A kayak weighs abut 32 lbs on average. The 25 kayaks that I looked at ranged from 22-82 lbs depending on size and materials. A single person should be able to carry a kayak.
I did some research and this is what I found:
| Make | Model | Weight | |
| Aquaglide | Navarro 110 Convertible Inflatable Kayak | 28 lbs | |
| Apollo | Sea Eagle 330 | 26 lbs | |
| Apollo | Solo Red | 40 lbs | |
| Lifetime | Charger 10 ft Sit-In Kayak | 47 lbs | |
| Lifetime | 10ft Sis Charger Kayak-sunset | 47 lbs | |
| Driftsun | Rover 120/220 Inflatable Tandem White-Water Kayak | 22 lbs | |
| Driftsun | Voyager 2 Person Tandem Inflatable Kayak | 27 lbs | |
| Dagger | Zydeco | 37 lbs | |
| Dagger | Oru Kayak Beach LT | 26 lbs | |
| Dagger | Sun Dolphin Aruba | 40 lbs | |
| Emotion | Guster 100 Kayak | 48 lbs | |
| Intex | Excursion Pro Kayak, Professional Series Inflatable Fishing Kayak | 39 lbs | |
| Intex | Explorer K2 Kayak, 2-Person Inflatable Kayak | 31 lbs | |
| Intex | Challenger | 24 lbs | |
| Hurricane | Santee 120 Sport | 45 lbs | |
| Old Town | Predator MX | 82 lbs | |
| Pelican | Challenger 130T | 70 lbs | |
| Pelican | Argo 80 | 27 lbs | |
| Pelican | 10 ft BOUNTY 100X ANGLER | 37 lbs | |
| Perception | Swifty Deluxe 9.5 Kayak | 44 lbs | |
| Perception | Hi Life 11.0 Stand-Up Paddle Board | 55 lbs | |
| Perception | JoyRide 10.0 | 50 lbs | |
| Oru | Coast XT | 36 lbs | |
| Sevylor | Coleman Colorado 2-Person Fishing Kayak | 40 lbs | |
| Sea Eagle | 385fta Fasttrack Inflatable Kayak Pro Angler Package | 45 lbs | |
| Sun Dolphin | Journey | 47 lbs | |
| Average weight: | 32 lbs |
I bolded the lightest and heaviest in my data set. If you add a motor the weight will obviously increase.
Kayaks are a blast to take out on the water, they need no gas, insurance, or licensing. They weigh less than canoes.
Most lakes have rentals available so you can give them a try. Here is more info.
Here are tips and tricks to lift a kayak without hurting your back.
Lifting
You need to lift the kayak vertically to avoid any sort of injury so you do not have to take the majority of the weight.
Most of the extra weight of the kayak remains in the rope, paddle, first aid kit, etc. So, you need to stand next to your kayak and lift it like a bow from the ground. While lifting the kayak you need to hold the cockpit rim for a good grip.
But most essentially, you need to use your knee for the support, not the back. You need to bend your keens and keeping the back straight.
You also need to use both of your hands while rotating the kayak upside down. And lastly, while walking with the kayak always keep it in a vertical position.
Positioning
After lifting the kayak you need to set the position of the kayak so that it becomes easier to carry. After lifting you are standing by facing towards the inside of the kayak by holding the rim of the kayak.
Then you need to rotate your body and place your right shoulder in the cockpit, place your right hand on the right shoulder to hold the brace of the kayak. You need to keep your left hand on the rim.
Lifting on the shoulder
After positioning the kayak as it is said in the previous point, you need to lift the kayak on the shoulder. If you hold the kayak properly then it will not be a problem to lift it defying the gravity.
After lifting onto the shoulder you need to do a little adjustment so that you can carry the kayak properly. You can use a pad or cushion on your shoulder so that you can reposition the kayak on it to dodge the weight of the object.
Carrying comfortably
The objective of all the above-mentioned steps is to carry the kayak comfortably. It is very as important as lifting the kayak without injuring your back. You need to carry the kayak very carefully as it will be placed on your shoulder.
If you have to carry the kayak for a significant amount of time then it may appear to be strenuous to your back and your hand muscles. Carrying the kayak also creates muscle imbalance to the body and that is the reason that often people end up hurting themselves. You need to use a belt that will help to bind the kayak with your back and wait for extra support.
