, the price ranges, and find out where to look for them in person. You'll be well-prepared and informed when faced with a salesperson.

• Easy Rider Kayaks offers a full line of kayaks. The factory is located in Seattle, WA, and unfortunately to try one out, you'd have to visit that location. In order to help you decide whether or not you'd like to make the trip (and the purchase!), they offer catalogs and a video. In addition, they have live help during business hours.

• Yahoo! Shopping will compare the prices of several different kayak retailers at once. So will Price Grabber, with a list of stores like Dick's Sporting Goods and Sports Authority.

• Lake George Kayak focuses mainly on touring kayaks. They offer sleek designs for roughly $1,000 to $2,000, depending on the material you're looking for.