10 Lightweight Kayaks for Every Budget
7-minute read + 13-minute video
Are you looking for a lightweight kayak that's easy to carry, load and store? These are so much easier than heavy kayaks for many people, and may make it much easier for you to get on the water.
In the video below, Aqua Bound Ambassador Ken Whiting shares his take on 10 kayaks that are lighter than the norm. They include inflatable, folding, thermoform and composite models.
Watch below or keep reading for designs, materials and costs:
Having a lightweight portable or full-size kayak can make a huge difference for a large number of people. Ken has tested all of the kayaks in his video. He starts with portable kayaks.
Portable & Inflatable Kayaks
1. Sea Eagle EZLite 10
The EZLite 10 by Sea Eagle is an inflatable solo kayak with dropstitch construction and V-bottom hull make it surprisingly fun to paddle with its great performance. Because it can be inflated to 10 PSI, it’s rigid enough that it feels almost like a hardshell kayak. And its V-hull, rare among inflatables, plus a removable skeg helps it track well.
The EZLite 10 also has a quality seat and adjustable foot pegs, making it very comfortable to paddle. Not always a given in a kayak this small.
- TYPE: Inflatable kayak
- HULL DESIGN: V-bottom with removable skeg means great tracking
- WEIGHT: 28 pounds/12.5 kilos
- BEST USE: Flatwater paddling and light chop
- 2026 MSRP: $899-$1,099 USD (3 package options)
2. Oru Kayak Inlet
The Oru Kayak Inlet is another portable kayak, this time a unique folding style. The Inlet is made with a material that’s almost like heavy-duty coated cardboard. Opening and closing it is like doing origami, which is quite easy once you get the hang of it.
- TYPE: Folding kayak
- MATERIAL: Heavy-duty coated polymer panels
- WEIGHT: 20 pounds/9 kilos
- BEST USE: Calm, flatwater day paddles
- 2026 MSRP: $899 USD
3. Hobie ITrek 9
The Hobie ITrek 9 is designed like a pedal sit-on kayak with its raised seat and open deck—but it’s inflatable and therefore, very light. Achieving that low weight with a pedal system is remarkable, as pedal sit-on kayaks are notoriously heavy. Ken comments that it’s one of the most fun pedal kayaks he’s ever tested.
NOTE: It appears that Hobie redesigned the ITrek 9 since Ken made this video, as the current one on their website (as of this writing) is called the Mirage ITrek 9 Ultralight:
- TYPE: Inflatable sit-on kayak with pedal system
- WEIGHT: 20 pounds/9 kilos
- BEST USE: Calm, flatwater cruising and fishing
- 2026 MSRP: $1,999 USD
Hardshell Recreational & Touring Kayaks
4. Delta 15.5 GT
The Delta 15.5 GT is a hardshell touring kayak designed for the ideal combination of stability and performance. Great for day touring and multi-day trips with its extensive storage space for gear.
- TYPE: Hardshell touring kayak
- MATERIAL: Thermoform
- WEIGHT: 49 pounds/22 kilos
- BEST USE: Coastal cruising, all-day touring, multi-day touring
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2026 MSRP: $2,350 USD
A note on the material: Thermoform kayaks aren’t as durable as the more common rotomolded plastic kayaks. So you’ll need to handle it with care. It's the ideal boat for the family cabin when it could get bashed into rocks and dragged across gravel. But for a lightweight touring kayak you’ll enjoy? Perfect.
5. Delta 12 AR
The Delta 12 AR is a thermoform recreational kayak in an extremely popular length. Shorter and more affordable than the 15.5 GT above but it includes two watertight bulkheads. These make it safer and offers plenty of inner storage for trips.
- TYPE: Hardshell recreational kayak
- MATERIAL: Thermoform
- HULL DESIGN: Aggressive V-bottom in the bow and double catamaran-style stern for great tracking plus excellent stability
- WEIGHT: 42 pounds/19 kilos
- BEST USE: Recreational day and multi-day trips
- 2026 MSRP: $1,395 USD
6. Hurricane Osprey 120
The Hurricane Osprey 120 is a sit-on kayak. These are very popular models for their ease of entry and exit, and their stability. But these sit-ons are also some of the heaviest kayaks. The Osprey 120 reduces weight and increases performance with advanced thermoforming.
- TYPE: Sit-on-top kayak
- MATERIAL: Thermoform
- WEIGHT: 47 pounds/22 kilos
- BEST USE: Recreational flatwater paddling with pets or small kids
- 2026 MSRP: $1,499 USD
Eco-Friendly & Luxury Composite Kayaks
7. Melker Värmdö
Would you love an eco-friendly luxury touring kayak? Then consider the Melker Värmdö. This boat by Swedish brand Melker is the ideal combination of stability, performance and sustainability. This boat is well-suited for elite paddlers but also beginners who can afford to pay more for a versatile and comfortable boat.
- TYPE: Luxury touring kayak (14.5 feet)
- MATERIAL: Sustainable composite blend of cork, flax, plant-based resin and recycled plastic bottles
- WEIGHT: 44 pounds/20 kilos
- BEST USE: Coastal waves, open water
- 2026 MSRP: $5,199 USD
8. P&H Ultralight Virgo
“If you’re in the market for a touring or sea kayak that can handle any type of conditions and that’s extremely playful in waves or surf, you might want to consider the P&H UL Virgo,” says Ken.
- TYPE: Hardshell sea/touring kayak (15 feet)
- MATERIAL: Carbon/Kevlar infusion
- WEIGHT: 32 pounds/14 kilos
- BEST USE: Coastal cruising, waves or flatwater
- 2026 MSRP: Just over $9,000 USD
The materials and features mean this is a higher-end boat with a premium price tag. It’s made in Great Britain and sells in Europe for £6,765.
9. P&H Volan Series
Staying with P&H, their Volan Series kayaks are longer and have more storage capacity than the Virgo series. If you’re looking for a premium sea kayak that will give you high speeds and ample space for multi-day trips, consider one of these.
- TYPE: Hardshell sea/touring kayak
- MATERIAL: Carbon/Kevlar infusion
- WEIGHT: 33 lbs/15 kilos (16-foot model)
- BEST USE: Coastal cruising, waves or flatwater
- 2026 MSRP: Just over $9,000 USD
Hybrid Kayak/Canoe
10. Swift Cruiser 14.8
The Swift Cruiser 14.8 is a solo hybrid pack boat that looks more like a canoe but is outfitted and paddles like a kayak. It takes the best features of both types for those who love multi-day adventures that require lots of gear.
The open canoe-like deck has room for large packs, while the low center seat with a kayak paddle makes it easy to maneuver, very stable and is great for traveling long distances like a kayak. It also has a removable yolk to carry the boat over portages.
- TYPE: Hybrid open canoe/kayak blend
- MATERIAL: Carbon/Kevlar blend
- WEIGHT: 24-27 pounds/11-12 kilos (depending on trim package)
- BEST USE: Multi-day pack trips with portages
- 2026 MSRP: $3,795-4,295 USD
11. BONUS: Mocean Kayaks
This brand isn’t part of Ken’s video but we wanted to tack them on anyway because this newer American company just won Paddling Magazine’s 2026 “Best Recreational Kayak” award for their Ace 12-foot kayak.
- TYPE: Hardshell recreational kayak
- MATERIAL: Thermoform
- WEIGHT: 42 pounds/19 kilos (12-foot)
- BEST USE: Recreational touring, all day or multi-day
- 2026 MSRP: $1,799 USD
We hope this list helps you when it's your time to shop for a lighter yet still responsive kayak that's a joy to paddle!
[This was first written in January 2026 and has been updated.]
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