ashenWe have spoken about kayak bags earlier. Now let’s use them the way they were meant to be used. In this post we will introduce and review some of the best lightweight kayaks for seniors. Why specifically for seniors? Because kayaking is one of the few sports that has no age limit. Regardless of whether you are a kid, youth or a senior, kayaking is for everyone. Being a senior, you can still enjoy a well earned relaxing time paddling around your favorite lake or river. The WHO recommends that adults get at least 75 minutes of vigorous exercise or 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. Kayaking is a great choice due to so many reasons.
Indirectly, it is strength training that you are engaged in while kayaking. That’s right, you got the whole gym in the middle of the water. There is a common misconception that these water sports only workout the upper part of the upper body. Well guess what, they workout your core as well! It also elevates your cardiovascular health and acts as a natural stress reliever because you are up close with the natural environment. And why lightweight specifically? Yep you guessed it right. It is to make the on-land transportation process as easy as possible for older adults.
First of all, we will go through the buying guide and educate ourselves on what to look for when buying a lightweight kayak for adults.
Lightweight Kayaks For Seniors- Purchase Guide
Obviously the requirements in a kayak for older citizens are much different than from the regular. Stability and comfort are given a higher priority. So let us start with stability.
Stability
The water body might be tranquil or get rough all of a sudden. So the kayak must be able to stay upright during challenging conditions. The length and width of the kayak plays a role in its overall stability. The length to width ratio must be considerably higher for the overall stability to be accurate. If the kayak is shorter and wider then you are likely to have a hard time trying to keep the kayak balanced. You are going to have to do that by paddling frequently and it’s going to turn into a rigorous workout rather than a quiet ride.
Safety
Well maybe this should have been the first point to observe, but then stability is a part of safety and the add-on accessories play a major role here. Yes, it is an additional expense but knowing that you are well equipped for a not so favorable situation can really put your mind at ease. So what accessories are we talking about exactly? Well you know them;
- A life jacket
- Flashlight or flares
- A whistle
- First aid kit
- Helmet
- Dry bag
There you go, those are from a strictly safety based standpoint. However you can also add a compass, a map and an extra paddle if you want to be very much prepared and have that adventurous sensation. But since we are talking about senior citizens, I’m guessing that is not something that they would not want.
Preference-Rigid or Inflatable
Right away, it’s somewhat easy to guess the major contrast between the two varieties and that is ease of transportation. However there’s more to it than mobility. To start off, rigid kayaks are much more recommended for adults because they perform better in long distance and are easier to maintain a straight line without much effort. Sit on top rigid kayaks are usually the best for seniors since the entry and exit are effortless.
They also have scupper holes that allow water to drain out of the cockpit. This is important as it is easier to flip them over if the kayak turns overboard. Inflatable kayaks are of course lighter and mobile. You don’t need a vast space at home and in your vehicle. Aside from the time spent on inflating and deflating, it is the easier choice with lesser performance of course.
Back Support
Well, those are the major criteria in selecting a kayak for a senior citizen. You can also add back support and weight of the kayak to this list. Seat and the footrest contribute to the back support. Choosing a kayak that offers multiple footrest positions along with the ability to adjust the seat’s position would be the best choice. Having a high seat is important because you don’t want to be using your core muscles to support your body weight. If possible, adjustable lumbar support would be the best option to proceed with of course. Make sure to not put too much pressure on your lower back while kayaking. In order to achieve this you might have to have several go’s with different seating positions at different heights.
Alright! With the buying guide out of the way, Let us dive into the lightweight kayak options for seniors.
Oru Kayak Foldable Kayak: One of The Best Lightweight Kayaks for Seniors Who Prefer Calm Waters
- 26 Pounds
- Polypropylene material
- 5 variations
- Adjustable footrest and backrest
Our first on the list of lightweight kayaks for seniors. An excellent choice for beginners who are into kayaking in calmer waters and for professionals alike. Also the best part is that it is foldable, making you waste zero time on inflating, deflating to set it up. To talk about Polypropylene which is the construction material, It is a rust-resistant hardware and durable too. Oru Kayaks undergo extensive strength and durability testing, rated at 20,000 folds and exceed U.S. Coast Guard recreational vessel requirements. 2 feet long and 28 inches wide with a weight capacity of 200 pounds. It has been featured on many globally recognized magazines such as Shark Tank, Forbes, CNN, Wall Street Journal. The variation we recommend is the Beach LT which is built smart and sturdy, and it can be assembled in a sec.
The customer feedback is a 50/50 situation. There are both encouraging and discouraging reviews. According to most users, assembly gets easier with practice and it requires less and less time. It adapts to most water bodies and is helpful for most beginners. Works best in calm weather and lakes. Also it is reasonably fast. However there are several users who complained that it wasn’t stable and comfortable as promised by Oru.
Particularly one customer stated that in his experience the Beach version of this kayak is not suitable for the beach at all. Mostly because it is difficult to handle once flipped. Furthermore the boat zipper gives away when attempting to lift the bow/stern to get water out from the rescue boat. Nonetheless, it was just one customer who went into such extensive details on the cons of the kayak. A majority of others had reviewed positively on the stability in calm waters, comfort and most importantly the awesome portability.
Pakayak Bluefin 14 Ft Kayak: Not So Lightweight, Best for Seniors Who Adore The Ocean
- Rigid high density UV-resistant kayak-specific polyethylene
- Patented shape is modeled after the Bluefin tuna
- 170 x 24 x 16 inches; 59 Pounds
- Easy assembled
- Compact and mobile
This kayak is an ideal choice for seniors for several reasons. Firstly, it is easy to assemble and does not take a ton of time. Next it is easy to store, transport given its compact nature. And in general, it is fast performing. The double chin hull provides excellent tracking, carving, and paddling performance. The design is syphoned off from technologies of aerospace and underwater product designs. Fully UV resistant, leak-proof and sit-in design. It has two large watertight hatches for dry storage and float plus the foam seat makes for a comfortable ride. Sections are held together using ¾ of a ton of holding force on silicone/rubber gaskets in the tongue and groove style connections to create a watertight seal.
The customer feedback for the Pakayak Bluefin is simply splendid. It delivers as promised in all aspects. A 6’2″ customer from Florida says that it fits in the back of his 4 door jeep along with all other accessories they need for the day including a second Oru kayak. Easy to assemble and disassemble. Perfect for the ocean or lake. And they use it in the intercoastal waterways of Florida. The best news for adults is that the placement of the seat seems to really support the back according to most users.
There is plenty of cargo space and deck rigging. A few suggest that an addition of a cushion would be great. Nevertheless, there have been no leakage complaints from the customers who used it at lakes and rivers, not even a hint of unstable sways in rough winds. As a matter of fact one user states “Great paddling characteristics. Love paddling this thing in windy conditions or rough waters”. Therefore you can be assured that your money is in good use.
Intex Challenger Kayak: Most Durable
- 27 Pounds
- Plastic material
- Comes with 84 inch aluminum oar, repair patch and Hi output manual hand pump
- 30X15x108 inches , 220 pound weight capacity
- Extremely durable
The Intex Challenger Kayak is probably the most durable lightweight kayak that is well matched for a senior. It also has the K2 version for two people and it can accommodate up to 400 lbs. We will just review the K1 version with one seat although it doesn’t make a significant difference. The cockpit is designed for comfort and maximized space, plus the inflatable I beam floors add stability. Removable skeg provides exceptional directional movement. The cargo net in front allows to store extra gear, and grab line on both ends of the kayak. The seat is inflatable with optimized backrest. This kayak is also mostly built for rivers and lakes. Inflating might take up a bit of time. Also this kayak was built with safety in mind. It comes with a bright yellow bow and gunwales which increases your visibility to other kayakers and boaters.
This kayak too has gained the trust and good faith of many of its users. In their experience it’s lightweight, packs down really small and is very easy to handle and a 6 foot person had no trouble fitting in. The users love all the performance features of this kayak from the compactness to the steering, navigating and maintaining a cruising speed in the water. From the user’s perspective, the collapsible oars work just fine for anyone, adult or young. Easy to assemble and feels perfect in the water. The Boston cap makes it so much easier to pump up the kayak. With the pumping of the kayak, there are two main compartments – one for the base and the other one for the top. The inflatable seat is nice and comfy.
The leg space is more than sufficient. Safe and sturdy and withstands winds without changing direction. Also maintains good stability without flipping over when ripple waves are created by motor boats and other effects. In fact it was hard to find cons about this kayak. Only thing that caught a glimpse was that the carrying bag wasn’t great, more than average. Also folding the kayak backup can be confusing. Nonetheless, all users guarantee that it is the best $76 you will pay for a kayak along with everything it has to offer aside from performance.
Ocean Frenzy Recreational Kayak: For Seniors Who Wants to Go Fishing
- 9 feet long and 44 Pounds
- Capacity of 275 to 325 pounds
- Removable bungees and bow deck bungee.
- Better stability
- 4 Fishing rod holders
Just like the name suggests, the Ocean Frenzy is a great not so lightweight kayak for seniors who prefer rough waters of the sea. Works great in smooth waters as well. Ocean Kayak’s renowned Tri-Form hull combines primary and secondary stability, with a long center keel to keep you going straight. A durable, four-way-adjustable Comfort Plus seat supports all-day paddling, with comfort for any body type. There are molded-in side handles, bow, and stern carrying handles for easy transportation. Has multiple footrest positions to suit the seating position. Since it doesn’t offer any watertight storage hatches, carrying a dry bag would be the best if you choose this kayak.
According to the users, it is very steady to paddle and very stable. The seat that comes with it is very comfortable and supportive on the back. Ample foot space for average height people. Might be a bit uncomfortable for taller kayakers. However a common setback was the kayak is leaning toward its bottom, and the seat stays wet. So you might want to prepare with the appropriate outfits. The Ocean Frenzy is a good choice for an average senior kayaker.
Sevylor Quikpak K1: Best Inflatable And The Lightest Kayak
- Polyester material
- 103 x 36 x 30 inches, 18 Pounds
- Tarpaulin bottom
- Multiple air chambers
- 400 Pounds maximum capacity
This is the final in our list for lightweight kayaks for seniors. Probably the lightest kayak suitable for seniors. It is somewhat unique because of the easy-to-carry backpack system that turns into the seat. They claim that it takes less than 5 minutes to assemble. Best for lake use given the 21-gauge PVC construction. The tarpaulin bottom provides durable protection from punctures. The multiple air chambers feature is important as it allows another chamber to stay inflated if one is punctured. Double lock valves use two locking points for easy inflation/deflation. Comfortable back rest and multiple foot rest positions. Secure storage area in the front area of the kayak. The two skegs on the bottom helps to minimize the side-to-side bobbing/weaving as you paddle.
The Sevylor Quikpak K1 is undoubtedly one of the best lightweight inflatable kayaks for seniors. It also folds up into its integrated bag with a padded shoulder strap. It is easy to carry when in shallow water. The design is optimized for safety by keeping the kayak stable when on water. The user feedback is pretty positive and encouraging. Seems like this kayak has found its place among heavy weight taller users. According to them, it is very heavy duty, super easy to inflate and back rest is more comfortable than hard shell kayaks.
The paddle was strong for some, weak for others. However they all mentioned that they had a good time on lakes kayaking for about 3 hours straight without any hassle. One particular review from a 70 year old male stated that this kayak fulfilled all his requirements which were, light weight, portable, good quality, and reasonable price. The only common drawbacks seems to be the flimsy paddle and the backpack tends to get soaked when in water.
Summary: Lightweight Kayaks For Seniors
Well, there you have it. Those are our top 5 suggestions when it comes to lightweight kayaks for seniors. To summarize, the best kayak for ocean lovers would be the Pakayak Bluefin 14 Ft Kayak. A little heavy but gets the job done. Sevylor Quikpak K1 for heavier adults who want to enjoy a quiet time out in the lake. The Oru and Intex Challenger would equally work well in slow rivers and lakes. If you value durability above all then the Intex would be the ideal choice. For fishing lovers, the Ocean Kayak Frenzy would be a good recommendation given its tracking features and weight capacity allowing you to carry more gear. Check the short clip below for some more suggestions for those in a budget and who are willing to browse further. We hope this guide was helpful and that you found a kayak that matches your needs. Let us know your thoughts!
