Best Pedal Kayaks
Updated How we research
Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Photic Camo
The Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 in Photic Camo, a mid-length pedal fishing kayak that balances speed, stability and storage.
BKC Brooklyn 12.5 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Flipper Drive, Sit-on-Top, 550 lb Capacity
The BKC Brooklyn 12.5 pedal fishing kayak with flipper drive and a 550 lb capacity for big anglers and heavy tackle loads.
A pedal kayak moves you with your legs, which are stronger and slower to tire than your arms, and it leaves your hands free for a rod or a camera. Two drive types dominate: propeller systems that give reverse and steady cruising speed, and fin systems that stay shallow and forgiving over weed and rock. What varies is drive draft, whether reverse is available, hull weight, rudder control, and how simple the drive is to service. We weighed drive efficiency and depth clearance against total weight, since these boats are heavy to load alone. Seat height, deck layout and rudder feel mattered too. Propeller drives suit open water and anglers who need to back off structure. Fin drives suit shallow, weedy or rocky water. Carry a paddle as backup, always. A drive can jam on weed, and the shallows near a launch usually need paddling anyway.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 8.0 to 9.2 out of 10.
- Best overall:Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Photic Camo. Highest overall score in this guide at 9.2/10.
- Also great value:BKC Brooklyn 12.5 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Flipper Drive, Sit-on-Top, 550 lb Capacity. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Solid build:Old Town Sportsman Salty PDL 120 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Marsh Camo. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Feature-rich:Old Town Sportsman BigWater PDL 132 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Marsh Camo. Features score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Photic Camo9.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.BKC Brooklyn 12.5 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Flipper Drive, Sit-on-Top, 550 lb Capacity8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Old Town Sportsman Salty PDL 120 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Marsh Camo8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Old Town Sportsman PDL 106 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Ember Camo8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Old Town Sportsman BigWater PDL 132 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Marsh Camo8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Old Town Ocean Kayak Malibu Pedal Kayak, Cinder8.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Brooklyn 10.0 Single Pedal Fishing Kayak by BKC, Sit-On-Top with Flipper Drive and Rudder8.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1The Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 in Photic Camo, a mid-length pedal fishing kayak that balances speed, stability and storage.
Fit for the job 10/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Mid-length hull is a practical all-round size for most fisheries
- + PDL pedal drive gives smooth, hands-free propulsion with reverse
- + Photic Camo pattern is subtle for spooky fish in clear water
- - Pricier than BKC pedal kayaks with a similar hull length
- - Drive unit adds weight when loading the boat solo
#2The BKC Brooklyn 12.5 pedal fishing kayak with flipper drive and a 550 lb capacity for big anglers and heavy tackle loads.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 550 lb capacity leaves room for a large angler plus crates and coolers
- + Flipper drive keeps both hands free for rods, net and electronics
- + Longer hull than the smaller Brooklyn pedal model tracks and cruises better
- - Heavy loaded weight means a trailer or cart is close to essential
- - BKC fit and finish is simpler than Old Town pedal kayaks
#3Old Town's Sportsman Salty PDL 120 in Marsh Camo, a pedal fishing kayak built with saltwater use and inshore fishing in mind.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10
- + PDL pedal drive is a proven Old Town system for hands-free fishing
- + Salty version is set up for saltwater flats and inshore trips
- + Marsh Camo finish blends into grassy shorelines and marshes
- - Saltwater use means rinsing the drive and hardware after each trip
- - Premium Old Town price is well above budget pedal kayaks
#4The Old Town Sportsman PDL 106 in Ember Camo, a shorter pedal fishing kayak for ponds, creeks and tight spaces.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Shorter 106 hull turns quickly in creeks, coves and small ponds
- + PDL drive offers forward and reverse for fine boat control
- + Lighter and easier to transport than the longer Sportsman models
- - Less deck space for crates and gear than longer Sportsman boats
- - Slower top speed makes big-lake runs take longer
#5Old Town's Sportsman BigWater PDL 132 in Marsh Camo, the longest Sportsman pedal kayak, built for big lakes and open water.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10
- + BigWater hull is designed to handle chop and long runs
- + Longest Sportsman model offers the most speed and gear room
- + PDL drive pairs with a large deck for tackle, crates and electronics
- - Long, heavy boat is difficult to cartop and needs a trailer
- - More boat than most pond and small-lake anglers need
#6Old Town Ocean Kayak Malibu Pedal in Cinder, a recreational pedal sit-on-top for cruising, exploring and relaxed fishing.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Pedal drive lets casual paddlers cover water without arm fatigue
- + Malibu platform is known for stable, easy sit-on-top handling
- + Works for recreation as well as light fishing, not just angling
- - Fewer dedicated fishing features than the Sportsman PDL range
- - Pedal drive adds cost compared with the paddle-only Malibu
#7BKC's Brooklyn 10.0 single pedal fishing kayak, a compact sit-on-top with a flipper drive and rudder for hands-free anglers.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Flipper drive gives hands-free propulsion at a compact hull length
- + Rudder steering lets you hold position while you cast and reel
- + Shorter hull is easier to store and load than long pedal boats
- - Short pedal kayak is slower over distance than longer pedal models
- - Flipper drives need shallow water awareness to avoid fin strikes
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Pricier than BKC pedal kayaks with a similar hull length (Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Pedal Fishing...)
- Heavy loaded weight means a trailer or cart is close to essential (BKC Brooklyn 12.5 Pedal Fishing Kayak,...)
- Saltwater use means rinsing the drive and hardware after each trip (Old Town Sportsman Salty PDL 120 Pedal...)
- Less deck space for crates and gear than longer Sportsman boats (Old Town Sportsman PDL 106 Pedal Fishing...)
- Long, heavy boat is difficult to cartop and needs a trailer (Old Town Sportsman BigWater PDL 132 Pedal...)
- Fewer dedicated fishing features than the Sportsman PDL range (Old Town Ocean Kayak Malibu Pedal Kayak, Cinder)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among pedal kayaks?
Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Photic Camo is our top overall pick. The Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 in Photic Camo, a mid-length pedal fishing kayak that balances speed, stability and storage. It earns our score of 9.2/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
BKC Brooklyn 12.5 Pedal Fishing Kayak, Flipper Drive, Sit-on-Top, 550 lb Capacity is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. The BKC Brooklyn 12.5 pedal fishing kayak with flipper drive and a 550 lb capacity for big anglers and heavy tackle loads.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Kayak Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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