Kayaks for Sale Near Me: Finding the best kayak takes research, time, and money. I enjoy the best features on the highest-quality kayaks by finding the best kayaks for sale near me.
And, in this guide, you will learn the best tips for finding great-quality kayaks at unbelievable prices in stores near you. I will also share online stores where you can buy a kayak and get hassle-free, fast delivery.
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When you are new to the world of kayaking, the first thing that you want to do is to buy the best kayak for yourself. But often, we get stuck because we don’t know where to start. We will spend hours Googling for the best kayaks and once we have some options, we don’t know which store is the best one to purchase that kayak.
Then comes the search for the best features, best prices, and great customer services.
It can get very confusing. I don’t want you to spend a hundred hours searching, ‘kayaks on sale near me.’ We’ve done that all for you!
In addition, I will also talk about how to decide which kayak is the best one for you. I have outlined a list of the 4 most important factors that you must consider before investing in a kayak for sale.
Let’s dive straight into kayaks!
How to Pick the Best Kayak Retailers?
Before we get to the list of the best places to buy kayaks for sale near me, let us spill all our secrets as to how we picked out the best retailers. We have a long list of criteria to pass before a retailer qualifies for our list. Here a few of the most essential factors.
- Quality Of the Kayak
It goes without saying that we must consider the quality of kayaks before anything else. What are the retailer’s quality standards?
Many kayak sellers sell ‘factory seconds’ at much lower prices. While the lower prices are a massive enticement, it is crucial to not forget the quality. You must be careful that you are not getting a defective product for your money.
- Selection
There are many different types of kayaks in the market. And the story doesn’t end at the types. There are many different types of kayaks. (Yes!)
Once you have narrowed down your choice to a specific type, you would want to know which retailers have that. For example, if you are buying a sit-in kayak, you would want that the retailer has at least a few different options of sit-in kayaks to choose from.
- Price
Our third factor is, of course, price. Kayaks can be very expensive, especially if you are looking for a specialized product. Of course, we must pay a good price for good quality. But, we should be paying the right price.
As mentioned earlier, some retailers send cheap factory seconds and lure you in with lower prices.
- Return Policy
Last but not least, make sure that you go through the retailer’s return policy. This is one of the most important (and obvious steps) but people still tend to forget it. And, this is especially important if you are purchasing your kayak online.
Kayaks are expensive items and they can be quite expensive to ship also. So, you must know that the store that you are purchasing your kayak from offers the best return policy. Most stores have a good return policy of about a month at the least. However, the best retailers, like Walmart, will give you 90-day returns as well.
Now that we have indulged our secrets of choosing the best stores or retailers for purchasing kayaks, let’s talk about each retailer in detail.
Kayaks For Sale Near Me- 8 Stores You Should Never Miss
Amazon
We cannot complete any buying online list without mentioning Amazon, the world’s biggest online retailer. If you want to buy kayaks for sale near me, Amazon is your best bet hands down. With their huge selection of kayaks and amazing prices, you can find any type of kayak you want. From recreational t whitewater kayaks, they have everything. And, not just that, they are also hosting a broad range of brands that you can choose from.
You can also avail of free shipping if you have Amazon Prime. As far as their return policy is concerned, you can return the kayaks up to 30 days of initial purchase. Also, keep in mind that you will pay for the shipping unless Amazon is at fault.
Another amazing thing about Amazon is their prices. If you didn’t know already, Amazon offers some amazing prices, that are lower than most other retailers. So, make sure that you check up the price on Amazon before you purchase your kayak.
REI
The first one on our list is REI, one of the most popular outdoor stores all across the world. REI has a great history ever since its start in 1938. It sells sporting goods of many different kinds.
REI has an amazing return policy. You can return all products within an entire year of purchase. Amazing, right?
Also, you can purchase from their walk-in or online store (you can also return the kayaks in the same way). Furthermore, REI has one of the best customer services as well. You can talk to the customer service representatives through online chats, emails, and phone calls. They reply promptly and give you the best service.
There is only one small downside at REI; they don’t offer whitewater kayaks. Apart from that, everyone works amazingly. They also offer free shipping for orders over $49.99. If you want, you can also avail of their free in-store pickup service.
Colorado Kayak Supply
Colorado Kayak Supply is a paddle sport specialty store where you can get kayaks for sale near you. They feature a huge collection with some of the best brands. They don’t just offer online shopping, but you can also go to any of their walk-in stores.
Apart from their wide variety of kayaks, Colorado Kayak Supply is known to never compromise on the quality of their product.
Cabela’s
Next up on our list for the best kayaks for sale near me, we have Cabela’s. If you are a fan of kayaks, you have probably heard of Cabela a lot. They are a huge player in the world of sporting goods.
With their 90-day return policy and excellent customer service, you can choose your favorite kayak at Cabela’s without worrying about anything. They also offer both in-store and online options for purchasing kayaks.
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Dick’s Sporting Goods also features a good collection of kayaks. You will not find some of the specialized categories such as whitewater or touring kayaks. But, they do offer a good match between quality and cost.
If you are shopping for the best kayaks for kids, Dick’s Sporting Goods will be a great option for you.
Sometimes, they might have a slightly higher price than others. But, if you show them a lower price from a competitor, they will surely help you out.
Also, their return policy is great too – you can return the kayaks within 60 days of purchase. And let’s not forget their awesome customer service too. Whether it’s in-store or online, they will make sure that you are served in the best way possible.
Walmart
You might be surprised to find out that Walmart sells a huge variety of fishing kayaks. You can shop for the best kayaks in-store as well as online. Walmart sports a large collection of high-quality kayaks. For example, they offer the best tandem kayaks.
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They also offer the best return policy of 90 days straight. You can also avail of free shipping with Walmart.
However, you must keep in mind Walmart’s sellers. They partner with third-party sellers so make sure that you are buying from a reputed third-party seller.
Get: Outdoors
Get: Outdoors is another retailer that is dedicated to paddle sports. They have a wide variety of options to choose from. You can browse through their selection of kayaks, canoes, and other related accessories too.
Paddling.com
Last but not the least, we have Paddling.com. You can find both new and used kayaks for sale on their website. With a large community of kayak enthusiasts, you will find some of the best variety at Paddling.
They also offer an amazing feature that lets you search for kayaks for sale by the nearest location, price, type, and condition.
Now that you know about the best places to purchase kayaks for sale near yourself, let’s talk about how to actually purchase a kayak. What factors should you consider? How you should decide which kayak is right for you?
Here is a guide to answer all your questions.
Things To Consider When Choosing A Fishing Kayak
Not all fishing kayaks are made equal. When looking for the right kayak, you must consider some essential things. If you choose the right kayak, you will be able to rely on it to maneuver through the water easily, keep stable and secure.
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Let’s talk about each aspect in detail.
Type
There are many different types of kayaks. The first type, the sit-on kayak, is ideal for casual usage, especially when the weather is clear. With its open hull design, it’s quite easy to enjoy a dip in the water. The sit-on kayak is your best choice if you are a novice angler and don’t want to worry about capsizing.
The second type, inflatable kayaks, has just recently grown in popularity. Inflatable kayaks are constructed out of durable and puncture-resistant PVC material. Therefore, these kayaks will withstand any kinds of water and weather conditions. Also, inflatable kayaks come with convenient storage as they are quite easy to inflate. They are also a practical choice for many hikers and campers as the kayak can squeeze into a small bag.
Portability
Once you’ve chosen the right size for yourself, you should also consider the portability of your fishing kayak. A light kayak is best if you want to transport it around a lot. When you are thinking about the portability aspect, consider how you plan to transport your kayak from your home to the lake or river and vice versa.
The portability factor is also important to consider when it comes to storing your kayak. If you want to give your kayak longevity, you must store it away properly. If it is lightweight and reasonably-sized, you will be able to use it comfortably.
Size
We cannot consider the size of the kayak before purchasing one. When it comes to size, always remember that a longer and narrower kayak travels faster. On the other hand, if your kayak is wider and shorter, it will be much more stable in water. Of course, this comes at the cost of speed. So, make sure that you consider both aspects before making the final choice.
If you are going for recreational kayaks that will be used in small lakes, rivers, creeks, and other still waters, you should go for 8-13 feet long kayaks that are easy to maneuver through narrow inlets.
On the other hand, if you are going for touring kayaks that will be used in bigger rivers and lakes where there will be larger water waves, you should go for 14-18 feet long kayaks.
Also, remember to keep in mind the adjustable footrests and length of the kayak according to your weight and height.
Durability
Another crucial factor to keep in mind is the durability of your kayak. Recreational kayaks are usually made from polyethylene plastic that is quite tough and durable. But polyethylene plastic has a downside too; first off, it is quite heavier as compared to fiberglass kayaks. Secondly, polythene plastic can get damaged due to prolonged UV exposure.
A solution for this comes in the form of ABS plastic. This plastic offers greater protection against UV rays and is also lighter. The only downside with this one is that it is much more expensive than polythene plastic.
Now that you know about the different aspects that factor into the durability of a kayak, you can make an informed decision about it.
These are the 4 key factors that you must consider before purchasing your kayak. If you want to learn more about them, you can head to our article on the Top 10 Best Fishing Kayaks Under 1000 for a more detailed read.
Key Takeaway
I hope this will be your go-to guide the next time you wonder ‘how to find kayaks for sale near me.’
Investing in a quality kayak is an expensive decision. When looking for kayaks for sale near me, never compromise quality for money. It is best to wait for sales and discounts rather than to purchase something that won’t be durable.
And, here is the best part. We are stepping very close to Thanksgiving, Christmas, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday Sales. Keep an eye on all the stores that I mentioned in this blog post and wait for the prices to go down.
I am sure you will grab the best deal.
Happy Kayaking!
Updated: July 8, 2021
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