Fiberglass may be easier to damage, but will also be easier to repair. Composites such as kevlar, graphite and carbon fiber kayaks will be even more expensive and lighter still. Wood boats are a somewhat different breed. They can possess a nostalgic hand-made quality as well as an aesthetic beauty. A smooth, warm wood kayak can be a beautiful thing.
Some people like to buy a wood boat in kit form and assemble it themselves.
The prices on wood boats vary considerably. They are easy to repair but do require routine maintenance. Folding boats have the advantage of easy portability and storage. A folding kayak is a collapsable boat made of fabric stretched over either a wood or aluminum frame. Their initial price is usually on the expensive end of the spectrum, but they tend to last longer than a typical hardshell and their resale price usually remains higher.