How to Choose a Touring Kayak touring kayak is a bridge into a beautiful natural realm that's simply not available to landlubbers. Imagine slicing silently through the water listening to the sound of waves sloshing against the shore and gulls calling overhead. Imagine witnessing an orca break through the surface and blow—perhaps no more than 20 feet from your boat. If these sound like experiences you'd like to have, hop in a touring kayak and start paddling. Whether you're headed to a local lake, the San Juan Islands or the coast of Maine, you'll want to make sure you've chosen the boat that will let you get the most out of your time on the water. The information in the following clinic will help you sort through the options. <!-- Quick Read --> Determine your paddling-trip preferences (long trips, short trips, ocean exploration, etc.) before selecting a boat. Familiarize yourself with a touring kayak's important design elements. Touring kayaks are made from a variety of materials, each offering different characteristics. Consider the important "extras" before purchasing a touring kayak. <!-- End Quick Read -->

First, Consider Your Paddling Plans

When choosing a touring kayak, keep the following in mind: The kind of paddling you want to do The kinds of trips you want to take The kinds of activities you have planned along the way The amount of gear you want to bring with you

Decide on a General Type of Touring Kayak

Touring Touring kayaks are built to handle long trips and big gear loads. They're roomy and comfortable, with covered decks to protect you and your cargo from the wind and water. They're also quite easy to paddle, with sleek, efficient designs that cut through the water, track well and keep a low profile so you don't get blown off course. Day Touring/General Paddling This wide-ranging category includes everything from small touring boats to canoe/kayak hybrids. In general, day touring boats are designed with beginners and recreational boaters in mind. Most are shorter and lighter than regular touring kayaks, so they're easy to turn, maneuver and transport. They're also easy on the wallet! Inflatables Inflatable kayaks let you enjoy the fun of kayaking without the hassles of transporting or storing a full-sized boat. REI carries tough, well-built inflatables that can handle years of hard use. Some are even built for handling serious whitewater! Inflatables typically cost less than rigid-hull boats, and most can slip right into your backpack or the back of your vehicle. Sit-on-Tops Sit-on-top kayaks are designed for fun. They're easy to use and a breeze to get on and off. Sit-on-tops make great bases for swimming, snorkeling, diving and more. Most are designed for day use, but some are built to handle everything from river running to overnight touring. Some styles even feature internal storage spaces.

Design

Length Longer kayaks tend to be easier to paddle over long distances than shorter boats (once you get them up to speed). They also stay on course better and hold more gear. Shorter kayaks weigh less, are less affected by winds and are easier to turn, maneuver and transport. Shorter kayaks can take you into places where larger boats won't fit. Width (Beam) Wider kayaks are easier to enter and exit and are more stable on the water. They also have more room for gear. Narrow boats are a little more "tippy," but they tend to be lighter and more efficient through the water. They also track better. Narrow boats are usually easier to "roll" back up after a capsize than wide boats. Hull Shape Flat-bottom kayaks provide excellent "initial stability" (stability when the boat is resting flat on the water). They're perfect for flatwater paddling and general kayaking fun. Flat-bottom kayaks tend to turn easily (since very little of the hull sticks down into the water), but they can be slow when fully loaded with gear. Kayaks with rounded bottoms provide little initial stability, but they offer excellent "secondary stability" (resistance to tipping in rougher water). This makes them a little less stable when you first get in, but harder to tip over when wind and waves pick up. Rounded hulls are designed for speed and efficiency through the water. They are also easy to "roll" back up after a capsize. Shallow-arch bottoms provide a compromise between flat and rounded bottoms. They provide decent initial stability and very good secondary stability. They're more efficient through the water than flat-bottom boats, they stay on track better and they have a more predictable motion in the waves. V-bottom hulls have a slightly more pronounced center line or "keel" than shallow-arch hulls. They also provide a good mix of initial and secondary stability, with even better tracking and stability than shallow-arch boats. Rocker Rocker refers to the amount of upward curve in a kayak hull from bow (forward part) to stern (aft part). Kayaks with a lot of rocker ("high" rocker) tend to be easier to turn and maneuver, but harder to keep on track when paddling in a straight line. Kayaks with less ("lower") rocker track better and move faster through the water, but aren't as maneuverable. Chine The point at which a kayak bottom turns upward and becomes the kayak's side is called the chine. Smooth, rounded chines provide good secondary stability and easier bracing and rolling. Sharper, more pronounced chines can enhance tracking as well as initial stability. Entry Line The edge of a kayak's hull where it cuts through the water is called its entry line. Sharp entry lines slice through the water efficiently for better speed and easier paddling. Blunt bows ride up slightly on incoming waves for better buoyancy and drier paddling in windy, rough conditions.

Materials

Fiberglass Fiberglass is lightweight and stiff, and can be shaped into extremely efficient, responsive hull designs. (Stiffer hulls are more responsive and require less internal bracing. This means a lighter boat with more room inside for legs and gear.) Fiberglass is most often used in top-of-the-line kayaks. Fiberglass hulls are made of layers of woven fabric, bonded together with a polyester resin for strength and rigidity. An outer gel coating provides protection against abrasion and exposure to ultraviolet light. Polyethylene Polyethylene plastic is less expensive, more impact-resistant, and more abrasion-resistant than fiberglass. Polyethylene can be molded into complex shapes using a variety of molding processes. The chart below compares five prominent types of polyethylene. Type Stiffness Impact/Abrasion Resistance Ease of Repair Recyclable? Linear Moderate Good Easy Yes Cross-linked Hard Very good Moderate No HTP Very hard Excellent Easy Yes EXL® Hard Very good Easy Yes MT 2000® Hard Very good Easy Yes PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) This flexible, clothlike thermoplastic material is used to make inflatable kayaks and rafts. It's tough and abrasion- and puncture-resistant, and it comes in a variety of thicknesses. Nitrylon(TM) Also used to make inflatables, Nitrylon is a combination of tough, nylon fabric and a Nitrile/natural rubber coating. It offers excellent abrasion resistance and cold-weather flexibility.

Don't Forget the Extras

Cockpit Shape Large cockpits are easy to enter and exit, and they allow you to store larger items inside the cockpit area. Small cockpits help hold you inside the kayak for easier rolling and maneuvering in rough conditions. Small cockpits are also easier to protect with spray skirts, which keep water from getting inside. Before you buy any kayak, make sure the cockpit and seat are comfortable! Foot Pegs To kayak efficiently, you need to brace your feet against the kayak hull. Make sure the foot pegs (or heel pockets) designed for this task are comfortable. Adjustable pegs allow more than one person to paddle a kayak. Storage Space Make sure you have enough storage space for the kinds of trips you have planned. If your storage space is inside the kayak, check for reliable seals on the deck hatches and internal walls (bulkheads). If the storage space is on top of the boat, make sure you have some way to strap down all items securely. Flotation Airtight hull sections closed off by bulkheads or inflatable air bags will keep your kayak afloat during a capsize. Make sure the bulkhead walls are sealed well, or that the air bags are tough and well-made and can be secured inside the hull. If you're considering a sit-on-top kayak, it should have self-bailing drainage holes.

Take a Test Drive

If possible, after you've narrowed your choice down to two or three models, try them out. It's the best way to choose a kayak. Check out your local REI store—some of them let members demo boats for free. You could also borrow a boat from a friend or attend a symposium where manufacturers let you test gear. Local paddling clubs are a good source of information for these types of events. Shop REI's selection of Touring Kayaks Day Touring/General Paddling Kayaks Inflatable Kayaks Sit-on-Top Kayaks Have any tips for choosing the perfect touring kayak? Share your knowledge in the Tips and Tricks section of our paddling Community forum.

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