I live in Brisbane Queensland so it’s probably no shock when I tell you that the weather is my favorite part about living here. Beautiful sunny days with crisp blue sky’s is fortunately a common occurrence. Due to this, I love getting out and going on an adventure in the great outdoors. With our great Australian summers how could you not love going for a refreshing cool dip. That’s why I’ve always been into water sports. Any fun there is to be had on or in the water than you can sure count me in. These days the list of water sport activities is getting so versatile.

One water sport that has been around for century’s however still remains popular today is kayaking. Personally, I love going for a good kayak, therefore I will run through what makes a good kayak and how best to choose a model, style and design that will suit your needs. Additionally I will talk about some creature comforts that can help improve your kayaking adventure.

Firstly, I think its beneficial to know the origins and history of this water sport. According to historians they believe the very first Kayak was constructed and rudimentarily designed approximately 4,000 years ago. They also think that it originated most likely in Greenland this is due to the fact the word “ki-ak” in the Eskimo language in fact means (man boat). They also discovered artifacts that suggests tribes in Artic North America also fabricated kayaks. However, they believe they not only used wood, but also other resources such as bones and skin of animals.     

Now that I’ve given you a little history lesson, I will give you some advice on how to best choose a kayak. This will help you not only get one that is quality constructed but also will help you choose the kayak that best suits your needs. Firstly, lets start with the basics, a single seat kayak is a great way to pardon the pun get your feet wet if your new to the sport of kayaking. Alternately though a double kayak  is great way to you and a friend to have a blast. If you’re in the market for a single seater I would recommend looking for a size just under three meters. The first reason for this is under three meters is a great size for you to be able to efficiently maneuver on the water. Not only that but as it’s a single seater kayak you are most likely going to have to maneuver it off the water too. So, it’s a great size for a single person to cart from the water to your vehicle. Plus be able to get it down and up from your roof rack.  The third reason size is important to get right is space, although smaller is great so you can easily move it.  You don’t want to go to small that you have limited space. This becomes a big issue if you are planning on a large adventure and thus require lots of gear.

The next element to consider for your single seater kayak is weight. For a single kayak measuring under three meters a weight of around 25kg is perfect.

However, what truly determines the weight is in fact the construction. Kayaks can be manufactured from a variety of different materials and methods so its important to recognize what are the benefits of each. 

I would highly recommend steering clear of low-density polyethelene, and only search for models that feature high-density polyethelene. As this will ensure your kayak has much greater UV stability, rigidity and resistance to damage, cracking and fading over the years. However, make sure the high-density polyethelene isn’t constructed from old use materials and rather is made from 100% virgin materials. As for the constructional method, roto-molding creates and incredibly durable product and is known for its ability to generate consistent wall thickness. This is achieved through constant rotation of the mould coating the walls evenly during both the heating and cooling processes.

The kayaks shape plays a huge part in its ability to handle water conditions, for completely flat calm water, a round shaped hull would be fine. However, if you want a truly versatile kayak that can remain stable in choppy water or even swell then a deep v bow and transom is what you need.

Now that we’ve covered the essential elements of the kayak design you should look out for, lets cover the creature comforts. Some of the additional feature’s kayaks can come with can truly make or brake your adventure. If you’re a keen fisherman or maybe you just like having a flick or two then flush-mount rod holders on both sides are certainly a feature you will love. Now most kayaks do feature footrests, but an adjustable footrest is a true game changer especially for long trips.

For those into their fishing a very nifty creature comfort that is also a design feature is in fact a flat footwell. This is a small section in the kayak that allows you to stand whilst casting your fishing rod. This drastically improves accurately and line of sight, so you can hit that perfect spot every time.

Amble storage compartments is a true must have, a large flat area behind the seat to store your gear like a duffle bag and fishing supplies is ideal. So, kayaks that come with included bungee cords and extra tie-down points throughout the hull are extremely helpful. A watertight storge compartment at the tip of the bow is great for permanent storage items like a first aid kit or even a rain jacket just in case. For access on the go another watertight storge compartment in your kayak in a reachable area is perfect for storing your phone, keys and wallet.

I hope this guide has assisted you in making a quality kayak decision when purchasing, so you can find a kayak that best suits your needs so hopefully in no time you’ll be out on your very first kayaking adventure.