Kayak 101: Differences Between Kayak Designs

Kayak 101: Differences Between Kayak Designs

Are you looking for a kayak but overwhelmed by all the different choices? Well you’ve come to the right place! In our continuing “101” series, ACK’s Roland Jimenez walks you through the basics of choosing the right kayak based on your specific paddling needs. He covers everything you need to know from sit inside, sit-on-top, whitewater, touring and the canoe / kayak hybrid design types.

Check out these Kayak specific to your needs!

Fishing Kayaks: http://ack.com/rwtr
White Water Kayaks: http://ack.com/w8ti
Pedal Kayaks: http://ack.com/tbpy
Sit Inside + Sit On Top Kayaks: http://ack.com/qt1d

Still have questions? Shoot us an e-mail to Customer@AustinKayak.com and we’ll be glad to help!

50 Comments

  1. kyle hanson on May 1, 2020 at 3:14 pm

    no inflatables. i cant store a 12 foot kayak in my apartment…..

  2. Meno Deno on May 1, 2020 at 3:14 pm

    I just started looking for a kayak. Thanks for your video. I’m wanting to fish so I think the hybrid or the sit on top will suit me best especially me having a bad back

  3. Adolfo Fullo on May 1, 2020 at 3:17 pm

    nice video i subbed

  4. Colorado Kayaking & RV on May 1, 2020 at 3:18 pm

    That tour kayak was nice. I would love to have one but I live in Colorado and all we have are small lakes.

  5. be05068906 on May 1, 2020 at 3:19 pm

    shame you cant get proper lessons for white water kayak here in norway becouse even if we have the perfect rivers here there just arent enough ppl using white water kayaks as opposed to sea kayaks so if i want lessons i have to travel out of the country for it but i must say best way to train too lose weight ive found is kayaking ive lost 25 kilos in 3 months and youre actualy having fun doing it jogging is dead boring in comparison i recomend the dagger katana for large ppl and for multi use

  6. Marcos 989 on May 1, 2020 at 3:20 pm

    This is BS. If you are not sitting inside it’s not a kayak, it’s a paddle boat.

  7. Corry Housdan on May 1, 2020 at 3:23 pm

    Great content! From one editor to another, there is no need to cut back to the person for him to say the next style of kayak. Just use the audio…….

  8. Peter Salmon on May 1, 2020 at 3:24 pm

    Nice video. Thanks.

  9. harobikes3three3 on May 1, 2020 at 3:26 pm

    Thanks for the great video!

  10. Josh on May 1, 2020 at 3:26 pm

    thank you so much i know this is an older video but this helped me so much with making my choices

  11. Cristian Solis on May 1, 2020 at 3:27 pm

    Que tal para pesca en mar kayak wilderness tarpon 120

  12. Mike 242 on May 1, 2020 at 3:27 pm

    I used to use a sit in kayak, i rolled it and i couldnt get my feet out and almost drown, it was the scariest thing in the world. thankfully my friend helped me out. sit in kayaks, especially the one at 3:15 are VERY dangerous, if you flip, good fucking luck getting out.

  13. Unkle Fritz on May 1, 2020 at 3:28 pm

    what about the jet powered kayak?………………… 🙂

  14. Ed Catt on May 1, 2020 at 3:28 pm

    I’m a recreational kayaker, but I’d like to do some river situations where the water could be a bit choppy. I know I’ll get wet (though I have dry-pants), and self-bailing scuppers, so what’s your opinion of doing that sort of float trip on a river with a set-on-top kayak? I don’t do cold weather kayaking, so hypothermia isn’t as big of a possibility for me. Summers are when I tend to use my kayak, with possible some early fall, or late spring ventures. Thanks!

  15. Th I’m on May 1, 2020 at 3:28 pm

    What about race kayaks?

  16. Danyaal Olday on May 1, 2020 at 3:31 pm

    very informative video. thanks

  17. Ara cerz on May 1, 2020 at 3:31 pm

    Thanks very helpful indeed

  18. AC81 on May 1, 2020 at 3:32 pm

    Thanks Ross – tell Rachel hi for us

  19. Ryan Green on May 1, 2020 at 3:34 pm

    all day yesterday at the beach (assateague island maryland) i watched someone kayaking riding the waves in similar to surfing. It looked like so much fun. I very much regret not speaking to him asking him questions. His was short but i really dont know exactly which type of kayak it was. Not sure if it was a sit in or sit on. He was taking turns with other people, they were hopping in and out of it easily which makes me think it was a sit on kayak. I wish i knew for sure!

  20. Tim Stout on May 1, 2020 at 3:34 pm

    Are there any kayaks that have like 350 to 400 weigh range

  21. Luke Krugman on May 1, 2020 at 3:35 pm

    Are sit-in fishing kayaks also good for recreational use? I want a kayak that I can fish out of on small lakes but also want to use it for recreation and possibly in a stream. Am I trying to combine too many things into one kayak? Thanks!

  22. tom frankfooter on May 1, 2020 at 3:35 pm

    creepy transition music…

  23. James Tepedino on May 1, 2020 at 3:35 pm

    Is abs plastic better than the poly material

  24. mrnickbig1 on May 1, 2020 at 3:36 pm

    The main difference is that there are real kayaks, and things that roughly look like kayaks, but aren’t, and handle very differently. These pseudo-kayaks are called Sit On Tops, and are much more like paddle boards in construction and operation. Many uneducated people can’t tell them apart, despite obvious differences.

  25. Eden Tyler on May 1, 2020 at 3:38 pm

    ~Crystal Explorer Kayak by The Kayak Company http://shrsl.com/?~chc7

  26. At Rossouw on May 1, 2020 at 3:38 pm

    Have to say looking at random websites on the interwebs https://www.naturerated.com/best-fishing-kayak-inflatables-reviews/ your video helped me allot deciding what kayak to choose thank you very much

  27. STEVE on May 1, 2020 at 3:39 pm

    Truly great info….no need to be nervous!!!!!

  28. TheSunFiles on May 1, 2020 at 3:39 pm

    Any tips for kayak fishing? I don’t like the idea of fishing while a tree is coming towards my head while I’m not looking.

  29. Trey Drier on May 1, 2020 at 3:40 pm

    A couple things to note:
    1. Sit inside kayaks are much more difficult to recover from if you fall out or they capsize.
    2. A sit-on-top kayak is wetter but recovery is somewhat easier if you fall out (you just kind of flop on top).
    3. A sit inside kayak may be more difficult to launch especially if you are overweight or not very flexible.
    4. Tandem sit on top kayak’s are a lot of fun and less work than a single.
    If your new to kayaking, the sit-on-top makes the most sense unless you are in cold water.

  30. Bertrand Van der Berg on May 1, 2020 at 3:45 pm

    👍

  31. Chucknorris on May 1, 2020 at 3:46 pm

    ur forgetting playboats

  32. Alexander on May 1, 2020 at 3:46 pm

    For just sport purpose what kayak would you recommend for the sea? I want to strengthen my upper body. I would like it to be two seated kayak to go with my girlfriend every now and then.

  33. Steven Parrish on May 1, 2020 at 3:49 pm

    im six foot is there enough leg room on a sit on one?

  34. Jason Roux on May 1, 2020 at 3:51 pm

    My wife wants a recreational kayak she is new to the sport what would be a great entry level kayak?

  35. Muhammad shanib Muhammad shanib on May 1, 2020 at 3:53 pm

    .

  36. Nanika prinsloo on May 1, 2020 at 3:55 pm

    Thank you very much that was fantastic information!

  37. Ulises Eugenio Erickson Ramos on May 1, 2020 at 3:57 pm

    Thanks man all the other videos just talk about entry and 💩, your video answers my questions

  38. Stephen Powdexter on May 1, 2020 at 3:57 pm

    Need to know if, or which, kayaks are unsinkable? Clearly the open models can fill with water. But with the sit-on-top models you could have a hatch ajar or something. Maybe they could be made sinkproof with modification.

  39. BrotherBones X on May 1, 2020 at 4:00 pm

    I am new to Kayaking. So new I don’t have one yet because I don’t know what one to get. I want to be able to spend a day out just cruising around but I have 2 kids. I also want to be able to fish from it as well. I hear the sit on top are tiring to tour around. I hear sit in are better, however, fishing would be a pain. All in all I am looking at getting 2 Tandem but want something that isn’t too tiring but also offer some recreational purposes as well. My wife will have one with one kid and I with another kid. Any suggestions? BTW I am not looking to do any white water or ocean. Just lakes and something that can take a wave if a storm hits.

  40. God Emperor of Mankind on May 1, 2020 at 4:03 pm

    I would either like a hybrid or sit in kayak for fishing along the coast in decent weather in California. What do you think would be better for fishing? And by the way, it will probably be near the Jetty in Half Moon Bay so it will be fairly calm.

  41. Stephanie Rodriquez on May 1, 2020 at 4:03 pm

    Weird thin pedo

  42. Sherman on May 1, 2020 at 4:06 pm

    great video on the basics of kayaks,, just could have a bit more personality into it rather then a computer generated person.

  43. Brian Michael on May 1, 2020 at 4:08 pm

    I am looking to get into Kayaking and really for my first Kayak, though I like the idea of dry storage areas… I really fell in love with the Canoe Kayak Hybrid and the large storage… I have a waterproof case for my camera and there are many locations that require access to a boat of sorts.. Kayaking out to them would be no problem. I have Kayaked down the spring water rivers of florida.. but would love to go out into the bay(tampa bay a bit.. I am a big guy, so the large Canoe Kayak design looks like it would be an excellent fit especially for me being new to the sport.

    Which Brands of the Canoe/Kayak Hybrids would you recommend for someone like me?

  44. mark s on May 1, 2020 at 4:09 pm

    I’m 6 ft…..How long of a Kayak should I get……

  45. CAVEMAN7 on May 1, 2020 at 4:09 pm

    Great video thanku

  46. JW Rhyne Jr. on May 1, 2020 at 4:09 pm

    Awesome education video!

  47. Bazanji on May 1, 2020 at 4:11 pm

    Sit on Top is best for sea fishing

  48. Simon Clarke on May 1, 2020 at 4:11 pm

    This guy is fuckin awesoms. Good breakdown. I’d buy a boat off him.

  49. bob cary on May 1, 2020 at 4:11 pm

    Check out this link to ideas you might like for your kayak.

  50. Stephen McAllister on May 1, 2020 at 4:13 pm

    thank you, Sit on top will be my first

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