To find a kayak that is a good fit for you, sit in and try out as many boats as possible. You can do this at seasonal kayak festivals or through an outfitter. First, however, you should decide what kind of solo kayaking you hope to do. Kayak design varies significantly according to the water conditions for which the boat is made, and no one kayak can do it all.
Recreational Kayaks
Recreational kayaks range in size from 9 to 14 feet long. They tend to have a large, wide cockpit that fits most people, even those who are quite large. They are very stable on the water, which makes them easy to enter and exit and difficult to flip. You can easily paddle these boats in a straight line, but they also have some maneuverability; this makes them ideal for exploring, finding fishing holes or running mild rapids. Most have enough storage space to accommodate long day trips and even multiday adventures.
Touring or Sea Kayaks
Touring kayaks, also called sea kayaks, are long and thin, ranging in size from 12 to 20 feet long. You can paddle these boats very fast in a straight line, but they do not turn easily; they are designed for speed and distance in open water, not maneuverability. The longer the boat, the more difficult it is to turn. Length, however, adds cargo space without significantly compromising the boat's ability to accelerate quickly and slice through waves efficiently. This would not be the case if you increased storage capacity by adding width.
Whitewater Kayaks
Whitewater boats are short, ranging in size from 5 to 9 feet long. The design of these boats allows you to quickly maneuver around the obstacles and dangers found in fast-moving, rocky and turbulent waters. These boats turn very easily but move slowly in calm waters; flat stretches between rapids can be exhausting and frustrating for many paddlers. They also tip easily, which can make a beginner feel uncomfortable. The three main types of whitewater boats are river runners, creek boats and play boats. Kayakers use play boats, the smallest of the three, to perform river rodeo tricks; river runners and creek boats can perform some tricks, like river surfing, but they are designed primarily for down-river maneuverability, including skills such as eddy turns, S-turns and ferrying.
Types
All three major types of kayak come with the option of a sit-on-top or sit-inside cockpit. Some people feel uncomfortable in a sit-inside cockpit, especially when using a spray skirt, an accessory worn around the torso and attached to the cockpit rim to keep water out of the boat. Instead of a spray skirt, sit-on-top kayaks have built-in bailing holes that allow water to easily flow onto and out of the boat, which means you get wet.
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