Where to buy kayaks

However, one disadvantage is that you will be waiting for a longer period before receiving your kayak. This may not work in your favor if you wish to start paddling as soon as possible. There are some specific times of the year that are widely regarded as the best time to buy kayaks. You can potentially save hundreds of dollars on top-quality kayaks if you wait to purchase at a specific time.

Timing your purchase carefully to get a good deal requires you to know beforehand which stores to watch, at what times of the year, and most importantly the type of kayak you need.

You can also research past sales that stores have had to see what kinds of kayak and kayak equipment sales they offer throughout the year. In this case, you may find a kayak sale at one place and a deal on accessories such as paddles and life jackets at another. Shopping during the holiday season is always lucrative, thanks to the many holiday sales at brick and mortar retailers. There are a couple of holidays specifically to watch for deals on.

They are:. Christmas sales generally run the majority of the month of December, as people stock up on presents for the gift-giving holiday. This is a great time to look for sales on kayaks and accessories, as there will likely be opportunities to buy both before and after the holiday itself.

Memorial Day is a major holiday for the outdoor recreation world, as many celebrations of the holiday are held outside and involve outdoor sports. Like Christmas, the sales at this time run for longer than just the actual day of the holiday.

Most Memorial Day sales tend to run for about a week. Labor Day sales are also a good time to buy a kayak. August is the best month for outdoor sales, and with Labor Day only six days into September, these sales line up perfectly for some great deals on kayaks towards the end of August. Like Memorial Day, Labor Day is often a very outdoor-centric holiday. August is the biggest month for outdoor recreation sales. This is partly because it is considered the end of the recreational season for many outdoor activities, especially water sports.

After August, the weather begins to cool down considerably, making outdoor and water-centric activities less appealing to many people. For fanatics of paddling, after August may actually be the best time of the year. All the gear they need suddenly goes on sale, and the waterways are much less crowded as people begin to head inside due to the cold.

Similarly, right before the beginning of the paddling season is another popular time for avid paddlers and paddling sales. This is a good chance to get high-quality kayaks for much less than their original price.

Additionally, many outdoor stores offer pre-season sales on paddling goods to get the ball rolling for the season and bring in new customers. Some stores, such as REI, have multiple storewide sales many times throughout the year. Take note of annual and recurring sales that specific stores offer, as these can offer some of the best deals.

They are intended to bring attention, good reputation, and extra business to the store. While kayaks last for a long time, they still need maintenance from time to time, and gear such as paddles and lifejackets can get worn or damaged and need replacing. Waiting for a specific sale is a great way to stock up on any new equipment or materials for maintenance you may need. Bass Pro Shop is one of the major outdoor retailers in the country. They offer a wide array of outdoor goods and are particularly known for their fishing, hunting, and boating gear.

Bass Pro offers several annual storewide clearances. They even have an annual boating sale event. It was held on January 2nd — April 1st last year, and boating sales for are yet to be announced. Costco is a warehouse-style department store known for its low costs and bulk products.

Buying kayaks from Costco is the choice of many because Costco offers kayaks at already low prices year-round. In a sense, kayaks are always on sale here. Costco still offers various sales and savings events throughout the year, though they may not be kayak-specific sales.

To purchase a kayak from Costco, you have to be a member. Walmart began selling kayaks in the mids in their sporting goods department. Walmart has many major sales events throughout the year, including sales events for the sporting goods department specifically. The store is also likely to have major sales around the holidays, which may be the best time to buy kayaks at Walmart.

Recreational Equipment, Inc. REI is known for offering high-quality outdoor sporting gear and for having a robust paddling department. The biggest storewide clearance that they offer is their Anniversary Sale. This is one of the best opportunities to get a discounted but high-quality kayak.

REI also offers garage sales throughout the year. These garage sales consist of goods that were returned but are in moderate to good condition. They are marked way below the original price, and kayaks are part of this sale sometimes, depending on if the store has had any kayak returns. Unfortunately, garage sales are temporarily suspended due to Covid, but REI has plans of bringing them back. While there are still some differences between the stores, many major sales events are now similar.

When buying a kayak, there are several things to consider. Kayaks come in many different types and designs, with some being made for general use, while others are made for specific environmental conditions.

Before buying a kayak, you should know what type of paddling you intend on doing. Different water conditions have varying difficulty levels, and kayaks are often made to suit certain water types. For instance, longer and thinner kayaks are designed for lake and ocean paddling, while short kayaks are generally made for white water paddling. Recreational kayaks will likely not fair well in rough waters or super windy conditions.

Comparatively, specialty kayaks may work fine on flat water but will be much more expensive. Thus, getting a kayak that fits your needs is essential to getting the most value out of it. As I mentioned, there are general use kayaks and specialty kayaks. Kayaks can generally be divided into two groups:. Each of these can then be further separated into sub-categories. Kayaks can be made specially for the environment and purpose, such as ocean or fishing kayaks.

Kayaks can also be subcategorized as cockpit sit-inside vs. While all white water kayaks are likely to be sit-inside, the other types vary. Sit-inside kayaks are designed so your legs are inside the boat and covered. It has an entry and exit hole around the seat. Choosing one over the other is some personal preference, but each has its highest and best use. There are 5 different types of kayaks you can buy:. There are several ways kayaks are made that use many types of materials. There are 3 primary materials most commonly used to make kayaks:.

Like the kayaks themselves, the additional equipment can vary in design and structure to fit certain environments and conditions. Outdoor gear sales have surged this summer amid the coronavirus pandemic. Along with bikes and water bottles , paddle gear has been in high demand. Namely, kayaks, paddle boards, and canoes. Heck, I've even bought and tried a foldable kayak to make the outdoor activity easier this summer.

If you're looking for a way to enjoy the warm weather, sunshine, and nature while social distancing, these activities are fun, relaxing, and get your body moving. Although it is possible to rent these items in many areas, sales have surged as people have become wary of leasing them. The good news: While inventory is slim, you can still order a kayak, paddle board, and canoe online. Top retailers known for selling outdoor gear like REI, Backcountry, and Walmart still have kayaks, paddle boards, and canoes in stock, but some of these high-quality models tend to be on the more expensive side.