When it comes to a youngster’s newfound love of paddling, the best kayak for kids is not only one that’s safe, stable and affordable — it’s also one your child will love.
There are lots of great reasons to encourage your children’s kayak adventures. Besides getting them off the couch and into the great outdoors, kayaking with your kids is a terrific way to build lifelong family memories.
While very young tikes should ride in the boat with Mom or Dad, older children might love playing and splashing around in their own boat. Kids kayaks come in many different sizes and shapes, from sit-on-tops to covered, sit-inside boats, fishing kayaks for kids and even whitewater creekboats for older children. Which one is best for your child depends largely on their age, size and experience.
Below, you’ll find American Paddler’s guide to the best kids kayaks, broken down by age group. While age is less important than your child’s size when it comes to choosing the right kayak, the ranges below will give you a good starting point.
A QUICK RUNDOWN: THE 9 BEST KIDS KAYAKS OF 2023 (CLICK LINKS BELOW TO SEE PRICES ON AMAZON.COM)
| PHOTO | KAYAK | RECOMMENDED AGES* | WEIGHT | LENGTH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifetime Youth Wave | 4-8 year olds | 18 lbs | 6 feet | |
| Best Choice Sports | 4-8 year olds | 18 lbs | 6 feet | |
| Emotion Sparky Youth | 4-8 year olds | 22 lbs | 6 feet | |
| Sun Dolphin Bali SS 8 | 8-12 year olds | 30 lbs | 8 feet | |
| Sun Dolphin Aruba SS 8 | 8-12 year olds | 27 lbs | 8 feet | |
| Old Town Heron Junior | 8-12 year olds | 26 lbs | 7.5 feet | |
| Pelican Summit 100X | 12 years and up | 35 lbs | 10 feet | |
| Malibu Mini X | 12 years and up | 40 lbs | 9 feet | |
| Intex Challenger K1 | 12 years and up | 27 lbs | 9 feet |
While it goes without saying that the youngest of paddlers should never be left unsupervised and should always wear an appropriately sized lifejacket, the Lifetime Wave Youth 6-foot kayak is a great starter kayak for little ones.
For kids who love to swim, the Lifetime Wave also features a rear “swim-up step” so paddlers can climb aboard from the water. And self-draining scupper holes mean your child doesn’t have to fear the kayak filling up with water.
Younger paddlers will also find the Wave Youth kayak easy to maneuver and paddle, thanks to its “twin fin” design. Multiple molded-in footrests mean it’s a kayak that can grow with your child, too.
The Lifetime Wave Youth 6-footer is also one of the best cheap kayaks for kids, a priority for parents on a budget. It comes with a paddle included.
If you take the Lifetime Youth Wave kayak and add a padded seat and backrest and convenient carrying handles, you’ll get the Best Choice Sports 6’ kids kayak.
Apart from the seat, Best Choice Sports also has added a similar “swim-up step” feature that allows little Johnny to climb into the kayak from the water — which is great for kids with short attention spans who like to swim, kayak and splash their sister all at the same time.
This kayak’s 26-inch beam means it’s very stable for notoriously wobbly kids, with three different foot positions for growing boys and girls. And with a UV-resistant polyethylene construction, you can leave the kayak outside when you’re not using it and not have to worry about sun damage.
The Best Choice Sports kids kayak comes in blue or yellow, and both models come with a double-sided 50-inch paddle.
When you’re 6 years old, the most important feature your kayak can have is enough space for your favorite action figure or stuffed animal.
Like most Emotion kayaks, the Sparky is built with sturdy, high-quality UV-resistant polyethylene, meaning it can stand up to abuse from rocks, driveways, docks or anything else your child might throw at it.
The Sparky’s 24-inch wide beam is more than stable enough for any child to feel comfortable and confident while paddling for the first time, and self-bailing scupper holes prevent the kayak from filling with water should a few splashes come his or her way.
With four footrests and a 140-pound capacity, the Emotion Sparky is designed to accommodate a child’s growing years and can be a great kayak for many summer seasons.
When it’s time to pack up and go home, the Emotion Sparky features some perks for parents, too, with front and rear toggle handles and a very manageable 22-pound lightweight design.
Kids who are a little older (and bigger) will enjoy a kayak like the Sun Dolphin Bali SS 8. An 8-foot kayak supporting up to 200 pounds, the Bali is a great intermediate boat for growing paddlers with a budding love of the sport.
Best paddled by children between 4’4” and 5’5” tall, the Bali features a wide-open cockpit and recessed seat with backrest for added comfort and easy paddling. Graduated foot wells mean most children (or even a smaller adult) will fit comfortably with ample room to stretch out.
For kids who like to bring their toys or snacks along, the Bali SS 8 features both open and sealed dry storage compartments, as well as a cupholder in front of the seat. For young anglers, the Bali SS 8 can also be a great first-time kids fishing kayak.
Despite its high-quality polyethylene construction, the Bali SS 8 is remarkably lightweight at just 30 pounds, with front and rear carry handles for easy transport.
Another great intermediate kayak for kids, the Sun Dolphin Aruba SS 8 is similar in a lot of ways to the Bali SS 8. The key difference is that while the Bali is a sit-on-top kayak, the Aruba features a traditional covered, sit-inside deck.
While kids whitewater kayaks are a little more difficult to find, more experienced children could take the Aruba SS 8 down some milder rivers and be fine.
Like the Bali, the Aruba SS 8 features a dry storage compartment behind the cockpit as well as bungee shock-cord strapping for wet storage. And an adjustable, padded seat offers a comfortable ride.
Available in red, blue or orange, the Aruba would look great with a big bow around it, and the smile on your kid’s face when you show them makes this an excellent choice.
One of the few sit-inside kayaks for kids, Old Town’s iconic Heron Junior is a lively, spry beginner kayak for young paddlers with lots of energy.
This boat is among the best kayaks for kids who like to make waves. Wide and incredibly stable, the Heron Junior can take a lot of playful splashing and horsing around. This boat is tough to capsize, but just in case, the Heron Junior’s internal foam billets mean you don’t have to worry about retrieving it from the bottom of the lake if it does.
When your child’s energy is finally spent, the Heron Junior’s “tag along” tow system allows the kayak to be hooked to another boat, so you don’t have to worry about stranding your tuckered-out child’s kayak in the middle of the lake.
Modeled after Old Town’s best-selling Heron kayaks for adults, the Heron Junior accommodates up to 115 pounds and weighs just 26 pounds, perfect for easy transport and storage.
A great cheap sit-inside kayak for older children and young teenagers, the Pelican Summit 100X doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but definitely performs where it counts.
With an adjustable backrest and foot pegs, your young man or woman will find paddling the 100X a fun, enjoyable experience. At 10 feet long with a 275 lb capacity, the Pelican is perfectly suitable for adults, too, so when Junior is grown, it’s a kayak he can still enjoy for many years to come.
Should your child (or even you) want to use the Pelican for a little pond fishing, the Pelican 100X features a durable polyethylene construction that can be easily modified and rigged with fishing gear or other add-ons. The Pelican doesn’t feature an abundance of storage, but its rear stern hatch and front and rear bungees provide plenty of options for gear. A cupholder on the front of the cockpit is a nice feature, too.
All in all, a great kayak for teenagers, older kids and adults that doesn’t have to break the bank.
Possibly the best sit on top kids kayak on the market, the Malibu Mini X is a quality, durable and well-built boat that will last for generations.
The Malibu Mini X measures 9 feet long, a perfect length for growing teens to feel comfortable, while short enough not to overwhelm first-time kayakers. The shorter length also makes maneuvering the Mini X a breeze in any water conditions.
Perfect for taller or shorter kids, the Mini X features sliding adjustable foot rests to accommodate literally any size paddler. Has your kid grown a foot in the last year? Simply adjust the pegs and get back out there!
With deep foot wells, a cupholder in the middle of the seat and tie-down rear bungee storage, this kayak is deceptively roomy for a 9-footer. It’s also deceptively lightweight, weighing just 40 lbs while able accommodate up to 375 lbs with paddler and cargo combined. Combine that with four easy-grab handles, and the Mini X is about as painless and portable as they come.
The Mini X is among the best kayaks for kids who like to fish in shallow lakes and ponds, or simply for a leisurely paddle on slow rivers or backyard creeks.
For various reasons, an inflatable kayak might be a good starter boat for your child. Perhaps you’re not sure whether he’ll take to the sport and don’t want to spend a lot of money. Maybe you’re worried about storage in the winter. Or you just want something to throw in the back of the minivan as your family heads to the beach.
At just 9 feet long fully inflated, the Challenger easily handled by older kids and adults with minimal kayaking experience. Kids will love the cool green-and-black color scheme and blow-up chair, and adults will appreciate the carrying capacity of the cargo net on the boat’s bow.
The Challenger tracks surprisingly well for a budget kayak, too, with its removable skeg, which allows the kayak to be used for longer family river trips.
If you’re worried about stability, the Challenger’s large cockpit and strong, I-beam floor should put any doubts to rest. Rated to carry 220 lbs and certified by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the Challenger isn’t going to flip or puncture easily. And if it does spring a leak, no worries: a repair kit is included, along with a hand pump and aluminum paddle.
Need more help finding the best kayaks for kids? Has this article helped you in any way? Please let us know your feedback so we can make our recommendations even better. Paddle on, young paddlers!
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