The 7 Best whitewater kayaks (2023 reviews)

We consider a whitewater kayak to be a worthy investment in the long run. We are here to help you choose the right one for your purposes from all the best available products in market today.

Our review process: Show/Hide

Our Top Picks:

Best Overall: Buy: Driftsun whitewater kayak READ REVIEW

Best looking kayak: Buy: Perception kayaks whitewater kayak READ REVIEW

Best for whitewater paddlers of all abilities: Buy: Dagger whitewater kayak READ REVIEW

Best for paddling with a canoe paddle: Buy: Sea Eagle whitewater kayak READ REVIEW

Best for running rapids: Buy: Aquaglide inflatable kayak READ REVIEW

Best for in The boat distance: Buy: Wilderness Systems whitewater kayak READ REVIEW

Best for both smooth water: Buy: Aquaglide whitewater kayak READ REVIEW

Best Overall: Driftsun whitewater kayak

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Here, we present kayak that manages to win our hearts. It's the driftsun whitewater kayak and it's widely considered as one of all-around great kayak you can buy. The Driftsun rover 220 tandem kayak features a front & rear rocker profile, so you can maneuver & navigate through calm or rough water with less tracking. It provides durable protection from punctures. It features 8 self-bailing ports, tie-down points & front action camera mount. The chambers are solid when properly inflated, and it is very stable even on rough water.

It feels very sturdy and solid, so you feel safe to be in the water. The backpack-like bag is quite high quality, too. It provides rigidity, responsiveness and stability over traditional low pressure inflatable kayaks. It is quite stable and has sufficient room for two adult paddlers and the gear necessary for several hours on the water.

• Very maneuverable and just glides through the water
• Very stable, plenty of room for two + equipment
• Heavy duty, fits the yak, paddles, pump, seats
• Well built, easy to inflate and assemble

Best looking kayak: Perception kayaks whitewater kayak

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We would, of course, be remiss if we didn't mention perception kayaks whitewater kayak for regular usage. This is an excellent kayak for calmer waters. It tracks extremely well and the seat is very comfortable. It's great to have a dry storage area that doubles as a bulkhead. It has pre-drilled holes for adding additional attachments such as a fishing rod, a fish finder device, and more. It is secured in case of waves.

It is easy to use, with an awesome amount of storage space. It's wonderful to be able to stow the water bottle either way.

• Convenient drink holder to keep your favorite beverage within reach
• Comfortable, adjustable seat with thick, ventilated padding
• New and hot release

Best for whitewater paddlers of all abilities: Dagger whitewater kayak

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If you often find yourself scrambling for convenient and suitable kayak, dagger whitewater kayak is your end point. The ultimate downriver play boat for paddlers of all abilities, the Rewind over-delivers on what boaters want and need from a modern whitewater kayak. It has a reputation of creating boats that not only define an era but stand the test of time. It has Piercing river running capabilities complemented by an exciting play-ability that allows you to add new tricks to your arsenal.

The all-new Rewind is an instant classic and an award-winner. It's a gorgeous kayak, but plan on spending a few evenings adjusting the seat and the footpads. Compared to RPM it's a lot more comfortable, and has much more volume making it a lot more stable on big water.

• Ratcheting leg-lifter & backband adjustments for added comfort and control
• Roto-molded seat with contour ergo outfitting for ultimate connection to boat
• Ample bow volume and rocker for rapid resurfacing and maintaining speed after drops
• Adjustable, comfortable thigh-braces & bulkhead footbrace with foam padding

Best for paddling with a canoe paddle: Sea Eagle whitewater kayak

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Compared with other kayak in this category, the sea eagle whitewater kayak has a convenient design. It offers not only quality inflatables but many accessories as well. It has design for advanced kayakers. It's ideal for paddling with a canoe paddle or in high winds. Once capsized, the inflatable sides are again super useful in re-boarding, as you can just grab the rail and pull yourself across from the side. The boat is stable even with a lot of water in it. The stability is outstanding for the beam.

Due to lower volume than traditional round inflatables, it's simple and quick to inflate. It's also easy to test on an indoor pool since you can just inflate the thing on the spot.

• Simply awesome design for advanced kayakers
• Performs almost like a rigid kayak
• One of the new comers and featured product

Best for running rapids: Aquaglide inflatable kayak

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Aquaglide offers a variety of kayak for personal choice and yet maintaining quality in all the variants. Named after the difficult-to-tame river, the McKenzie Series is designed as a whitewater recreational hybrid filled with versatile and innovative technical features. It features duratex construction, evobeam technology, and 4 mesh drains for rapid water evacuation. It is designed with the adventurous in mind.

The construction is sturdy, and the self bailing feature is fantastic. It is designed for running rapids, or finding the perfect swell. It is built to last, they're created for rapid water and touring.

• A cross-over kayak designed for running rapids, or finding perfect swell
• Additional features include posi-track fin, velcro seat, halkey-roberts type valve
• New and hot release

Best for in The boat distance: Wilderness Systems whitewater kayak

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The wilderness systems whitewater kayak is satisfactory and appropriate and fits well with your regular usage. Mid-sized paddlers will relish the performance of this award-winning kayak.

• Adjustable trutrak skeg with cockpit control to stay on course in current and wind
• One of the new comers and featured product

Best for both smooth water: Aquaglide whitewater kayak

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Next on the list, we've got yet another kayak that manages to win our hearts. It's the aquaglide whitewater kayak and it's widely considered as one of the best convenient kayak you can buy. This kayak has the latest military valve which is easy to use. It features duratex construction, evobeam technology, and 4 mesh drains for rapid water evacuation. It is designed with the adventurous in mind. It is a whitewater recreational hybrid filled with versatile and innovative technical features. It is built to last, and they're created for rapid waters and touring. It is best to use a pump with a gauge, and the inflation protection valve on the floor is great. This is good so you don't need to fight folding it perfectly. It is designed for running rapids, or finding perfect swell.

• Additional features include posi-track fin, velcro seat, halkey-roberts type valve
• A cross-over kayak designed for running rapids, or finding perfect swell
• Delivers what they promise