How To Determine What Kind of Kayak You Need

There are many different approaches to kayaking. Figuring out what type of kayaker you are can take a lot of practice and time. The first thing that you want to do is borrow different types of kayaks to really get a feel for what type you are. Examples of different types include sea kayaks, surf kayaks, sit on top kayaks, whitewater kayaks, racing kayaks, and many others. The type you choose depends on your location and what kind of activity you want to do. Following are a few explanations of what each type entails.

Sea Kayaking: If you want a long-trip kayak that is larger, can accommodate more people, and is for straight-line paddling then a sea kayak (also known as a touring kayak) is for you. Sea kayaks can hold the necessary equipment for camping and hiking and also have a covered deck and can have a spraydeck.

Surf Kayaks: Designed much like a surf board for the ability to cut through waves, but obviously different from surfing in that you sit and use a paddle to ride the waves. These kayaks are designed much like a whitewater kayak but they are equipped with a flat hull instead.

Sit on top kayaks: For an easy going, relaxation-oriented kayak go for a sit on top kayak. These kayaks are designed to be stable and are for coasting through a pond with easy water.

Whitewater kayaks: These kayaks are for the people who are planning on going through rapids and having a challenge at hand. They are designed to cut through water at any angle while still being as stable as possible. Whitewater kayaks are also designed to be durable and flexible to take on the heavy changes in motion and speed.

Racing kayaks: The racing kayaks really depend on the type of racing you intend to do. Most racing kayaks are smaller in size to be quicker through the water. Depending on the type of racing will determine the waterline and if the kayak has a rubber or not.

There are many other types of kayaks that can be bought but the most general are listed above. Kayaking is a great sport to get in to especially for someone who wants to really engage in every aspect of the outdoors.

Emily Flory

Born and raised in Iowa, I have been an enthusiastic outdoors woman from a very young age. From the very beginning my dad had me throwing a line in the water and following him out into the woods to sit and wait for that big Iowa buck to walk by. By doing all of this, I was raised country and always will be.

 

With my home being positioned literally in the boondocks surrounded by timberland and no one else around, I had a pretty good opportunity to make the best out of my resources and my love for the outdoors came when I scored my first whitetail from my backyard.  Seeing that 8 point buck come hiking up the path from the riverbed, this little girl’s life was changed forever. Since then, I've had the chance to score some nice whitetail and have also developed a love for bird hunting as well. If it flies, it dies in my case. I love the challenge and will continue broadening my trophy room around the United States.

 

If it wasn't enough to grow up in an area of heaven like this, we of course needed to put some of our experiences on TV as well. Starting in November of 2010 my family aired the first episode of Outdoors on the Farm, a Farm Journal production. Hosted by Chip Flory, aka the wonderful dad who is the reason why I am the way I am, my family along with our pro staff have been able to put a unique twist on the usual hunting show. OOTF brings farmers and hunters together to maximize their habitat by explaining and teaching what they can do around the farm to increase their profits and quality of their land and even more importantly, how they can have more fun outdoors on the farm. The most important people in my life are my family and to be able to experience this with them is more than I could ask for.

 

Outdoors on the Farm airs every Thursday at 7:30 a.m. (central time) and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. on RFD TV. You can also view any of our episodes on our website at outdoorsonthefarm.com at any time. Be looking out for our 2nd season to start in Fall of 2011 and check out our blogs to keep up with the Flory family and our pro staff!