Best Tandem Kayaks
Updated How we research
BKC Brooklyn 13.5 Tandem Pedal Fishing Kayak, 2 Person with Dual Flipper Pedal Drives and Rudder Steering
BKC's Brooklyn 13.5 tandem pedal fishing kayak with dual flipper pedal drives and rudder steering, for two hands-free anglers.
BKC Brooklyn 12.5 Tandem Fishing Kayak, 2 to 3 Person Sit-on-Top
12.5 foot rotomolded sit-on-top tandem from BKC that seats two adults plus a child or gear. It comes with two padded seats, two paddles and six rod holders, and lists a 600 lb capacity.
A tandem kayak turns paddling into a shared job, which is either the appeal or the problem depending on the boat. Two people, gear and a cooler add up fast, so capacity and hull volume matter more than they do in a solo. Seat spacing decides whether your paddles clash, and the position of those seats decides trim, which is what keeps the bow from wandering when the wind comes across. We weighed load capacity against real-world handling, plus seat adjustability, weight on the roof rack, and whether one person can paddle the boat alone. Longer hulls with adjustable seats suit couples covering distance. Wide open-deck models suit families with kids and dogs. Convertible layouts suit anyone who wants a solo boat some weekends and a two-seater the next. Balance the load so the bow sits slightly light, and the boat will steer far more willingly.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.3 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:BKC Brooklyn 13.5 Tandem Pedal Fishing Kayak, 2 Person with Dual Flipper Pedal Drives and Rudder Steering. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:Lifetime 10 Foot Two Person Tandem Fishing Kayak with Paddles. Value score of 9/10, overall 7.8/10.
- Solid build:Old Town Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL Tandem Kayak. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 8.1/10.
- Feature-rich:BKC Brooklyn 12.5 Tandem Fishing Kayak, 2 to 3 Person Sit-on-Top. Features score of 9/10, overall 8.4/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.BKC Brooklyn 13.5 Tandem Pedal Fishing Kayak, 2 Person with Dual Flipper Pedal Drives and Rudder Steering8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.BKC Brooklyn 12.5 Tandem Fishing Kayak, 2 to 3 Person Sit-on-Top8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Old Town Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL Tandem Kayak8.1/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Pelican River Gorge 130X Tandem Kayak - Sit-on-Top Recreational 2 Person Kayak - 13 ft7.9/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Lifetime Spitfire 12T Tandem Sit-on-Top Kayak with 2 Paddles and Padded Seats, Sunset Fusion, Model 910517.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Lifetime 10 Foot Two Person Tandem Fishing Kayak with Paddles7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Perception Sport Doubleplay 12.0 Tandem Sit-on-Top Kayak (White/Blue)7.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1BKC's Brooklyn 13.5 tandem pedal fishing kayak with dual flipper pedal drives and rudder steering, for two hands-free anglers.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Dual flipper pedal drives let both paddlers fish while moving
- + Rudder steering keeps the long hull on course without paddling
- + Two-person fishing layout suits anglers who share one boat
- - Pedal systems add weight and parts that need rinsing and care
- - Heavy tandem pedal boat almost always requires a trailer or cart
#212.5 foot rotomolded sit-on-top tandem from BKC that seats two adults plus a child or gear. It comes with two padded seats, two paddles and six rod holders, and lists a 600 lb capacity.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Six rod holders (4 flush, 2 articulating), two padded seats and two paddles are included
- + 34 inch beam and single-piece rotomolded HDPE hull with a listed 600 lb capacity
- + Built-in mount area accepts a trolling motor, which is sold separately
- - The listing does not state the hull weight, which matters for car-topping a 12.5 foot tandem
- - Fishing-focused layout with six rod holders is more than a pair paddling for fun will use
#3The Old Town Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL is a roomy sit-on-top tandem, often used by two adults with a child or dog aboard.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10
- + XL version adds room compared with the standard Malibu Two
- + Old Town and Ocean Kayak are well-regarded names in rotomolded boats
- + Sit-on-top tandem handles surf-side and lake paddling well
- - Paddles are sold separately, so budget for them on top of the kayak price
- - Larger hull is heavy for one person to move on land
#4Pelican's River Gorge 130X tandem sit-on-top, a 13 ft two-person recreational kayak for couples exploring lakes and rivers.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 13 ft hull tracks better and carries more gear than short tandems
- + Pelican's stable design keeps new paddlers feeling secure
- + Sit-on-top deck makes entry and swimming breaks easy
- - Long tandem needs roof rack space and two people to load
- - Budget for two paddles since this is a tandem kayak
#512 foot Lifetime sit-on-top tandem with two paddles, two padded seat backs and a built-in skeg wheel. Flat bottom with chine rails, aimed at recreational paddling for two.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Comes with two paddles, plus two adjustable padded seat backs and seat pads
- + Center storage hatch, front bungee storage and a rear tankwell with cargo-net lacing
- + Built-in skeg wheel helps move the boat on land and aids tracking on the water
- - The listing does not state the hull weight or the maximum weight capacity
- - Seating is padded seat backs and pads, not the raised frame seats found on some tandems
#6Lifetime's 10 foot two-person tandem fishing kayak with paddles, a compact angling boat for a pair on ponds and small lakes.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Paddles included, so two anglers can get started right away
- + 10 foot tandem is shorter and easier to store than long two-seaters
- + Fishing-oriented layout adds rod space that plain tandems lack
- - Short length means two adults and tackle can feel cramped
- - Slower and less efficient than longer tandems on big water
#7Perception's Sport Doubleplay 12.0 is a sit-on-top tandem kayak for two paddlers, suited to lakes, bays and relaxed family days.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Sit-on-top tandem layout is easy to board and self-bails splashes
- + Perception build quality is solid for years of recreational use
- + Length gives decent glide for a wide, stable two-person boat
- - Budget for two paddles since this is a tandem sit-on-top kayak
- - Older design lacks the framed seats found on newer tandems
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.
- Pedal systems add weight and parts that need rinsing and care (BKC Brooklyn 13.5 Tandem Pedal Fishing Kayak,...)
- The listing does not state the hull weight, which matters for car-topping a 12.5 foot tandem (BKC Brooklyn 12.5 Tandem Fishing Kayak, 2 to...)
- Paddles are sold separately, so budget for them on top of the kayak price (Old Town Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL Tandem Kayak)
- Long tandem needs roof rack space and two people to load (Pelican River Gorge 130X Tandem Kayak -...)
- The listing does not state the hull weight or the maximum weight capacity (Lifetime Spitfire 12T Tandem Sit-on-Top Kayak...)
- Short length means two adults and tackle can feel cramped (Lifetime 10 Foot Two Person Tandem Fishing...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among tandem kayaks?
BKC Brooklyn 13.5 Tandem Pedal Fishing Kayak, 2 Person with Dual Flipper Pedal Drives and Rudder Steering is our top overall pick. BKC's Brooklyn 13.5 tandem pedal fishing kayak with dual flipper pedal drives and rudder steering, for two hands-free anglers. It earns our score of 8.6/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
BKC Brooklyn 12.5 Tandem Fishing Kayak, 2 to 3 Person Sit-on-Top is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. 12.5 foot rotomolded sit-on-top tandem from BKC that seats two adults plus a child or gear. It comes with two padded seats, two paddles and six rod holders, and lists a 600 lb capacity.
›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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