Industry Insider Shops Walmart’s Kayak Line-Up

Walmart’s Kayak offering has introduced the sport of paddling to many many people at affordable rolled back prices. There really is no bad boat but just bad applications. Ethan goes through some of the features and benefits of the Walmart Kayak offering. It’s important to remember that these kayaks, especially the sit inside, lack many of the safety features that would be needed for bigger open water. These are affectionately dubbed shoreline kayaks by us. They have their limitations. However, for a fun day at the beach, these might just be perfect for you or your family!

[@HeadwatersKayak]

Such a huge service to entry level paddlers. Thanks for taking the time to make this.

[@rickquist3992]

Big Box 'Yaks have inspired many new enthusiasts. Ethan's advice is worth heeding...

[@EricRBTube]

Thank you for this, it was really informative for a novice like myself.

[@deejayimm]

I respect you telling it like it is. These kayaks are cheap, but they do have some redeeming qualities. Mostly, like you said, they get kids out on the water when they could not otherwise afford to. Well done. I hope videos like this will lead to people spending more money on better kayaks one day. But if not, at least people will know what they are getting.

[@vikto07081980]

Goes through the water pretty easy, no problems being new to the sport

[@weihuafan1365]

Very useful and helpful!

[@schoonersmith2285]

Very nice thank you!

[@todd4480]

I bought an Ozark Trail sit in. Very happy with it.

[@jasonstouder]

that's what I'm looing at. the model I'm seeing at Wm looks slightly different, though.

[@jimwortham8634]

Cool thanks for posting unfortunately most Walmarts where I live no kayaks

[@HappyPaddlin]

They do stock online as well!

[@martin.feuchtwanger]

I teach kayaking at a few locations and see the problems that even "less cheap" kayaks have. So i appreciate you showing us the problems with the "even cheaper" kayaks. Question: Why are there so few one-piece kayak paddles on the market (at all prices)? I know two-piece models provide more transportation options (i even own 4-piece paddles) but in kayaking centers, there's little need for break-down paddles. Also, why does every two-piece paddle have to have those extra "feather-holes"? It is extremely rare that anyone, especially not beginners, ever needs to feather their paddle. The main effect of the extra holes is to provide a weak point for early breakage.

[@HappyPaddlin]

One piece paddles are at many outfitters I work with out West. The challenge is resale. Hard for consumers to fit a one piece in their car. So if an outfitter has 100 1 piece paddles to sell every few years it becomes an issue. I personally love a 1 piece paddle. Saves several ounces and agreed on the strength. And, I have vehicles that can haul it.

[@deborahworden4658]

It’s called a PAC-Personal Accessory Compartment. Don’t throw it away-I’ll use it👍🏼😆 It’s got a tight seal that makes the PAC waterproof. Plus, I bungee the PAC to the stern of my yak, pulling it behind my yak. Floats just fine & keeps contents dry. Floating behind me, this gives me a little extra storage behind my seat!

[@HappyPaddlin]

Interesting. I’d caution this application you describe in moving water and in other areas. Seen people get hung up w towed items like this and coolers. Honestly, if I have that much gear to haul, I’m going ti choose a different craft vs towing. But, nice to know you’ve found an application that works for you! Thanks for the comment.

[@amandabernheisel9557]

I once bought the $22 paddle because I needed a quick but cheap replacement. It worked, but it was the worst paddle I've ever had. I ended up duct taping it together in the middle, that's how bad the connection was. The car topper on the other hand, I have no big complaints with. I wish it came with 4 cam straps, but that's about it. I've had it for a few years now & just replaced the cam straps included with it with a pair of upgraded Thule straps. The old cam straps replaced the polyvinyl rope I had been using to secure the kayaks bow and stern to the car. The rope had been what I really wanted to replace. The Thule straps I got were too short to use on the bow and stern, vut worked well across the hull. The green cam straps in the kit are long enough though.

[@HappyPaddlin]

Good info! The old cheap paddle makes a great car snow scraper!

[@dubmob151]

Is the car top carrier used for a single inverted kayak only?

[@rorschach8585]

There doesn't seem to be a lot of YT reviews of the Eddyline Rio with actual paddling.

[@HappyPaddlin]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqC0e61qndKMiKc

[@gsp49]

Kayaks much cheaper at Tractor Supply for the same boat.

[@briteidea08]

Something you can use to cover the sharp edges with, is a pool noodle. Cut it and put a slit in it.

[@HappyPaddlin]

Trim lock is way more elegant. That’s what the manf’s use! But thanks for the hint.

[@Numminz]

I just bought a Pelican from costco with a 300lb weight limit and im sitting at 280 right now…a little worried i ahould have gone heavier weight limit…havent tried it yet

[@HappyPaddlin]

Let us know! I some some folks doing a lazy stretch that may have been similar and we’re doing ok but in waves it would have been tough!

[@sman6435]

Hi Ethan, I'm the guy who you helped with the Sapphire Blue Eddyline Rio kayak - again, thank you very much for your help! Even though my wife has a Rio, since we now live on a lake she wants a Pelican Mustang 100 to leave by the dock so she doesn't have to haul the Rio from the garage to the dock. I know storing a kayak in the sun isn't a good idea, and wrapping it in tarp isn't good either. Can you recommend a good way to store a Mustang at the dock so it won't get UV damage, moisture damage, rodents and heat damage?

[@HappyPaddlin]

There are some inexpensive kayak covers folks have asked me about on Amazon. Not sure how well they work but seems like a pretty difficult thing to mess up if it is just about keeping sun off the boat (not on the car). I sell for Danuu and they are awesome but close to the cost of your Mustang.

[@sman6435]

@@HappyPaddlin - I'll look on Amazon for the covers. How would you recommend I rest the kayak on the dock (e.g. upside down, on its side, on foam pads or camping chairs, etc.)? I don't want to deform the hull if it's sitting there for some time.

[@HappyPaddlin]

@@sman6435 Upside down keeps the rain out so that's your best bet. Big foam pool noodles can help. But, kind of a disposable kayak so at some point it won't be like new if outside for a long time.

[@rickquist3992]

There are so many padding options... Different priorities. I'd personally drag a Rio 4 miles with my *ear lobes* before I'd paddle a Mustang from the shore. I'm one of the weird ones... Have a blast out there!

[@sman6435]

@@rickquist3992 - I agree with you Rick. Both my wife and I have Rios and they are stored in our garage. We live on a lake and my wife wants to kayak more than I do so if kayaking isn't convenient for both of us then it's not going to happen. We can't leave a Rio down on the dock, and toting it from the garage to the dock is awkward at best for one person (a fair distance and down a couple flights of stairs). So, she wants a cheap kayak to leave on the dock and light enough that she can launch and retrieve it fairly easily by herself - hence the Pelican Mustang 100x. When we both want to kayak, we'll both haul our Rios to and from the lake. Sound good to you?

[@danareed1656]

i can verify Ozark trail is sun dolphin! i have two ride on top angler tens and they are ok i both love and hate them they are not very big and the plastic is thin i had to email them right away cuz the bungy hook screws where already stiped out and a few other issues, so they sent me some rivets and it fixed the problem and replacement parts! they had great customer service! ya my pads came off too! the container can be pulled be hide the kayak if need be! but ya not that great and the paddle holder bungy does not go in to the kayak hull it is just in the molded lip if you would of ran your fingers around the back you would of found there is recessed area the metal tips are back there! good for paddling but not great for fishing and not enough room for camping stuff so needless to say iv got two way better kayaks ordered just waiting to go pick them up!

[@danareed1656]

oh i got the black paddles too and i dont mind them the worst i can say is the drip rings are not great no matter where you put them you still get wet! these are my first kayaks and paddles! so im learning and with in two times of being out in them i realized they where just not going to work for what i wanted them for ! but like i said iv got better ones coming !

[@jcee2259]

My local Walmart cooks all their kayaks from mid-day to sunset in full solar U/V damage conditions. Making all suspect regarding existing if invisible sunshine exposure damage. Making all their hulls brittle, subject to fracture, and mistrust. Hello ?

[@HappyPaddlin]

The plastics have UV stabilizers though a few months of all day UV exposure is not ideal. It’s the components (seat pads, clips, bungee, etc) that really can be damaged by a couple months of UV abuse plus parking lot grime. I guess a car lot has some of this going on too!

[@mrmidnight32]

Is quest the same as lifetime? Why are they named differently?

[@HappyPaddlin]

Quest is Dick’s Sporting Goods in-house brand name but made by other manufacturers which includes Lifetime I believe. I’ll do some reviews. The reason is business based.

[@chillios2222]

its a wet bin , fish tank lol

[@darrinneat2920]

My thoughts... and Tractor supply has a better price.

[@terrypfeffer8504]

Couldn’t you cut a pool noodle and stick it on

[@unstoppablegameplays]

Jesus Christ loves you❤

[@tombrenes2411]

Prices?

[@HappyPaddlin]

Often different depending on location and time of year. See ‘23 Walmart update vid on my channel with this spring’s pricing. 😀🛶

[@deejayimm]

"Be careful of the sharp edge, it's something you might hit your shins on" Captain Picard hit his Shinzon. Your welcome Star Trek nerds...

[@thedangler1371]

Enclosed kayaks are the worst unless you enjoy big spiders crawling on u while floating down the river

[@HappyPaddlin]

Never ever had a spider on me in a kayak. Cockpit covers for storage and transport. Skirt.

[@MuddyAdventures1017]

I've owned 3 first one I bought for $35 Sun dolphin sit in was up in the woods for about a year had lots of patch work but not a single spider one I got now is the pelican argo 100x it's much better than that sun dolphin it's been in a barn for awhile still haven't gotten a spider yet an spiders are everywhere in the state I'm in

[@thedangler1371]

Sun dolphin kayaks are horrible! They tip so easy from being short and so thick from bottom to top. Accessories like foot rest and compartments are garbage. Buy pelican