Top 4 Lightweight Kayaks Perfect for Paddling Adventures with Your Dog

Headwatersdan
2 days ago
5 min read

For many of us, dogs are an important part of our outdoor lives. Who wants to leave their best friend home when you're out having a blast in nature? Today, we look at 4 lightweight kayaks that are well-suited for bringing your four-legged friend on your next paddling adventure.

Just this week, we had a customer drive down from Eugene, Oregon, to take part in our very first Headwaters Experience, where people can come to Redding and have a curated demo experience based on their paddling wants and needs. Our customer, Eileen, wanted something that was sit-on-top for her and her dog. She needed it to be lightweight so she could fit it on her van and easily get it to the water. I brought out the four sit-on-tops I had in my demo fleet that I thought fit the bill.

Blue, orange, and yellow kayaks are on a sandy shore by a lake. Sailboats anchored in the background. Forested hills and a clear sky. — Hurricane Sit On Tops Side by Side

Kayak Stats:

1. Hurricane Skimmer 106 $1,099

Weight Length Width Capacity

39lbs 10'6" 32" 315lbs

2. Hurricane Osprey 109 $1399

Weight Length Width Capacity

43lbs 10'9.5" 33" 325lbs

3. Hurricane Osprey 120 $1499

Weight Length Width Capacity

43lbs 12'2" 3 1.5" 325lbs

4. Liquid Logic Kiawah 10.6 $949

Weight Length Width Capacity

57 lbs 10'6" 32.5" 325 lbs (according to the site, we found it to be lower)

Kiawah 10.6

We started our demo in the least expensive and heaviest option, the Liquid Logic Kiawah 10.6. This kayak is based on the same hull design as the Hurricane Osprey 109, as the two brands are owned by the same parent company, Big Adventures LLC, in North Carolina. The Kiawah touts a 325 lb capacity, which is the same as the Hurricane Osprey 109, but in our experience, we found it to have a little less volume and be a little less stable. No one had issues keeping it upright, but we did notice it has more wiggle as you shifted your weight around. When paddling downwind in a slight breeze, we noticed you had to work a little to keep it going straight. Again, nothing crazy, but with each stroke, you were having to add a little correction to stay on course. All in all, the deck layout was excellent for dogs. The little front mesh compartment easily clips off, providing an open space for a small to medium dog. If you like the concept of this kayak but have a bigger dog, or you just simply want better speed and tracking, we suggest bumping up to the Kiawah 12. (Video Review Here)

Two older people kayaking on a lake, one in a red kayak with a dog. They're wearing life vests. Trees and mountains in the background. Sunny day. — Liquid Logic Kiawah 10.6

Osprey 120

Next up, we swapped for the Hurricane Osprey 120 because I wanted Eileen to experience the difference in tracking and glide of the longer kayak. Although on paper the Osprey 120 has the same 325 lb capacity, it was immediately apparent that it handled a load much nicer than the Kiawah. It felt rock solid on both a primary and secondary edge. (Secondary edge is the stability of the kayak as it starts to rock to one side) We also noticed the tracking and glide of the 12' was noticeable, allowing for more time enjoying nature and less time focusing on strokes. A couple of standout features on the Osprey were the larger front compartment that was lined with a foam pad, making for a comfy spot for the dogs to rest and not have their nails scratching on plastic. The angled foot pedals made for an ergonomic foot position while paddling. Lastly, we loved how the seat popped off, making for an excellent beach chair. To be fair, this was the same on all the kayaks except the Skimmer 106.

Older person kayaking in a blue kayak with a purple life vest on a lake, surrounded by moored boats and mountains under a clear sky. — Hurricane Osprey 120

Osprey 109

The next boat we jumped in was the Osprey 109. This smaller sibling to the 120 had all the same features but in a smaller, lighter package. The dog spot was a little smaller, but we found it to be more than enough room for the two dogs we had with us: Lego, who is a shepherd mix and just over 40 lbs, and Rio, who is a black lab and weighs about 90 lbs. Although we did find the 109 to be easier off the water for loading and moving around, on the water it felt like more work cutting through the water. Although it had better tracking than its rotomolded sister, the Kiawah 10.6, it was still more work than the longer Osprey 120. When you stopped paddling, we noticed the 109 plied to a stop, whereas the 120 wanted to continue to glide, adding more distance for your effort. All in all, the 109 was great, and the ease off the water could easily make up for any of these slight shortcomings on the water. The fact that it's stable, comfortable, and can handle a dog and still be under 40 lbs is kind of insane and stands out against any other 10-11' thermoformed sit-on-top kayak on the market. (Thermoformed Sit On Tops Compared Video)

older heavyset lady paddling a yellow kayak labeled Hurricane on a flat lake with mountains and trees in the backdrop — Eileen paddling the Osprey 109

Skimmer 106

Skimmer 106

The last kayak in the bunch was the Skimmer 106. This kayak has a 315 lb capacity; however, it is noticeably smaller and lower in volume. Sometimes I wonder how kayak companies come up with these numbers! With that said, it was comfortable and dry with a 210 lb paddler and 20 lbs of gear. It has a lower center of gravity, which makes for a stable ride even though it's narrower and sleeker than the others. It handled great in the slight wind we had and tracked decently for a 10' kayak. I think we could agree that the paddling dynamics of this kayak were the best of the four; however, the layout was not as ideal for a dog. It still had enough open space for a small dog, but we'd suggest adding a bath mat or something down to the deck to help make your pooch feel more comfortable. We do applaud the $1,099 price point and the 39 lbs weight, making it an affordable entry into the ultralight thermoformed kayak world.

Older man paddling an orange kayak on a flat lake with pine trees in the background — Joe 6'1" 215 in the Skimmer 106

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day after paddling all the kayaks, Eileen decided she liked the stability, speed, and glide of the Osprey 120. When we got off the water, we tested how she was able to move the kayak around and load it on her car. She was fully capable of lifting it onto her Thule Hullavator rack, making it easy for her to load and unload, providing her with the freedom and confidence to handle it on her own.

All and all we had a ton of fun paddling with Eileen and helping her test some kayak. I'm grateful we were able to help her find the ideal kayak for her needs.

Shout out to my Mom and Dad for helping me drag these kayaks out there and for helping me get on the water again for the first time since my foot surgery 5 weeks ago.

Are you ready to take try some boats? Lets setup a consultation and help you find the perfect kayak for your needs!

Check out our Video from the day: