Finding the right kayak is one of the toughest purchasing decisions you can make. With many other products, you can try them out before you use them. But not with a kayak – the one you buy is the one you’re stuck with, unless returns are accepted. To make your decision process a little easier, I’m going to give you all the details on a great kayak that you can’t go wrong with – the Glide Emotion kayak. Some cheap kayaks for sale will give you a great price, but a marginal product. The Emotion kayak, on the other hand, is a great value and an overall safe buy, especially for those just beginning to kayak. So here we go…

The Basics

The Glide Emotion kayak is a closed-deck kayak, which means you sit inside. This is the traditional and most common type of kayak, as opposed to a sit-on-top kayak. It’s also the easiest to use. There are seven kayak categories: solo, slalom, whitewater, surf, touring/expedition, light touring/day tripping, sprint/racing and general recreation. This Emotion kayak is a recreation kayak, which means it’s just for fun. It’s the perfect kayak for families and those who want to kayak in small groups of people, especially in ponds, rivers, tidal creeks, estuaries, and harbors. But it also works for kayaking on your own. Recreational doesn’t necessarily always mean beginner, but in this case it does. This kayak is great for those who are just beginning to kayak, plus you won’t outgrow it once you become more experienced. There’s nothing too special or advanced about the features of the Emotion kayak, which makes for simple use. It won’t capsize, and because of its light weight, it’s easy to paddle.

“Stable” is the word

This kayak has a wide hull with a slight “V” shape. The wider the hull of a kayak, the greater primary stability it has. Primary stability means there will be less rocking back and forth due to water movement or weight shifts inside the kayak. The wide hull also means there’s less of a chance the Emotion kayak will capsize, which is secondary stability. The “V” shape is not too extreme so as to promote better tracking, which gives the user better stability in the direction he or she is paddling. This gives the beginner and experienced kayaker greater maneuverability.

Safe for you and your legs

For those who are on the taller end of the spectrum, the wide hull means more leg room and easy entry and exit from the kayak. It also gives more total volume to the Emotion kayak so it has maximum weight capacity. There’s space inside the bow and stern to store any kayak accessories you may have. Some cheap kayaks have rock-hard seats, but this one has a padded seat. Not only is the seat padded, but also the foot braces. The paddle keeper on the side, with an indent in the hull, lets you secure your kayak paddle when you’re not using it. There aren’t many worse things than losing your paddle! But one thing that is worse is capsizing. To prevent this, the Emotion kayak has a float bag that you can place in the bow or stern of the kayak so that it won’t sink in the unlikely event of capsizing. The kayak actually will float on its own if it flips over, but to keep it high above the water to avoid dangerous rocks, it’s good to have a float bag. Better yet, you should probably have two – one for each end of the Emotion kayak. The float bag included with this kayak is colored yellow and urethane-covered, which protects it from the sun. The Emotion kayak also has bungee cords on top of the bow and stern so you can carry any kayak gear.

Durable and Mobile

The material used to make the Emotion kayak is polyethylene plastic. This kayak is made with the high-density version of the plastic. This means it can withstand high temperatures for extended periods of time (up to 230 degrees Fahrenheit), and it has a resistance to UV rays, both which mean it will last a long time. The polyethylene construction also makes repairs easier, since all you need is a propane torch and some polyethylene strips to fix minor leaks. One of the best parts of this kayak is the option of colors.  You get to choose from blue, granite, red, tangerine, yellow, lime, and purple haze.   The Emotion kayak is 9 feet, 7 inches long, and it’s the second shortest of the kayaks for sale by Emotion. The shorter the kayak, the greater the maneuverability, which again, is great for beginners. The short length means it won’t be as fast as some of the higher-performance kayaks, but there are other trade-offs with faster kayaks. Weighing in at 37 pounds, this kayak is about as light as it gets. The light weight also provides greater maneuverability for the user. The combination of the short length and light weight means this Emotion kayak is a breeze to transport out of the water. Larger kayaks can be a hassle to carry on top of an SUV or other vehicle, but you won’t have that issue with this kayak. Plus the kayak can be carried by hand much easier than other kayaks for sale using the easy-to-use handles on the bow and stern. The listed weight capacity is 225-275 pounds depending on the water condition, but these ranges are usually on the conservative side due to liability issues. The water condition affects the weight capacity because in extreme conditions, like rushing rapids, a heavier person means the kayak is lower in the water and  water can splash in easier. But if you’re enjoying a peaceful paddle on a secluded pond, the capacity is in the upper end.

Quality assured

The emotion kayak has a 3-year warranty for private use, and a 1-year limited warranty for commercial/institutional use. Now this warranty does not include any damage that occurs due to defects or normal wear and tear. You might then ask what it does cover. Basically just anything that was an original defect from manufacturing. That may not seem like much, but 3 years is longer than some other kayak companies give.

Where can I buy a Glide Emotion kayak?

Amazon has this kayak in stock right now, and there’s currently an option for free shipping. Check it out right here.

Where can I read more reviews on the Glide Emotion Kayak?

There are also lots of reviews on Amazon by people who have used the product. You can also see the kayak in all the different color options there.  Click here to see more.

What’s Included:

• Emotion kayak
• Float bag

What others have said:

• “Light and easy to carry”
• “Good back support”
• “This kayak handles so well”
• “Ample cockpit and great storage room”
• “Tracking is excellent”
• “Easy to track and maneuver even in wind”
• “Plastic is really durable”
• ”Great for beginners”

See Emotion Kayak Page With Reviews Here

Written by Craig Kent, member of the Best Military Surplus team