Best Kayaks for Kids & Youth For 2025

There may be no feeling more fulfilling for a paddler than the opportunity to share the water with the next generation of young paddlers. Tandem kayaks are a great solution for getting young children on the water, but once they’re old enough, most kids will want to pilot their own kayak.

Ensuring kids have a positive experience means getting them a kayak (and paddle) that fits their smaller bodies and is lighter and easier to maneuver. Even small adult kayaks are too wide and deep for most kids to easily reach the water with their paddle. If you want children to have a safe and enjoyable paddling experience, youth kayaks and paddles offer dimensions and designs suitable for kids.