Ah, cutting through the water like a ice skate, almost without effort, moving forward with no friction, something you can only experience in a quality sea kayak. You know, paddling around in canoe is fun, but a lot of work, especially when your wife makes you do all the paddling, don't pretend like you don't know what I'm talking about. Anyone who enjoys life on the water and is part muskrat and part adventurer needs to get out on a kayak, it's a must. There are a few different types of kayaks out there, but the sea kayaks are by far my favorite.

What is a sea kayak? Really? Another name for a sea kayak is the touring kayak....think about it in terms of a bike. So you have mountain bikes and you have road bikes, mountain bikes are good for what they do, rough and tough. Then you have the road bike, sleek and fast. This is the sea or touring kayak, quick, light and fast they cut through the water like a road bike shoots down the road. What do you need to know about a sea kayak?

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Sea kayaks are long, probably in-between 12 and and 20 some feet long. They are going to ride low in the water and be skinny, to cut through el aqua better. They will probably have multiple storage spaces in the front and back. They will most likely have some sort of steering mechanism, like rudder, to help navigate and turn in the open water, usually operated with foot pedals inside the cockpit where your feet rest. When it comes to picking a sea kayak you don't want to go cheap, there are a few brands that stick out from the crowd.

Wilderness Systems
This company has been around and has built up a good name for itself, you would be pretty safe to choose a sea kayak from these guys.
Tsunami is the first sea kayak in their lineup, this is for beginners and for people who are just starting out. This kayak has a little bit more stability and speed then the typical kayak, good for a weekend and day outing weekend warrior.

Zephyr is the another one of the choices from Wilderness Systems. This kayak is probably for those of you who are looking for a high performance machine that can handle the weather and maybe a little more hardcore then the average person. If you want everything you need in a true sea kayak, storage, comfort, maneuverability, great tracking, and a sleek design this is for you.

Current Designs
If you are looking for a ton of choices from a brand name that is established, you can't ignore Current Designs. If you have ever rented a kayak at a outdoor store you've probably been sitting in a Current Designs. Great prices and exceptional quality that will hold up and last a long time, you know if the people who rent them pick them out, you will not be disappointed.Heck, if you go to the Current Designs web site and look at Touring sections, you will find a whopping 18 kayaks listed in this section, if you can't find what you're looking for then you need some help.

Caribou, probably one of the most popular sea kayaking systems out there on the market today. This machine can handle a wave as good as any boat, also with a great back support system, one of the best. Trust me, back support when out on the water for a few hours is going to make a huge difference. The Caribou will not disappoint.

Willow, this is for all those who want to start out and get out their for the first time. This is a good kayak for some regular sized lakes that you want to be quick and agile on. You can turn on a dime in this boat which is unusual for a sea or touring kayak. This kayak has a sleek and light design that will cut through the water like nothing else.

Well, to be honest with you I don't think you need to look farther then these two companies. I'm sure there are plenty of companies and short-lines out there that could do the job. I can tell you that Wilderness Systems and Willow are two top quality systems that will give you exactly what you are looking for plus some. I can personally say that sea kayaks are something that you have to try, you will get hooked. There is nothing like cutting through the water on a calm day across the water, there is truly something magical about it. Do you kayak? What kind of kayak do you have or rent? What is the thing you love most about kayaking? Would you spend the money to have your own kayak or just rent one when you want to get out?

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