Are you in the market for a new kayak? If so, you may be wondering if you should buy a recreational kayak or a touring kayak.
Both types of kayaks have their benefits, but it ultimately depends on your needs and what you plan to use your kayak for.
Here is a breakdown of recreational vs touring kayaks to help you decide which one is right for you.
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Recreational Kayak vs Touring Kayak
Although recreational kayaks and touring kayaks are both types of kayaks, they each have their own unique features. This article will describe the main differences between these two types of kayaks to help you decide which one is right for you.
Following are the main differences between a recreational kayak and a touring kayak:
Length and Weight
The main difference between a recreational and touring kayak is in the design. Recreational kayaks are short and wide, which makes them suitable for lakes and calmer waters.
Tourist kayaks tend to be longer, slimmer, and have more of a streamlined design that allows them to travel faster on the water.
Storage Space
Another difference between the kayaks is in the amount of storage space they offer. Recreational kayaks are typically designed to store gear under the deck, while touring kayaks typically only include a dry compartment for storing items you want to keep separate from the water.
Exercise Required
Tourist kayaks are designed for less strenuous exercise. Touring kayaks include features that allow the paddler to remain in one position throughout the entire trip, rather than having to switch between sitting and standing position like in recreational kayaks.
Many touring kayaks also include foot pedals which make it easier to switch between sitting and standing.
Paddling Technique
Tourist kayaks are also designed to be propelled through the water with a single-bladed paddle, rather than having to use a double-bladed paddle like in recreational kayaks. This makes it easier for tourists to keep their bodies upright while paddling without having to worry about shifting weight from side to side.
Tourist kayaks are also designed so the paddler can sit “knee over knee”, which makes it easier to keep your body upright while traveling through the water.
Maneuverability
The design of tourist kayaks allows them to be more maneuverable than recreational
kayaks. Touring kayaks typically have smaller cockpits and narrower overall width, which makes it easier to turn around or fit through tight spaces.
Price/Cost
Tourist kayaks tend to be more expensive than recreational kayaks because they are designed with speed and performance in mind.
A touring kayak can be up to twice the price of a recreational kayak.
How Do You Decide Which One Is Right For You?
The choice between a recreational kayak and a touring kayak ultimately depends on your needs. Recreational kayaks are better for people who are interested in fishing, exploring lakes, slow rivers, flat water paddling, or playing around in calm waters. Tourist kayaks are better for people interested in taking short day trips or traveling long distances quickly.
Recreational kayaks usually have higher weight capacities, so if you are concerned about being able to carry a lot of additional gear or you want to bring your dog with you then a recreational kayak may be a better choice for you.
Tourist kayaks tend to be longer and more narrow, which makes them better for traveling through the water quickly and easily fitting through tight spaces.
If you want to travel longer distances or cover more ground in a shorter amount of time, then a touring kayak may be a better choice for you.
What Are The Benefits Of Recreational Kayak?
Some of the benefits of a recreational kayak include having a higher weight capacity, being more stable, and being less expensive.
This type of kayak is also very easy to maneuver with a single-bladed paddle. If you are looking for a boat that’s good for fishing, exploring calm waters with your dog, or just playing around in the water, then a recreational kayak is probably right for you.
What Are The Benefits Of Touring Kayak?
Tourist kayaks have many speed and performance-related features that make them better at covering long distances quickly.
They also tend to be longer and narrower which allows them to cut through rough waters more easily.
A touring kayak can also carry many different types of gear, such as camping equipment and coolers full of food and drinks.
Touring kayaks tend to be more expensive than recreational kayaks because they offer a lot of additional features that make them better suited for long-distance travel and exploring through rough waters.
Conclusion:
Hopefully, now you have a better understanding of the differences between recreational and touring kayaks. Tourist kayaks are generally longer, narrower, faster, and designed for speed and performance. Recreational kayaks are usually shorter, wider, slower, and designed for stability.
Recreational vs touring kayaks ultimately come down to what you plan to use your kayak for and which type of features are most important to you.
FAQs:
Is a recreational kayak durable for catching large fish?
They’re okay for casual fishing, but if you want to catch larger fish then a touring kayak may be a better choice.
Is it possible to attach equipment on the kayak?
Yes, recreational and tourist kayaks both have multiple areas where you can attach different types of equipment or accessories.
Is a touring kayak good for fishing?
Touring kayaks tend to offer better stability, which makes them better for fishing. However, if you really want to catch large fish then a touring kayak may not be the best choice for you.