I bought one of these in yellow, which did come with both the paddle and backrest, to try with my 3 children ages 5, 7 & 9. We took it to the lake to try out and all 3 were able to paddle it easily. They even took turns with one paddling and another sitting on the back without overturning. The only time it did overturn was when all 3 tried to climb aboard at once. The thought that was fun, so they took turns tipping the yak. They had no trouble turning back over and climbing back on. I am about to order more so they will each have one. I'd definitely recommend this kayak for little ones.

I bought this kayak on sale for just over $80 specifically for my two granddaughters, aged 8 and 13. The kayak fit them both well although the older one might grow out of it my next summer. When it came time to try it our on flat, calm water, both of them took right off and had the hang of paddling in no time. Neither one had any prior experience kayaking. I was very impressed by how well the kayak tracked with minimum effort. The older granddaughter even took down some small rapids. Great buy and a lot of fun. Be aware the shipping took close to 2 weeks despite what you are told by the tracking info.

Bought one last year so my daughter can go along with me. The one BIG drawback is no seat back. My daughter doesn’t want to go out on it unless it has a seat back, she complained it hurt her back. And I’m not finding a simple seat the fits this without having to drill holes in it. For this one thing I would NOT recommend it.

Easy to carry, well-designed little boat, perfect for this 110 lb 57-year old to go exploring the bay shore. Works surprisingly well. I took it out yesterday for the first time, transporting it in my Fit with a tarp, and it was a breeze to carry and to hose off afterwards. I wasn't looking for professional quality, just an easy, functional boat to explore around in, and this fills the bill.

We ordered these for our two youngest children ages 5 and 7. The first time out on the river we tied them to a tree just in case the current was too strong for them, but they tackled it with ease. They can scoot through the water like little torpedoes! We are amazed at how easily they can maneuver them around - our four children ended up in a game of kayak tag and the younger ones were much more agile. Stable enough my 7 year old enjoys standing up and paddling.

Extremely stable. My 6 yr old grandson got on it & paddled away like he'd been doing it all his life. Hopped off in deep water & had no problem climbing back on from the back. Paddle is very light weight. Kayak can be handled easily by a child. Terrific, especially for the price.

We finally bought one of these after always having to borrow my sisters because my son loved it so much. These are perfect for all aged kids...my 5 year old does great on it as does my 15 year old. Very sturdy and well built and the many fun color choices are always a hit!! Well done lifetime.

I have 2 of these kayaks. The kids enjoy them so much. They’re light enough for us to haul without dad along. At about 5ish they’ve started on them and get the concept down. It’s been so fun to watch them learn and get better. I don’t have any complaints!

At $90, shipping included, you can’t beat this kayak. I ordered one for my six year old, who has been asking to go kayaking with me. She is very tall for her age, but was the perfect size for the kayak. She was able to handle it easily. It is very light and easy to carry (though could use a handle on both ends). Ours does not have a back rest, but it does not seem necessary. Highly recommended.

My dad bought my son a blue kayak and my daughter the pink. They offer hours of enjoyment for the kids and piece of mind for me known that the kayaks are quality made and durable enough to handle whatever my kids's imaginations can put them through!