Best 2 Person Kayak [Top 5 + Ultimate Guide For 2022]
Are you a person who loves the company of a friend or a partner when venturing the waters? Well, if you are one of them, this article will give you an idea of the best 2 person kayak, or tandem kayak for a great paddling experience.
Kayaking with a friend or partner will offer you better opportunity to socialize. This is a great way to sharing your water paddling experience together and at the same time, enjoying it. Continue reading on to find which is the best tandem kayaks for you. For those who wants to jump straight to the conclusion, here are our top picks.
Table of Comparison: 5 Best Tandem Kayaks
| Product | Specifications & Features | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
 Vanhunks Voyager Deluxe Kayak | Dimension:144 x 32 x 15 inches Weight:77 lbs Max Capacity:550 lbs | 5.0/5.0 Price: $$$$ More Details |
 Sea Eagle SE370K_P | Dimension:130 x 34 inch Weight:32 lbs Max Capacity:650 lbs | 5.0/5.0 Price: $$ More Details |
 Intex Explorer K2 | Dimension:123 x 36 x 20 inch Weight:31 lbs Max Capacity:400 lbs | 4.5/5.0 Price: $ More Details |
 BIC Sport Borneo Kayak | Dimension:141 x 33 inch Weight:75 lbs Max Capacity:550 lbs | 4.5/5.0 Price: $$$$$ More Details |
 Ocean Kayak Malibu | Dimension:144 x 34 x 20 inch Weight:57 lbs Max Capacity:425 lbs | 4.8/5.0 Price: $$$ More Details |
Best 2 Person Kayaks Reviewed
Generally, tandem kayaks are bigger in size than the solo kayaks. They are exclusively designed to fit two paddling enthusiasts. If you are a couple or siblings who love to paddle, then owning a solid tandem kayak is surely a good option.
However, be aware that different type of kayak is meant to be used for different water condition. So, read along our article to find out what are the differences between each kayak and what to consider before buying your own kayak.
The following are the list of our top five 2-person kayaks to suit your paddling needs and goals.
1. Vanhunks Voyager Deluxe Kayak 12ft - Best for 2 person Fishing
If you are interested in kayak fishing, then there are no better fishing kayaks than the Vanhunks voyager deluxe. It is a very stable and nice tandem kayak to be used on lakes and ponds, hence, great to introduce to anyone new to kayak fishing or kayaking.
It is also very easy to paddle and comes with three seating positions, 2 adults and a child seat. A solo person can also paddle the boat from the center. Most importantly, it comes with 2 free paddles as well.
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2. Sea Eagle SE370 - Best Inflatable Tandem Kayak
If you are looking for an affordable, lightweight, portable and stable inflatable tandem fishing kayak, then the Sea Eagle SE370K is the ideal one for you. Do not get fooled by its size. It is a rugged and highly durable kayak. The max load it can take is about 650 pounds and it is best suited for 2 people.
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The Intex Explorer K2 Kayak is one of the most affordable tandem inflatable kayak that is designed to offer great kayaking for town kayakers. It comes in bright yellow colors and sporty graphics so that the boat is easily visible in the waters from a distance.
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If comfort, larger cargo space, partner kayaking and leisure paddling are what you are looking for, you have check out the BIC Sport Borneo Kayak for your fishing and paddling excursions.
This is a 100% convertible best sit on top tandem kayak that offers great paddling comfort for solo or tandem kayakers. It has a unique and streamlined shape to offer great stability on the waters. The large rear section makes sure that you get enough storage space to keep your gear.
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5. Ocean Kayak Malibu - Best Tandem Sit On Top Kayak
The Ocean Kayak Malibu is a compact, versatile, stable and a perfect tandem kayak for everyone interested in paddling. This kayak can be used as a solo or a double kayak. It also has space large enough to fit a pet or a child.
The design of this kayak is in a multi-hull shape with hard and rigid shell. Lastly, it has back support molded seats and also comes with foot wells in the center.
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Different Types of Kayaks
The yaks or the kayaks are small water boats or crafts designed for one, two or a small family. They need to be moved on the water using a double paddle with the blade on both ends. These Kayaks come with 2 basic cockpit designs: sit inside Kayak and sit on top Kayak. The paddlers are seated within the Kayak in the seat inside Kayak. The sit on top Kayak will not be enclosed and hence getting in and out of the Kayak is very easy.
There is a wide range of Kayaks on sale these days. They are classified depending on the user levels and also the activities. You can buy Kayaks for general water tour, water recreation, fishing, family water trip, etc. You can buy leisure Kayaks to enjoy smooth paddling on the waters.
1. Inflatable Kayaks
These inflatable kayaks are all the best for anyone looking to get into the water without needing to worry about kayak transportation. These Kayaks can be inflated by filling in the air and can be easily deflated. They can be reduced in size in such a way that they can fit inside your backpack. You do not need to invest in trailers or a roof rack to carry the boat to the waters.
The best tandem kayak takes about 10 minutes to get inflated. These boats cost very less when compared to plastic or hard-shell kayaks. They are ideal for first-time Kayak users who hit the waters occasionally.
2. Fishing Kayaks
These are the Kayaks that are in great demand for the past few years. A good fishing Kayak will have the storage hatches and rod holders in perfect position for fishing. The life vest that needs to be kept at arms distance will be located at the front of the seat.
Professional fishing kayakers need a big storage area to keep their catch cool and fresh. Choosing tandem fishing kayaks with comfortable adjusting seats is ideal if fishing is your main agenda.
Using seats with lumbar support is a must for people venturing into longtime fishing.
3. Tandem Kayaks
Sharing water adventure trips is fun and exciting. This can come true if you venture into the lakes and the rivers or ponds with a tandem Kayak. By using a two person fishing kayak, you can share the paddling with your partner. This means both of you need to put in less effort to move the boat and enjoy each other’s company.
They are little heavier than the solo craft. The best part about the tandem kayaks is that they can fit a smaller third person like a child or your pet. This makes it a great boat for socializing.
However, it can be quite challenging to bring your child or pet along especially if it is your fist time. Make sure you are familiar with the tips on kayaking with your kids or pet before trying this out.
Your kid may want to try solo kayaking instead of being in the same boat with you. If that is the case, we have compiled a list of great kayak for kids. Do check out this article.
4. Recreational Kayaks
These kayaks are also in great demand as everyone loves a water excursion or a recreation. These are the perfect boats to use on slow rivers, calm seas and flatter waters. They are designed for paddlers who love to paddle away from the shore or to enjoy the swim in the middle of the water.
They are versatile and choosing sturdy and well-built kayaks will serve your recreational purposes for a long time. The inflatable kayaks are the best when it comes to water recreation. They are very easy to fold and carry around in small bags. Check out this article if you are interested in folding kayaks.
What Is Good About Tandem Kayak?
Buying a solid tandem kayak is the best option for paddlers who like to have fun in a safe way. Selecting a right double kayak can make your expedition enjoyable.
You will be able to share the joy of the kayaking experience when you have company. When you want to take a family member or friend along with you to the waters double kayaks are the best choice.
You can rent or purchase the kayak of your choice from rental services in your area. Here are some of the advantages of using tandem kayaks.
1) Makes paddling enjoyable
Paddling doubles is easy and enjoyable compared to single kayak. In touring double kayak, there is a center hatch with seat or for gear. This gives the paddlers enough room to paddle at a different pace and trying out new paddling techniques.
2) Offers better stability and speed
Double kayaks are wider than single kayaks and hence offer better stability and speed. This type is highly suitable for novice paddlers and rough waters.
3) Better bonding with a partner
When you are paddling with a partner, you learn to work as a team. This is will help you to enjoy each other’s company better.
4) Cheaper option for fun
Buying two separate single kayaks are costlier than buying a single tandem kayak. You can this for tandem or solo paddling.
5) Safer way to paddle for novices
Any novice can go for paddling with an expert paddler in tandem. When two are there, it is easy to get some assistance during emergency.
6) Good option for paddling with family
Family paddling can be made easy and safe with double kayak. Double kayaks have space to fit parents and one or two children.
7) Offers better storage space
This type of kayak comes with designs which allow you to carry the items needed for a camping trip or for expeditions.
You can look for a tandem kayak for sale from online sites to purchase the ideal boat.
Buying Guides
There are many choices available when you look to purchase tandem kayak for your paddling needs. There are kayaks with specialized designs for specific applications. The right kayak for each person depends on water types, the number and weight of people and purpose. To find the right kayak for your needs you need to consider certain facts. Here are the factors and ideas to consider when you are trying to purchase the kayak.
1. Kayaking option
Kayaking in lake, river, or seacoast has different requirements and deciding on the location for kayaking will help in understanding your choice. You also need to consider how long you will be traveling on your boat. Do you need to carry camping gears in your boat?
There are double kayaks for general recreation purpose which can be used in slow-moving waters. Kayaks for touring and cruising purposes come with storage space to hold various gears. Tandem fishing kayaks comes with fish finder, bait wells, rod holders, etc. If you are into kayak fishing, do read our article on how to kayak fish efficiently.
Some kayaks also have a slightly different internal frame for females who are interested in kayaking. If you are looking for one, this article will greatly help you in your search.
2. Type of kayak
You need to know whether you need a sit-inside kayak or sit-on-top kayak. If you are kayaking in warm weather, sit –on–top kayaks are the better choice as they are heavier and wider. However, they are slower in speed when compared to the sit-in-type.
If you are paddling in colder waters using sit-inside kayak boats will be better. This type offers protection to lower body and offers better stability. This type is more suitable for rougher conditions.
3. Material, weight, and price
If you need to carry around your kayak, select kayaks made of lighter material. This will help in easy transportation. Though the best lightweight kayaks are costly, they offer weight carrying capacity and better speed. You can select from polyethylene, ABS plastic or composite material. Polyethylene kayaks are heavy and are inexpensive compared to other two. They need to be stored in a protected area as the UV rays can degrade the material.
ABS is more durable and lighter in weight than polyethylene. Fiberglass and carbon fiber boats offer the best performance and are most expensive.
Check out our reviews on the best kayak roof rack where we will be covering 5 of our favourite roof racks in the market today. This will surely make you transport your kayak with ease.
4. Shape of the kayak
The kayaks are offered in a wide range of dimensions. They are also offered in different shapes. It is very important for you to choose the shape of the boat depending on the need and the purpose of the kayak.
The hull shape is very detrimental in deciding the stability, maneuverability and the speed of the particular kayak. The hulls with flat bottoms are best suited for recreational purposes. The rounded hull kayaks are less stable than the V-shaped kayaks. But, they will offer you great speed while paddling and are ideal as touring kayaks. The V-shaped hulls are the fastest of the lot. They can be easily turned.
5. Have a budget in mind
The best tandem kayaks cost more comparing to single kayaks. You will find them to be available from a price range of $400 to $1500. It is important that you choose the correct one depending on your need and functionality. It is better to spend on models that are offered for $500 so that it comes to quality build and decent features.
The beginners can invest in $500 boats. This is the lowest you can spend on a durable and decent features carry kayaks. They can offer you years of paddling and enjoyment. These boats might not be suitable for hauling a lot of camping gear and also might not have longer pedals.
An average paddler who needs some storage space and decent seating and construction of the kayaks can invest in $750 tandem boat. These kayaks will have durable and efficient hull design with good seating solutions and leg room. They all have enough space to store your picnic and camping items.
If you are an expert kayaker and love paddling, then investing in kayaks that are over thousand dollars is an ideal option. These will be full-length boats with sleek and sturdy construction and design.
The best tandem kayak will come with all the features needed for the advanced kayakers. The most expensive kayak of course is the pedal type kayaks. Learn more about them if you also like the idea of using your legs to kayak away.
6. Knowing your ability levels
Apart from knowing the budget, it is also vital that you need to have an assessment about your ability levels. You should think about the purpose why you are going to buy the Kayak.
A short kayak about 10 to 12 feet long is an ideal option for novice paddlers. They will be wise to offer better stability. An average kayaking enthusiast can invest in 12 to 14 foot boat.
The experts in kayaking can invest in boats that are 14 to 16 feet long. These boats will have hull and keel designs. They are the best for strong paddlers and for pelican tandem kayak experts.
7. Other things to consider
The kayaking boats come with different specifications. The weight capacity, the length, depth, width rudders and skegs are the other factors to be considered while selecting the kayak. Storage space is also an important factor you should not neglect. Getting a large sized kayak but not having enough sufficient space to store them later on is going to be very problematic.
Weight capacity is the total load the boat can carry. Boats with more length offer better storage space. Though deep hulls offer better leg space they can become unstable in windy conditions. The width of the hull improves stability but narrow hulls help in faster movement. Rudders and Skegs help in moving straight, even during windy conditions.
You can find a recreational kayak or the best tandem kayaks for fishing from reliable online stores. Go for kayaks with ergonomically designed seats and comfortable cockpit size.
Frequently Asked Questions
1.Can 1 person use a 2 person kayak?
Yes they can, but it will be more complicated and difficult to move it on the water and control it.
2.How much does a tandem kayak weigh?
Most of these models have a total weight of 60 pounds and they are 80% heavier than kayaks designed for a single user.
3.What's a tandem kayak?
A tandem kayak is a larger kayak designed for use of two people or tandem. Some of them are designed specifically for competitions.
4.Is a single or double kayak easier?
A single kayak is lighter, smaller and easier to use. The weight is a massive difference and single kayaks are suitable for beginners.
FINAL VERDICT
Vibe Kayaks Skipjack 120T
After going through all the best tandem kayaks review and the pros and cons of different kayaks, it is clear for us that the Vibe Kayaks Skipjack 120T is the best 2 person kayak that meets both the need of a novice and experienced fishing enthusiasts.
This is a highly recommended product for those looking to enjoy paddling with friends or partner and to explore the lakes, rivers or ponds. It can also accomodate up to 500 pounds of weight, perfect for a small family of 2 and a child.
We rate this superb tandem kayak 5 out of 5 stars. It offers great fun and family time. There is no need to worry about balancing, paddling, and stability when using this kayak.
