With a sit-in kayak, your legs are restrained to some extent. Either they’re tucked under the edge of the kayak, or they are zipped completely into a kayak skirt. As the name suggests, with a sit-on-top kayak, the paddler sits on top of the boat with free range of motion in their legs. New paddlers should opt for sit-on-top kayaks, while more advanced paddlers who can maneuver the boat if flipped can opt for sit-in versions.