Choosing a kayak

Q. I am looking to buy a kayak but there are so many possibilities. Which one should I pick? Help me!

– Kayakless Cameron, Sandown, N.H.

A. You’re right Cameron, the number of kayaks on the market can be dizzying. Before picking a boat, it’s important to consider where you’ll be paddling.

If you plan to kayak mostly in lakes, slow moving rivers and mellow seas near the beach, then you’ll want a open cockpit boat that’s around 10 to 12 feet long, about 27 to 30 inches wide or so, stable and comfortable to paddle. A good choice would be the new Old Town Vapor 10 XT ($489; oldtowncanoe.com) or a sit-on-top style kayak like the Heritage Redfish 10 ($559; heritagekayaks.com) which is a great choice for fishing too.

If paddling whitewater rivers is your goal then you’ll need a shorter, narrower, more responsive river runner that’s designed to be rolled back up (a.k.a. the “Eskimo roll”) when you flip over in the rapids. One of the coolest new options for kids (who weigh up to 120 lbs.) is the Jackson Side Kick ($799; jacksonkayak.com). It’s 6 feet 7 inches long, about 22 inches wide, and is a stable, predictable kayak—perfect for learning to run whitewater.