If you want to get out on the water this summer, kayaking and water rafting are both great options. There are many fantastic locations to rent kayaks or book a trip with a river rafting guide. Deciding which type of activity you will enjoy the most may be the biggest hurdle to getting started. Keep reading to find out what our panel of outdoor enthusiasts recommends for those wanting to try these water activities for the first time.
Brandon Anderson
Brandon is an avid outdoorsman and adrenaline junkie. He has years of experience in wilderness survival and is the owner of the Online Outdoor Outlet.
3 Simple Questions
When someone is comparing kayaking and water rafting, I always ask them three simple questions to narrow down their decision.
- How adventurous are they feeling?
- How many people are they planning on going with?
- How well do they work in a team?
With these three questions, they almost always make the right decision. If they are adventurous, they choose kayaks, and if they are going with a large group, they choose rafts. Every once in a while, you will get someone in a group who is adventurous and doesn’t work well in a team. They always choose kayaks.
Steve Morrow
Steve is an avid kayaker and founder of Paddle About. When he is not on the water, Steve enjoys outdoor activities, including fishing, camping, and hiking with his family.
It’s All About the Experience
Kayaking and rafting both offer an opportunity to explore and enjoy some of nature’s most beautiful scenery. The experience can be challenging, but it is rewarding as well. Both are great ways to enjoy the sunshine while being surrounded by nature.
If you are considering recreational kayaking versus rafting, there are some things to consider, but ultimately, it comes down to the experience you are looking for.
With recreational kayaking, it’s more likely you will paddle on calm waters like lakes or slow-moving rivers. In this case, kayaking requires less physical strength than rafting. Kayaking is more for the person looking to glide through calm waters. You can stop and enjoy the water, a beach, or jump in for a swim. With a kayak, you are in control and can paddle wherever you want as long as you want.
If you’re a thrill-seeker or want to keep your adrenaline pumping, then rafting might be for you. A lot of people will hire a guide to take them on a rafting trip. Guides are well-versed in navigating rough river conditions. You are more likely to get soaking wet shooting the rapids in a raft than paddling on a calm lake while kayaking.
If you want a calm day on the water, kayaking might be right for you. If you are looking for an exhilarating water experience, you might give rafting a try.
Nikki Webster
Nikki Webster is a travel writer at Brit on the Move. She covers how to travel while grinding a day job and travel without breaking the bank, hotels, cruising, and off-the-beaten-track experiences.
Know Your Abilities
Kayaking is often done on lakes and calmer rivers. Kayaking is often the best place to start. You have control over your vessel and will be in water you can handle.
River rafting, while it can be a calm float down a river, more often includes some rapids. Often, river rafting is done in a group on a shared raft. If considering river rafting, how comfortable are you with the possibility of falling out? Can you swim well? Will you be rattled if you fall out? Lastly, you must determine the severity of the rapids on the river. What level is it, and can you handle it? I am experienced, and a level 3 is enough for me and might be too much for a beginner.
Mark Wilcox
Mark Wilcox, Founder of Camping Forge. He loves the outdoors. He can be found every weekend hiking or camping.
Are you going solo?
If you’re going solo, then a kayak is going to be easier for you to control on your own compared to a raft. If you’re going with other people, then you need to consider how much space you need to determine which is the better choice. Rafts tend to have more capacity for occupants.
If you’re nervous about going out on the water, then a hard body kayak is better suited for you because it’s more stable in the water compared to an inflatable raft.
Cynthia Halow
Cynthia Halow, Founder of Personality Max. Figuring out people’s inner workings has always been Cynthia’s passion, and she has an MA in Industrial-Organizational Psychology to prove it.
Alone or with friends?
There isn’t much of a difference between the two activities because they both require muscle work. However, one involves teamwork, whereas the other involves solo paddling.
If you enjoy spending time with your friends and working together to achieve a goal, then water rafting is the activity for you. However, if you enjoy working alone, accomplishing things on your own, and having your own time, kayaking is the activity for you.
Otherwise, there isn’t much of a difference between the two. They both have similar benefits and are enjoyable outdoor activities.
Know Your Preferences
When choosing between these two excellent water sports, my tip would be to know if you prefer partaking in activities and connecting in nature alone or doing so with a group of people.
Kayaking allows you to do so by yourself, although it can pose more of a danger, as you will be all alone if you happen to run into some trouble. Whitewater rafting, on the other hand, is a group activity that will allow for some nice team building. It is a great activity that binds people together as you will be facing and overcoming challenges together.
All in all, there are no bad choices, and it all boils down to what your preferences are. Whether you choose kayaking or water rafting, you’ll surely be left with an experience you will never forget.
Kristin Young
Kristin Young, Founder of Snorkel & Hike. She is a Caribbean travel blogger who spends her time exploring the best reefs, trails, beaches, and experiences the Caribbean has to offer to help others plan amazing vacations and getaways.
Are You Seeking Adventure?
If you like to take it easy, then flatwater kayaking is the perfect choice for you because the water is calm, and you are in control of things like speed on the water. If you prefer a bit of adventure, then rafting is the optimal choice for you.
I think rafts are slightly harder to control, and they tend to be used on fast-moving water, which makes each time rafting an exciting, new experience. Of course, keep in mind that rafting isn’t really a solo activity. If you’re on your own, then you’ll need to stick with kayaking. Just keep in mind that you can spice up your kayaking adventures by taking the kayak out on faster moving waterways.
This is a crowdsourced article. Contributors are not necessarily affiliated with this website and their statements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of this website, other people, businesses, or other contributors.
