5 Best Kayaks for Preppers

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A proper prepping strategy incorporates many contingencies. Chief among these are contingencies for mobility at a moment’s notice under a variety of conditions. Kayaks provide an excellent way to navigate waterways or flooded areas, but what are the best kayaks from a prepping perspective?

The best kayak for preppers is the Vibe Skipjack 120T Kayak. This is maneuverable, stable, and can accommodate three people. With a capacity to carry a large load in waterproof cargo hatches, it can cover a wide range of emergency and survival contingencies.

If you are searching for the best kayak for your exit and mobility strategy during a time of chaos or simply want to develop a better understanding of what makes for a good kayak for preppers, read on. This article will provide a list of the five best kayaks for preppers and information regarding what makes each kayak a sound survival asset.

Vibe Skipjack 90 Kayak

The Vibe Skipjack 90 brings together the key features that are essential in a survival kayak. It is lightweight, stable, easy to maneuver, and it has a large load capacity for its size.

Technically, the Vibe Skipjack 90 is a sit-on-top fishing kayak. This is reflected in many of its features, such as its four fishing rod holders, a comfortable backrest and cushion, foot braces, and sturdy, molded grip handles.

The Vibe Skipjack 90 has a total load capacity of 300 lbs (136.4 kgs) and comes with two storage areas in the front and rear. The cargo hatches are waterproof, so this makes them well suited to carry sensitive gear and equipment. The hatches can also be used to carry supplies such as fresh water and food.

The Vibe Skipjack 90 has a small profile. It is only 9 feet (2.74 meters) long and weighs 42 pounds (19.1 kgs). This means that it can be easily accommodated on a car’s roof rack or even be carried inside a larger SUV.

Being light in weight, it can also be carried by one person—albeit for short distances—overland. This is beneficial when you are scouting different areas and you need to move across land to bridge two or more different waterways.

Despite its small profile, the Vibe Skipjack 90 is very robust. It can be used to navigate lakes and rivers as well as ocean surf.

Whether you use the Skipjack 90 on waterways to scout, forage, or travel from point A to point B, you will find that its single-piece leak-proof construction and built-in buoyancy give it a level of stability that you don’t often find in a small kayak.

The Vibe Skipjack 90 remains stable even when you’re navigating waterways with strong currents. It is a kayak that you could use in saltwater oceans if needed. However, this use would be best left to hugging the coast and not venturing into the deep ocean.

The kayak also comes with a universal mount. It is primarily intended for mounting a fish finder, but it can easily be adapted to mount any other device with a rectangular profile. This makes it ideal as a mount for a mobile GPS unit.

Specs

Accommodates one person
Length of 9 feet (2.74 meters)
Width of 32 inches (81.3 cm)
Total weight of 42 pounds (19.1 kgs)
Load capacity of 300 pounds (136.4 kgs)
Equipped with waterproof cargo hatches
Front and rear storage area
Ergonomic seat and backrest
Single-piece construction with built-in buoyancy

Verdict: The Vibe Skipjack 90 is the best kayak for single-person use that provides stability and maneuverability in the water along with ample space to carry supplies or equipment.

Vibe Skipjack 120T Kayak

The same company manufactures the Vibe Skipjack 120T Kayak as the Skipjack 90. That means that it shares the same robust build quality. However, unlike the Skipjack 90, the Skipjack 120T kayak is much larger. It is 12 feet (3.7 meters) in length, and it can accommodate up to three people.

Being larger, it has a weight capacity of 500 pounds (227.3 kgs). The 120T also comes with waterproof storage hatches. When only one person is on the kayak, this will leave over 300 pounds (136.4 kgs) of capacity that can be used to transport supplies and equipment.

While not as practical for water foraging or scouting as a smaller kayak, the 120T demonstrates its worth by providing you with a method of leaving an endangered area—such as a flood zone—in a hurry. You can carry a large contingent of supplies or relocate three people out of harm’s way with ease using the Vibe Skipjack 120T.

In terms of maneuverability, the Skipjack 120T can be maneuvered just as easily by one person as by two. When it comes to speed and tracking, when multiple people are on board, it is recommended that both paddle.

When on land, it can be moved easily by two people. One person can move it on land with the assistance of a kayak dolly. If faster repositioning on land is required, the four molded handles that are a part of the kayak’s single-piece construction make it possible so that three or four people can quickly tote the kayak by land to a different waterway.

Specs

Capacity for 3 people
Length of 12 feet (3.7 meters)
Width of 35 inches (88.9 cm)
Total weight of 72 pounds (32.7 kgs)
Carrying capacity of 500 pounds (227.3 kgs)
Constructed out of a single piece of polyethylene

Verdict: The Vibe Skipjack 120T Kayak is the best prepping kayak that accommodates up to three people and still provides maneuverability and space for supplies and equipment. Due to this range of attributes, it is also considered the best general-purpose kayak for prepping purposes.

Advanced Elements StraitEdge 1 Inflatable Kayak

An essential capability that you want to have with your equipment when prepping is portability. This is what makes inflatable kayaks so attractive.

Of course, you don’t want to sacrifice ruggedness and durability simply for the sake of portability. The Advanced Elements StraitEdge 1 Inflatable Kayak brings you the benefits of portability without sacrificing a highly resistant watercraft’s reliability.

The Advanced Elements inflatable kayak is constructed out of heavy-duty tarpaulin material. This makes it very resistant to punctures.

Unlike hard-shell kayaks, the Advanced Elements inflatable kayak can be carried in a duffle bag. You do not have to worry about securing it to your vehicle’s roof rack or sacrificing valuable storage space in your bug-out vehicle. This kayak, when deflated, can fit in the trunk of a subcompact automobile.

Another characteristic that makes the Advanced Elements inflatable kayak well suited as a prepper’s kayak is its ability to be used in all types of water conditions. It is designed to be self-bailing when you encounter rough waters. It also allows you to use it in a closed port modality when you have to navigate colder or rougher water.

The kayak is rated to be used in water as rough as a class-3 whitewater.

The StraitEdge 1 achieves this level of ruggedness due to the material used in its construction. Additionally, its unique rib design for the bow and stern provide it with incredible rigidity. This, in turn, improves tracking and provides you with greater speed and maneuverability.

When the StraitEdge 1 is deflated, it weighs 34 pounds (15.5 kgs). It can fit into a duffle bag and be carried by one person. In terms of allowing you to access otherwise inaccessible waterways, the Advanced Elements inflatable kayak easily beats hard-shell kayaks that are much more cumbersome to transport overland.

The tarpaulin material used in the hull of the kayak consists of an inner layer of polyester material with two outer layers of vinyl. This is what provides the strength necessary to make it very resistant to punctures.

When the time comes to set up the inflatable kayak, all that’s required is to remove it from the duffle bag, unfold it, and inflate it. The kayak can be inflated using a manual air pump or a small portable air compressor.

This type of well constructed and highly resistant inflatable kayak is ideal for those preppers who want to have a maneuverable watercraft on hand without sacrificing too much valuable storage space.

Specs

When inflated, 9 feet 8 inches (294.6 cm) in length and 35 inches (88.9 cm) in width
Accommodates one person
Maximum weight of 300 pounds (136.4 kgs)
Constructed of heavy-duty tarpaulin
Designed with 5 air chambers
Fits in a duffle bag when deflated

Verdict: The Advanced Elements StraitEdge 1 Inflatable Kayak is the best inflatable kayak for rugged use in survival and emergency situations. It provides the portability of an inflatable watercraft with the strength and endurance of many hard-shell kayaks.

Intex Explorer K2 Kayak (on sale now)

Not all prepper strategies incorporating watercraft require expensive kayaks. Sometimes, more budget-minded options would be best.

An inflatable kayak that is well suited to this role is the Intex Explorer K2. In terms of pricing, this inflatable kayak is very affordable. It is usually found for less than $100. This makes it ideal if you want to keep multiple kayaks on hand in different locations.

The fact that the Intex Explorer K2 inflatable kayak is priced at a fraction of other inflatable kayaks does not mean that it is not reliable.

The K2 is designed for two people, and it comes with two paddles. It can carry a total of 400 pounds (181.8 kgs). This means that two people and a fair amount of supplies or equipment can be ferried on the K2.

This kayak is not designed for rough waters or intense scouting and navigation of unfamiliar waterways. However, it is ideal for

Quick evacuations during floods
Crossing waterways without bridges
Navigating calm rivers, lakes, and ponds

In other words, the K2 is perfect when your prepping strategy requires an ancillary watercraft. It can even be used as a backup to a more expensive kayak.

The fact that the K2 is very affordable does not mean that its build quality is inferior. It is made out of a heavy-duty vinyl that is puncture-resistant. The body of the kayak consists of three individual air chambers. The floor is constructed out of an I-beam design to provide a decent level of rigidity.

Specs

Accommodates two people
Constructed with three air chambers
Load capacity of 400 pounds (181.4 kgs)
Weighs 30.6 pounds (13.9 kgs)
Includes an air pump, storage duffle bag, and repair patch kit
10 feet (3 meters) in length when inflated

Verdict: The Intex Explorer K2 Kayak is the best inflatable kayak for prepping in terms of affordability. What it lacks in ruggedness, it makes up for in diversity of applications.

Pelican Argo 100XR Kayak

If you are searching for a kayak that will provide you with the fastest water tracking speed with the least amount of paddling exertion, the Pelican Argo 100 XR kayak is an excellent option.

There may be situations when your survival requires you to move quickly from one point to another using a waterway. This could be due to a specific danger that needs to be avoided or simply because you need to cover a long distance for other logistical reasons.

For situations such as those, you want a kayak that makes efficient use of your paddling power. That way, you’ll be able to maximize your water tracking speed while also sustaining your stamina.

The Argo 100 XR is designed with a twin-arched multi-chine hull. This allows the kayak to achieve great tracking speeds while also being extremely maneuverable.

When you take into account that the 100XR is also very light—weighing in at 42 pounds (19.05 kgs)—you can see how speedy this kayak can be.

The secret to the lightweight of the 100XR has to do with Pelican’s proprietary RAM-X material. This technology uses multiple layers of polyethylene covered with a resin for increased rigidity to create a very strong and very lightweight hull.

Being this lightweight, the Argo 100 XR not only performs better on the water, but it also makes it a lot easier to carry the kayak when you are on land. This can be a lifesaver if you are a one-person team.

The 100XR has a maximum weight capacity of 300 pounds (136.4 kgs). Since it is designed for one person, this provides you with a weight margin to carry supplies and equipment when needed.

If your survival plans only involve yourself, the Argo 100XR makes for an excellent prepping kayak.

Specs

Length of 10 feet (3 meters)
Weighs 42 pounds (19.05 kgs)
Maximum load capacity of 300 pounds (136.4 kgs)
Ergonomic carrying handles
Twin-arched multi-chine hull
Accommodates one person
The hydrodynamic design allows for fast water tracking speed with reduced paddling effort

Verdict: The Pelican Argo 100XR Kayak is the best prepping and survival kayak for those interested in having a speedy watercraft that does not burn out the paddler’s stamina too quickly. Ideal when you need to bug-out fast using a waterway.

Determining the Best Kayak for You

The kayaks listed above were all gauged based on different use case scenarios.

When considering what kayak is best for your prepping strategy, you need to consider what role you want the kayak to play. For example, from the list above, all five kayaks were determined to be best for different reasons. What use case scenarios do you anticipate for your kayak?

Will you be using it as a bug-out boat?
Do you plan to keep it solely in the event of a flood in your area?
Will you be relying on it as a mode of transport in a moment of chaos?
Do you intend to use it to scout and reconnoiter?
Will you use it as a fishing platform for food?
Will you use it to transport supplies?

Once you have gathered a picture of the use case scenarios in which you would be likely to benefit from a kayak, you then need to determine the top requirements for a kayak under those circumstances.

Ruggedness and durability
Portability
Speed
Affordability
Load capacity
Comfort
Number of people it can carry
Maneuverability
Weight

You would then be ready to prioritize the characteristics based on importance for fulfilling the use case scenarios that you have anticipated.

By following this analytical process, you will be able to focus on the attributes that have the greatest bearing on your anticipated use cases for kayaks. This will allow you to gauge for yourself what kayak is best for you.

Conclusion

In the broadest sense, the Vibe Skipjack 120T kayak can be called the best kayak from a prepping perspective. Click here to see the latest pricing on Amazon for the Vibe Skipjack 120T.

However, different people will have different prepping strategies. As a result, use cases for kayaks will vary. What’s best for one person may not be best for another. This is why it is also important to know what to look for in a kayak to determine what is best for you.