5 Kayaks Under $300 Reviewed: Are They Worth It? 

Prices are about $200 higher for each of these kayaks now in December 2021!

Some people can only afford 200 and 300 dollar boats. So your video is a service.

I like the fact that you don't bash the box store boats and actually encourage them as an introduction boat. Thanx for the share.

Great review, really helped me to pick out a entry-level kayak at the age of 81,

If you close your eyes, it sounds like Kevin Costner is talking about kayaks. 👍

"He didn't have all the answers but he didn't pretend like he did either" I can respect that.

“you don’t wanna paddle these boats further out than you wanna swim back” lol

My first time Kayaking and this Kayak held strong. ru-vid.comUgkx4k5UrhC3v_Y4hIEaXLGvHcN5a5aBmZNB The water got pretty rough as a speed boat zipped by me, and the Kayak withstood it (I expected to be capsized). The Ores are very easy to put together, the pump worked beautifully. the seats are a bit hard to sit in after a while (I recommend sitting on the floor). after reading the reviews I was very scared it'd get a hole in it, the material is very strong and durable. The Air valve may need a small Phillips head screwdriver to adjust, other than that, it's well worth the money!(update)I've gone Kayaking in 3 Lakes and 2 rivers totaling about 40 miles. the kayak had two holes and they patched easily and no other problems can't wait for kayaking season this year!

I love your attitude about being okay selling people on buying from Dick's because you know its best for the activity and people will grow into what you offer. I bought my first bike from Walmart and 2nd one from my local bike shop.

I have been Kayaking/Canoeing for about 60 years. I am 79 now and still actively Kayak fishing. I have 5 top quality kayaks at present (too many but I use most of them). I do both fresh and salt water so I need variety. I like your video but I think you missed an important point, at my age I want a light kayak as it is easier to cartop (load/unload/carry), You need to mention weight. These kayaks are all fairly light and the Mustang (the best one in my opinion) weighs about 36/39 LBS, a great weight for older Kayakers to handle.

"These are close to shore boats. You don't want to paddle out farther than you can swim back." Terrific info for entry into kayaking! Thanks for the honest reviews. Love the passion he has for kayaking and sincerity of getting others into the sport. Smart salesman. Exactly the info I needed.

Excellent and seemingly unbiased review. Very rare to see. Thank you for taking your time to make this. Very useful for someone like me who is just starting out.

I had 0 kayaks before I started watching your videos, now I got 3. All lifetime cheapies, but definitely ready to get a pedal for me soon. Thanks for the videos and inspiration.

Thanks for not being a snob and giving an honest opinion. If I lived on your side of the country I would be a customer.

Dude, you spoke so honestly. A persons first kayak shop probably won’t be yours. I owned sun dolphin, and pelicans before I stepped into a pro shop and picked up a couple Loons.

I really appreciate this review as someone who’s literally barely starting to kayak- hearing this review from a seasoned kayaker is better than receiving it from a salesmen/woman thank you so much !

Just started looking into a starter kayak cuz of quarantine, this is just the review I needed.

I love the honesty on this man and thank you for acknowledging that the average first time kayak owner isn't going to sink north of $1,000 to see if they enjoy the sport.

I started Kayaking in 1959 in all kinds of different aquatic environments. My son is a certified insructor. From my experience you do a great realistic presentation!

Very inspirational for this little old lady who's tired of sitting on the couch all day!! Thank you!!

Next video "I return 5 kayaks to Dicks Sporting goods"

I appreciate how you are not bad mouthing kayaks because they are cheap and sold in box stores. Makes me want to buy one from you instead. Thanks for the video!

The pink Pelican is awesome, have used it myself dozens of times on Class 1 rivers and small lakes (not a kayak for open ocean or even bigger lakes like Lake Michigan). Completely agree about the extra comfort, especially the knee pads. And it's light enough for this li'l lady to drag around. I'm 115 lbs and I have no issues draining it on my own.

I purchased a Pelican Bandit after watching your review. I am a smaller paddler with not much experience. The Bandit has been perfect for me. It's easy to handle and tracks well, and I feel completely stable in it. I just finished a 9-mile trip in it, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Thanks for your review. It was very helpful.

Reviews like these are golden. It is rare to find someone who provides intelligent and unbiased information. Thank you!!!!!

Thanks to your video I picked up a Pelican Mustang 100X today for $250. It's my first kayak and I'll be taking it out this labor day weekend!

Hey. Good stuff. Fair and well organized. My friends are kayak snobs and were giving me advice all over the map. I delayed buying a kayak because of this. Now I feel empowered to just do it with a starter kayak and then upgrade when I have some time under my belt.

My buddy told me he was going to go kayaking for the first time alone tomorrow. I've been wanting to get into the hobby, but there were so many options. It's 3 hours from when we're suppose to meet up, and I just made my purchase. Thanks for the video, can't wait to go out later. And thanks for not shaming us new people who ended up going to a big box store, with a limited budget.

I love water... Know ZERO about kayaks... Rented a cabin that had kayaks for use... Within the next week as a family we have purchased SIX sit on kayaks. 2 tandem, one 8 ft and 3 10ft. I am absolutely thrilled! All under 300 (thanks walmart-lol) all but one are lifetime, ones a pelican. Its a learning process. This made me feel better about the sit on choice and I look forward to more videos of yours! Thanks for the info. I don't ever see crazy water in my future but more relaxing. Thank you again!

Can you cover how to safely travel with the boat on a car? A lot of people don't understand the cost of carrying the boat also.

One of the best RU-vid videos I’ve ever seen. Honest, professional information. You’re helping people get into the sport. People will still go to a kayak-specific shop when they want to upgrade. Thank you!

I went kayaking once & I have been in love with it. Getting ready to buy my first kayak!

I was hoping you were gonna do the lifetime lancer from walmart. I got it on sale for 175 and modded it to my specs with scotty accessories. Im happy with it. But you are dead on, this is my first kayak. My next kayak will be from headwaters. I met you at the ISE show in january and you didnt even try to sell me a yak just told me what cool stuff you had going on. I appriciate your level of professionalism. Keep it up

You mention some design characteristics that make a difference. In future videos show us the undersides and what is good so we can look for the same specs.

Wow the price difference pre-covid

I just bought the mustang and this review absolutely reinforced my choice. Thank you SO much for such an honest informative review. Watching this was just such a great experience and this coming from a person who has the attention span of a gold fish this was more than beneficial, informative it was just awesome I watched from beginning to end thank you!!!!

I live in Montreal but this man could sell me snow. Really honest and straight to the point.

I've been wanting to get into kayaks for years, but couldnt find this kind of quality information to help me get started. thank you! I have a few thousand to spend, but will be buying a few kayaks. This helped me a lot.

THIS video renewed my long time interest in kayaking, and thanks to you, I went out and finally got one! Got out on the water 5 times so far, can't wait to plan more trips! Thank you very much for this video. This is the reason I keep watching youtube, valuable content like this :)

Literally the first vid I looked at as I rented a kayak yesterday and think it might be a thing for me. This was a PERFECT review for me! Simple. Honest. Unbiased. And most of all EDUCATIONAL!!! Great job!

“If I’m inspiring you to get out on the water”, ...you have succeeded dude, and Thank You, I was going to pick up one of the less expensive types, but now I will splurge and get a real nice Kayak, thanks again!

Loved this video, finally someone that can explain the difference. I was completely lost with choosing a kayak. Now I can get one and have confidence in my choice. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! I can wait to get on the water.

This video was exactly what I needed. I've been interested in Kayaking for a long time. I've gone a few times with rentals but I'm finally ready to take the plunge and buy my own so I can explore as long as I want without a time limit. I was already looking at the Pelican trailblazer but I wanted to see someone who knows their stuff talk about it. I'm sold! Thanks for the awesome video.

Gotta be tough to remain objective when reviewing boats like these after being used to higher end kayaks, but you were fair and even-handed in the reviews...good vid, great job!

I think my favorite part of your vids, Dan, is that you’re always enthusing "just get out there and paddle for the fun of it." That’s really what it’s all about, no matter if you’re in a $180 boat or an $1,800 one. Plus your instructional pieces are awesome. Good on ya, mate!

I've been doing soooo much research - buying kayaks for me, wife, and two tweenager kids ..... your knowledge, advice, and input have been invaluable with making a decision. I can't say thank you enough for helping our family get into kayaking !!!!

Those paddling noises are DELICIOUS!

I am almost 74 and tried kayaking for the first time this past weekend and had a blast. Thank you for this introduction video so I can learn more about what type of kayak I should consider buying.

Looking at getting my first kayak, this was the first review I've seen so far and I greatly appreciated it

Thanks for your honesty. I've been kayaking by renting and borrowing from friends. I found this video very informative and useful. I plan to buy one of my own for under 200. Thanks again.

Love the honesty and your ability to be objective and understanding that different people have different needs/expectations of what they think an ideal kayak would be for them.

2 things I've noticed about kayaks... They've basically doubled in price over the last 5 years and everyone on facebook marketplace is selling 2 of them.

I'm the rec kayaker, looking for a little more thrill on the water. If I lived near your store, I would not hesitate to come there or send my family there. Fantastic video! Great wisdom.

My husband and I are looking for our first kayaks. Thank you so much for this video! You pointed out so many things that we would not have thought to consider. Can't wait to pick some out and get on the water 😃

I’m searching around for my first kayak and then found your review. Excellent, professional, informative, and non-biased despite your own kayak store. Thanks so much for this. If we still lived in CA, wherever we were, I would come to your store for the upgrade.

Appreciate the honest review! You guys are already my favorite channel for everything kayaking.

I was impressed that you didn't bash the cheaper boats and gave a informative review. I had always wanted to get into Kayaking however the boats that I felt like I needed were over $1000 so I have postponed making a purchase since I would be buying boats for me and my wife. Now I can consider getting a cheaper boat and purchasing the needed equipment without spending too much money. Later I can upgrade without the additional expense of the equipment like life vest and paddles. Thanks for taking the time to post and I have subscribed to watch additional videos.

Oh my goodness this video could not have found me at a better time! I was looking at buying my first kayak and this video inspired me!

I've purchased a 10' Pelican Mustang and can't wait to start my kayaking adventures! I'll watch as many of your videos as possible to learn; you are very informative.

I remember watching this video before buying my first kayak. I ended up with an angler version of the Pelican Mustang. It got me on the water and introduced me to kayaking. Now a few years later instead of shopping at Academy Sports, I went to a local independent paddling shop. The owner helped me pick out a kayak to fit me and my paddling style and came home with a Crescent Lite Tackle. In a month or so I have already spent more hours in the LT than I did in the Pelican in 3 or so years. Budget kayaks definitely have their place, and just like you said, independent shops shouldn’t bash on them. You helped me pick my first kayak, and now my second kayak. Both were great recommendations. Loving my Lite Tackle! Keep up the good work, and thank you!

I bought the Field and Stream Blade on this recommendation, and it really is a nice paddling kayak! It does need one easy fix, and that is the foot braces need new bolts. The foot brace fell off just carrying it to the car, but I was already aware of this problem and was not concerned. They used super short wood type screws going into the foot braces, and they barely catch any threads into the plastic. I simply got some bolts and drilled the foot brace holes to the same size hole as those in the hull. I used a rubber sided washer and ran flat headed bolts with nylock nuts on the inside. The braces will never come loose now. I also zip tied pipe insulation around the forward edge of the cockpit, and it is way more comfy on the knees when you lock your legs in a brace. I also use a simple kayak pad on the seat. Can now paddle for hours in comfort. The boat is very stable, and my girlfriend, who is a bit cautious on the water, is totally comfortable with big boat wakes. Yet the boat paddles and glides very well and is really easy to hold a very nice speed. Great little boat!

Appreciate the video, I have been thinking about getting a kayak, this has been very informative/inspirational. Can't wait to get a boat and get out on the water !

I just bought my first kayak a Sit In Pelican 100 Maxim, just a few hours ago and understandably, I was a bit hesitant and perplexed as to which kayak to chose. I'm a free-diving spearfisherman. Watching your video was extremely informative, not sugar coated and most importantly, it's encouraged me even more to go into kayaking. Thank you so very much.

Thank you SO much! Definitely did inspire me...did a LL Bean Discovery School two weeks ago (my first kayak experience) and fell in love with the sport...now just trying to learn as much as possible, and this was terrific. Appreciate that you recognize a "hacker" like me will start on the low end of the price point - very common sense approach. I'm in Eastern PA, but if I ever find myself in your neck of the woods, will thank you in person!

We bought the mustang's to get our feet wet so to speak ( wife and I) we love the intro its allowed. Like you said to find if the love is there. I will be upgrading for more rapid/fishing/camping etc then i will go to a more acceptable dealer like yourself. Thanks!

I’ve watched your videos over time and they are the most informative ones out there. You cover everything, the bads and the goods and I appreciate this so much. Very good video.

Hey Dan, thanks for your kyacking videos. I am a 75 year old widow, who just started kyacking 2 years ago. I kyack in fair weather and still water. I bought a SeaFlo 8.8 sit on top, because it has a wheel in the keel to help me transport. I learned my strokes and safety ips from your videos and am loving my time on the water thanks to you.. Keep your videos coming!

So, you wanted my story. When I was about 12, I went to camp Hazen in CT. We could take out the canoes on the lake. At times we would take out the “war canoe” that held a bunch of us. That is where I got my love of the water. I have a canoe and take my boys out. There is a lake that rents rowboats I used to get up with my boys, make a thermos of coffee and one of hot chocolate. Three in a few snacks and fishing gear and head out. Great memories. I have one of those cheap old knacks. Not much fun. So this is my second time watching this video. Really just what I need to figure out what I am going to get next. I am 71 and still have the love of discovering back water places and just getting out on the water. Thanks for great info.

This was so helpful and exactly what I needed since I am new to this sport. Thank you for the honest review. So glad I found your channel!

You are amazing to give all this info to us beginners!! Cannot thank you enough for your wisdom, knowledge and advice! Looking for my first kayak and yep just a slow paddle around a clam lake for me. Your help is much appreciated! Continued success to you and your business.

Love your attitude. It's about getting out and enjoying life and nature. One of the hardest things for a newcomer to any sport or hobby is that elitist attitude that seems to always linger at certain spots/shops. It can be very intimidating for a lot of people and can push people away from the sport altogether. Experienced and pro people often forget this fact or just don't care. Keep up the great videos.

Great job and very appreciated. I'm glad, like others have said, that you didn't bash the cheaper models. This is where most will start. May go get one myself.

I'm broke with a 3 year old son and my fondest memories were on a boat, we may have to get into this..

I’ve only tried kayaking 2 times and really enjoyed it. I’ve decided to try to pick it up to get myself outdoors more (otherwise I’m a couch potato) Your videos have been SOOOOO helpful. Thank you for your passion to help people that may never buy a kayak from you. It’s very appreciated!

Thanks for making this video. We love in Minnesota. Our family started off with Index K2 inflatables 2 years ago. This spring, we wanted to get hard shell kayaks. But, with COVID, we could find any till September. We started off with a Perception Swifty. My wife noticed it tracked a bit to one direction. Then we remembered watching this video. After rewatching this video, we ended up getting 3 Mustangs. My wife and kids love the Mustangs. Because I'm 6', I live the size of the cabin the Swifty has so I use that one. Our oldest daughter like taking the bag out of the Mustang and use that space as a fish live well for fishing. Thanks for all the video you put out. We have our Kayaks stored for the winter. Can't wait for the next Kayaking season. If anyone is curious about kayak storage in a 2 car garage. We put 2 kayaks on wall brackets. Then we have 2 harnesses mounted to the ceiling that lift/lower the kayaks down

Been wanting to get into this for a long time. Seems like the perfect time and this review will get me on the water for sure !

Loved this video, finally someone that can explain the difference. I was completely lost with choosing a kayak. Now I can get one and have confidence in my choice. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! I can wait to get on the water. You. Makes me want to buy one from you instead. Thanks for the video

My wife and I have been watching your videos because we want to get into kayaking and we love your honesty and sincerity even though you are reviewing other kayaks that you don’t sell. Makes us wish we lived in CALIFORNIA

Thank you so much for this honest review. We purchased 2 Pelican Mustangs for our entry into Kayaking and love them! We wish your shop was closer to help us with our next purchase. Thank you fir inspiring us to get on the water.

Thank you so much for this video. I recently kayaked at my Dads lake house and am now interested in getting my own but budget is a huge issue. I was looking for a review of the Field and Stream Blade and yours was the only one I found. I am glad you ranked it so high and being only 5’3 I think this may the perfect starter kayak for me. Like you mentioned I can at least get out on the water and see how much I enjoy kayaking without having to sink a ton of money into something I may not use long term.

This video helped me a lot! Taking your recommendations to heart. I can definitely tell you're in it for the sport and not for profits. My purchase options were 100% guided by your commentary. thank you sir.

I just wanted to thank you for the GREAT video. My wife and I were looking to get into the sport. But the info wasn't out there for us. I am totally going to share this with her. You have tons of great points that were made and I appreciate that you are educating people and not selling. Keep up the great work!

Late to the party, but thank you for this review. I spend time on lakes via my father-in-law's Sea Ray bow rider - wanting to get into boating, spend time at the lake for a day trip without a massive investment. This video really taught me some starting points for finding a beginner kayak. Thank you, just earned a sub!

Yet another great vid from Headwaters. Thanks, Dan!

Loved the video, thanks for mentioning the float bags. Bought a blade on a whim and glad to hear it was a solid buy. Love to see beginner kayak videos.

I so appreciate your reviews. We all have to start somewhere and you make it easy.

Love you attitude of just getting people out on the water. Thanks for your content

Excellent reviews. Best product review I've ever seen. Looking thru your videos for a bay/open water kayak review. Thanks again.

So today my wife finally talked me into going kayaking I’m 6’7 about 290 conservatively🥴I used her boat I bought her for Mother’s Day two years ago !!! Well it’s a pelican was pretty nervous at first seat was too small and I kept thinking I was going to flip over but I fell in love today with the whole kayaking experience and I just watched this video and I’m even more inspired because of your true honesty so thank you 🙏 would love some recommendations on a better seat and possibly better kayak even though I may still need to just get used to it

You are a great ambassador for the sport. Thank you for your time and effort. The world needs more people like you. I wish you all the success possible, and if I am ever in your area, I will gladly visit and buy something from your store!

Such a spot on video. You obviously love the water. I've always been into jetskis and skidoos, but the kayaking I've done has been super fun. This really is the perfect balance of general education and product review.

Thank you so much for sharing an honest review of the "cheaper" boats. My wife and I were inspired to get kayaks and get out on the lake! We're beginners, so we don't want to break the bank, but wanted to know what we were getting into. You made it very clear the pros and cons of each boat and helped us break into the kayaking world. Again, thank you!!

Thanks for this, really helpful - even though here in Australia the brands may be different, the pros and cons of sit-in versus sit-on are still important considerations for me, I want more speed but need to consider safety for my 10 yr old. I took his sit-on out recently, was like paddling a bathtub 😁 Love your lakes, too - we have beautiful places here but crocs are a problem!

Thank you for making these comparison videos. The kayak rental company in my area has closed due to COVID. I figure it's time to finally buy my own after years of wanting to. You are absolutely right about new paddlers needing cheaper options when getting into the sport, especially when they realize that all the safety and transportation gear can cost more than the boat itself. Folks will definitely come to you for a more advanced boat when they are ready for it. Thanks again!

I will not start at more than $300 and it is so nice to get the opinion of someone who knows what they’re talking about without trying to sell me something more expensive. Thank you so much. Great review!

So, I'm watching a video on isups and I see this in the suggestions. Am I looking for a kayak? Nope. I have 5 kayaks right now and my main paddling is playboating/whitewater up in Canada. But I also have light touring, fishing and recreational kayaks and my wife paddles recreational flatwater on calm lakes. So, why am I commenting? Well, originally, I just wanted to see if the Perception Swifty 9.5 was still available. But, I have to say this is one of the best videos I've seen on getting someone into a sport. This guy hits the nail on the head and it's something I tell a lot of people curious about kayaking- get something relatively cheap that isn't too heavy. Just getting out on the water in a comfortable, safe accessible manner is the start whether you end up liking it or not. As for the Perception Swifty 9.5, we bought one about 15 years ago. This one didn't have the storage compartment in the back or any bungees. But, bang for the buck, best kayak I ever bought. I have been out a kilometer on Lake Huron with 2 foot chop steel lining for lake trout in this old version of the Swifty with a skirt and knees tucked under cockpit sides so I could roll it if necessary. Thing was stable. Dragged it around so much we wore a hole in it- I welded it up and it's still going. Leave it out locked to a tree at a lake near us year round- under 2-3 feet of snow in the winter with temps down to -30 to -40 F at times. It's my wife's go to kayak because it is simple and light and easy to throw around. Doesn't look like the one you reviewed. Anyways, that's my two cents. Great video that actually tries to get people into paddling!

Alright that's it! I decided I'm getting a pick up truck, kayaks & fishing rods for this summer 2021! F covid-19 i'll just distance and have fun on lakes 😎 Thanks for inspiring me lol

Love your passion! Educating myself before getting into the sport and I’m really enjoying your very informative videos. Keep doing what you’re doing!

Thanks so much for the honest review. As a 67 year old retired firefighter who wants to get into kayaking, I learned a ton!

After watching this video I finally made the decision to purchase the Mustang and did so Sunday! Thanks for the share.