How do you get your kayak down to the water? Depending on where you love to paddle, it can certainly be a struggle! What you need, is the best kayak cart for you and your favorite water toy.
Kayak carts are used to transport heavy kayaks long distances from your vehicle to the lake, ocean or river.
You’ll find foldable and non-foldable carts of various sizes, to handle different types of terrains.
Let’s check them out.
Table of Contents
5 Top Kayak Carts
| Image | Product Name | Load Capacity | Width Options | Terrain | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Malone Auto Racks Xpress Scupper Kayak Cart |
200 lbs | 6 ½ inches to 16 ½ inches | All terrain but sand | Check Current Price |
 |
Malone Nomad Standard Universal Kayak Cart |
150 lbs | 24 inches | All-terrain | Check Current Price |
 |
Paddleboy Peanut Kayak Cart | 150 lbs | 23 ¼ inches | Concrete, Asphalt, Level Dirt | Check Current Price |
 |
Seattle Sports Scupper Swift, Black | 150 lbs | 29 inches | All-terrain | Check Current Price |
 |
Trailtrekker kayak cart | 150 lbs | 24 inches 27 inches 29 inches | All-terrain | Check Current Price |
Each of the kayak carts on this list are universal, so they can haul almost any yak. However, what you need to consider is the type of terrain you’ll use it on, how portable it should be and how much weight you can handle.
Choose the Best Kayak Cart for You
1. Malone Auto Racks Xpress Scupper Kayak Cart
The Malone Auto Racks Xpress Scupper Kayak Cart was designed for sit-on-top kayaks. However, as long as your kayak has scupper holes, it will be compatible with this kayak cart.
The Xpress Scupper has ten-inch airless tires. These wheels allow it to handle most terrains fairly well. The Scupper does struggle a bit more on loose sand, so if you primarily plan to cart your kayak across the beach, be aware of this before you buy.
Because the tires are airless, there is a reduced chance of damage.
A feature that is unique to the Xpress is its variable width. You can change the width to allow for kayaks of many sizes to be carried on it. Furthermore, it can expand from 6 ½ inches to 16 ½ inches.
Just ensure that, if you’ve stretched it to the greatest width, you don’t take it over extremely rough surfaces.
Another perk to this kayak cart is its load capacity. It can carry up to 200 pounds, which means your kayak and gear should fit on it easily. This cart would be ideal for carrying a small kayak and gear for camping, hunting and fishing.
Keep in mind that the Xpress is made from aluminum, but has padding to protect your kayak. A foam block sits on the lower crossbar and there is upright padding as well. All of this is removable.
Pros
- Adjustable width
- Foam padding
- 200-pound capacity
- All-terrain
- Airless tires
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Difficult on sand
2. Malone Nomad Standard Universal Kayak Cart
Another kayak cart by Malone, the Nomad is similar to the Xpress, with some unique features. It’s not designed specifically for sit-on-tops, which means it comes with straps to tie the kayak onto it. Your kayak does not need to have scupper holes to work with this cart.
Like the Xpress, the Nomad has 10 inch airless tires. However, this cart handles the sand much better. This is because it’s approximately 5 pounds lighter than the Xpress.
Again, as these tires are airless it means that they will not pop or be easily damaged. The tires come off easily, making this kayak cart great to store.
The load capacity is smaller for the Nomad. It can only haul 150 pounds, but this should still be enough weight capacity for your kayak and your gear. Your kayak rests on top of kayak carts, so you can place your gear inside the cockpit for transfer.
Additionally, the Nomad comes with a kickstand. This makes it much easier for you to load your kayak. It also has 1 ¾ inch padding on the crossbars, keeping your kayak safe from scratching against the metal.
Unlike the Xpress, the Nomad does not vary in width. Its frame size is 24-by-14-by-12. If you feel your kayak would be too wide for this, consider the Xpress instead.
Another difference from the Xpress, is that this kayak cart breaks down very quickly and easily and can be stored in most kayak hatches. This is a major perk, as you do not have to haul this cart back to your car and leave your kayak unattended.
Finally, the Nomad comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Limited Lifetime Warranty
- Ten Inch Tires
- Kickstand
- Breaks down easily for storage
- 150-pound weight capacity
- Comes with straps
- Lighter than the Xpress
Cons
- Width is not adjustable
3. Paddleboy Peanut Kayak Cart
The Peanut Kayak Cart designed by Paddleboy is a smaller version of the Original Large Boat Cart.
If you like the perks of this cart, but prefer a larger cart, you can purchase a larger size. The larger size can haul most small boat types, which makes it more versatile for you and your family.
The wheels on the Peanut are rubber tread wheels. They are inflatable, which means they can pop upon being used. However, the Peanut still handles most terrains with ease. The tires on the Peanut do not pop off. Therefore, it can be tricky to store this cart.
In terms of movement, it does best on concrete, asphalt or very level dirt. It is not recommended for use on rough terrain or in the sand.
The Peanut can still haul 150 pounds, which is great for your kayak as well as extra gear.
Like the Nomad, the Peanut folds up very easily, meaning you can put the cart inside of your kayak hatch.
Another benefit here is that it doesn’t break down into pieces, but folds up, and a folding cart is a major perk.
For dimensions, the Peanut has a width of 23 ¼ inches and a height of 23 inches. This gives your kayak nice lift and should support the width of most.
Additionally, it has a foam rest for your kayak. This foam piece has another major benefit – it floats! Should your kayak tip and all of your possessions spill out, the cart will not be lost to you. This is a major advantage for many kayakers.
Pros
- Floats
- Folds up for storage
- Fits in most hatches
- Tall
- Good width
- 150-pound weight capacity
- 10-inch wheels
- Comes in a larger size
Cons
- Wheels are inflatable
- Wheels are not removable
- Not all terrain
4. Seattle Sports Scupper Swift, Black
The Seattle Sports Scupper Swift is another kayak cart designed to carry sit-on-top kayaks. That being said, any kayak with Scupper holes can be carried on this cart.
Much like the two kayak carts made by Malone, this kayak cart has airless tires. It is difficult to damage these tires and they are equipped to handle very rough terrains.
It also has a 150-pound weight capacity, like the Peanut and Nomad. This means you can easily bring your gear with you and your yak.
Once you get to the water, this cart breaks down to fit inside your storage hatch.
The other kayak carts on this list have had a crossbar covered in foam that the kayak rests on for its journey. This kayak cart has two upright posts with rubber pieces on the ends.
Your kayak balances on these two rubber ends on the upright posts. This may not sound very secure, but when you add in the scupper post, the kayak can rest very safely.
The Scupper comes in at twenty-eight and a half inches wide and twenty-two inches in height. This should be more than wide enough to fit any kayak extremely well.
You do not need straps for this kayak cart. It merely attaches to the Scupper post, which fits inside most Scupper holes and away you go!
Pros
- Airless tires
- Breaks down for storage
- Rubber connectors
- 150-pound weight capacity
- All terrain
Cons
- Only for Kayaks with Scupper holes
5. Trailtrekker Kayak Cart
Trailtrekker has designed a kayak cart that comes in at twenty-four inches in width. That being said, you can purchase a twenty-seven inch or a thirty-inch kayak cart of the same model.
This kayak cart comes with air-filled tires, which means they can be damaged. However, Trailtrekker has a reputation for replacing these car wheels at no cost to the purchaser.
A very wide diameter allows the tires to traverse any terrain, with the exception of very soft sand. Most kayak carts will struggle with a trip over soft sand though, as the sand sinks too quickly for the tires to compensate.
This kayak trailer is easy to pull, for any size kayakers. As is standard, this cart can haul 150 pounds of kayak and gear.
Furthermore, this cart breaks down very uniquely. The wheels come off and the rest of the cart fits down into the wheels. This means that it stores vertically, which can save you extra space in your hatch.
On the axle of the cart are two foam rollers, which protect the kayak base.
Pros
- 150-pound weight capacity
- Foam rollers
- 24 inch, 27 inch, or 30 inch width
- Breaks down for storing
- Wide tire diameter
- All-terrain
- Tires will be replaced by the company
- Anyone can pull their kayak easily.
Cons
- Foam rollers can break down
- Tires can deflate
How to Buy the Best Kayak Cart or Dolly
To ensure you choose the best kayak cart for you, make sure it can accommodate the weight you need it to, has the proper width for your kayak, can store well inside your kayak, and can cross the terrain you most often navigate.
Weight Capacity
Most kayaks weigh between 40 and 80 pounds. Many kayak carts can haul up to 150 pounds. Therefore, it’s important to consider what type of gear you may be bringing.
Some kayakers camp and carry all of their camping gear in the kayak with them. If that’s the case for you, you’ll need a kayak cart that carries a large amount of weight. On this list, the most ideal kayak for heavy gear is the Malone Xpress.
Width
There are three main types of kayaks. Sea kayaks, sit-on-top and recreational kayaks, and hunting or fishing kayaks.
Sea kayaks are the most narrow, often between twenty and twenty-five inches. Recreational and sit-on-top kayaks tend to be between twenty-five and thirty inches in width. Hunting and fishing kayaks are over thirty inches in width.
Each of these kayak types varies in width based on the stability needed for the activity they’re designed for. This means your kayak cart must be wide enough to meet the needs of your kayak.
Storage Ability
Storage ability is also crucial. You must be able to store your kayak in your vehicle and in your kayak hatch. There are three types of carts: those that break down, that fold, and carts that do not do either.
If you purchase a cart that breaks down, it’s almost guaranteed to fit in your hatch. This is of great benefit because you’re guaranteed to not have to make a trip back to your car. For kayak carts that break down, you’re often left with extra room in your hatch to store gear as well.
However, if the cart breaks down you’ll have lots of pieces, so make sure you keep an eye on them all!
If you purchase a cart that folds, you don’t have to face the possibility of losing pieces of your cart. However, it’s not guaranteed that the cart will easily fit in your kayak hatch.
Finally, there are many kayak carts that do not fold or break down. This almost guarantees you will have to make a trip back to your vehicle after bringing your kayak to the waterfront.
Terrain
Finally, consider the terrain you hope to use the cart across.
Choosing a kayak with airless tires is ideal for a wide range of surfaces. If you are crossing rough terrains, you often need to pull your kayak over sticks and stones. These types of obstacles can very easily damage your kayak tires. Airless tires mean that there’s no chance of popping or leaking.
If you’re crossing a wetland, make sure your kayak cart has a very large width and is extremely lightweight. This allows for the weight to be more easily dispersed. The kayak and kayak cart then run a lower chance of sinking into the muck and mire.
Our Final Review for the Best Kayak Cart
Choosing the best kayak cart for you is easy when you consider the terrain, how much weight you need to carry and how you’d like to store it, before you buy. Once you’ve made your purchase, you’ll say goodbye to struggling with your kayak for good!
Looking for new spots to try out your new kayak cart? Check out amazing kayaking and camping trips in the USA.
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