For years I’ve been hemmin’ and hawin’ about what sort of kayak rack I should get – heck we made a whole page right here on BornToPaddle.com all about How To Choose A Kayak Rack. You readers probably thought that was for your benefit – actually I was trying to figure it all out myself!

Well, I’ve finally made my decision about which kayak roof rack is right for me. I’m one person with one boat and one car. Some of the racks out there were just too much rack for me. I have a factory roof rack, which some rack systems aren’t compatible with. Quite honestly, I just wanted something easy, something I could snap on, load the boat, tie ‘er down and be on my way. No fuss, no muss, that’s me.

So…I’ve decided to go with foam blocks. What a load off my mind. They fit my factory rack, they hold the kayak away from my car’s roof – so no scratching, denting. They even came with all the tie downs I need. It’s so simple, it’s 1-2-3.

If you’re interested in simplifying your life a bit (with regard to an easy, affordable, yet quality kayak transport rack system) I highly recommend any of these options – notice that these are inexpensive roof rack solutions that work:

Kayak Stacker Foam Block Kit Kayak Stacker Foam Block Kit Stacker Blocks stabilize and protect the kayak during loading and transport. Contains two blocks and two 12′ straps.

Deluxe Foam Block Kayak Kit – Deal of the Day! List Pice $49.95 Save $17! Deluxe Foam Block Kayak Kit – Deal of the Day! List Pice $49.95 Save $17! Malone Foam Kits & Blocks offer an affordable transport system for your canoe or kayak. We use the finest EVA closed cell foam and all of our foam products are made in the USA.Deluxe Kit Includes: Two 4″ x 4.75″ x 18″ Blocks One 15′ Over-Hull Strap Two 9′ Block Straps Front & Rear Tie Downs Two S-Hooks, Tote Bag

Standard Foam Block Kayak Kit Standard Foam Block Kayak Kit Malone Foam Kits & Blocks offer an affordable transport system for your canoe or kayak. We use the finest EVA closed cell foam and all of our foam products are made in the USA.Standard Kayak Kit Includes: Two 4″ x 4.75″ x 12″ Blocks One 15′ Over-Hull Strap Front & Rear Tie-Downs Two S-Hooks Tote Bag

Buying a kayak can be easy and fun. If you have kayaking experience than you probably know what type of kayak you are interested in and it’s just a matter of shopping around to find the best kayak deals. If you’re new to kayaking than it will and should take you longer to choose the right kayak.  You want to make sure the kayak you choose fits the type of paddling you are planning on doing.

With proper care, and storage, the kayak you purchase can last you many, many years.  You will probably decide to purchase a different type of kayak way before the kayak you own needs replacing. Then you can decide to place your used kayak for sale or keep it to add to your collection.

New to kayaking

If you’re new to kayaking than you need to decide what type of kayaking you would enjoy.

 I mostly enjoy flatwater kayaking. I like to kayak on lakes, ponds, and rivers, although I do enjoy a little whitewater, like a class I or II. I also had children I wanted to take kayaking on lakes and ponds so I needed a kayak that was wide and stable enough so I can sit a child in the kayak with me. The kayak I purchased was a Perception Swifty. It has a wide cockpit for easy entry and exit and I can sit my child in it with me. It’s about 9.5 feet long so it was easy for me to put on the roof rack of my car. My son and daughter both loved paddling with me. When they got older, they got their own Perception Swifty kayak.  So now we are a kayaking family. Many recreational kayaks come with an accessory option for an extra slip- in seat for your child.

• To find out what type of kayaking you would enjoy you will need to do some research. Look for kayaking events, paddling races, festivals, paddlefests, or demonstrations around where you live. Many times kayaking events will have kayaking demonstrations.  You might be able to try out different types of kayaks or speak with other kayakers.  To find these paddling events, check with your local kayaking stores or check out our kayak, canoe, paddling events page.  Just click on the state or month. We have listings for all over the United States.
• You can also check out our How to choose a kayak page  to find more helpful information in choosing the right kayak for you.

Once you decide which kayak is for you, you can start shopping around for the best price. Check your local stores for sales and also check online stores. Click here to find some of the best kayak deals.

When you have your kayak and are ready to paddle, check our places to paddle page to find paddling locations all over the U.S.

Have fun and welcome to the kayak family.