Are Expensive Kayaks Worth It?

These days you can purchase a brand new kayak for nearly the price of a large cheese pizza. So why are some kayaks so much more expensive than others? And are the pricey ones worth it?

Comfort, handling, and durability are the key differences between expensive and cheap kayaks. Feeling comfortable in a kayak basically comes down to three things: seats, foot braces, and stability. Kayak handling (for beginner kayaks) is about efficiency and how the boat performs in the wind. It’s difficult to tell how durable a kayak is by just looking at it. The main way to know is by going with a brand that’s been around awhile. 

Seats:

Many of the cheaper kayaks either don’t come with seats or the seats are an afterthought with little to no back support. The more expensive kayaks will definitely have seats with back support, some of which are as cushy as your overstuffed recliner. They adjust up, down, back and forth so that you can paddle for a few hours without your back and hamstrings feeling like someone is using you as a voodoo doll.

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Foot braces or foot wells:

Foot braces/foot wells are key to good paddling posture, comfort, and performance. Many of the cheaper kayaks don’t come with foot braces, especially inflatables. If you have nothing to brace your feet on, your legs will be straight out in front of you. In yoga, this is called “staff position.” And while it can be an effective (if not painful!) stretch, it is certainly not a position you want to maintain while you’re trying to enjoy an afternoon on the water. Also, it’s a weak paddling position. Kayaking is a full body activity. When you’re doing it right, your feet will press against your foot braces with each stroke.

Stability:

If you feel tippy, you’re never going to be at ease in your kayak. Not always, but cheaper kayaks are usually short. A short kayak will need to be very wide for most people to feel stable. Always check the weight capacity of a kayak before purchasing it. If your weight combined with the gear you’d like to take with you is within 50-75 pounds of the maximum capacity, you’ll want to look for a different kayak.

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Efficiency:

Again, cheaper boats are usually short. A short, wide kayak is like paddling a bathtub. The longer the kayak, the more efficient it is to paddle and the more ground you can cover.

How the boat performs in the wind:

When the wind hits you from the side or from behind, almost every kayak will want to turn into the wind (weathercock). This can be very annoying and tiring. Bottom shape can do a lot to mitigate this issue. The more expensive kayaks usually have design elements built into the hulls to help the kayak go straight. (They may also have rudders or skegs).

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Durability:

Brands like Wilderness Systems, Old Town, Ocean Kayak, Current Designs, Perception have been around forever. (This isn’t an exhaustive list!) These companies have put a lot of resources towards researching their designs and tweak them based on customer feedback. These brands have their own pros and cons but, overall, they have a level of quality customers can depend on. 

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But, seriously, is an expensive kayak worth it?

Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. It depends on who will be using the kayak, where you’ll be paddling it, and your paddling goals.

Who will be using the kayak?

If you’re buying a kayak for kids to use, don’t spend a lot of money. Get the lowest end possible from a reputable company (so that you don’t have to worry about it falling apart while they are in it). But the bells and whistles of a high-end kayak will be lost on them. They don’t need lumbar support or adjustable foot braces. They just need something that won’t sink when they succeed in flipping it over.

If you’re buying an extra kayak so family and friends can go with you when they are visiting, you may want to spend a little more so that they are comfortable. Otherwise, they’ll be ready to turn back when you’re just getting started.

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Where will you be paddling the kayak?

If you’re going to be paddling on a small pond or narrow, calm, flat waterway and you’ll only be on the water for an hour-ish, you won’t need anything special. A low end kayak is completely fine.

If you’re paddling on our inland bays, you’ll be dealing with wind and some wider bodies of water, which can get choppy. You’ll want an efficient, stable kayak.

What are your goals?

If you know you’ll only go paddling a couple of times per summer, and you’ll be out for an hour or so, and you’ll only go when it’s completely calm, you don’t need to spend a lot of money.

But if you already know you enjoy kayaking and you hope to go for some nice paddles and want to do some exploring, buy the best kayak you can afford in the category you’re considering. And try it out before buying. In fact, the more different kayaks you can paddle before purchasing, the more satisfied you’ll be with your choice.

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