Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I reviewed and researched and hunted high and low for an "inexpensive" kayak since I do not intend to become an expert and just wanted to get something to go out on a smooth lake or a well behaved river... This unit has some of the very best overall ratings from the 15 or 20 sites that sell it of any product I have ever seen. It is four plus stars everywhere and hundreds and hundreds of reviews (recognizing duplication across sites). BUT, shop around. Prices on this unit range from 180 to 300 bucks. If you are not too color sensitive, and happen to live in the right place and hold your head just right you can find them for 180 bucks shipped free to SOME Kmarts. Well my Kmart was not on the list but Sears was, So I paid 200 and got the lime green shipped free to my local Sears Homestore. Bright is good when powerboats with drunk drivers are around I hear. Living in Montana, the guy working there said he had been looking at the two I bought and was in the market and I pretty much sold him on the things I'm saying here. You can go right now and pay 260 for an orange or green one at Walmarts across the country if instant gratification is high on your list. The Walmart version comes with a paddle that is probably about a 20 dollar back up paddle you will need to spend around 40 bucks for a paddle that is worth anything at all, maybe as low as 32 to 35. And true kayakers will scoff at your purchase but they will grudgingly acknowledge the value of this kayak in the context of what it is made for and that is children, middle aged weekend kayakers, and people who want to destress kayaking not test their mettle against nature. For these purposes it appears you cannot go wrong with this kayak.