INTRODUCTION - BEST KAYAK FOR BEGINNERS
Kayaking is one of the best outdoor activities for people who love to be in nature. It is a great way to spend time outside and get exercise while you do it. However, because kayaks come in such a wide range of shapes and sizes, it can be difficult to find the best type of kayak for beginners. In this blog post, we will discuss what features are important when looking for a beginner's kayak and give recommendations on some models that might work well.
WHAT IS A KAYAK?
A kayak is a small boat that one person rides in and paddles with two blades, called "paddles," which are on each side of the kayak. The best type for beginners is usually determined by what they will be using it for; fishing, touring or racing. A recreational kayak tends to have an open cockpit so people can easily get inside from land or water. While a fishing kayak should have extra rod holders as well as space below the deck for storing gear like buoys, netting and food.
Touring models often come with built-in storage compartments since their primary use would be carrying things along rivers or lakes where cars cannot go. Racing kayaks are designed specifically for competition and are not the best choice for beginners! Also, people often don't know the differences when it comes to a canoe vs kayak. So here is an article highlighting the differences between the two CLICK HERE.
TYPES OF KAYAKS
Here I have listed seven main types of kayaks groups that I can think of at the time:
OTHER OPTIONS
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN MY FIRST KAYAK PURCHASE
What is your primary use for the kayak? If you will be using it primarily for fishing, then a sit-in model may not necessarily be best. For a fishing kayak you should be looking for stability and durability! It's got to be stable enough to be able to handle catching a fish in rough conditions, and durable enough to handle all your fishing gear being thrown into it!
If you plan to do touring with your kayak (on lakes and the sea), then a specifically built touring kayak will be best for you here! A touring kayak is designed to cut through the water with ease. Which makes it much easier to cover much more ground. But touring kayaks normally aren't as stable as your open top kayaks or fishing kayaks.
The best kayak or beginners should be one that best suits their needs and lifestyle. It doesn't matter if you are looking to get into fishing or just want to enjoy some time on the water with your family; there is always going to be a perfect kayak for you from this list! And if at any point in your equipment selection process you have questions don’t hesitate ask us below or email j[email protected] ! We’re here to help all day every day 🙂
THE BENEFITS OF KAYAKING
There are many benefits to kayaking, for example:
TOP 3 KAYAKS FOR BEGINNERS
The inflatable kayaks are great because you can deploy them pretty much anywhere very easily! Storing them isn't a problem either, you can pack them down in your shed and save a lot of space! Just be aware they arent quite as durable as a plastic one.
These open top kayaks are made from hard plastic which makes them super durable. I have had mine now for 15 years and have abused it, they just don't break! The stability on these kayaks is brilliant as well. They are quite heavy though compared to other types that you can buy.
The touring kayaks are brilliant and have some great compartments for storing bits of equipment in! They cut much better through the water than your standard open top kayak and are often much lighter.
Let's get down to business then:
While we could list many kayaks that would work well as beginner models, there's really no "best" model out there - except the one best suited for your needs and skill level. That being said, the above kayaks are our top picks!
WHERE TO BUY YOUR FIRST KAYAK FROM
Now that you've settled on a model, it's time to buy. Keep in mind where the best place is for purchasing your kayak from - some places will offer more services than others might. Also, you can purchase directly from the links I have provided above, they are three really good options for beginners!
- 1- Local Kayak Shop: This one may seem obvious but at least look through their website and see if they have what you're looking for! If not... go down the list of options below 🙂
- 2Online Retailer: Some people prefer buying online because it can be cheaper or simply easier (no big crowds). But before ordering something make sure there are reviews available so you know what kind of quality service will be provided when the product arrives.
- 3Department Store: Again this suggestion may seem like an oddball but department stores.
WHERE CAN I FIND REVIEWS ABOUT DIFFERENT KAYAKS
What are your kayak needs? This is a question you should be asking yourself before looking for reviews. Do you need something that's durable and heavy-duty, or do you just want something light and easy to carry on the water? Reviewers generally will talk about how well they perform in different conditions, sometimes including both whitewater and non - whitewater environments.
However, reviews are very good at giving you a general idea of how a kayak is performing, but it's not the best way to determine whether a kayak is "the best" or not. Amazon is very good at showing reviews, especially with beginner equipment because they have such a large client base! If you would rather buy from your local shop then I would highly suggest ringing them up and asking them their opinion. Or an even better way would be to contact a Facebook kayaking group which there are several of!
OTHER ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT
Other essential equipment that you should be taking with you will depend on what environment you are in. Most of the added equipment you will need will be safety equipment!
Life jacket or buoyancy aid (rivers, lakes & sea)
- A life jacket or buoyancy aid will be essential no matter where you will be kayaking! This is especially true if you are a beginner, there is very few instances where one will not be required. The difference between a buoyancy aid and a life-jacket is as follows: A life-jacket will turn you over in the water if you land face down unconscious. Where as a buoyancy aid will not. Which one you get will be determined by how confident a swimmer you are or whether you have someone else with you.
EPIRB (sea)
- An EPIRB is an incredible piece of equipment that will transmit your position from anywhere at anytime to emergency services in the event of an emergency! This means you can feel very safe if you find yourself struggling and getting pushed out to sea. You can simply activate this emergency beacon which is easily done and wait to be rescued. It's position that it transmits is extremely accurate too and the batteries last for years. They are only a very small device in nowadays too, small enough to fit inside your pocket!
Small anchor (sea, river)
- A small Grapnel anchor is another necessary piece of equipment if you're out at sea. It can stop you from drifting into danger in an emergency or hold your position when you need a well earned rest. Using an anchor on an unstable kayak in fast flowing conditions is however not recommend as you will find yourself in the water! HERE is a great article produced by the cornish kayak angler explaining how to use an anchor when kayaking!
Helmet (Rivers)
- A helmet is often used when traversing fast rivers where there is a high risk of you been flipped out! The helmet will stop you from hitting your head on rocks and causing serious damage. Here's a great selection on amazon.
Flares (sea)
- Flares are always very handy and can grab the attention of any passerby rapidly! Very hand, especially if you find yourself getting into trouble inshore.
Water & food (sea, river & lake)
- Always take plenty of water and food with you, kayaking can be strenuous stuff! Over exhilarating yourself is a common theme when kayaking. Having water and food to hand can be very helpful!
Paddle (sea, rivers, lakes)
- This is obviously an extremely essential piece of equipment otherwise you will struggle to move anywhere with any control. There is a range of paddles that you can purchase, you don't need an expensive one to start off with!