The Unplugged PE sea kayak is perfect for exploring the world of sea kayaking. It offers excellent responsiveness and effortless maneuverability. Ideal for tours, classes, and beginners seeking a professional-grade allround kayak.
Length and width
With medium length and width Unplugged gives you just the right balance between speed and stability.
Want to know why size matters?
Height measurements
With its low front and rear deck Unplugged sea kayak tracks amazingly well even in windy conditions. The low profile also gives you a kayak where you can paddle unobstructed and really hone your skill set.
Why is keeping a low profile so important?
Material and weight
Unplugged is a 3-layer PE kayak. The 3 layer structure provides a sturdy, strong and rigid kayak and reduces weight.
Get nerdy about the materials
Cockpit size and shape
The medium sized keyhole cockpit and relatively wide front enables optimal paddling technique and makes it easy to get in and out. The thigh braces are padded and carefully placed giving you full control when maneuvering your Unplugged sea kayak.
Learn about the basics of control
Hull shape and rocker
Unplugged is easy to maneuver thanks to the hull shape and rocker (the curvature from bow to stern). Unplugged has a so-called shallow-V hull and medium rocker giving it a good balance between tracking and maneuverability.
What is shallow-V and rocker?
Hatches, compartments, lines & bungees
The round hatches have a nice fit to keep water out – and yes they come in color! Unplugged can easily carry enough gear if you are up for more than just a single day on water. Deck lines and bungees are carefully placed and bulkheads are sealed from both sides. Looking for a sea kayak designed for longer tours? Check out Endless sea kayak.
Skeg system
Unplugged has a cord controlled skeg system. The handle is placed at the hip making it easy to reach and ensures that it will not be a bother for those with long legs. The Unplugged skeg system are from Kajak Sport which is one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of kayak parts.
Extras
You can choose from a wide variety of add-ons to suit your needs. Add a lock bracket to secure your kayak or a rescue system to help you re-enter your kayak in case of a capsize. You can also add an easily accessible extra storage compartment in front of the cockpit. The Unplugged comes with a skeg as standard, but if you prefer a rudder, it is designed to accommodate one.
Size guide
Unplugged comes in sizes Regular and Large.
Regular: 160-190 cm up to 90 kg.
Large: 170-210 cm from 90 kg and up.
The Unplugged PE sea kayak is designed to bring joy to paddlers of all levels. Perfect for beginners, it offers room to grow as you gain experience. With its solid performance and versatile design, it provides a strong foundation for learning strokes and techniques while remaining enjoyable for seasoned paddlers.
The Unplugged features modern symmetry and a sleek bow, ensuring excellent tracking, even without a rudder. Its low rear deck minimizes wind resistance and simplifies rolling and self-rescue.
The shallow V hull provides exceptional stability, boosting confidence for new paddlers, while a continuous keel line ensures speed without sacrificing maneuverability.
An ergonomic seat and padded backrest offer cockpit comfort, while integrated thigh braces enhance control. The medium keyhole cockpit supports effective paddling technique and allows easy entry and exit. A recessed rim makes attaching a spray deck effortless.
The deck includes essential bungees, recessed fittings for safety, and a paddle roll on the front line for easy paddle storage. Sturdy bulkheads and round hatches provide secure storage, while the skeg control box is conveniently placed at hip level for easy operation.
You can personalize your Unplugged kayak with custom colors, equipment, and features. Add Kajak Sport’s 3.5-liter daybox to the foredeck or install a rudder with built-in cable routing. Optional add-ons include a rescue system with YKK buckles, a stainless-steel lock bracket for secure storage, and SmartTrack footrests for enhanced control.
And we love to share our knowledge
Configure hull, line, bungee and hatch colors
Designed at our offices and waters of Denmark
Uncompromizing quality
at a great price
Just like any other sports equipment a kayak needs to fit you size. If it is too small it will feel uncomfortable if it is too big you will have a hard time maneuvering it.
For a kayak to have a good fit you should feel comfortable in the seat. The thigh braces must have a firm grib on your thigh and the footrests must be possible to adjust to fit the length of your legs.
You weight is also important. If you are to heavy or light for the kayak it will impact the performance of the kayak because it is either to low or high in the water. For that reason you should also consider how you will be using your kayak. If your plan is to often go on multi-day trips and bring lots of gear you need to calculate the extra weight of your gear into your choice of kayak.
The speed, stability and maneuverability of your kayak is closely connected to these characteristics. Here's a short recap of what it all means.
To put it simply: A narrow kayak is faster than a wide one but may challenge your balance a bit more.
If you are new to kayaking, the idea of a wide kayak might seem most appealing. However, after just a few hours of paddling, you will likely find your balance, and at that point, you may want to trade that initial feeling of safety for more speed.
As with length, there is no definitive answer, but most sea kayaks are between 50–60 cm in width and can be categorized as follows:
50–53 cm: Narrow
54–56 cm: Average
57–60 cm: Wide
The height of a kayak affects both the amount of space below deck and its performance in windy conditions. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in how easy it is to reenter the kayak during a self-rescue.
If you capsize and need to reenter your kayak, you’ll have to pull yourself up onto the rear deck. Every inch you need to overcome adds to the effort required. At first glance, this might not seem significant, but when you're in the water next to your kayak, the difference between a high and a low rear deck becomes strikingly clear. For the more skilled paddler, the lower rear deck also means that rolling the kayak will be much easier.
A low center of gravity while paddling enhances stability and balance. A kayak with a high front deck forces your arms into a higher position, which is neither good for balance nor for your shoulders. Additionally, it makes it significantly harder to refine your paddling technique to its optimal level.
The most commonly used materials for modern sea kayaks are plastic and composites such as fiberglass or carbon. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages, and both are available in a wide range of quality levels.
A visualization of DesignKayaks' 3-layer PE construction.
When choosing a new sea kayak, you’ll likely encounter three main options for materials: single-layer polyethylene (PE), three-layer polyethylene (PE), or composite materials such as fiberglass, carbon, or Kevlar.
The table below highlights the pros and cons of these different materials, helping you make an informed decision. If you’re interested in exploring the topic further and learning how to identify high-quality materials while avoiding poor-quality options, you can find more details in DesignKayaks material guide
The weight of a sea kayak depends on its production methods and size. Most polyethylene (PE) sea kayaks weigh between 24–28 kg, while lightweight composite kayaks can weigh as little as 16–18 kg. However, this reduction in weight often comes with a significant increase in price. Additionally, lighter kayaks tend to be more fragile, so finding the right balance between strength and weight is crucial.
While weight isn’t the most critical factor when paddling, there are some important considerations. For example, the amount of gear you plan to carry and how low your kayak will sit in the water once your own weight is added can impact performance. For lighter paddlers, the weight of the kayak can also influence maneuverability, making it an essential factor to keep in mind.
Another critical aspect to consider is how you’ll transport your kayak. Will you need to carry it over long distances? Are you able to load and unload it from your car roof rack on your own? These practical considerations are just as important as the kayak’s weight on the water.
The cockpit is where all control of your kayak begins. Footrests, thigh braces, and the backrest are the three key points of contact with your boat.
In the illustration, you can see the key contact points in the cockpit of your sea kayak. The thigh braces (A) and footrests (C) are the most important. These are the points where you make direct contact with your boat and use your body to maneuver and control it.
The seat (D) must be comfortable enough to provide peace and energy for paddling without causing fatigue or restriction. The backrest (B) should support the lower part of your back but must never obstruct ample body rotation and movement when you are paddling. Additionally, it should not be so high that it interferes with reentering your cockpit during a self-rescue.
Close contact allows you to fully utilize your body when maneuvering—for example, by edging the kayak. As a new paddler, edging may initially feel challenging, difficult, or unsafe. However, with just a bit of practice, you’ll soon be able to use edging effectively and experience a completely different flow while paddling.
If you’re already a fan of waves, rolling, and playful paddling, close contact is absolutely essential for a great experience.
How does the shape of the hull influence the performance of your sea kayak? It’s not solely about whether the hull is long, short, narrow, or wide – the specific shape of the kayak plays a significant role in determining its capabilities.
The rocker refers to the upward curve of the front and rear ends of a sea kayak from its center, giving it a banana-like shape. This design feature plays a crucial role in determining the kayak’s maneuverability.
A kayak with significant rocker is highly maneuverable, making it well-suited for navigating rough waters or waves where quick directional adjustments are needed. This increased maneuverability, however, comes at the expense of speed and tracking, as the curved shape reduces the amount of keel line in contact with the water.
If your priority is speed and straight-line tracking, such as for long-distance paddling, you should look for a kayak with less rocker. A lesser "banana" hull profile allows the kayak to maintain a steadier and more efficient course through the water. Balancing rocker with your paddling needs is key to finding the ideal kayak for your intended use.
Hatches, bungees, and lines are all key components on your sea kayak? But what is the actual purpose and what should you pay attention to?
In a sea kayak, the compartments are large enough to store luggage and gear for longer trips. They also ensure buoyancy if you capsize. That’s why it is important to always make sure that your hatches fit snugly and are watertight. The bulkheads are sealed watertight from both sides to ensure a 100% watertight seal.
The lines fitted along the deck's outer rim are called deck lines. They are used to grab and handle the kayak in rescue situations and therefore need to be tightly secured. The fit should allow just enough space to slide your hand underneath for a tight and secure grip. The small ball mounted on the front deck line makes it easier to secure your paddle in situations where you need both hands free.
The elastics—or bungees—fitted across the front and rear decks are used to secure items such as a bilge pump, a paddle float, an extra paddle, a compass, or map to your kayak. In general all the things that you need to have access to, when you are paddling. However, avoid overloading your deck, as this can affect wind sensitivity and stability.
Add extra storage space. The daybox can be added to the kayak just in front of the cockpit for easy access when you are on the water.
Make a self rescue easier. With two simple straps mounted just behind the cockpit your paddle is easily secured for a self-resuce.
With a lock fitting you can easily secure your kayak with any wire lock.
All our kayaks comes with skeg as standard, but if you prefer a kayak with rudder both Unplugged and Endless are prepaired for rudder.
Endless has an extra option allowing to add a compass in front of the kayak. Please note that the compass is not applicable to Unplugged and Awesome.
