How to Choose a Kayak - A Comparison of 3 Top Ranked Kayaks

If you're shopping for a kayak, there are a lot of things to consider. In this video, I'm comparing 3 best-selling recreational kayaks, each of which are designed for different types of paddlers. We'll look at who the kayaks are designed for, and the pros and cons of each.

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[mtslyh]

Cleanup requirements are quite different between inflatables and hard shells. I own both and they each have their best use cases. But I really dread coming home and having to take my inflatable kayaks apart and air them out. It's a lot of work. After a long day on the water you really don't want to have to spend another half hour to an hour pulling them apart, drying them off, and putting them back together. With a hard shell I just wipe it down a little and then hang it up on the wall. No real cleaning required unless I've gotten into a lot of mud. Don't get me wrong... there is nothing like being able to throw 4 inflatables in the back of an SUV along with paddles and jackets and still have room for 4 passengers. There is simply no way to get 4 hard shells on/in an SUV along with all of the passengers without some sort of trailer. But if I had to choose only one type, it would be a hard shell.

[msstinso]

Great video - thanks so much. My wife and I live in a neighborhood on a river with frequent class 1s, occasional class 2s, and a section with class 3 water. We’ve had the 380X for a couple of years now and love it. My wife was worried about any “kayak” because of stability - as you said in the video, you can turn the 380X over but you need to be sitting on the side and pulling hard to do it (we’ve never flipped). Flat water is a breeze - even paddling up river is pretty easy. Class 1s and 2s are no problems at all (in fact, quite fun). I don’t know enough to handle class 3s and the only time I entered this section of the river, a kind (and much younger - 30s?) paddler with helmet and skirt immediately headed toward us and guided us through. The 380X takes rocks like nothing else - I keep the skeg on at all times and bought a second one that I cut down with a Drexel that allowed the boat to track pretty well and not get hung up on rocks. Just bounces off.

Last comment - clean up is not as bad as it sounds from some of the reviews in my opinion. I open up all of the drains, hose it out, leave it outside to drain and dry, and then hang it up in my garage. Maybe 20 minutes tops?

I love the 380X and will likely be getting a second one just so we can take friends out when visiting.

[KayakingBubblehead]

Another great review video, thanks and please keep them coming. You are one of the people that made me decide to finally get out on the water despite walking with a cane and I thank you for all the knowledge that you are passing down to all of us.

[bertsadventures]

Thanks Ken... I've really appreciated your takes on the Sea Eagle boats over the last few months. I have a Razorlite 393RL as well as the Explorer 380X & 300X. The RL is my go to flat water boat. The 380 is my multi-day river cruiser and I also have the bass fishing setup with a motor for it. And the 300X is my whitewater boat. Due to the 9' length it is even more maneuverable than the 380X. I've outfitted it with thigh straps and an Aire foot brace and I feel really locked in on big water.

[rickspann]

Ken. Great review as always. I have 3 Pungo's ( 2007 Duralite, 2015 Ultralite and 2020 Pungo) all great kayaks with the 2007 and 2015 made from different materials, only 39lbs, while the 2020 is 49lbs. Would strongly recommend the Pungo if portability is not an issue.
Own the Sea Eagle 393 RL and love it. Very portable, 35lbs, and tracks and handles like the Pungo's. As fast as the Pungo and great if portability, storage and lite weight is important. Most days not sure which one to use.
ACA course is great and should be a must for all kayaker's.
Thanks for all your reviews on kayaks and gear, makes the decision on which to buy a lot easier. Keep up the great work.

[SheAndMe]

We went with the 380x - specifically for portability and stability. Don't have storage space for hardshell. We aren't looking for the fastest kayak, just one that is very stable and will let us enjoy a leisurely day on the water for some exercise and outdoor enjoyment. I agree with @TreasurePirate, clean up is a bit of a pain. I typically take a 2 gallon spray container with us ($20 at Home Depot and modified it by attaching a sink sprayer to it) to clean off the Kayak when we pull it out of the water, then do a basic wipe down. Once home, I lay a 4x12 clean drop cloth on my garage floor to put the kayak on to dry for a couple of hour, then pack it up for storage.

[Fightandresist]

I have the Explorer 300x, and love it. I am still learning how to efficiently pack it up- there is a learning curve. But it is a lot of fun, that will be useful as I grow in skill. Also, in addition to taking the ACA course, I also was able to use their site to find a local paddling club. Great resource.

[mikehubble]

I love my 393RL. Going on my 3rd season with it.

[markmifsud]

Have a gumotex twist 2/1 . Great kayak with front cover, used in our seas in malta in some choppy to rough conditions

[Schira]

Got Decathlon Itiwit x100 and love it.

[blackdogization]

Ken, great content. can you please do a bit on kayak day trips? what's required/equipment and places to visit (rivers, lakes....etc)

[gwgrote]

Thanks for doing this review. I know this was over a year ago. I purchased the second version of the Airis Sport 11' (made by Walker Bay) and despite me carefully taking care of it, WB refuses to assist me because the seams (due to age) are splitting. Back then, Airis was #1 in inflatables. I stored it inside my house, always cleaned and dried it thoroughly, so there wasn't a problem that I caused. I am going to attempt to fix it with glue, yet if the seams are just disintegrating, then I might find myself in a dangerous dilemma while out at sea or a lake. I'm considering the SE RazorLite, yet is has no inboard dry storage bag like my Airis Sport 11. I also thought to take the Airis to a professional and have it all re-sealed, but don't know how pricey that would be. Lastly, I have cancer and I first had a hardshell kayak which as I lost some of my strength, I couldn't handle anymore. With the Airis Inflatable, I found that I didn't have to give up yet another thing due to my illness. The inflatables are much easier to paddle. I appreciate any recommendation you can provide me, or from someone who is reading this. Thanks so much! 🚣🏼

[ddun]

Just excellent
I am on my second SE 385 Fast Track!
First one burst a seal and deflated. SE took great care of me and got me into a new same model at great discount even though it was way passed warranty.
Don't want to put you in the position of doing a SE commercial, but I did also buy the rolling pack and no one seems to have instructions on how to best fold the boat and store items efficiently in the SE all purpose backpack? Maybe you could help as a lot of your content does include Sea Eagle? Thank you for what you

[hughiecole]

I've got both of the sea Eagles, great kayaks! But, a serious design flaw on the 393 is that the floor bladder is 'welded in'! This meant that when mine got a microscopic hole in the floor it is impossible to find the hole from the inside! It also traps a fair bit of water in each side channel making it very tricky to dry before storing! Roll on the day they fit the floor bladder with either velcro or zips! Despite that I love it! The Fasttrack I have is so stable I actually fell alseep in it once!!

[codybroken]

Kayak Review Request: Vagabond Kayaks
Models such as the Tsomo, Kasai and Marimba caught my eye.
Saw an ad from a local dealer, looked them up and was intrigued by the design.

[dertysklaender]

Hej, thanks for the video! I really like the idea of comparison videos. If you have the opportunity to do more of these - for other kayaks that share a general category, but excel at different key features important for that category - please do!

Oh, also you may want to add the link to the ACA online course to the video-description.

[notquiteultralight]

Any ideas on a kayak that will take a little chop on a lake or bay and stay relatively dry in the seat? Just curious. Thanks so much. NQU

[pixiedixie]

very informative, Thanks's a lot. Any thought about Decathlon Itiwit boats?

[scot_smith]

Love this comparison. Any appreciable difference in comfort? (Sorry if I missed it in the video) I am guessing the Pungo has the nicest seat but if one is only on the water 2 or 3 hours at a time, would it be noticeably better if at all? Maybe the stability of the 380x would allow standing though so as to not have to be sitting the whole time

[jdouglaswilhelm]

Ken - have you paddled the 300X? I have a 420X that my wife and I paddle and I can set it up for solo. I am considering getting the 300X for more agressive solo outings but I have seen a few videos with the 380X doing well in Class II-III stuff. As an aside, I also have a Dagger Caption and a Dagger Torrent but I am considering selling those (hard to let go) and just going with inflatables. Thanks, JW