Vibe Sea Ghost 130

Expert rating: 7.9

Vibe’s Sea Ghost line remains very popular with paddlers looking to take serious control of their kayaks, and the foot pedal rudder allows for what experts say is some of the smoothest movement on the water. It’s a huge plus for anyone who’s either new to maneuvering kayaks period, or who may be tired of… Read more

Advanced Elements Packlite

Expert rating: 6.0

It’s plain to see that experts believe the Advanced Elements Packlite inflatable kayak triumphs in at least one category – portability. It’s clearly called the “Packlite” for a reason, as it might be the lightest kayak on the market. It’s perfect for carrying long distances and on public transport or for going kayaking in most… Read more

Old Town Topwater 120

Expert rating: 8.3

Experts reviewing the Old Town Topwater 120 seem to agree on a few key areas. Perhaps most of all, the fact this boat is so stable and undemanding on the water despite its low price tag will appeal to anglers looking for a great value tide-over. Reviewers praise the kayak highly for its ease of… Read more

Pelican Sentinel 100X Angler

Expert rating: 8.4

Overall, reviewers are most impressed by the Sentinel X’s portability. It’s one of the lightest boats in its class, and the fact it arrives with carry handles front, back, and to the sides is a major plus point. You can easily lift this kayak one-handed, and storing isn’t ever going to be a problem if… Read more

Bonafide RS117

Expert rating: 7.7

Small yet mighty, the Bonafide RS117 impresses most experts straight out of the gate. It’s a fishing vessel that many think performs great on recreational journeys, and it’s designed with ease of movement in mind. All experts aggregated agree that the hull design helps make this boat one of the easiest to both handle and… Read more

Vibe Sea Ghost 110

Expert rating: 7.8

Vibe’s Sea Ghost kayaks always seem to perform well with paddlers who want to take stacks of gear with them on their travels – and the Sea Ghost 110’s central console is crammed with gear tracks and hidden compartments, which experts feel is a fantastic setup for all kinds of dry tackle and tech. What… Read more

Old Town Topwater 120 PDL

Expert rating: 7.7

Experts all agree that the 120 PDL is an angler’s dream – it’s packed with intuitive storage such as deep hatches, recessed rod areas, and anchor and wiring holds should you need them. Most reviewers also love the central dry pocket built into the PDL itself – it’s ideal for keeping sensitive items in and… Read more

Hobie Mirage Outback

Expert rating: 7.9

The Hobie Mirage Outback is a hugely popular fishing boat that’s seen plenty of reissues and upgrades over the years, but the core of the experience hasn’t changed all that much. Experts feel that with this kayak, if it ain’t broke – don’t fix it! This is one of few kayaks in its class and… Read more

Sun Dolphin Journey 10 SS

Expert rating: 6.6

Experts agree that the Journey 10 SS is a cheap and cheerful kayak that “gives you what you pay for.” They say it’s a nice fishing kayak for light fishing trips or recreational paddling. It doesn’t achieve bracing speeds, and reviewers agree that its tracking is fairly poor, even on flat water. However, it does… Read more

Perception Hi-Life

Expert rating: 7.8

The Perception Hi-Life scores exceptionally well in all categories. This is a tough, robust boat that’s reportedly ideal for recreational trips and will need barely any maintenance over time. This boat is a hybrid, which means users can easily switch between kayaking to swimming and paddleboarding without much concern. It apparently tracks well on gentle,… Read more

Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140

Expert rating: 7.4

The Tarpon 140 scores highly on stability and predictability. Experts state it’s easy to move on the water and is responsive for its size. It can handle some light touring. Users also claim it should keep you nice and balanced if you want to lay back and fish. It’s not the most portable kayak out… Read more

Eddyline Caribbean 12FS

Expert rating: 8.4

The Eddyline 12FS scores extremely highly across the board, and this is the case with the expert opinions we’ve curated here. Ease of turning and effortless tracking are definitely the highlights of this vessel. Stability, too, gains plenty of points, with reviewers confidently stating they can easily stand up and fish on various waters as… Read more

Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL

Expert rating: 7.2

As a recreational kayak, the Malibu Two XL is never likely to challenge any speed records, but experts agree that it’s a great choice for a fun, stable fishing trip–whether you want to paddle solo or for tandem paddling with a buddy. In fact, it gets high praise for its tracking potential despite its fairly… Read more

Ocean Kayak Malibu Two

Expert rating: 7.2

The Ocean Kayaks Malibu Two is a big winner with reviewers as far as stability and tracking are concerned. It’s reportedly a beach rental staple and is likely to appeal to beginner paddlers or parent-and-child combos looking for extra confidence. The recreational kayak receives positive reviews for comfort and customization, with multiple seat positions available… Read more

Ocean Kayak Malibu 9.5

Expert rating: 8.2

The Ocean Kayak Malibu 9.5 impresses reviewers in most aspects, from its padded seat and flexibility through to its built-in foot-pegs. It’s a fairly supportive boat, which also tracks reasonably well despite its recreational bias. It also offers great stability and versatility on the water, and even beginners can expect to have a blast atop… Read more

Feelfree Moken 10 V2

Expert rating: 7.1

The Moken 10 v2 is a surprisingly stable and powerful kayak that proves you can’t judge a boat on looks alone. Despite its length, all of the experts and reviewers we analyzed say this is a roomy, highly stable kayak with lots of adequate storage, though there’s a risk of your kit getting wet. Reviewers… Read more

Feelfree Nomad

Expert rating: 7.6

Experts agree that the Nomad is the perfect kayak to just throw onto the water and start having fun with. Reviewers believe it’s a great fit for beginners, and that few other sit-on-tops in its class offer the same durability and portability in tandem. This kayak also scores well on storage, with multiple points for… Read more

Wilderness Systems Targa 100

Expert rating: 7.5

The Targa 100 sit-on-top kayak really performs better than it looks – and it already looks fairly impressive. Reviewers claim that the way the boat’s designed already offers confidence before taking to the water. Not only that, but the new sling-style seat distributes weight well – experts say that it’s easy to lose yourself for… Read more

Ocean Kayak Caper

Expert rating: 7.2

Reviewers agree that the Caper’s strong points lie in its ease of tracking–thanks to its tri-form hull–providing you keep this boat to calm lakes or slow moving rivers. Experts say it never takes much of an effort to turn or move in any direction, but it’ll need a lot of encouragement if taking to the… Read more

Swell Scupper 14

Expert rating: 7.2

The Scupper 14 is, according to experts, absolutely built for performance – which means that there is a little take-back on areas such as stability. That said, those reviewers aggregated here state that there’s still a distinct lack of wobbling, and that it’s always easy to edge into the secondary stability. There’s not much discussion… Read more

Ocean Kayak Frenzy

Expert rating: 8.3

The Ocean Kayak Frenzy, is a great example of why you should never judge a book by its cover. It’s a fairly short and wide boat, but testers feel the tracking and maneuverability is top-notch – to the extent that it’s surprisingly easy to handle. This is not a very wide boat but experts state… Read more

Swell Scupper 12

Expert rating: 7.3

Overall, the Scupper 12’s power potential is noteworthy, especially as it tracks well and gets up to over six miles per hour when pushed. The boat’s seating position gets praise from reviewers and it has the same comfy seat as the Swell Scupper 14–same cockpit size too. It reportedly takes the midground between being too… Read more

Eddyline Caribbean 14FS

Expert rating: 7.9

Reviewers of this latest iteration of the Caribbean 14 are positively glowing. This is, according to experts, a surprisingly powerful boat that gets up to an amazing rate of acceleration in a short space of time. Experts suggest that the tracking and acceleration of this kayak are bolstered by its streamlined shape. It cuts through… Read more

Aquaglide Chinook 120

Expert rating: 7.2

The Aquaglide Chinook is a 2-person inflatable kayak. Experts agree that the Aquaglide Chinook is a great example of a mid-range inflatable kayak. It surpasses most expectations when it comes to stability and tracking, but doesn’t quite reach the speeds of many of its rivals. Reviewers, however, do also agree that this is an extremely… Read more

Intex Challenger K2

Expert rating: 5.8

The Intex Challenger K2 inflatable kayak performs well, according to experts, if you are looking for a simple float to take out on the water. It’s one of the cheapest inflatable tandem kayaks on the market, and in some respects, reviewers believe it’s good value. For example, experts believe the comfort and security are worth… Read more

Star Rival

Expert rating: 7.5

The Star Rival is a sit-on-top inflatable kayak for a single paddler. Experts agree that the Star Rival is almost like a floating deck and offers an extremely stable platform – great for kayakers who want to simply take a gentle trip out fishing on still waters. The shape of the boat’s hull and the… Read more

Aquaglide Chelan 120

Expert rating: 7.7

The Aquaglide Chelan 120 is one of the best 1-person inflatable kayaks. Reviewers agree here that the Chelan 120 is an impressive boat that looks inflatable but almost mimics a touring kayak. It’s stable on most waters, though experts recommend you try and keep it on calmer trips. It’s not likely to keep you seated… Read more

Sevylor Quikpak K5

Expert rating: 6.4

The Sevylor Quikpak K5 is a rugged, recreational one person inflatable kayak built for beginner paddlers, with an emphasis on portability and ease of packing. The innovative backpack system carries the kayak comfortably, without the need for an extra bag, and reviewers agree that the features of this inflatable kayak are impressive too. Multiple air… Read more

Intex Explorer K2

Expert rating: 6.2

The Intex Explorer K2 is a tandem inflatable kayak. While acceptable for very leisurely paddling in calm waters, experts agree that, despite its marketing, the Intex Explorer K2 inflatable kayak is made from very thin material with no extra layers to support it. Experienced paddlers claim that it won’t last well if handled roughly, although… Read more

Advanced Elements Expedition Elite

Expert rating: 8.3

The Advanced Elements Expedition Elite kayak is a sit-inside one person inflatable kayak. First and foremost, experts agree that the Elite is a high-performance inflatable kayak that’s really easy to get moving straight from the first push. Its dual skegs (with one being removable) allow for impressive tracking and speed that’s almost comparable to a… Read more

Advanced Elements Island Voyage 2

Expert rating: 8.1

The Advanced Elements Island Voyage 2 is an inflatable kayak for 2 people. Experts seem to agree that this is a highly durable boat for the price. This kayak’s material is, according to reviews, tough and robust even on sight, thanks to the reliable multi-layer construction. However, as always, careful maintenance is recommended! Reviewers note… Read more

Sea Eagle 330

Expert rating: 6.8

The Sea Eagle 330 in an inflatable kayak for one or two paddlers. Overall, experts tend to agree that the Sea Eagle 330 inflatable kayak is a good choice for novice paddlers looking for a cheap ride. Its dual skegs help to make this a reasonably good tracker, with good responsiveness. There’s some disagreement out… Read more

Advanced Elements AirVolution

Expert rating: 7.5

The Advanced Elements AirVolution is a 1-person inflatable kayak. Experts agree that the Advanced Elements AirVolution appeals to a need for portability and paddling performance. This kayak reportedly packs down like an inflatable, but offers stability and speed close to that of hardshell competitors. Reviewers like the fact that it performs well in calmer waters,… Read more

Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl

Expert rating: 7.9

The Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl is one of the best tandem inflatable kayaks. Experts all agree that Sea Eagle’s Razorlite 393rl inflatable kayak, built for solo paddlers, is a performance powerhouse. Some reviewers are even amazed that an inflatable kayak can achieve speeds of up to 6 miles per hour – and yet the Razorlite… Read more

Sea Eagle 380x Explorer

Expert rating: 7.9

The Sea Eagle 380x Explorer is an inflatable kayak for one or two riders. Part of the brands’ most versatile Kayak series, the Sea Eagle 380x Explorer is marketed as an all-around inflatable kayak; one you can easily take on calm water or brave wet whitewater rafting adventures! Experts agree that this boat more than… Read more

Sea Eagle 370

Expert rating: 7.3

The Sea Eagle 370 is an inflatable kayak that is surprisingly robust for the price. Despite appearing to be an average inflatable kayak, this model will withstand spiky rocks and pet claws time and again. This inflatable kayak is reasonably easy to handle up to class III whitewater, even with its high center of gravity… Read more

Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame AE1012

Expert rating: 7.3

The Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame AE1012 is one of the best inflatable kayaks for 1 person. Experts all agree that this is a great inflatable kayak for the money! The Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame AE1012 is versatile enough to make it a great first-time, entry-level kayak for beginners, but also can be used by more experienced kayakers on… Read more

Intex Challenger K1

Expert rating: 6.9

The Intex Challenger K1 kayak has apparently turned a few heads thanks to its incredibly low price. Most experts are happily surprised that this kayak, while a cheap build, actually performs reasonably well on calmer waters close to shore. Experts agree that this one person inflatable kayak is perfect for gentle trips for short periods.… Read more