Best Fishing Kayak Under $500: Complete Reviews With Comparisons

The Durango is a convertible one- or two-person kayak from Solstice by Swimline.

This brand is a family company founded in 1971.

Since then, it has expanded from swimming pools to a broader variety of products that help you make memories on the water.

Review

There are obviously times when you’ll want to take someone fishing with you, whether they be your partner or your child.

This convertible kayak gives you the option of having a passenger when you want one. However, you need to stick to a 400-pound maximum weight.

When using the second seat, you’ll obviously have a lot less room for your legs, and you might be a bit cramped if you’re both very tall.

The construction is rugged with a tough 840 denier nylon cover and a triple-layered bottom made of 1000 denier nylon, making it more puncture-resistant.

This tough bottom also makes it more dog-friendly than many other inflatable kayaks.

What’s impressive is the I-Beam floor, which is very strong but surprisingly lightweight for easier transport.

This kayak comes with a carry bag, making it much easier to pack away and move around when not in use.

You get two sturdy adjustable bucket seats in the package, so you can just leave one in storage if you don’t plan on using it.

A detachable skeg is also included, which helps with tracking if the water conditions are rougher.

You can easily and safely secure your fishing gear with heavy-duty D-ring tie-downs and bungee cords covering the fore and aft.

The Durango is quickly inflated and deflated, too, thanks to the high-pressure Boston valves.

Once inflated, you can maneuver it easily because of the two built-in carrying handles.

Unfortunately, as with the first kayak on this list, you won’t find any fishing pole holders on this model.

To be fair, it does seem to be a demanding feature to come by when looking at the under $500 price range.

For our final option in our search for fishing kayaks under 500 dollars, we found another one from Sevylor.

We already looked at their one-person kayak, but the Big Basin can accommodate up to three keen anglers.

Review

As with the one-man kayak, this is constructed with heavy-duty PVC and a tarpaulin-lined bottom to make it more puncture-resistant.

While it is very rugged, it is better suited to lakes and isn’t recommended for even moderate white water (like the kayak from Airhead).

This kayak will only be suitable for anglers who like to fish in lakes and very slow-moving water.

Multiple air chambers are utilized to help you stay afloat if one is punctured.

As an added protection, the airtight system is guaranteed not to leak.

Like the other kayaks featured here, it features a Boston valve for easier and faster inflation and deflation.

As a kayak that seats three people, we really like that you can move the adjustable seats to suit your needs and preferences.

There is a maximum weight allowance of 490 pounds, but you could easily remove one or two of the seats if needed.

Carrying handles make it easier to get in and out of the water.

It also has spray covers that will help block splashes from the oars.

When you are out fishing in colder temperatures, these spray covers are a very nice feature to have.

Finally, this kayak isn’t even the most expensive on our list, so Sevylor has done well in making a sturdy, three-man kayak at this price range.

Having said that, however, there isn’t a lot of space left over for fishing gear when you have three people in this kayak, so it might be better to limit it to two.