The Best Pedal Kayaks of 2024

The Pelican Getaway 110’s design is shockingly similar to that of the Hobie Lynx, and it sells for a third of the price. However, at 65 pounds, the Getaway 110 is 20 pounds heavier than the Lynx, and its weight capacity is 50 pounds less, at 300. The pedals cannot move the kayak in reverse, there is no included paddle, and there’s no easy way to raise and lower the rudder from your seat. Oh, and you also don’t have cupholders or holes for a kayak cart.

But people do love this model as an affordable way to get into pedal kayaking. It’s reasonably priced and has very similar basic functions to some of the higher-end models currently on the market. You’ll sacrifice the little niceties Hobie offers, but their absence won’t keep you from getting out on the water, so the Getaway 110 might be the best budget pedal kayak to start with if you’re not ready to go all-in just yet.

If you see kayaking as more of a team sport, it might be worth the extra money to upsize to a tandem kayak. They’re generally less expensive than buying two single kayaks of similar quality, and, in most cases, it’s easier to transport one tandem than two singles.

Hobie’s Mirage Compass Duo is one such tandem kayak that integrates many of the features we love from other Mirage models: adjustable seats with lumbar support, the kick-up fins and rudder controls protect your MirageDrive from shallow-water damage, pedaling can move the kayak forward or backward, there’s a decent amount of storage, and it has Mirage Sail Kit compatibility.

Though we’re convinced that Hobie takes the crown in the pedal kayak category, we admit we were drooling over the Bote Lono Aero inflatable kayak. You’d be hard pressed to find another kayak that looks quite this cool.

But the Lono Aero is more than a pretty face. It has an impressive feature set as well: it can move forward and backward, the Apex Pedal Drive articulates in and out of the water easily, it has an opening to hold Bote’s Kula cooler behind the seat, there’s an accessory-mounting port on the nose of the boat, and it’s made of four separate air chambers (which is comforting if you’re worried about air leaks).

Speaking of durability, Bote offers a two-year warranty, but we found its fine print didn’t inspire much confidence.

Some items the warranty does not cover:

• Any puncture, cut, or abrasion sustained in normal use or damage from unreasonable uses or improper storage.
• Damage by extreme weather or environmental conditions.
  
• Normal wear and tear and aging of product.
  

These exceptions could leave you high and (not so) dry in most situations where damage and punctures could occur. We haven’t dealt with Bote’s customer service, and it could be that they’re more helpful than these stipulations imply, but it’s always good to know what guarantees you have—or don’t have—when buying an expensive product.

Also note that the Apex pedal drive is sold separately from the kayak itself for nearly $900.

The Pescador (or “fisherman,” in Portuguese) Pilot is a solid, no-frills kayak for fishing (surprise!). It can reverse back out of that sweet little cove you couldn’t quite cast to before, and you can stay hidden with your choice of three different camouflage designs. The kayak angler will appreciate four molded-in rod holders, a fish finder mount, and gear tracks to keep them ready to catch The Big One.

The Pilot Drive propeller system on the Pilot is powered by a pedal system that moves in a bicycling motion (as opposed to the stair-stepper motion of the Hobie pedals), and the kayak has a max weight capacity of 475 pounds. The only other kayak we reviewed that has a weight limit at or above 450 pounds is the tandem Hobie Compass Duo.

Though the Perception Pescador Pilot 12 is the best pedal fishing kayak, it's also much beloved as a recreational pedal kayak for its stability, comfortable seats, and value.

As with the Lono Aero, the pedal drive is sold separately from the Radar 115, so keep that in mind when you see the kayak’s low(ish) price. With the pedal drive, it ends up being one of the most expensive rigs on this list.

Be that as it may, there are some things to love about the Radar 115. If you want some power to back you up when you’re tired, Wilderness Systems makes the Helix MD Motor Drive, which locks into the same spot the Helix MD Pedal Drive does, and it can motor you across the water effortlessly.

The company also makes a Silent Traction Kit that keeps your paddle, poles, fishing gear, and more from making noise when they tap or rub the boat’s hull. The pedal drive is even designed for stealth, with the ability to lock the drive in a zero-draft position without removing it completely.

The Helix Pedal Drive nearly doubles the price of this kayak. For not a whole lot more, you could get our top pick, the Hobie Lynx. But if you want the option of the Helix MD Motor Drive or prefer the Radar 115’s 450-pound capacity to the Lynx’s 350-pound limit, it might be better to go this route and forego Hobie’s cool add-ons.