Best Recreational Kayaks For 2025

Recreational kayaks easily make up the largest segment of the paddlesports industry. What exactly is a recreational kayak? They are generally shorter, wider kayaks that focus on stability and comfort for a day on the lake, bay, slow rivers and other sheltered waters. You can buy a rec kayak just about anywhere, from box stores to huge online retailers, sporting goods outlets and niche paddling shops. Regardless of your age, size, budget, fitness level and paddling destination and overall aspirations, there’s truly a kayak for everyone; but you must take the time to do your homework and research the right boat for your situation to make the right selection. A recreational kayak may be a good fit, but making a selection is no easy task when there are hundreds to choose from.

We’re here to help! This article narrows down your options with some of my favorite recreational kayaks in a variety of categories, with an overview of key design, construction and safety features that will keep you happy on the water no matter where you paddle.

Best recreational kayaks for 2025: our top picks

• Best all-around recreational kayak: Wilderness Systems Pungo 120
• Best sit-on-top: Eddyline Caribbean 10
• Best budget recreational kayak: Pelican Argo 100X
• Best for high-performance: Stellar Compass 11
• Best rec kayak for overnight trips: Delta 12.10
• Best recreational kayak for kids: Old Town Breeze
• Best for travel: Oru Lake

Best all-around recreational kayak

Wilderness Systems Pungo 120

Buy from:

WILDERNESS SYSTEMS DICK’S AMAZON

Why I love it

The Pungo is a true classic, an OG recreational kayak that helped define what’s become the most popular segment of paddlesports. I especially admire how Wilderness Systems has kept its timeless design modern, with seat upgrades for comfort and refinements to its hatch system for convenience and safety. Meanwhile, Wildy has remained steadfast to the Pungo’s tried and true hull design, which is versatile and capable for day paddling excursions on rivers, lakes and sheltered coastlines.

The Wilderness Systems Pungo 120 was my top recommendation when my brother-in-law was looking for a beginner-friendly kayak to use at his new waterfront home on Lake Superior. It offers reassuring stability and a spacious cockpit that’s easy to enter and exit. The Phase 3 AirPro seating system provides all-day comfort and plenty of adjustability. As a 2022 Paddling Magazine review noted of the Pungo 120 it “sits right in the Goldilocks zone for a wide variety of paddlers.”

Bottom Line

A classic sit-inside recreational kayak with widespread appeal.

Best for high-performance

Stellar Compass 11

Buy from:

STELLAR

Why I love it

I’ve always admired the easy paddling efficiency of Stellar kayaks and the Compass 11 takes cues from the brand’s missile-fast touring models. The Compass 11 features the distinct swede form shape (that is, the widest part of the hull is behind the cockpit) of super fast surf skis, combined with the reassuring stability you expect in a rec kayak. This affords incredible glide and tracking in a compact, 11-foot, six-inch boat. Outfitting is what you’d expect in a touring kayak, with easy-to-adjust Smart Track foot braces and a comfortable seat.

The Stellar Compass 11 is a stark contrast to a rec market loaded with heavy plastic boats and sluggish inflatables. The light and stiff fiberglass layup makes it easy to cartop and launch in the water. Most of all, I love how this kayak takes all the features of a high-end touring boat and shrinks them down to a recreational package, perfect for discerning day paddlers who want to find the abundant rewards of investing in the sport.

Bottom Line

A recreational kayak with all the bells and whistles of a premium touring boat.

Best sit-on top

Eddyline Caribbean 100

Buy from:

EDDYLINE REI

Why I love it

You notice the stark difference between the Caribbean 100 and rugged yet heavy plastic sit-on top kayaks on both land and water. Tipping the scales at a light 40 pounds, the Caribbean 10 is easier to carry as well as faster to respond to paddle strokes due to its sleek and shiny thermoform construction. Its compact, 10-foot length makes it easy to maneuver for beginners, yet a straight keel line with minimal rocker keeps the Caribbean 10 moving straight on the water with impressive efficiency for such a short boat.

Eddyline is best known for its touring kayaks and some key features have trickled down to the Caribbean, the smallest offering in the brand’s kayak lineup. These include two watertight hatches for day gear, a clever “paddle park” (holder) built into the side carry handles, and easy-to-adjust foot braces. Overall, the Caribbean is a winner for lighter-weight adults and kids. The boat’s premium features make it far more enjoyable to paddle than cheaper boats.

Bottom Line

A can’t miss sit-on top for recreational paddlers: Compact, light and fun.

Best budget recreational kayak

Pelican Argo 100X

Buy from:

PELICAN WALMART AMAZON

Why I love it

The Pelican Argo 100X is a cheap yet serviceable sit-inside rec kayak that’s available at many box stores. Price and availability are the primary reasons for its widespread popularity, but its paddling performance exceeds its sub-$350 price tag. A vee-shaped keel line and hard “rails” on the edges of the hull contribute to tracking and maneuverability alike. The Argo 100X is a step above the many mass-produced, ill-conceived recreational kayaks that could best be described as pieces of junk.

Outfitting is barebones yet adequate, especially for a kayak that’s only expected to perform light duty. Don’t ask this kayak for too much. Be cognizant of how its basic design and short length impose limits on seaworthiness and speed, and it will deliver paddling fun on sheltered water for years. Its robust rotomolded plastic construction means you can crash into rocks and leave it on the beach all summer long.

Bottom Line

The best box store sit-inside kayak you can buy.

Best for overnight trips

Delta 12.10

Buy from:

DELTA REI

Why I love it

The Delta 12.10 bridges the gap between recreational and light-touring kayaks with a sweet blend of beginner-friendly stability, dry storage and safety features necessary for casual day paddling and embarking on weekend kayak camping trips. Delta was an early pioneer of thermoform construction, and the 12.10’s light, sleek build makes huge contributions to its paddling performance and overall appeal. Thermoform plastic is stiffer and more efficient than comparable rotomolded kayaks, as well as being easier to transport and more responsive to paddle strokes due to its lighter weight.

Besides its top-notch construction, the 12.10 borrows heavily from Delta’s longer touring kayaks. Front and rear hatches and bulkheads offer a lot of dry storage for such a short boat, as well as enabling the kayak to be emptied of water in an assisted rescue offshore. The sea kayak-inspired cockpit size seals well with a sprayskirt to keep you dry, with ergonomic thigh supports for the boat control I expect in an advanced touring kayak. Overall, this is a stable, easily paddling crossover kayak that you won’t grow out of too soon.

Bottom Line

Recreational kayak meets touring kayak in this versatile crossover.

Best rec kayak for kids

Old Town Breeze

Buy from:

OLD TOWN BACKCOUNTRY AMAZON

Why I love it

The Old Town Ocean Kayak Breeze is a kayak clearly designed for kids, with a slim yet stable profile that makes it easier for smaller-sized bodies to balance and reach the water. There’s no better way to share the joy of paddlesports with youngsters than with a simple, open-deck boat – that’s built by a sit-on top kayak pioneer. There’s nothing to break on the rotomolded plastic hull, no moving parts or sharp edges. It is maneuverable and easy to handle, with good glide to allow kids to keep up. Multiple moulded footrests fit a variety of sizes, from kids to youth and smaller adults. What’s more, it also makes for a fantastic swim platform.

Bottom Line

Start them right with a playful sit-on top kayak that promises years of fun.

Best rec kayak for travel

Oru Kayak Lake

Buy from:

ORU REI AMAZON

Why I love it

My skepticism of a 9-foot, origami folding kayak vanished the moment I took my first stroke in the ORU Lake. It’s a fun, comfy, stable and easy to paddle rec boat that’s impossible not to love. The Lake has so many great attributes. For starters, it weighs next to nothing at 17 pounds; it sets up in barely a minute and folds into a manageable backpack size that’s easy to take on a trek, trip or public transit; and the gel seat and adjustable foot bar make for a comfortable ride and fit for those up to 6’4″ and 250 pounds. You can even bring along a medium-sized dog in the large cockpit.

Bottom Line

A packable rec kayak that’s fun to paddle, convenient and unique.

Recreational Kayak Buying Advice

Choosing the best recreational kayak for your paddling dreams takes time and effort. You’re cutting yourself seriously short if you simply make a trip to a box store and grab what’s on sale. Of course, budget is a determining factor in any purchase. But when it comes to kayaks, just like any product, you get what you pay for.

Research and test drive

Take your time, read online reviews, including the trove on Paddling Mag, and shop around. I always recommend buying from a dedicated paddling shop or outdoor store to get the best advice. Many paddling shops also offer the option to try before you buy, which is another top tip to invest in the best recreational kayak for your needs. You can also sign up for a kayak lesson and ask your instructor for their top kayak recommendations. Certified paddling instructors can offer trained expertise in key safety features, such as hatches and waterproof bulkheads, as well as design and construction nuances, which may be glossed over by sales staff.

Choosing for your local waterways

To narrow your selection, think about where you will do most of your paddling (river, lake or coastal waters); be honest about how serious you are about paddlesports (occasional use or a passionate pursuit); and think about what paddling activities you’re most interested in and likely to pursue (kayak angling, downriver paddling, touring or travel). Then, choose between a sit-on top (open deck, ideal for warm weather paddling and kayak fishing) or sit-inside (partial or full deck, best for cooler conditions, day paddling and touring).

Proper fit

Boat fit and comfort are personal parameters that are key to optimizing your paddling experience. At the very least, insist that you sit in a prospective kayak to “try it on for size.” Better yet, put it through the paces on the water at a paddling center or by borrowing a friend’s kayak.

Best recreational kayak brands

• Eddyline
• Delta
• Wilderness Systems
• Hurricane Kayaks
• Old Town
• Stellar
• Perception
• Dagger
• Jackson
• Pelican
• Feelfree
• Vibe
• Hoodoo
• Crescent

How we tested

Full disclosure: I’m a sea kayaker from way back. Years ago, when recreational kayaks first appeared on the market, I thumbed my nose at their short and squat dimensions. But just as rec kayaks have exploded in popularity, I’ve come to appreciate their appeal to paddlers who don’t kayak as demanding of circumstances as I do.

The pivotal moment came about a decade ago, when I (reluctantly) did some research and coached my mom on her first rec boat purchase. Since then, I watched her embrace casual outings at the cottage and amidst the mangroves of her winter home in Florida. It makes me smile to hear her describe the joys of exploring new waters by kayak. I drew on that experience and more in compiling this article, with the hopes that you too can discover paddling at whatever pace you choose.

Why trust us

Don’t ask me how I’ve come to make a career in paddlesports as an adventure travel writer, canoe and sea kayak guide, and outdoor educator. Youthful enthusiasm made me a sea kayak guide in the early 2000s. The trade put me through journalism grad school and kept me afloat as an editorial intern at Rapid Media in 2005, where I wrote my first boat and gear reviews and kickstarted my freelance career. Paddlesports have evolved over the past 25 years, and I feel fortunate to have seen (and tested) it all—and made a living to boot.