<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWith a massive, 17-foot keel, the Cadence is the longest of the Northwest Kayaks singles<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis combined with the sleek narrow profile makes it a swift-moving kayak<\/strong>, especially in the hands of an experienced paddler.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBut my favorite part of the Cadence is the well-defined hard chines that give it premier primary and secondary stability<\/strong> in all sorts of weather conditions that paddlers of any experience level will appreciate.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDespite the narrow hull, the cockpit is wide enough to accommodate a range of paddlers and once inside, it\u2019s a spacious boat with plenty of legroom<\/strong> with room leftover for a foot-pedal-controlled rudder.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTwo cavernous watertight hatches and three deck bungees give you plenty of dry and open-air storage space for longer trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nGreat stability in all water conditions<\/li>\n\n\n\n The fiberglass hull is lighter but more susceptible to damage<\/li>\n\n\n\n Comfortable, adjustable seatback<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nHow to Choose the Best Touring Kayak for You<\/h2>\n\n\n\nComfort, Speed, & Tracking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n When you plan on being in your kayak for several days and covering a lot of ground, comfort, speed, and tracking will play a huge role in your safety and how enjoyable your trip will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most touring kayaks have padded adjustable seats<\/strong>. Nevertheless, I\u2019d recommend sitting in your kayak before purchasing<\/strong> if at all possible. Select a kayak with an adjustable seat back <\/strong>and easy-to-adjust foot pedals. Preferably you\u2019ll be able to adjust the foot pedals <\/strong>while on the water.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nThigh braces<\/strong> are great additions if your body type can accommodate them as they allow you to brace against the boat which improves both stability and your paddling efficiency<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s tough to gauge what a kayak\u2019s top speed is as there are so many variables from the paddler\u2019s strength to the condition of the weather and tide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A general rule of thumb is the longer a kayak\u2019s keel, the faster its average speed<\/strong> will be. The shape of the bow and keel can also play a big role. The more V-shaped the bow and keel, the more efficient the boat will paddle. Estimate that your average paddling pace in calm, neutral conditions will be between two and three miles an hour<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMany touring kayaks are outfitted with rudders<\/strong> that are included with your purchase. If this isn\u2019t the case and you plan on paddling large distances or will be in windy or tidally influenced areas, make sure that your boat can be outfitted with a rudder<\/strong>. This will help you steer through most water conditions and keep you on a straight course instead of zig-zagging with each paddle stroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\nInflatable or Hard-Sided sea touring kayaks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe large majority of touring kayaks are hard-sided<\/strong>. Plastic is still the primary hull material and is favored for its durability, although plastic hulled boats can be heavy, especially longer singles or tandems. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFiberglass, Kevlar, and marine-grade plywood compose the high-end touring boats<\/strong>. Lighter and easier to maneuver and handle, these boats are susceptible to damage<\/strong> on rocks and should be treated with the utmost caution. Even the most cautious paddlers will need to do routine maintenance<\/strong> that can require a technical hand to ensure the lifetime of these materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\nInflatable kayaks <\/strong>need to be treated gently too, though their fabric is tougher than you think and multiple air tubes <\/strong>provide redundancy in case one gets punctured. There are very few inflatable kayaks outside of the Advanced Elements Advanced Frame that I\u2019d trust for multi-day trips, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEven well-made inflatables lack the rigidity, speed, and storage capacity<\/strong> to make them worth bringing on such a trip as they won\u2019t hold the gear you need and it will take you forever to get anywhere.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nInstead, save the inflatable for day trips in more recreational environments where the goal is more to have fun than to try to cover any serious ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tandem or Single touring kayak<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTouring tandems are longer than others in the categor<\/strong>y to provide storage space and additional speed. This can make them feel sluggish and unwieldy to paddle any serious distance by yourself<\/strong>. I\u2019ve had to move a tandem on my own before, and anything further than a few hundred yards is a trial in patience. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re unsure if you and your paddling partner want a double or two singles, I\u2019d recommend going with two singles. This gives you the flexibility to go out on your own if you want and two singles tend to have more storage space than a tandem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Transporting two singles can be more challenging than a tandem and a double kayak can outpace two singles in most scenarios thanks to its longer hull and having two paddlers aboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Skeg & Rudder<\/h3>\n\n\n\n A necessity for any multi-day trip<\/strong>. Steering and maintaining your course using just your paddle is challenging and requires plenty of practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEven if you\u2019re an experienced paddler able to perform a litany of paddle-based turns, it\u2019s good to have a rudder available in case the weather turns or you tire<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStorage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n No touring kayaks would be complete without some mammoth watertight storage space<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn most cases, this is two hatches located in the bow and the stern<\/strong>. It\u2019s amazing how fast this space can fill up once you start to cram in your camping gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTo increase load capacity, deck bungees<\/strong> are stretched across the deck in front of and behind the cockpit to secure waterproof gear and dry bags.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCheck the volume of dry storage space for your prospective kayak and test pack your boat before heading out to make sure everything fits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Extra Features<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While some recreational or entry-level boats come with included goodies like a paddle or two, most touring kayaks already assume you have the basic kayaking necessities<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor touring kayaks, look to see if a rudder or tracking skeg is included, and if not, if it\u2019s rudder compatible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A deck compass<\/strong> is a common add-on for touring kayaks which entails installing a compass directly into the hull, usually near the bow so that it\u2019s visible from the cockpit. <\/p>\n\n\n\nbest touring kayak – Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Since touring kayaks represent some of the most high-end kayaks with a high-performance level, selecting my favorite in this category was challenging, and several noteworthy boats just missed the cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Northwest Kayaks is my favorite brand, and I\u2019m comfortable giving their long keeled single my top honor. The Cadence<\/strong> is fast, stable, and has a ton of storage space. It fits my taller frame like a glove and gives me the confidence to challenge choppy and heavy tidal areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Delta 14\u2019s <\/strong>lightweight design is another noteworthy vessel. I love how light and easy it is to move from the car to the water, making it a great boat for those that need to go from the home to the water on their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat do you think of our list? What\u2019d we miss and what\u2019s your favorite? Let us know in the comments below. <\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Capable of carrying large quantities of gear and able to cover large bodies of water with ease, touring kayaks are the albatrosses of the kayaking world. These swift, fleet of foot vessels boast excellent tracking with the stability to explore some of the world\u2019s most challenging waterways. But what is the best touring kayak? In […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1938,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"6 Best Touring Kayaks (%%currentyear%%) \u2013 Go Far W\/O Breaking the Bank","_seopress_titles_desc":"Avoid getting RIPPED OFF. These best touring kayaks are TRIED AND TESTED and will guarantee you get more than your money\u2019s worth... for years!","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2331"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2331"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2331\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5719,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2331\/revisions\/5719"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1938"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}