@MightyGirl edited a video of us testing the Pakayaks off Coronado Island in San Diego. This video shows some great footage of how the Pakayaks perform in the water.

5 months later

I am new to kayaking and searching for a stable first kayak to paddle around lakes and calm rivers. Would you say Pakayak is too much and unstable for an inexperience paddler? My biggest concern is self rescue. I don't know how I don't think I can if kayak flips over. I am comparing Pakayak with Point 65.

    mkcast First off, welcome to Ten Digit Grid!

    mkcast I am comparing Pakayak with Point 65.

    I am not super familiar with a Point 65, but a quick Google search and it looks like a sit on top kayak. The sit on top kayak is going to be much more stable than any sit in kayak like the Pakayak.

    mkcast My biggest concern is self rescue.

    What concerns do you have? Not being able to get back in? With the Pakayak I Really like the cowboy method which is where you grab the kayak from the back and straddle the thinnest part and slowly pull yourself up. Works really well for me.

    With picking a kayak out it really depends on what kind of adventures you would want to do. Kayaks are expensive and I believe the Pakayak is a great all around kayak that is easy to transport and store for those with small apartments and small cars. I have taken the Pakayak in calm reservoirs, and the ocean and it has performed great.

    No matter what kayak you do get, if you pick one up I highly recommend lessons. Here in San Diego where I live there is a great group that does free kayak skills training on the weekends and it fantastic training!

          2 months later
          4 months later

          I am interested in getting a Pakayak. I am not an experienced kayaker but have more canoe experience. I am in northern Florida will not be using it in the ocean but on the rivers. I am retired but ran marathons, bike 25 miles twice a week, play tennis 3 times a week and golf a couple of times. I have a SUP. Consider myself reasonably fit and athletic. I am female and petite 5' 4" and a small frame. I have read some reviews where they say it is a kayak for an experienced kayaker and it is a little tippy. I would be on the rivers in Florida which might have gators which I have not seen but I am sure they are around. Means if at all possible I do not want to have a kayak that is not stable and I would land up in the river regularly. Any insight would be really helpful. Thanks

            First off welcome to Ten Digit Grid!

            DJF I have read some reviews where they say it is a kayak for an experienced kayaker and it is a little tippy.

            As for the tippiness I dont think its very tippy, I never rolled out accidently. Tippiness is tricky though and all relative in my opinion based on all of our different experiences on the water. Before we purchased our Pakayaks, I have kayaked on sit on top kayaks, and inflatable kayaks before buying an Oru Kayak that I ended up returning and then getting a Pakayak.

            I mention all that because it looks like you have at least canoed and have a SUP so you are no beginner to being on the water and probably have a good baseline of balance on the water. I would think people who think the Pakayak os more tipy have probably only used sit on top kayaks or dont have much experience on the water.

            Hope this helps even though it wasn't probably as clear cut of an answers as you were looking for 😉

            If you have any other questions feel free to ask!

              2 months later

              Nice review. Are you still liking the Pakayak? Any issues? Initially I was leaning towards the Oru but your review has me now considering the Pakayak. I've never owned a kayak (storage issues) but I've rented quite a few times. I imagine most of my kayaking will take place in the reservoir near me (calm flat water), but I'm not far from the Cheasapeake Bay (I live in the DC/Baltimore area) and the beach is only a few hours away. Seems like the Pakayak would be the better choice?

                Redrockspooh Are you still liking the Pakayak? Any issues?

                We do still love our Pakayaks. I actually just came in from cleaning them because we were out on our local reservoir this weekend. Took some fun gopro footage as well ;-)

                I actually am prepping to write a new article soon with our one year review, but here are some quick notes. The kayaks have been performing great. You can see on our YouTube Channel we have taken them on a handful of multi-day kayak camping trips and lots of day trips. My only real complaint right now is that the wheels on the bag have rusted and no longer work. And I have a small whole in the bag as well.

                Redrockspooh I imagine most of my kayaking will take place in the reservoir near me (calm flat water), but I'm not far from the Cheasapeake Bay (I live in the DC/Baltimore area) and the beach is only a few hours away. Seems like the Pakayak would be the better choice?

                Honestly the main things to consider with the Pakayak vs Oru arguments are:

                • Weight
                • Hull durability

                The lightweight of the Oru Kayak is really nice. Much easier to handle by myself, especially now that my wheels have rusted shut on the bag. Luckily my wife usually goes kayaking with me so it's no problem, but we also built our own wheels to attach to the bag as well.

                My main worry with the Oru kayak was repetitive landings on rock or hard beaches. I got some decent scratches in my Pakayak and am so thankful that it's a hard durable plastic for those remote beach landings.

                But if you want something lightweight and easy to carry by yourself, then the Oru may be the better option. Let me know if you have any other questions. Either way I think you will enjoy either one!

                p.s I love the Chesapeake bay area! Spent my college days on that water!

                    7 months later

                    I’m trying to decide between the pakayak and the oru bay st. I love the lightness that the oru . My biggest fear of putting a hole through it. My best friends lake house is not sandy at edge but has a lot of rocks . I would consider myself still a beginner and have taken several kayaks out in bays and lakes. Would the pakayak be too much for me to start with. Of course I would take kayak lessons

                      6 days later

                      djland69 Would the pakayak be too much for me to start with

                      The Pakayak is a great starter Kayak, no issue there. The big decision for you between the Bay ST and Pakayak is weight.

                        2 years later

                        Pakayak...

                        Can you tell me how tall you guys are.

                        The front of the cockpit looks really high...

                        Are you happy with the fit ??