5 Ultralight Rec Kayaks For Small Paddlers
- Headwatersdan
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
This blog was inspired by a customer asking "Whats the best ultralight rec kayak for a someone 105lb paddling small lakes and rivers?"
Top 5 Sub 40lbs Rec Kayaks for Small Paddlers
I frequently receive questions like this, and they often inspire video ideas. Today, I decided to expand on my recommendations here in the blog. The following is roughly the email response to my customer with a little more detail thrown in. I hope it helps you in your research as well.
First off we need to ask a few questions
1. What is your paddling experience.
2. Do you prefer sitting on top of a kayak, or inside?
3. What type of water do you expect to be paddling?”
4. Do you have any physical limitations or mobility issues I should be aware about?
Based on how you answer these questions, it will dictate what kayak would work best for you.
A few options that come to mind:
-Eddyline Sky 10:
It comes in at roughly 35lbs and is easy to move around off the water. It has a medium sized cockpit that will be easy for you to get in and out of. It may feel a little big and wide for someone your size when paddling, but if you have mobility issues you will probably like the added space. https://eddyline.com/products/sky-10-lightweight-recreational-kayak?srsltid=AfmBOoox7CyNdTZPZKC5wt-fInEOCQ2CBJSOXY-8gGQBZKFrKr2cSWlQ
-Eddyline Rio:
This 12' kayak is also around 35 lbs as well, but it is narrower and built specifically for a small-framed paddler. The old owners of Eddyline, Tom and Lisa Derrer, were both smaller people and wanted a small, light day touring kayak that was easier for them to load and unload. They didn't want to sacrifice the fit and performance of their longer touring kayaks, so they made it narrow, with a smaller touring-style cockpit. So if you have decent mobility and are comfortable kayaking, this kayak could be the perfect fit for you! https://eddyline.com/products/rio-lightweight-recreational-kayak
-Hurricane Prima 110:
This is an open cockpit kayak just over 11' and 39lbs with seat. This is more of a recreational kayak with a massive 55” cockpit opening, however it’s still designed with a smaller paddler in mind. It has a chair style seat for max comfort, and a lower deck making it easy to reach the water even with it’s 29” width. This would be your best option if the ease of getting in and out of, and comfort is the priority over. https://hurricaneaquasports.com/products/prima-110-sport#specs
-Eddyline Caribbean 10:
The C-10 as some of us call it is a smallest lightest sit on top I know of. It comes in right at 40lbs and 10’ long, It doesn't have the glide as it’s narrower sit on side cousins, but still moves along and tracks well for a kayak of its size. It's the easiest to get on because you can just sit down, swing your feet into the kayak and your paddling. https://eddyline.com/collections/kayaks/products/caribbean-10
-Hurricane Skimmer:
106 is another small light sit on top kayak with a little more stability. It has a great seat and nice features. A little wider than the Caribbean but also a touch faster. This will be the most stable of the bunch. It also comes in right around 40lbs. https://hurricaneaquasports.com/products/skimmer-106
What do These Kayak Have in Common?
All the kayaks I mentioned here are Thermoformed ABS. I feel that this style of kayak offers the best blend of performance, durability and ultralight weight. All the kayaks I sent over are between $1100 and $1800. Which is middle of the road when it comes to ultralight kayaks. You can get a light rotomolded kayak, but you're still going to be over 45lbs in most every case, and the performance is not on the same level.
Trying New Things…
I hope this format is useful. I believed it was an excellent way to elaborate on a question that many others might have as well.
If you have a question that you’d like to ask me just to fill out a contact form and send it my way. You never know what will inspire the next blog or video.
Video References from Headwaters YouTube:
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