Perception Hi Five Sit on Top Kids Kayak with Paddle and Solo Mount Base, up to 120 lbs, 6 ft 6 in Review (2026)

Who the Hi Five fits

Perception built the Hi Five as a hybrid between a sit on top kayak and a stand up paddleboard for kids roughly five to fourteen years old. The 6 foot 6 inch, 24 inch wide hull carries a 120 pound weight rating, noticeably higher than the 100 pound limit on the Pelican Solo 6 Feet, a close rival in the same kids kayak guide. That extra headroom means a family can buy one boat and expect a child to use it for several seasons rather than outgrowing it after a summer. At 21 pounds, the kayak is light enough for a parent to load and unload without help, and the rotomolded plastic hull is built to survive the drops and dock bumps that come with young paddlers still learning boat handling.

Deck platform, mount and included paddle

The signature feature is the flat, SUP style rear deck platform, which lets a child stand, kneel or sit depending on skill and confidence rather than being locked into one seating position. Bow and center carry handles and lockable storage give a place for snacks or a dry bag on longer outings. A Solo Mount recess is molded into the deck so a compatible accessory, such as a rod holder or phone mount, can be added later without drilling into the hull, though Perception sells those mounts separately from the base kayak. The kit ships with an appropriately sized kids paddle, so there is no need to guess at shaft length for a young paddler the way an adult buying a full size paddle would.

Living with the Hi Five day to day

The swim up platform is the detail parents notice most in daily use, since a child can slide off for a swim and climb back aboard without the boat tipping or needing an adult to steady it. That stability comes from a wide, flat hull rather than a narrow, fast one, so the Hi Five paddles best on calm lakes and slow moving rivers rather than open water or wind. Care is straightforward: rinse the hull and Solo Mount recess after use, especially in salt water, and store it out of direct sun so the rotomolded plastic does not fade or become brittle over years of seasonal storage. Because the paddle is sized for kids, an adult riding along will want their own full length paddle rather than sharing the included one.

Trade offs against rival kids kayaks

Against the Pelican Solo 6 Feet, ranked just behind it in this guide with our score of 8.4 out of 10, the Hi Five wins on weight capacity and the standing platform, while the Pelican counters with a padded backrest and safety flag included in its box. Kids closer to the 120 pound ceiling will still find the 6 foot 6 inch length short, since the hull is scaled for a child's frame rather than a growing teenager's. The Solo Mount base is a plus for the future but adds no functionality on day one unless a mount accessory is purchased separately, so buyers expecting extra features in the box should temper expectations.

Verdict and who should pick something else

Choose the Perception Hi Five when the plan is one kayak that a child can grow into over several summers and when the swim platform's stability matters more than a padded backrest. It is a strong pick for families near lakes or slow rivers who want a boat a five or six year old can start on and still use at ten or eleven. Parents of a very young or light child who want extra comfort features out of the box may prefer the Pelican Solo 6 Feet instead, and anyone planning to add a rod holder or mount right away should budget for that accessory on top of the kayak itself.

Frequently asked questions