Looking into the definition, a sit on top kayak is just like a traditional Kayak, with a sit on top facility as the only difference. The cockpit of the sit on top kayak is wide open and the paddler is not surrounded by any spray skirt.
That said, let’s take a look at some of the big benefits of a sit on top kayak over a traditional kayak.
Contents
Why You Must Choose A Sit On Top Kayak?
1. Easy Access
One of the many reasons why sit on top kayaks are getting popular is the easy accessibility feature. You can get on and off a sit on top kayak with utmost ease and you don’t need to even loosen or tighten the spray skirt surrounding your waist. Moreover, there is no need to hop in and out of the much-lowered cockpit-like we see in traditional kayaks.
You can also make them climb on and off the after without any hassle and this is where most of the people love to swim off the best sit on top fishing kayaks.
2. Paddlers Don’t Feel Claustrophobic
This is another big reason why most of the people love to hop into a Sito on top kayak instead of a traditional one. They come over with a wide and open cockpit and the paddler doesn’t get along with a claustrophobic feeling.
Even though traditional kayaks have been deemed safer due to them being more stable and enclosed, the paddlers won’t find it easy to mount them from the water. Moreover, if you leave the traditional kayaks in between for any reason, it’s really a hard task to get back in due to the enclosed cockpit.
3. Helps In Keeping You Cool
If you are doing kayaking on a hot and sunny day, there is no better Kayak than a sit on top one. You can actually feel the freshness and warmth of the cool breeze without feeling sick and can also avoid the enclosed feeling of a traditional kayak.
Still, before you get along with your journey with the best sit on top fishing kayak, ensure that you apply a bit of sunscreen to avoid all those sunburns.
4. Spacious
Best sit on top kayaks bring more space into the picture in comparison to regular kayaks and that’s certainly a significant advantage they carry over the latter. You may come over as one of those paddlers who love to carry their stuff while kayaking and the best sit on top tandem kayaks rightly suited to that purpose.
It doesn’t come along with a limited space like the traditional kayaks and you can carry upon all those tents and fishing gear onboard without much worry. Hence, we can say that sit on top kayak is quite spacious in every term than a sit-in kayak.
How to choose the best sit on top kayak
1. Types Of Kayaks
Sit on top kayaks comes in various types according to their usage and accessibility but you cannot use them for open water or whitewater kayaking. Still, you can use them for fishing or recreational purposes due to their easy accessibility aspect.
2. Stability Factor
You must not invest in a sit on top kayak if it is making you wobble around the water every other moment. These best sit on top tandem kayak holds the perfect stability and efficiency irrespective of the surrounding conditions.
3. Kayak Seats
It doesn’t matter how much money you are putting to buy a sit on top kayak, if the siting is not comfortable, you have just put the money in drain. It has often been complained by many users that sit on top kayaks aren’t coming with many comfortable seats.
Well, that’s where the budget factor would come in the picture as you may have to spend a bit more to buy the comfort around.
4. Material Used
Most of these sit on top kayaks are made up of either polyethylene or Abs plastic. While the sit on top kayaks made with polyethylene comes a bit cheaper, the other types may cost you a bit more. This is where you have to choose the best one which rightly suits to your given purpose.
5. Kayak Rocker
Kayak rockers hold big significance while you are looking to buy the best sit on top fishing kayak. The longer rockers are termed useful for rough water as they can cut into it with great precision. Moreover, shorter rocker is deemed good for plain waters and short tours.
The Best Sit On Top Kayaks
Find below the best sit on top kayaks:
1. Sit on top kayaka Lifetime Tamarack Angler 100
“Lifetime” as a brand has a long history of making the best sit on top kayaks and this one can be deemed as another one in the big list. These sit on top kayak comes as a tamarack angler typed kayak which comes along with paddles. This sit on top kayak is made up of UV protected high-density Polyethylene which ensures its sturdy design.
Talking about its other features, the sit on top kayak comes on board with multiple footrest positions to accommodate different sized riders. You will get a stable flat bottom, adjusted padded seat back and perfect seat pad for some extra comfort.
These sit on top kayak also sports 1 top mount fishing rod holder and 2 flush-mounted fishing rod holders in the process. There are also front and rear shock cord straps which will save you from any sudden shock during the journey. You will also find two 6 inches storage compartments in rear and center which will facilitate some extra storage.
It is also equipped with a front and rear T handles which will enable some great support for some easy transport.There are also few hull tracking channels on board which will make you feel facilitated during the journey.
Pros
- Made with high-quality Polyethylene
- Adjustable padded seatback
- Front and rear shock cord straps
Cons
- Doesn’t include paddles
2. Lifetime Lotus Sit-on-top Kayak With Paddle
This best sit on top kayak comes along with paddles and that can be deemed as an added benefit. Its Hull design offers extra stability and some great tracking options. It also includes multiple footrest positions to facilitate various sized paddlers alongside.
This sit on top kayak also got a hard adjustable backrest and brings along scupper holes which can easily drain out all the extra water in the cockpit area. Talking about other features, it got a molded paddle cradle, tank well storage with bungee cord lacing and loads of other significant features on board.
The kayak is lightweight in its 38 lbs design and also comes along with a 5-year limited warranty to facilitate with product security.
Pros
- Paddle included
- Multiple footrest positions
- Molded paddle cradle
- Tankwell storage with bungee cord lacing
Cons
- Not feasible for rough waters
3. Lifetime Tioga Sit-On-Top Kayak with Paddle (2 Pack), Lime, 120″
“Lifetime” as a brand has made its own special place in the market for manufacturing the best sit on kayak around. Built of high-quality polyethylene material, this sit on kayak offers multiple footrest positions to facilitate different riders down the line.
It also offers a comfortable seat back to support long paddling adventures. You will also be getting front and rear shock cord straps to save you from those unwanted shocks. There is a 6 inch rear storage compartment along with two paddle cradles.
There are front and rear T handle which will ensure easy transporting which are fully supported by some deep hull tracking channels. You will also find stability chine rails which will make the whole journey with the sit on top kayak comfortable.
Pros
- Comfortable seatback
- Made up of high-density Polyethylene
- T shaped handles for easy transport
- Stability chine rails
Cons
- Not feasible for rough waters
4. Lifetime Tamarack Angler Sit-on-top Kayak, Olive, 120
Lifetime brand seems like making all the good sit on top kayaks as here we have another one in our coveted list. Talking about this best sit on top kayak for beginners, it is made up of UV protected high-density Polyethylene which gives a strong and sturdy design.
Moreover, you will also be finding multiple footrests positions to accommodate different size riders. Talking about its other features, the sit on top kayak brings along the adjustable padded seat back, stable flat bottom supported by front and rear shock cord straps.
Also, there are two flush-mounted fishing rod holders and one top-mounted fishing rod holder which will accommodate your fishing rods with utmost ease. This sit on top kayak is further equipped with two 6 inches storage compartments in the rear and center of the boat.
Looking into other noticeable features, the sit on top kayak got two paddle cradles with shock cords, front and rear T handles and deep hull tracking channels. The product comes along with a 5 years warranty and which allows you to use it without much worries in the process.
Pros
- Made up of UV protected high-density polyethylene
- Adjusted padded seatback
- Two paddle cradles with shock cords
- Stability chine rails
Cons
- Doesn’t include paddles
5. Pelican Basscreek 100XP Angler Sit-on-top Fishing Kayak
Well, here we have another debutant in our list of best sit on top kayaks coming from the house of Pelicans. This sit on top kayak comes lighter in weight and you can easily carry them with two of the retractable carrying handles. They sit on top kayak also bring a wide and open cockpit which will allow some easy access.
There is also a multi-chine flat bottom hull design that offers great stability and tracking in the process. You will also find a quick-lock hatch in the front along with a storage bag to store all of your required gears.
They sit on top kayak and are also equipped with a swivel rod holder, angular ruler and two flush mount rod holders. It also comes on board with an Ergofit seating system which includes a padded seat cushion along with an adjustable backrest.
Well, you will also get a bottle holder and a paddle tie-down to easily store your paddle when they are not in use.
Pros
- Easy to carry and lightweight
- Multi chine hull design to offer great stability
- Includes rod holder and bottle holder for safe storage of your essentials
- Ergofit seating system for comfortable usage
Cons
- Paddles not included
Top Brands For Best Sit On Top Kayaks
1. Sun Dolphin
Talking about Sun dolphin, they come over as the makers of one of the best sit on top kayaks across the globe. Established in the year 1982; this firm has created its own space in the world of best in class kayaks. When they first stepped into the same business, they manufactured a single two-person pedal boat and ever since then, they have proved their prowess as North America’s leading kayak manufacturers.
If we look into the wide range of products offered by Sun dolphin, it includes sit on top kayaks, best sit on kayak and other outdoor recreational products.
2. Ocean Kayak
This firm came into the picture in the year 1971, in the backdrop of Malibu, California, while manufacturing an old surfboard and two carved places to accommodate a sit on facility and scuba gear. Well, you heard it right! Ocean Kayak was first made popular due to the scuba diving option but it earned all the big popularity when people first noticed it on the beaches.
The first kayak made by them was built with fiberglass and that contributed big time to its overall popularity within no time.
3. Perception Kayaks
Perception comes as one of the most sought after kayak brand having its global outreach in more than 20 countries as of now. Apart from making the best sit on top kayaks, they are highly known for manufacturing to sit-inside kayaks, fishing kayaks, tandem kayaks and so on.
Within a space of just a few years, this brand has created its own mark with great quality and exceptional features in all of its products. While you can count upon them for being the best sit on top kayaks, they also bring along some exquisite customer support to back their product quality.
FAQs
🛶 Q. Can Sit On Top Kayak Sink?
A. Well, there’s that one aspect which makes sit on top kayaks more feasible to the paddlers than the other traditional kayaks around. It’s not just about our claim and even the experts worldwide have confirmed that the best sit on top kayaks are almost unsinkable in general conditions.
While you can count upon this advantage with great trust, you have to focus on the weight levels, in order to get the best sit on top kayaks for your requirements.
🛶 Q. Sit In Kayak Or Sit On Top Kayak,Which Is Safer?
A. Well, a sit-in kayak brings along a big and enclosed cockpit and this is where the water may seep into the boat, causing the boat to sink. This is where a sit on top kayaks are best as they usually come over with a completely sealed compartment. Another fact that makes it safer is that the paddler generally sits on the top of the boat, which further makes it easy to get in or out.
🛶 Q.Why Does Sit On Top Kayaks Come With Holes?
A. If you are someone who loves to paddle in choppy conditions, there’s every chance that water may splash in through the scupper holes, right into the deck area. Even when you get wet slightly, the holes can easily let the water drain out without requiring you to bail out your boat in the process.
🛶 Q. Which Type Of Kayaks Are Best For Beginners?
A. You can really count upon on the best sit on top kayaks for beginners as they offer all the easy access with some great fund and adventure in the process. While we understand that a beginner may not come over with all the expertise to manage a kayak, the sit on top kayak offers all the great features which can be handled easily.
🛶 Q. Do Sit On Top Kayaks Offers Better Stability?
A. Yes, the best sit on top kayaks offers some great stability which is mainly due to the large beams and polyethylene used in their manufacturing. Hence, you can use them with great ease for all the recreational, fishing or surfing purposes.
Best Sit On Top Kayak – Your choice?
While you may come across numerous options regarding best sit on top kayaks in the market, you must pick the one best suited to all of your requirements.