Walk into a Scheels sporting goods store and you’re looking at 2.4 million products spread across 200,000 square feet of retail space. Make a beeline for the Scheels kayak department and you’ll find a variety of choices and a range of models. Scheels sells kayaks manufactured by Hobie, Perception, Pelican, Kokopelli, BOTE, Wilderness Systems and Old Town, among others. These are reputable brands, so if you’re buying a kayak from Scheels, you can rest assured it’s a quality product.
Kayaks for sale at Scheels include entry-level recreational and fishing kayaks aimed at casual paddlers, as well as more performance-minded kayaks aimed at seasoned paddlers and anglers. Scheels also stocks a diverse selection of kayak paddles, life vests, safety gear and other accessories.
Wear A Life Jacket
- Everyone, even strong swimmers, needs to wear a life jacket at all times when on the water. It is extremely difficult to put a life jacket on once you fall into the water. Even a light wind can blow any paddlecraft away from you, faster than you can swim.
- Always wear a USCG-approved Level 70 or Type III life jacket designed for paddling.
Scheels currently has 33 stores located in 16 states—North Dakota, Iowa, Idaho, Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Nevada, Illinois, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Utah and Kansas. Whether you are just starting out kayaking or are an experienced paddler, Scheels is a one-stop shop for all your kayaking needs.
Read on to discover the best Scheels kayaks of the year and everything you need to know about buying a kayak at Scheels.
Top picks: Best Scheels kayaks for 2024
The following Scheels kayaks have received the highest star ratings from reviewers in our Paddling Buyer’s Guide. See and review all Scheels kayaks here.
Best Scheels Kayaks
Mirage Outback
Sportsman PDL 106
Inlet
Radar 115 Fishing Kayak
Outlaw 11.5 Fishing Kayak
Pungo 120 Recreational Kayak
Mirage Pro Angler 12 with 360 Technology
Shop for Scheels Kayaks
Lining the walls and stacked to the ceiling, Scheels kayaks rise like giant sequoia from the box store’s aisles of clothes and gear. You’ll find recreational and fishing kayaks at Scheels, from entry-level models to advanced models. Selection varies by location and whether you’re shopping in-store or online. The links below will take you to our Paddling Buyer’s Guide where you can find every Scheels kayak on the market, including specs, prices, reviews and where to buy.
Shop by type
Shop by waterway
Shop by brand
Scheels kayak buying guide
Scheels offers high-quality kayaks from a half-dozen reputable brands. This makes the sporting goods store a trusted choice for paddlers seeking their new or next kayak. Buying a kayak from a well-respected brand ensures you’re buying a quality product that promises durability, performance and comfort, which combine to create an overall better paddling experience.
Scheels sells sit-inside, sit-on-top, inflatable and folding kayaks. Scheels kayaks are primarily designed for fishing and recreational paddling, catering to paddlers most interested in wetting a line and enjoying sheltered waters and short adventures.
While Scheels sells kayaks suited for a range of uses and types of waterways, its selection isn’t endless. In total, Scheels sells approximately 30 different kayak models, but each brick-and-mortar store only carries a few models in stock at a time. More kayaks are for sale on Scheels.com, but not every kayak is eligible for delivery. On Scheels’ website, you can search for stores carrying the specific kayak you want. Whether you purchase a Scheels kayak in-store or online, you won’t be able to test the kayak at Scheels before you buy it. Scheels staff have experience in various sports, but you might not find an expert in the kind of paddling you want to do.
The best tip we can offer in choosing the right kayak is to try before you buy. Admittedly, this advice is difficult to apply if you’re shopping for a Scheels kayak since these massive stores are typically located in urban areas, far from the water. Instead, ask your paddling friends if they have the kayak model you’re interested in buying, and see if you can take it out on the water for a test drive. On-the-water experience will allow you to get a real feel for the kayak and appreciate its specific attributes and design elements.
Before you get on the water, don’t forget to stock up on all the other paddling essentials, including life jacket, paddle, buoyant line, pealess whistle and waterproof flashlight. Fortunately, all these items are also available at Scheels, right alongside your kayak.
Carry A Whistle (And A Light For Night Use)
- Every paddler should have a whistle attached to his/her life jacket.
- Carry a light at night. Consider carrying a distress signal device.
Scheels kayaks buyer’s FAQ
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What types of kayaks are for sale at Scheels?
Scheels kayaks cover the gambit from basic to blinged out. Scheels fishing kayaks make up more than half the inventory. The store stocks paddle, pedal and motorized Scheels fishing kayaks. The next most popular category is sit-inside recreational kayaks. This kind of kayak is most appropriate for sheltered waters, like calm lakes and lazy rivers. Scheels also offers a selection of inflatable and folding kayaks. If you like fishing with a friend, Scheels sells tandem kayaks, ranging in price from a $900 polyethylene sit-inside to a $5,000 pedal kayak. Learn more about the different types of kayaks.
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What brands of kayaks are for sale at Scheels?
Scheels carries a range of kayak brands, from premium to bargain. Scroll through Scheels.com to find kayaks from Hobie, Old Town, Wilderness Systems, Pelican, Perception and more. The inflatable selection at Scheels includes full-feature BOTE kayaks and packrafts from Kokopelli. Scheels carries a half-dozen kayak brands, and all of their offerings are manufactured by respectable companies. I would paddle almost any kayak at Scheels.
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Can you demo a kayak at Scheels?
At Scheels, you can play Pac-Man and rollerball bowling, ride a Ferris wheel and take a walking tour through American history, but you can’t demo a kayak before you buy it. The next best way to choose a kayak is to research before you shop. Identify kayaks appropriate for your needs and search for matching models on Scheels.com. Then find the best match at a Scheels store close to home. Even though you can’t test the boat before you buy it, kayaks at Scheels usually have a liberal return policy. If you don’t like a Scheels kayak, take it back to the store for a refund or exchange.
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Can you rent a kayak from Scheels?
You can rent skiing and snowboarding gear at Scheels, but you can’t rent a kayak. Each Scheels store offers rental equipment, but they haven’t added kayak rentals to the menu.
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What is the price range for fishing kayaks at Scheels?
The most expensive kayak on Scheels.com is a Hobie Mirage Tandem Island catamaran with pedal power and sail power for almost $9,000. The least expensive kayak is an eight-foot-long thermoformed Pelican Sentinel 80x costing less than $300. Most of the kayaks cost more than $500, but there are a couple for less.
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What are the warranties and return policies for kayaks at Scheels?
“Customers are always our first priority,” claims the first line in the Scheels return policy. Return any item for a refund or exchange up to 365 days after purchase. The kayak has to be in the same condition as purchased to qualify for the hassle-free return policy.
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When do Scheels kayaks go on sale?
Scheels kayaks frequently go on sale. Scheels is a huge box store with a giant inventory, so they offer low prices on all their boats and gear. Scheels doesn’t use coupons or promo codes, you’ll see the lowest price on Scheels kayaks for sale on the price tag in red numbers. After you buy a Scheels kayak, you don’t have to worry about finding the same kayak at a lower price; Scheels has a price match guarantee.
Scheels kayak reviews
You can’t demo a Scheels kayak but you can read Scheels kayak reviews below. Our experts have tested the best kayaks for fishing and recreation, and our legion of readers have added their unbiased opinions to the conversation. Scheels kayak reviews include specs and features with opinions on performance and best use.
- Recreational Kayak Review: Wilderness Systems Pungo 120
- Hybrid SUP Kayak Review: Hobie Mirage Lynx
- Fishing Kayak Review: Perception Pescador 12
- Folding Kayak Review: Oru Inlet
- Fishing Kayak Review: Old Town Sportsman 106 Minn Kota
- Boat Review: Hobie Mirage Revolution 13 Kayak
- Review Of Old Town’s New Sportsman Line Of Fully Featured Fishing Crafts
- Pedal Kayak Review: Hobie’s Mirage Passport
Feature photo: Little Mountain 5/Wikimedia Commons
