Best Crossover Kayaks: Top 6 Multi-Purpose Kayaks (2022)
Want to go kayaking but don't know where to begin? Having a tough time choosing which kayak will suit the kind of kayaking you want to do? Perhaps you're struggling to narrow it down to a single type of kayak. Well, never fear, kayak buds are here to help you discover what a crossover kayak is, which kayak is best for you and what are the best crossover kayaks on the market today!
What is a Crossover Kayak?
A crossover kayak is the best kayak for those who want to ride different kinds of water types. It is a multi-purpose, multi-water straddling kayak.
A crossover kayak can handle pretty much any kind of water. This is possible because of the design taking into account features present in other kayaks such as recreational, whitewater and touring kayaks. For example, they tend to use a drop-down skeg to aid speed and tracking when you're taking on flat waters.
The crossover kayak is perfect in eliminating the expense of buying different types of kayaks for different types of kayaking.
The downside to crossover kayaks is that they tend to be at a disadvantage when tracking in a straight line. This is because the hulls are usually short and flat. However, for the very same reason, the boat is incredibly easy to maneuver.
What are the Benefits of Crossover Kayaks?
The best thing about crossover kayaks is their design. It houses the best parts of the whitewater kayak, making it maneuverable, durable and ready to take on the rapids and the best parts of a sea kayak in the ability to cut through the water without too much trouble going in a straight line.
Who are Crossover Kayaks Best For?
Crossover kayaks are best for people who want to do all sorts of kayaking, those who have had the water body dilemma. If you find yourself wanting to whitewater kayak one day and hit the coast the next, then perhaps the best kayak for you is a crossover! They are also highly recommended for beginners as they allow you to figure out what you like better in a kayak and kayaking style.
How to Choose the Best Crossover Kayak for You?
When sifting through all the best crossover kayaks on the market, there are a few things you will have to consider before purchase. For example, what length do I need? What weight capacity is best? What is a skeg? Do I need one? And what's the best crossover kayak for me personally?
Sometimes the shopping research can be pretty intimidating. However, fortunately, we have cobbled together this buying guide to help you find the best crossover kayaks for you!
Size, Weight and Length
So it'll come as no surprise that the size, weight and length affect the kayak's performance. For example, a short and wide kayak is recommended for beginners. This is because it tends to be more stable and maneuverable as the bottom of the kayak covers more surface area; however, this also makes it slower than a long thin kayak that can easily cut the water.
A short wide kayak is also typical of white water kayaking because of its maneuverability. When you're rushing down rapids, the top priority is to be able to turn quickly and efficiently while it remains as stable as possible to prevent you from capsizing!
The length of crossover kayak tends to fall between the range of whitewater kayak sizes which are short, and sea kayaks which can be as long as 12 feet. The length is in between to enable them to perform well in different types of water.
Your boat's weight and weight capacity are essential to consider when buying a kayak. This is because the weight of your kayak will determine how easy it will be for you to get it to the water and whether you need to consider a kayak trolley if your chosen kayak is too heavy for you to carry alone.
The weight capacity determines how much weight can be in a boat without letting water seep over the edges. When considering weight capacity, you need to think about your own weight being involved in that number. For example, if an average adult male weighs 200 lbs and your boat's weight capacity is 300 lbs, then you know he has 100 lbs of space in his boat for equipment and gear.
Materials
Usually, crossover kayaks can be made using rotomolded polyethylene, which is both durable and flexible. Thus, allowing the kayak to take on some impact from strong water as well as a few knock, bumps and scratches on the way without damage. In addition, they can handle repeated thumps from rocks and stones underwater without breaking.
Comfort
It is one of the biggest priorities for the best crossover kayak to be comfortable. You want your crossover kayaks to offer comfort, support and stability. The best crossovers will offer adjustable fit and grip from the cockpit to suit different types of water, as well as adjustable seating, footrests, thigh plates, and hip pads. If you are a plus-size kayaker, then you'll want the cockpit to be roomy with enough room to stretch your legs.
Skegs/Rudders
What is a skeg? A skeg or rudder is essentially like a fin attached to your boat that aids your kayak to track in a straight line. This helps when you are on choppy water or needing to go fast through calm waters.
Steering and Tracking
Crossovers get a lot of flack being immediately dismissed for using on flat waters as they aren't as fast as the flat water-designed kayaks like touring or recreational kayaks. This is because the design makes it harder to cut through the water and track in a straight line. In order to improve their performance, many come with a peddle steering rudder or a drop-down skeg to improve their speed and their tracking.
Rocker/Waterline
A kayak's waterline is an indication of how much of the boat's hull is in contact with the water below. This shows how fast the crossover kayak will cut through the water. The rocker is the opposite. The rocker measures how much the curve of the underside of the boat curves from the front to the back of the crossover kayak. The more curve there is, the more maneuverable it is.
Our 6 Top Crossover Kayaks
Choosing the top crossover kayak requires a good amount of research from material to features, length to weight capacity. Overall, the most important thing is your crossover kayak is comfortable and the best fit for you. Whether you're a beginner paddler or an expert kayaking guru, we have done the research for you and sifted through all of the kayaking jargon all to make your buying experience as easy as possible.
So, without further ado, here are our top picks for the best crossover kayaks on the market today!
1. Dagger Katana 10.4 Sit in Crossover Kayak
The Dagger Katana 10.4 is 10 foot 4 inches in length, 27.25 inches wide and has a weight capacity of 210 lbs. As crossover kayaks go, the Dagger Katana provides a stable and durable boat with an impressive ergonomic build. In addition, the kayak's balanced profile allows you to hit the rapids and keep decent speed on the flatwater.
The Dagger Katana provides excellent stability because of the precise hull design as well as the beveled and flared sidewalls.
The Dagger Katana 10.4 also offers a brilliant amount of storage space with an enclosed storage hatch at the back of the boat, a spacious, roomy cockpit and bungee cord storage at the front of the crossover kayak.
This crossover kayak is designed for maximum comfort no matter which water you are tackling. With adjustable hip pads, adjustable contour padded seating for a comfortable ride and adjustable thigh braces, you'll want to paddle until the sun goes down.
It has a roomy cockpit which feels less restrictive than some other crossover kayak cockpits. There's also a handy storage pouch just inside the cockpit, which is super helpful for essential small items you want to keep easily accessible, and you can even remove the pouch and take it with you on land when you go on a hike or to a campsite.
The Dagger Katana 10.4 is an excellent all-around choice of crossover kayak for all kayaking ability levels.
The Wilderness Systems Aspire Crossover Kayak is 10 foot 6 inches in length, 29 inches in width and has a weight capacity of 400 lbs.
This boat is designed for comfort, offering a roomy cockpit of 51.5 inches in length, which is especially significant if you're a plus-size kayaker. It also offers a fully adjustable phase 3 air pro seat which has a mesh fabric to allow breathability and 3d foam for airflow to keep you cool when you need it most.
These crossover kayaks have large padded adjustable footrests, which are easy to use and accommodate paddlers of all sizes. For extra comfortable boat control, there are also thigh and knee padding, ensuring a great trip.
If you're worried about tracking and speed, this crossover kayak comes with a Trotta skeg with cockpit control which will help you stay on course in any water type.
These crossover kayaks also provide plenty of storage space with a storage hatch at the back of the boat for any less waterproof equipment or dry bags and bungee storage space on the back and front of the boat.
This kayak is 12 feet long, which is on the long end of the crossover kayak scale, making it better designed to track well with speed. It will handle mild to moderate whitewater but is best when on calmer water types where its talents shine through.
The Dagger Axis crossover kayaks are 27.5 inches wide and have a weight capacity of 350 lbs. On calm water, you can guarantee that it will cut through the water with speed and tranquillity and to further the speed and tracking, it is fitted with a drop-down skeg.
The cockpit is roomy and suitable for plus-size paddlers and stretching your legs. The crossover kayak's seat is adjustable and very comfortable, which is excellent for any long journey. Knee and thigh pads are there for extra comfort and control, as well as fully adjustable foot braces.
The storage space is decent, offering enough space for some extra equipment for a day or overnight trip on the water. A large hatch will take most of your gear while there is bungee deck rigging for any waterproof gear and a paddle park should you need to be hands-free at any point.
When it comes to crossover kayaks and crossover ability, this kayak is difficult to beat!
Yet another crossover kayak from Dagger! The Dagger zydeco 9.0 crossover kayak is perfect for those looking for a more portable and affordable kayak. It performs more on the side of a recreational kayak while able to handle moderate whitewater. However, if you're after a kayak that can hit the fastest rapids, this crossover kayak is not the one for you.
This crossover kayak is 9 ft long, making it compact and lightweight, 28.5 inches wide and has a weight capacity of 220 lbs. It's easy and convenient for one person to carry and fit onto a car if need be. It has an excellent performance in the water as it is easy to maneuver and tracks surprisingly well for its small size, and the speed is also surprisingly decent.
Because of the kayak's hull design, the Zydeco is best paddled on flat water in lakes and rivers but can still take on mild to moderate whitewater as a crossover.
These kayaks are super comfortable. The cockpit is roomy enough to relax without sacrificing performance offered by smaller cockpits. In addition, the CFS-R outfitting offers excellent comfort, which is adjustable and convenient.
The Pyranha Fusion is available in three sizes, this one being the 9 ft 8-inch version. The width is 24 inches, and it weighs 40lbs.
It is very comfortable and stable on the water and can easily be maneuvered. It's a lightweight kayak with an adjustable connect seat system, which is very comfortable. The thigh grips and hip pads are also removable, and the grab handles are convenient for transporting your boat from car to water or water to car.
The kayak's storage space is ample enough to bring along extra equipment or clothes using its water-tight deck pod at the front of the boat, the storage hatch at the rear or the bungee cord storage.
The storage hatch at the rear is able to carry up to 78 liters of gear. The hull is stable and not so sensitive to lateral movement, and the built-in skeg system improves tracking and speed.
These kayaks are comfortable, especially because their seats have adjustable backrests to ensure maximum comfort.
Overall, this crossover kayak is perfect for hitting the water, whether it be calm flat water types or fast-moving whitewater.
The Riot Kayaks Brittany 16.5 is a perfect flat water touring and whitewater kayak. It measures 16.5 feet long and 21.75 inches wide. This makes it stable enough to keep you from capsizing and thin enough to quickly and efficiently cut through the water. These kayaks have excellent tracking in flat waters and maneuverable in rough waters.
It has plenty of storage and a whopping 350 lbs in weight capacity! These sit inside kayaks have a v-shaped hull, and they're designed for multi-day kayak trips. This is why there is so much storage space! You'll find these kayaks sport sealed front and back dual-density hatch covers, water-tight day hatches with minicell bulkheads, as well as bungee cord storage space.
The Riot Kayaks Brittany is built for comfort with adjustable thigh braces, quick-lock adjustable foot braces, and an adventure contour fit outfitting system. In addition, the molded plastic construction makes this kayak extraordinarily durable and no stranger to a knock or bump, which will not cause it to break.
The Best Crossover Kayak!
Finding one of the best crossover kayaks can be overwhelming, and this is why we've put together this handy buying guide! So, let's cut to the chase, shall we? And answer the question what the best kayak is on the market?
We think the best crossover kayak is the Dagger Katana 10.4 Sit in Crossover Kayak!
The Dagger Katana is perfect for paddlers who want to experience all sorts of kayaking, from whitewater to recreational touring. It's a great size for throwing on the top of your car and efficiently transporting to the water.
It's made for your maximum comfort with the fully adjustable cockpit, hip pads, thigh braces, back band and plate. All of these adjustable features will provide extra comfort support and especially stability and maneuverability, which is perfect for taking on the faster rapids!
Not only that, but if you like going on multi-day camping adventures or expeditions that require a lot of gear, then the Dagger Katana kayaks are perfect for you as they are oozing storage space. The hatches and bungee storage are great for any waterproof and not so waterproof gear!
What else can we say about these fantastic kayaks?! The Katana's cockpit is a pretty big deal, and by that, we mean it's pretty big, bigger than most traditional kayak cockpits. But, at 37 inches, it provides plenty of room for you and your gear without confining you in any way!
So if you're looking for an overall excellent kayak, then the Dagger Katana is the one for you!