Inflatable kayaks often include a carry bag to make transportation easier and a foot pump to help with inflating. Many entry-level and recreational kayaks come with some of the basic necessities to get you started.Īn included paddle is a common feature for these boats and many of Lifetime’s recreational and children’s models come with one. Check the specifications of your tandem before paddling it on your own. Longer tandems will be sluggish and unresponsive if there’s just one person aboard, but this is more common with touring kayaks. Some tandems have the ability to be paddled by one or two people. If you plan on doing more ambitious, longer trips, two singles can usually hold more gear than a tandem. Single Kayaks obviously allow you to go out on your own if you wish and tend to be more maneuverable, though with a lower top speed. Transportation can also be easier since a roof rack will only need to hold one kayak. Thanks to the extra paddle and a longer keel, tandems tend to be faster and more stable than a single. Single kayaks provide more flexibility and freedom for paddlers.Ī tandem requires you and your paddle partner to paddle in sync to maintain tracking and prevent your paddles from hitting which can take some practice. To counteract this, sit-on-tops have a wider hull to provide more stability. This raises your center of gravity which can make a kayak feel tippy. To provide a little bit of protection, the seat in a sit-on-top is placed higher above the water to keep at least some of the waves off you. Since there’s no protection from the elements they’re best suited for day trips or warm weather environments. ![]() With no defined cockpit, you have a lot more room to stretch out and shift while you paddle. Sit-On-Top kayaks encompass most recreational and fishing models. This makes them the preferable kayak for paddlers in cold weather climates. Sit-in boats have a defined cockpit that encloses your legs and lower torso.Ī spray skirt can be wrapped around the cockpit’s perimeter to provide further protection against waves and rain. They’re more streamlined with less stability so that they can roll and recover easily. Whitewater boats look somewhat similar to recreational kayaks with shorter keels. These boats are usually sit-in kayaks to protect you from the elements and provide plenty of dry storage space. If you’re considering a Lifetime kayak, you plan on spending most of your time on calm lakes and rivers where “recreational” kayaks are right at home.įor open water, “touring,” sea kayaks provide a longer keel that will track better in poor conditions and many come with a rudder to improve maneuverability. Kayaks have specialized designs, and while there is some crossover, some models can be dangerous if taken into the wrong conditions. The first question you must answer when shopping for a kayak is where you see yourself using it. How to Choose the Right Lifetime Kayak Where Do You Plan on Paddling? You can find models tailored to more specific activities including bigger and spacious tandem kayaks, boats designed for kids, and some of the cheaper fishing kayak designs. This along with their reasonable price, make them good for most day outings. They lack the storage capacity for longer trips and can struggle to stay on course in windy or strong tidal conditions. The majority of their boats are entry-level or recreational models that are best on lakes or calm rivers. Their boats are made of tough blow-molded polyethylene plastic with UV protection. ![]() Lifetime has made a name for themselves by producing reliable and stable kayaks. Performance limits it to near-shore lake paddling. ![]()
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