Sit-on-Top Kayaks

Featured review by Betsy Burden

Best for lakes and slow rivers, for anyone wanting an easy little boat with plenty of room for gear.

Been out in this 10-foot sit-in kayak for several trips this spring including a short camping trip upriver.  This one has plenty of room for gear including a dry hatch in back with a lockable rubber top that holds a small flexible cooler, a duffle bag, and room for more stuff crammed in the crannies. There's room behind the seat for a sleeping bag, room between your feet for more gear, and a installed criss-cross bungee kit on front of the kayak that can hold two chairs in bags. It has a couple of hooks and smaller little bungees around the cockpit to attach handy things like camera or phone.

Read more: Old Town Vapor 10 reviews (6)

Reviewed by Giftogab

Great beginner kayak for flat water and occasional users. This is the XP model which adds a hatch cover. Otherwise the same as the Vapor 10.

This is a great little kayak. I have used it for three years on flat waters of Lake Mead, Lake Mojave, and the Colorado River below Hoover Dam The difference between the Vapor 10 and the Vapor 10XT is that the XT has a cover on the rear hatch. That is great for keeping your items safely secured. I modified the hatch by insulating it with foam and it actually makes a great ice chest for food and water on hot days out on the river. The large opening make it great for access...especially if you are a larger person.

Read more: Old Town Vapor 10XT review (1)

Reviewed by GCap48

Great budget family kayak. Very stable, easily configured for two person with space for gear, or single person. Not the most comfortable kayak, but still good for an afternoon on a lake or river.

I've bought two of these kayaks for my family of four. My two sons can hop on and take the kayak out on the lake with no issues, or the entire family can split between the two yaks and go for an afternoon paddle on the local river. These are big bulky kayaks that tend to not fit too great on those J hooks for your car roof, but once you've got them up there and cinched down they will do fine. They do not come with anything so keep that in mind when purchasing.  You need to add in seats and paddles.

Read more: Ocean Kayak Malibu Two review (1)

Featured review by Wade In The Water

One of the best balanced "all around" kayaks available. * See my review of the 2020 updated Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 below. *

The Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 is not marketed as a lightweight boat, so I'm not going to deduct points because it's heavy, but know that it is. The hatch covers look super cool, but I've yet to know one that doesn't leak.  So now you know the bad. Now let's talk about the good.   The seat is adjustable three different ways while you're sitting in it and offers one of the driest rides in the business. No sitting in a puddle. These attributes help make long days on the water even more enjoyable.

Read more: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 reviews (2)

Featured review by Wade In The Water

A versatile, high quality kayak built to last a lifetime.

The Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 is not marketed as a lightweight boat, so I'm not going to deduct points because it's heavy, but know that it is. The Orbix hatches used on these boats look really cool and are convenient to open and close; but they all leak which some people consider a really big deal. I don't. Kayaking is a water sport. That means I and my stuff will probably get wet. Stuff I don't want wet I put in a dry bag; easy. You may feel differently. So that's the bad. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's talk about the good.

Read more: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 reviews (3)

Reviewed by Wade In The Water

Been wishing for a high performance, lightweight SOT???

Your wish has been granted. Behold the Stellar S14S. The Stellar S14S is a hybrid cross between a recreational SOT and a surf ski kayak. It's a composite boat, which means unlike its roto-molded siblings, it's very lightweight not to mention easily repaired. It's also beautiful to look at both on and off the water. Most of all, it's an absolute pleasure to paddle. So what the heck is a surf ski kayak anyway? Surf ski kayaks have been around since the 1960s but have only gained traction in recent years.

Read more: Stellar Kayaks 14' Surf Ski S14S review (1)

Reviewed by MaloYaker

A sit-on-top angling kayak that's awesome for freshwater and saltwater fishing!

This kayak glides through the water! It gives you the ability to set a line out and troll while you paddle down stream or drop anchor and stand up and cast into the weeds for that big bite. The seat is perfectly comfy enough to paddle for numerous hours getting to your favorite spot and can be easily adjusted while sitting in it. It has adjustable foot peddles for tall or short people and the "mod pod" is a great exclusive to only the Ocean Kayak brand (I have only seen it on the Ocean Kayaks).

Read more: Ocean Kayak Trident 13 Angler review (1)

Reviewed by Wade In The Water

A tough little kayak with surprising performance...

Mention BIC and most people think about lighters and writing pens, but they make so much more. In 1979 BIC Sport was founded by the Bich family, makers of BIC pens and lighters. BIC Sport grew from the family’s passion for water sports and expertise in sustainable manufacturing. By the late 1980s BIC Sport was a world leader in windsurf manufacturing. Since then they have expanded into surf boards, paddle boards, small sailboats, and kayaks. If you're unfamiliar with their water sport products, you can check them out here https://www.bicsport.com/boats.html.

Read more: BIC Sport Bilbao review (1)

Featured review by Theonecanoe

Are you looking for a moderate sized, sit-on-top kayak that's easy to transport, comfortable to sit in, handles well, and is capable of carrying enough gear for a backcountry adventure? Then you should consider the Wilderness Systems TARPON 100 sit-on-top kayak.

I've prepared an in-depth video review of the Wilderness Systems TARPON 100 sit-on-top kayak.  I bought this kayak as a birthday gift for my wife, but I love it so much I'm considering getting one for myself. This 10 foot-long kayak weighs in at 55 lb. and has a load capacity of 325 lb. The fully adjustable seat makes this little boat very comfortable to paddle, and for a short boat it handles and tracks very well. Please check out the video:

Read more: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 100 reviews (3)

Reviewed by Swampcat

Very good kayak for anyone from beginners to seasoned veterans. Plenty of on deck space. Lots of cockpit room and deck rigging standard.

First impressions: Nice, lightweight kayak. Easy to grab handles at the ends and hand holds in the sides. The handles front and rear are also molded into the kayak so no more handle hardware being pulled through the plastic. They are large and easy to grab and make for excellent tie down points for car-topping. You can easily lift this kayak up and load it on top of an SUV (I have an XTerra and it loads very nicely). The back of the seat is molded into the top of the kayak, making a large "hump" in the top of the kayak.

Read more: Perception Access 11.5 review (1)