kayak

The Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura is a very frequently sold inflatable kayak on the Internet. It is the best equipped and most robust kayak of the manufacturer. We have received many inquiries from our readers what we think of the kayak. Now we ordered it ourselves and took a closer look at it. Read this test article to find out what our opinion is about this inflatable kayak and how it performs on the water.

Technical Specs

Which model has been reviewed?

Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura from 2020. 

How did we organize the review?

We have purchased the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura ourselves.

How intensively has the product been tested?

Product update of the Bestway kayak

Since 2021, the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura is available in turquoise blue. Material, workmanship and construction look identical at first glance. Apart from the color, the new model has become narrower by 8 cm (3”). There are also other seats in the boat, but they hardly differ from the previous model. The new seats also have only a flat seat cushion and a thin backrest. Paddle and air pump are the same as those of the orange previous model.

First Impressions and assembly

The kayak comes in a complete set, which means that two double-bladed paddles, an air pump, a manometer (to measure the air pressure) and repair patches are already included. However, there is no bag included, which you need for transport to the water or for storage at home. For this purpose we recommend for example the Sevylor Quickpak.

Considering the materials used and the price, the kayak looks high quality and solid. The black-orange design looks appealing on the one hand and on the other hand you are clearly visible on the water with the orange side color.

Before inflating the air chambers, the two fins needs to be attached to the bottom of the kayak. They give the inflatable kayak a better directional stability and make paddling easier.

There are also two safety lines that are attached to the bow and stern. These can be handy for gripping the boat better and pulling it to shore.

The actual PVC air chambers are covered by a nylon layer. Thus the air chambers are additionally protected from possible damage and the probability of a hole in the air chamber is considerably reduced.

The three air chambers are each inflated via a Boston valve. A Boston valve is a 2-way screw valve. It therefore has two screw caps lying on top of each other. To inflate, unscrew the top cap. A non-return cap prevents the air from flowing out of the chamber as soon as you remove the pump tube. The inflation sequence is noted on the nylon cover. First inflate the side walls and then the floor. The included air pump has a volume of 2.8 L and a double stroke function. A double stroke function means that you pump air into the air chamber both when pulling and pushing the handle. The air pump is quite small, so you have to bend your knees a lot.

The recommended air pressure of the air chambers is 0.06 bar (0.87 PSI). This is very little for a inflatable kayak. Check the correct air pressure with the manometer. The manometer works well, but reading the small scale is a bit difficult. A red marking at 0.06 bar would have been very practical.

You can even screw the manometer onto the pump hose and check the air pressure during inflation. To avoid any damages on the air chambers, you should stick to the recommended air pressure of the manufacturer. In addition, you can also use the manometer separately if you want to check the air pressure during a tour while taking a break on shore.

When the boat is fully inflated, attach the seat straps to the side chmabers with the buckles. The very long straps and the continuous Velcro strip on the floor of the kayak allow you to place the seat in the boat in a very variable way.

The bottom of the floor is made of thick PVC, which is much thicker than, for example, the boat skin of an Intex Challenger K2. The actual air chmabers are inside of the nylon cover and are also made of thick PVC. If they are damaged, they can be patched with the included repair patches or replaced with a new air chamber.

The repair patches remind us of waterproof adhesive tape, which can only be used for a small hole in the air chamber. For larger damages as well as holes or cracks in the outer shell the enclosed patches are not suitable. Therefore you should handle the boat with care.

The Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura has a total of four carrying handles. One carry handle each on the left and right side chamber in the middle of the boat. This allows you to carry the boat to the water by yourself when you are paddling alone.In addition, there is one handle each on the bow and stern, which are attached to the outermost point of the kayak, which makes it very easy for two people to carry the kayak.

Compared to many other inflatable kayaks, the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura does not have small spraycovers at the bow and hood to protect against spray water. In addition, the spraycovers of most inflatable kayaks are equipped with luggage nets, so that a backpack or dry bag can be attached.

Instead, a net bag is attached to the bow of the Bestway kayak. This net bag serves as a storage bag for small items. It is a nice extra, but we would have preferred a transport bag for the kayak. If you want the items in the net bag to stay dry, you need a waterproof bag.

The double-bladed paddles included are 218 cm (7’2”) long and made of three parts, which are connected to each other with two connectors. Since the paddles can be disassembled, they are also very easy to transport. The connecting pieces also serve as handles. The paddles look small and cheap at first sight. We are curious how they perform on the water.

Review of the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura on the water

Thanks to the four carrying handles, you can carry and put the inflatable kayak into the water by yourself. Due to the open construction and the wide side tubes, getting into the kayak is very easy and safe without the feeling of capsizing.

The multi-part double-bladed paddle does not wobble, which is unusual for such a cheap paddle (which is included with some cheap inflatable kayaks). The reason for the stability is that the rods of the paddle are not inserted but screwed into the connecting piece. What we cannot say is whether they will wobble after frequent use,. The connecting piece also serves as paddle handle. The paddle handle has a bad feel and is too uncomfortable for long paddling tours.

Furthermore we find the double-bladed paddles with a length of 218 cm (7’2”) too short. For an inflatable kayak with a full width of 94 cm (3’1”) and the flat seats we constantly touch the tubes with the short paddles. We adapted our paddling technique so that when we inserted the paddle blade into the water we held the paddle a little more to the left or right. If the paddles were long enough (at least 230 cm / 7’5”, better 240 cm / 7’9”) it would not be necessary and the paddling would be more comfortable.

Another weakness of the inflatable, which we immediately notice on the water, are the seats. The seat cushions are very flat so that we sit too deep in the boat. This makes paddling more difficult, especially with the short paddles. Also you sit faster in the wet if splash water accumulates or a wave comes into the boat. 

As long as there is no puddle in the boat, you will usually stay dry. However, as we think it is a fair weather boat, it should not be a big problem in summer, as most people will paddle in swimming trunks then. We like the fact that the seat is attached to the ground with Velcro and does not slip when paddling. Because of the low air pressure of the floor chamber, you sit soft and comfortable on the ground.

What is more disturbing are the backrests. The backrests are very thin and we quickly get the feeling that the backrest consists of only one strap. On the backrests of the seats there is a small zippered pocket, which is quite practical for storing your mobile phone, for example, because you can quickly have it at hand.

When paddling the kayak with two persons, a speed of up to 4 – 4.5 km/h (2.5 – 2.8 mph). The straight run is okay with the two fins as long as there is no wind. For short distances the space for two persons is acceptable, on long distances the interior is clearly too small.

Due to the splash water during paddling (caused by the short paddles, among other things) and getting in and out of the kayak, the interior of the kayak looks like this after a while (see picture below). The nylon has become soaked with wetness. If you get a wave into the boat, there is of course more water in the boat. If there is a lot of water in the boat, you can open the small drain valve at the back of the stern to let the water flow out.

After some time the low air pressure of 0.06 bar (0.87 PSI) becomes noticeable. If the difference between air and water temperature is large, the drop in temperature makes the air chambers softer, which is normal for inflatable boatsHowever, the effect is much more noticeable for inflatable boats with very low air pressure, such as this boat, than for inflatable kayaks with a higher air pressure. After over an hour the air chambers were much softer than at the beginning, so we landed and pumped up. The manometer confirmed that the air pressure was only about half of the pressure with what we started our paddling tour.

Dismantling the kayak

The dismantling of the kayak is very simple. You unscrew the Boston valve completely out of the thread so that the air can escape. If you have time, you can dry the boat in the sun with the valves open. Otherwise you can wipe it a little bit dry and unfold and dry it again at home. If you store the boat wet for a longer period of time, mildew will form on the nylon. Drying the boat in the cellar took longer than one night. We had to lay the boat down again in a different position so that all wet spots could dry. Otherwise we could not really dry the boat. For a short paddling fun on the water the effort of drying the boat is quite big in the end.

You fold the boat once in length and then you fold it several times. Fold it from the bow so that the valves are exposed and the remaining air can escape without problem. The Bestway kayak fits perfectly into our Itiwit boat backpack with the air pump, seats and mesh bag. The double-bladed paddles are stored in the outer pockets of the backpack. In that way, the boat can be easily transported to the train or to the car.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Depending on the offer, Bestway offers with its model Hydro-Force Ventura an inexpensive boat in a complete set, which has a robust outer shell and is solidly manufactured.  There were no unclean seams or gluings. Nevertheless, the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura has numerous weaknesses, which you should be aware of before buying. Due to the uncomfortable backrests, the low air pressure and the bad double-bladed paddles, paddling is hardly fun in the long run (over 1 km without a break). Personally we find the performance on the water of the cheaper inflatable kayaks Intex Challenger K2 and Explorer K2 better. But the Intex inflatable kayaks have a more sensitive boat skin.

Conclusion on the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura

On the product photos the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura makes a good impression. You get the impression that you can get a full-fledged kayak for a good price. We have to admit that the kayak has a nice design. The air chambers are protected by the nylon cover and make the kayak look like a fixed hull kayak. 

Moreover, the kayak comes in a complete kit, so that you can start paddling immediately. Depending on the waters and conditions, only the purchase of life jackets is necessary. In short: the offer is quite attractive. The workmanship is good. Everything works and the boat skin makes a robust impression.

From our point of view the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura is a higher quality bathing or fair weather boat, which can be paddled as a kayak for short distances.  For small calm rivers and lakes the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura is an option, as long as there are tours with a low paddle percentage. When you fold down the backrests, you can lean on the bow or stern chamber and relax really well on the water. Those who really want to kayak and paddle tours of more than 1 mile should not buy the Bestway Hydro-Force Ventura.

Other entry-level inftlable kayaks​

Intex and Sevylor are two other brands that offer entry-level inflatable kayaks. Intex offers one of the cheapest kayaks on the market, for example the Intex Explorer K2. The boat skin is quite thin and sensetive. Sevylor has also pretty cheap kayaks but also some more solid ones, like the Sevylor Adventure Plus, which can be paddled with up to 3 persons. It also has a nylon cover that protects the tubes from damage.

The Itiwit x100+ inflatable kayak is a further development of the popular Itiwit Touring kayak series from Decathlon. It is a 2-person inflatable kayak with drop-stitch floor, which can be paddled by two persons or single. Decathlon promotes the Itiwit x100+ as a kayak for occasional tours of 2-3 hours, which offers a good combination of performance and stability. We have paddled the Itiwit kayak and in this article we would like to tell you about our first impressions and experiences on the water.

Technical Specs

Which model has been reviewed?

Itiwit x100+ 2-Seater from 2020

How did we organize the review?

The Itiwit x100+ was provided to us by Decathlon, a French manufacturer and distributor of sports equipment and clothing. Itiwit is a brand for the paddle sport of Decathlon. Our review is independent of the manufacturer or shop and reflects our own opinion of the boat.

How intensively has the product been tested?

First impressions and assembly

The Itiwit x100+ comes in a well-sized backpack that is comfortable to carry. A very useful feature of the backpack are the outside pockets where you can stow your paddle. The front of the backpack can be opened almost completely with the zipper. This way you can easily take out the boat and pack it back in without any big efforts. For the total price of the boat we think it is great that a backpack and not just a carry bag. The backpack is functional and has a good quality.

The Itiwit x100+ has two separate side chambers and a removable drop-stitch floor. Before inserting the floor we inflated it slightly and then put it into the boat. The floor is attached at the bow and stern with a strap click fastener, so that it remains well in its right position without moving around. 

The floor is inflated to 0.35 bar (5.1 PSI), which was an easy job with the Decathlon air pump. The side chambers are then inflated to 0.2 bar (2.9 PSI). For a beginner kayak in this price range, such operating pressures are hard to find. For example, Sevylor inflatable kayaks are in a similar price range but they only have an air pressure of 0.1 bar (1.5 PSI). The higher the air pressure of the air chambers, the stiffer the kayak and better the performance on the water.

The kayak has reasonable valves that can be closed or opened by a spring (same mechanism as on Innova and Grabner inflatable boats). The handling is very simple. The backpack even contains a valve key so that it can be removed and cleaned or retightened if necessary.

It takes less than 5 minutes to inflate the air chambers. After inflation, three small skegs are attached to the bottom of the boat. A skeg is very typical for inflatable kayaks to improve straight-line stability. We have not yet paddled an inflatable kayak with three skegs. It is very likely that the Itiwit x100+ has more skegs than other models, as it has a remarkably wide and flat hull, which would otherwise be very turn-happy when paddling.

Depending on whether you want to configure your kayak for 1 person or 2 persons, you position the seat. The seats have a high inflatable seat cushion. This allows a raised seating position so that the wide side tubes are not in the way when paddling. You can also inflate the seat a little softer or harder, depending on your preference, to find the comfortable seat firmness for you. The seat is attached to the bottom of the boat by the Velcro strip, which prevents it from slipping while paddling. The Velcro strips on the bottom are sufficiently long for the front and rear seats, so that you can vary the position of the seats.

The robust backrest is attached to the side chambers with a belt on both sides. The position of the backrest is also adjustable. All in all, we really like the seats. They look comfortable, have a good workmanship and promise a good grip when paddling. We are curious to see how they feel once we are on the water.

The outer skin of the kayak makes a robust impression. It consists of a polyester fabric coated with PVC Tarpaulin. Due to this robust outer skin, no textile cover is necessary to protect the tubes, as with the Itiwit Touring or Sevylor Adventure. The boat dries more quickly after use (significantly less risk of mould growth) and is easier to repair in the event of a defect. The permanently integrated side tubes are also equipped with a pressure relief valve, so that it is impossible to damage the boat due to excessive inflation or heat exposure.The drop-stitch floor, seats and other parts of the boat can be re-ordered and replaced in case of a defect.

The drop-stitch floor has a recess on each side where drain valves are located. For example, if you are paddling on the beach in the summer and a wave does come into the boat, the water will run off when the valves are open. This way no water will accumulate in the boat.

The Itiwit x100+ also offers important features of a good kayak. At the top of the bow and stern there is a carrying handle to carry the boat to the water. What we really like are the side carrying handles. If you are paddling the kayak on your own, you can easily put it in the water yourself.

At the bow and stern there are small spraycovers which provide additional protection against spray water. Furthermore, the kayak offers possibilities to fix luggage or to store small items. On the stern there is a large luggage net where you can put a large backpack or dry bag. At the front of the stern and at the back of the backrests there are small net pockets for small items, which are easily accessible when paddling. Such features seem less important at first sight, but in practice such details prove to be very useful and you don’t want to miss them.

You can also use the boat backpack and store all your stuff there. This even fits in the rear of the boat if the rear seat is placed far forward. You can attach the backpack to the luggage net.

We also attach the backpack with its grey compression strap to the orange luggage net, so that in case of a capsize the backpack would not sink. Note, however, that the boat backpack is not waterproof.

Review of the Itiwit X100+ on the water

The Itiwit kayak has a very high stability due to the wide and flat hull. You can get into the kayak without any worries. Due to the drop-stitch construction it feels very stable when you get in. We have paddled the kayak as a single and two persons configuration.

The Itiwit X100+ as a 1-person kayak

If you place the seat in the middle of the boat, you can use it as a solo kayak. The carrying handle on the side tube makes it very easy to carry the boat to the water.

Since the three fins are very small, you can already get into shallow water and paddle without touching down. Should there be a shore or a river section with shallow depth, you will touch down very late with the small fins. Nevertheless, we recommend on rivers with very low level to omit the fins to avoid unnecessary grounding.

During paddling, the kayak lies extremely stable on the water. Jerky movements, adjusting the seat on the water, even standing up can in no way cause the boat to capsize. We have never paddled such a stable kayak before.

In favour of stability the kayak loses performance on the water. The straight-line stability is only moderate with the three fins. The kayak also glides only slightly through the water when you stop paddling. Due to the wide side tubes we found a 220 cm long double-bladed paddle a bit too short. It is possible to paddle with it, but a paddle at least 230 cm or 240 cm long would be more comfortable, so that it is easier to get into the water with the paddle blades.

Despite the three skegss, the kayak has good manoeuvrability. However, a complete turn (i.e. 180°) is only possible with many paddle strokes.

The Itiwit X100+ as a 2-person kayak

The kayak is very quickly reconfigured into a 2-person kayak. The front and rear carrying handles make it easy for two people to carry the Itiwit x100 to the water. The carrying handles are placed nice and far outside.

When paddling as 2-person kayak, the stability is also very good. The performance on the water is noticeably better with a two persons, as the kayak lies more in the water and thus forms a longer waterline. So the speed and the straight-line stability are better. 

You can reach a speed of between 2,5 and 3,1 mph when paddling comfortably. Compared to other kayaks, the straight-line stability is not really good, but still okay. Here you should not forget that the kayak with a length of 365 cm and a width of 103 cm is not designed for fast but rather for calm and stable paddling tours.

What surprised us is the space available. For a 2-person kayak the Itiwit x100+ is not very long. Nevertheless, as large persons we had enough space inside and enough legroom.  The seating position is really good in a kayak. This is normally something you don’t get in this price range. The seats give a good hold and enough comfort for a nice paddling tour. Due to the integrated drain valves and the raised seat position you will never really sit in the wet. In addition, the seat backs give good support and sufficient comfort for a leisurely paddle.

If the seat cushion of the rear seat is firmly inflated, it is difficult to move it far back to the end of the Velcro strip on the floor. The interior is somewhat narrower at the rear and front due to the design. In the photo below you can see the maximum rear position when the seat cushion is fully inflated. If you still want more legroom in the back, you have to let some air out of the seat cushion so that it can be moved further back.

On one of our recent trips on a hot summer day, we also really appreciated the Itiwit x100+ as a bath boat. We took the seats out and paddled a bit into the deep water. The double paddle can be attached to the paddle holder on the side tube. Since you can stand in the boat, jumping in from the boat into the water is no problem and also really fun. Since the boat is so tilt-resistant, you can also get back out of the water into the boat.

Itiwit x100+ 2 seater vs 3 seater

The Itiwit x100+ 2-seater is also available as a larger variant, i.e. 3 seater and 4 seater. The kayaks are identical in terms of equipment, air pressure, tipping stability and material. They differ only in price, color scheme, dimensions, load limit and weight.

We have tested the 3 seater and compared it to the 2 seater. The Itiwit x100+ 3 seater gives you the possibility to go paddling with three people. With two adults and one child, it offers plenty of space. For three adults, the space is significantly limited, but for short (2 to 3 hours) and leisurely tours still possible.

In addition, the 3 seater can also be interesting for you as a 2 seater kayak, if the load limit and the space offered by the 2-seater seems too little. The 3 seater is another 45 cm longer and has a 50 kg higher load capacity. The rear paddler has much more room to stretch his legs. In addition, the extra space in the middle can be used to carry more luggage or even a dog. With two people, the 3 seater is about 0.5 km/h faster and drifts less when you stop paddling. However, we would not recommend the 3-seater simply because of the minimally better driving characteristics. If you don’t need the extra space and payload, the Itiwit x100+ 2 seater is a good choice.

Dismantling the Itiwit x100+

The dismantling of the kayak was quick and easy. All you have to do is open the three valves. Most of the air escapes by itself. The remaining air can either be pressed or pumped out. We normally pump out the remaining air. If you use the Itiwit air pump to pump out the remaining air, you have to disconnect the pressure gauge.

Remove the drop-stitch floor and fold it back up as originally. Then fold the kayak once lengthwise and place the folded drop-stitch floor on top. Finally fold them together to a packable size. The folded kayak fits back into the supplied backpack right away thanks to the large opening. Squeezing is not necessary here. There is even room for the air pump on the side of the backpack. Before closing the backpack, you still put the two seats and three fins in.

According to the user’s manual, the double paddle is stored in the outer side pockets next to the boat, seats and air pump. This did not work with us, because the backpack was already too tightly filled.

Strengths and weaknesses of the Itiwit X100+

The Itiwit x100+ is one of the most stable inflatable kayaks we have paddled so far. Thanks to the wide hull and drop-stitch bottom, you can even stand up in the boat without capsizing. The entry and exit is also very safe and due to the flat fins already possible in shallow water.

Unfortunately, when dismantling and wiping dry after another tour, we had to find that the bottom with the side tube is not glued cleanly in case of our model. This had had no effect on the functionality of the boat so far, but it is still unsightly. When asked, Decathlon assured us that such processing errors do not usually occur. Nevertheless, we recommend that you always check the quality of workmanship (especially in the glued joints) of the model when buying an inflatable kayak (regardless of the brand).

Otherwise, Decathlon offers a robust and well thought-out kayak for the price. However, those who want to make long distances on standing water with the kayak will have less fun with the Itiwit x100+.

Conclusion on the Itiwit x100+

Decathlon offers with the Itiwit x100+ a very functional and solid kayak. It is not a cheap inflatable kayak. The price is justified in our opinion. We think the price-performance ratio is very good. It was our first Itiwit inflatable kayak we reviewed and we have to say that Decathlon has launched a good recreational kayak for beginners. It is perfect for paddling on a lake and enjoying the peace and quiet on the water. The boat looks very well thought out. The Itiwit x100+ is unrivalled in this price range.

Due to its high stability against tipping, the kayak is mainly aimed at beginners in paddling who would otherwise be afraid of capsizing. The inflatable kayak is also a clear recommendation for adults with children. Decathlon has also launched a 3-persons drop-stich kayak, which is aimed at small families. The Itiwit is a good kayak for small explorations on calm rivers and small lakes. If you want to do a day trip and paddle a long distance (over 20 km), you will have less fun with the kayak. Decathlon advertises a good combination of performance and stability. Stability clearly outweighs performance when you interpret performance as the speed of a kayak. The kayak makes a solid impression in terms of workmanship and robustness.

Alternatives to the Itiwit X100+

The Itiwit x100+ is not the only kayak from Itiwit. There is also the Touring series and we have also reviewed the 2 seater version. The performance on the water is quite similar but it takes much longer to dry due to the the polyester cover. Therefore, the boat is much cheaper.

And then there are also inflatable kayak brands like Intex and Sevylor, which are also well-known for entry-level kayaks.

The Intex Challenger K1 is one of the cheapest inflatable kayaks. It even comes in a complete set, so that nothing stands in the way of an immediate paddling tour. We now wanted to know for ourselves how is it to paddle the Intex 1-person kayak and can it compete with a good quality inflatable kayak.

This inflatable kayak is also available as 2-person model. Make sure to check out our review on the Intex Challenger K2 as well, if you are interested in paddling with someone else together. We have also a complete guide about Intex boats and kayaks.

Technical Specs

Which model has been reviewed?

Intex Challenger K1 from 2019

How did we organize the review?

We have purchased the Intex Challenger K1 ourselves.

How intensively has the product been tested?

First impressions and assembly

The Intex Challenger K1 comes in a compact and very light carrying bag. Since the boat weighs only 28.4 lb, it can be carried comfortably over short distances with the included carrying bag. But the carrying bag is not robust. The material of the bag is so thin that already after the first use there was a small hole in the bottom.

The inflatable kayak is quickly unpacked and amazingly handy. To inflate the kayak you need to unfold it. The Intex Challenger K1 has two separate air chambers, a bottom chamber and a side chamber, each inflated by a Boston valve. Boston valves are 2-way screw valves that allow a quick and safe air inflation and deflation. Due to the separate air chambers it is still possible to reach the shore safely even if one chamber fails.

The bottom chamber is inflated at first with the supplied air pump. Inflating is very easy and goes relatively quickly. Nevertheless, many strokes with the air pump are necessary, because the pump is quite small. Fortunately the kayak is not too big. After inflating the bottom, the second chamber needs to be filled with air, which forms the sides and the deck of the kayak.

After inflating the two air chambers, the boat has reached its final shape. The interior does not seem very large. There is a hook-and-loop fastener on the floor, which is intended for fixing the seat.

If you are not sure when the correct air pressure is reached, you can measure it. Intex has printed a measuring scale on each chamber for this purpose. With the enclosed measuring strip, it can be checked whether there is enough air in the air chambers or whether one of them still needs to be pumped up.

The seat can also be inflated with the air pump. This consists of an inflatable seat cushion and a backrest. The backrest is attached to the side walls with straps and can be adjusted as desired. The seat is slightly wide and bulky for the small interior of the boat. Instead, the seat sits firmly in the boat as soon as it is properly placed in the interior. The fastening of the seat with Velcro is a simple and good idea of the manufacturer.

Finally, the footrest is inflated and placed in the bow of the boat and the skeg is attached. We consider the skeg in particular to be a very important feature. A skeg provides a much better directional stability, especially for inflatable kayaks.

The boat was completely assembled in 8 minutes. We have to admit that we had built up the Intex Challenger K2 before and therefore we are a bit familiar with the construction. Nevertheless we think that a setup of 10 to 15 minutes is possible without any problems.

With exact investigation of the boat, we notice immediately that the firmness of the tubes can’t really compete with high-quality inflatable kayaks. This was not to be expected otherwise, as the kayak has an operating pressure of only 0.069 bar. Higher quality inflatable kayaks have a much higher air pressure (e.g. Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame). However, one cannot expect a higher operating pressure for the price. On the one hand, the air chambers would then have to be processed to a higher quality so that they can withstand a higher operating pressure. On the other hand, a higher air pressure in combination with the boat material wouldn’t be any good. In contrast, the low pressure prevents more or less this material more effective from any ground and stone contact because the thin skin can easier yield.

Besides the possibility to stow the luggage behind the seat in the stern, the kayak also has a luggage net on the bow. This gives a lot of space for additional luggage, which should be quickly at hand (e.g. shoes, water bottle, lunch box or dry bag). Behind the seat there is not too much space and of course it is also difficult to reach even while paddling. Therefore we like the large luggage net on the bow even more.

Review of the Intex Challenger K1 on the water

The air kayak has no handles. These are also not necessary. The boat is handy and light enough to be carried to the water. The canopy makes it a little more difficult to get in. However, the boat is stable in the water, so that capsizing is difficult.

The inflatable kayak is constructed so that the stern and bow are somewhat closed. This considerably reduces the ingress of spray water. But this has a disadvantage for tall people. In my case the Intex Challenger K1 is too small, because I am too tall for the boat (6’2”). In addition the canopy is very low dimensioned, so that one feels constricted. You should be at least smaller than 5’9”. Otherwise we recommend the Intex Challenger K2, which can also be paddled as a solo kayak.

The directional stabilityand manoeuvrability are acceptable. For such a short boat we also expect it to react quickly to changes of direction. The skeg is definitely a must-have for the kayak because it improved the performance on the water a lot. However, it can’t compete with other inflatable ones in terms of performance, for example the Advanved Elements AdvancedFrame.

Those who have no comparison with other kayaks will find the speed to be sufficient and pleasant. The Intex Challenger K1 is perfectly adequate for leisurely explorations on a calm lake. However, if you want to join other kayakers on a kayak trip and they are paddling high quality inflatable kayaks or even fixed hull kayaks, you will not have any fun with Challenger K1. Because the inflatable kayak is too slow for that.

We had tested the Intex Challenger K1 on a calm little lake. The conditions were ideal. That’s what the Challenger K1 is designed for. For long tours on big lakes or fast flowing rivers with possible ground contact we do not recommend the boat. The boat has too little material thickness and too little air pressure for such purposes.

Dismantling

The dismantling was quick and easy. Only the rest of the air has to be pressed out a little bit while folding up or taking care that there are no sharp objects on the floor that could damage it. Once the air is completely out, the boat and all its accessories will fit without any problems into the carrying bag.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The biggest strength of the Challenger K1 is above all the very reasonable price with complete accessories. The biggest disadvantage for tall people is the small and narrow interior. So paddling is hardly possible or very uncomfortable. Also the material and the driving characteristics speak more for a boat to have fun on the water during ideal conditions on small lakes than a real inflatable kayak.

Conclusion on the Intex Challanger K1

For those who want to try paddling for themselves first, the Intex Challenger K1 is ideal. The inflatable kayak is the only 1-person kayak for beginners on the market. It is particularly suitable for small paddling trips on calm waters. The boat is offered in a complete set with very useful accessories, such as the skeg, and enables an immediate start into paddling pleasure.

You should not compare the Challenger K1 with a fixed hull kayak, not even with a higher quality inflatable kayak. If you’re already sure you want to make several paddling trips in the season or don’t want to restrict yourself to calm waters, you should buy a higher quality boat. The purchase price is higher, but the differences in terms of handling characteristics and quality are enormous.

Accessories for the Intex Challenger K1

The scope of delivery of the boat includes the following accessories:

• Kayak paddle
• Inflatable foot brace
• Air pump
• Fin
• Repair patches
• Transport bag

In addition, we recommend the following accessories:

• Life jacket: Itiwit BA 50N+ * (good life jacket for beginners, very good price-performance ratio, more details in our test report).
• Dry Bag: Itiwit dry bag 10L* (ideal for protecting items from splashing water and short immersion in water, good workmanship, with carrying strap, available in different colors and sizes)
• Transport backpack: only a bag is included, which is intended for storage and short transport of the kayak to the water. If you want to transport the kayak longer distances and more comfortably to the water, we recommend the Itiwit transport backpack*, which is comfortable to carry and has enough space for the kayak and accessories.

Alternatives to the Intex Challenger K1

Intex has other inflatable kayaks, which could be interesting if you are looking for an entry-level inflatable. But same here, the kayaks are designed for short tours on calm water. There are no big differences between the Challenger K1 and K2. The Intex Challenger K2 is a tandem kayak and can also be paddle as a solo kayak. You are a bit faster with it since it’s longer. The Intex Explorer K2 looks quite different but it’s quite similar with the K2. We have compared both kayaks and you can find out the differences in our Intex Challenger vs. Explorer article.

The Intex Excursion Pro is more solid and the material of the boat skin is thicker. However, it’s also the most expensive Intex kayak.

The Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame is a closed 1-person inflatable kayak. The Californian manufacturer Advanced Elements was founded in 2007, but already produces a variety of inflatable kayaks. The AdvancedFrame is the manufacturer’s classic and is very popular and widespread among inflatable kayaks in the US. We had the opportunity to review the kayak for one season and would like to share our impressions with you.

Make sure to check out also our review on the Advanced Elements AdvancedFramce Convertible Elite kayak. This is a 2-person tandem kayak, but it can be also paddled by one person. Thanks to its length, it has a really good performance on the water.

Technical Specs

Which model has been reviewed?

Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame with backbone (optional accessory) from 2019

How did we organize the review?

The Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame was provided to us by OutEquip, the European distributor of Advanced Elements. Our review is independent of the manufacturer or distributor and reflects our own opinion of the boat.

How intensively has the product been tested?

First impressions and assembly

The inflatable kayak comes with a robust carrying bag, which is not equipped with a backpack strap. This is a shame because the 16.3 kg (36 lbs) boat is not a lightweight. If you also want to transport the boat by public transport, bicycle or on foot, we recommend purchasing a spacious transport backpack. If you want to store your boat or transport it by car in the trunk, the transport bag is perfect. The Advanced Elements is quite heavy for a single inflatable kayak. Other manufacturers can do this better. In the meanwhile Advanced Elements has introduced also another model, the AdvancedFrame Ultralite, which is much lighter.

We have reviewed the AdvancedFrame with the backbone, which is optionally available as an accessory. Independent of the backbone, the bow and the stern of the kayak are stiffened with aluminium rails, which are supposed to promise improved driving characteristics.

The kayak has seven air chambers. That sounds a lot at first, but it’s not. For the side tubes there are two chambers, one inner and one outer. This construction gives the tube kayak even more safety, as the inner chamber is protected from the outside. If the outer chamber is damaged, you can still get to the shore safely. The third chamber is the floor, which is very quickly inflated due to the low air pressure. Then there are two air chambers or air tubes for the spray deck and the coaming rim.

The backbone is placed in the boat before inflating the floor chamber. To do this, the four-part rod is half assembled. The two poles are then put together in the boat. Placing the backbone and plugging it in is very easy and does not require a lot of effort. The air chamber of the floor is then placed on top and inflated to 0.1 bar. When inflating, it is necessary to check whether the backbone is in the middle. Even if the backbone is not completely centered, the boat still runs well in the water and deviates only very little from the track. You inflate the bottom chamber until air escapes from the pressure relief valve. Then the correct operating pressure is reached.

Compared to the Advanced Elements Convertible, the seat does not have a high seat cushion. This is also not necessary as the soft floor of the kayak offers sufficient seating comfort.  The only disadvantage of the flat seat is that when you are in the water, you immediately sit in the wet.

The backrest is attached to the side walls by two straps with a click fastener. You can adjust the position of the backrest individually before and during the ride on the water. The seat is well made and can be placed variably in the boat. The backrest of the seat is nicely high dimensioned. Large people should attach the seat to the far back of the boat (see picture below). Air tubes are integrated underneath the spray deck so that the spray cover itself with the coaming do not hang down. Thus the spray deck gets a good form and an optional spray skirt can be stretched over it.

The boat is equipped with two directional fins, a very flat elongated fin at the bow and a short larger fin at the stern. Directional fins are essential on inflatable kayaks for good directional stability. Many inflatable kayak manufacturers offer attachable fins so that they can be removed in whitewater or very shallow water. We ride our Gumotex Swing 2 in very shallow water and whitewater without a fin. This is not possible with Advanced Elements, as they are permanently mounted. On the other hand, the fins are relatively shallow so that the risk of grounding is significantly reduced even in shallow waters. In addition, it is not completely rigid and would yield to the side if touched lightly.

The Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame is a closed kayak, which can be closed almost watertight with a spray skirt. The emphasis is on “almost”, because the zipper in the hood is not waterproof. For small amounts of water, the grey fabric strips act as a barrier, partially covering the zipper. So the water does not flow to the zipper, but well from the hood again. For larger quantities of water (e.g. if you catch a large wave unfavourably and it sloshes over the bow, water drips into the interior afterwards). On the other hand, the zipper allows easy access to the interior, be it to place the backbone or to wipe the interior of the boat dry. We find the luggage net on the front hood very successful. This makes it possible to stow a drybag or daypack safely and easily.  There is not much storage space behind the seat under the hood, there is only room for a water bottle and a lunch box.

In the back there is no luggage net on the hood, but only 4 D-rings as a fixture for fastening luggage. The carrying handles are very similar to Gumotex inlatable kayaks and are very comfortable for transporting the kayak on land.

We think the modular construction of the boat is very good. On the one hand it can be easily repaired in case of damage, because the floor and side chambers are exchangeable. On the other hand, it can be extended or adapted to different paddling conditions. If you paddle large and slowly flowing rivers and lakes, you can equip the boat with the backbone. If you paddle wilder rivers with possible ground contact, you only use the soft floor chamber and the boat cushions unpleasant touches with rocks and stones better. 

In addition, the inflatable kayak has a paddle holder on the hood. When carrying the boat over your shoulder you can take the paddle in your hand. But if you want to rest longer on the water, the paddle holder is quite practical. After building up the inflatable kayak, you immediately notice how well the bow and stern are stiffened. AdvancedFrame owes the great pointed shape to the inner aluminium rails and inserted plastic plates.

Review of the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame on the water

The inflatable kayak can be easily carried to water on its own and used by taking it over your shoulder. Getting started is also easy and safe. If it is too tight for you, you can open the deck cover via the zipper and close it again after entering. 

If you now sit in a kayak and start paddling, you will notice two things. First, the kayak lies stable on the water. Capsizing would be difficult. Therefore the kayak is also very suitable for beginners. The kayak has also behaved very stable on the water during waves (due to passing ships). On the other hand, we immediately liked the straight line. The kayak has good directional stability for an inflatable single kayak, compared to other inflatables of similar quality (e.g. Gumotex Swing 1 or Gumotex Twist). This allows paddling without constant correction of the direction.

The inflatable reaches a speed of over 5 km/h (3 mph) when paddling comfortably, and well over 6 km/h (3.7) when paddling quickly. These are good values for a single inflatable kayak. Nevertheless, it is noticeably slower than the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite, the 2 person version of this boat. In comparison to the 1-person version, the 2-person kayak has due to its long hull an even better directional stability and is 1-2 km/h (0.6 – 1.2 mph) faster. The manoeuvrability of the boat is good, but we have also paddled more manoeuvrable 1-person kayaks.

The kayak offers plenty of space and legroom (both when paddling with and without shoes) so that even tall people can paddle it. The comfort is also good. At the beginning we found the soft floor chamber to be rather inferior, as it gives way when getting in. Without the backbone, we would have wished for a much harder air floor chamber (e.g. 0.2 bar / 3 PSI). When using the backbone, however, it makes sense that the floor gives way and thus pushes the rod downwards. This is the reason why the V-shape of the hull is the first thing that happens. Unfortunately the seat is not fixed to the bottom of the kayak. A Velcro solution to fix the seat to the ground would have been nice. Nevertheless, the backrest of the seat provides enough support when paddling and has a good height. Although the floor chamber is very soft, the backbone did not pinch in any way during paddling.

After several paddle tours on small and large lakes and on rivers with stone contact, the AdvancedFrame convinced us. The outer skin of the bottom is robust and thick enough to withstand unpleasant groundings. Nevertheless, we were able to detect two small, long scratches in the boat skin that we do not see as critical. None of the scratches indicates that it will lead to a hole. That speaks for a thick boat skin, which makes the boat heavier but also more robust. It’s also positive that the material hasn’t rubbed off at any point. Although we landed with the inflatable kayak on pebble beaches, the boat didn’t mind. 

We didn’t try the AdvancedFrame in white water. Here we would recommend not to use the backbone. In case of strong groundings the rod does not give way and the material is fully loaded with friction. Without the backbone, the air floor cushions the “impact” much better.

Dismantling the kayak

The dismantling of the inflatable kayak is very easy and fast. After paddling you open the valves and most of the air escapes by itself. The rest of the air escapes when you roll it up or can be pumped out with the air pump. The big disadvantage is the nylon material of the top and the side tube jacket. The water can be wiped off with a cloth, but the textile remains moist pretty long and has to be put out to dry at home to prevent mold.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Advanced Elements Advanced Frame

The AdvancedElements AdvancedFrame with BackBone shines above all with its driving characteristics. For an inflatable 1-person kayak the speed and the straight line are really good. The biggest weakness is the long drying of the nylon covers of the side chambers and the spray deck. Also the boat is not a lightweight.

Conclusion on the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame

The Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame is a closed inflatable kayak for beginners and demanding kayakers. We always had a lot of fun paddling the AdvancedFrame. Compared to cheap inflatables, it is superior to other kayaks in terms of riding characteristics, workmanship and equipment. Therefore, we find the price justified. If you want to kayak several times during the season, the AdvancedFrame kayak is a good choice. Especially the firm and pointed shape of the bow and stern of the kayak has made Advanced Elements really good and is unparalleled on the market. This allows the boat to cut the water better and comes very close to the driving characteristics of a solid hull kayak. If you don’t want to paddle alone, you can also buy the kayak as a 2-person version. The Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible was tested as an Elite version on our website.

In our point of view, the AdvancedFrame is pretty heavy, compared to other single inflatable kayaks. If the weight is important because the kayak is to be transported in a backpack, we recommend the Ultralite version of the kayak. The Ultralite version is available for an extra charge of around $100. In this case the backbone cannot be used. Also the drying time should be considered before the purchase. After the paddle tour, the boat has to be partially inflate at home to dry. For those who don’t mind the high weight and the long drying time, the AdvancedFrame from Advanced Elements is a great inflatable kayak that is robust and fun to paddle.

If performance, speed and much luggage space matter to you, then please check out the 2 person kayak from Advanced Elements, which can be converted as a 1-person kayak as well.

Accessories for the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame

Paddle, air pump and life jacket are not included. These essential accessories must be purchased separately and there are numerous accessories available for the AdvancedFrame itself. If you want to improve the performance of your boat, you can get the backbone. If you paddle in cool seasons, you can optionally purchase a spray skirt that protects you from cold and splashing water.

• Life jacket: Itiwit BA 50N+ * (good life jacket for beginners, very good price-performance ratio, more details in our test report).
• Dry Bag: Itiwit dry bag 10L* (ideal for protecting items from splashing water and short immersion in water, good workmanship, with carrying strap, available in different colors and sizes)
• Transport backpack: only a bag is included, which is intended for storage and short transport of the kayak to the water. If you want to transport the kayak longer distances and more comfortably to the water, we recommend the Itiwit transport backpack*, which is comfortable to carry and has enough space for the kayak and accessories.

Alternatives to the AdvancedFrame 1 person kayak

Advanced Elements is an inflatable kayak manufacturer from California and advertises with an evolution of inflatable kayaks, which is supposed to offer excellent driving characteristics through the use of patented technologies. We had the opportunity to review the AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite for an entire season.

The AdvancedFrame is the most popular inflatable kayak from Advanced Elements. The kayak is available as a 1-person and 2-persons kayak. The 1-person from Advanced Elements is a closed kayak and the 2-persons version is an open kayak. Nevertheless, the 2-person kayak can optionally be converted into a closed kayak with a deck, hence the name Convertible. The designation Elite indicates that the kayak is equipped with a drop-stitch floor. Boats without Elite come with a simple 0.1 bar (1.45 PSI) floor. Nevertheless, the simple version can also be upgraded with a backbone or a drop-stitch floor.

Technical Specs

Which model has been reviewed?

Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite from 2019

How did we organize the review?

The Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame was provided to us by OutEquip, the European distributor of Advanced Elements. Our review is independent of the manufacturer or distributor and reflects our own opinion of the boat.

How intensively has the product been tested?

Set-up and first impressions

The inflatable comes with a robust and large carrying bag, which can even be carried as a backpack. It is very practical for the storage and the short transport of the boat. The shoulder straps are attached to the bag with metal carabiners. No matter how we adjusted the backpack, the karabiners pressed painfully into the shoulder. So the backpack function is almost useless. This is a pity, as the kayak is quite heavy.

The bottom of the boat consists of a tarpaulin polyester fabric, which according to the manufacturer is composed of 3 layers. High-priced Sevylor boats also use this material for the bottom of their inflatable kayaks. At first sight the material makes a very high quality and robust impression. Our long-term test will show how tear and abrasion resistant the material really is.

The AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite features two inflatable seats and a footrest for the rear paddler. The included seats look a bit bulky and heavy, which contributes to the high overall weight of the boat. Both seats have a high seat cushion. This keeps the seat of your pants dry even when there is splash water in the boat. In addition, the backrests are inflatable and have a pocket on the back for the valve tube and another for small items. The seats make an overall high-quality impression.

After putting the boat apart you can see its length. In principle, this speaks for good driving characteristics. In addition, a removable drop-stitch floor is already in the boat, which is supplied as standard in the Elite version. A removable inner floor is very practical in any case. If the Drop-Stitch floor should break down, it can easily be replaced.

The inflation of the air chambers is done quite quickly with a double action air pump. The side chambers must be pumped up to 0.14 bar (2 PSI). Here the air is supplied via two separate valves, because the side walls of the boat consist of a separate inner and outer chamber. This construction gives the boat a high level of safety. On the one hand, the PVC floor and the nylon cover protect the air chambers. On the other hand, in case of damage, only the outer side chamber gets damaged. This ensures safe paddling to the next shore.

The side chambers are in nylon covers, which can be opened with zippers. If an air chamber is defective, it can be replaced. Finally, the Drop-Stitch floor is inflated to a maximum of 0.41 bar (5.9 PSI). Please make sure that the Drop-Stitch floor is centered in the bottom of the boat. At the beginning the complete assembly takes a little longer. As soon as you are trained, it will be faster and the inflatable kayak will take between 10 and 15 minutes to set up.

After inflation, the kayak has reached its full shape. The bottom lies very well in the kayak and is extremely firm due to the drop stitch technology. On each side chamber there are three click fasteners in which the seats can be attached. The boat can be paddled as a 2- or 1-person kayak. For the 1-person configuration, take the click fasteners in the middle.

In addition, there are flexible plastic plates for the stern and bow end. These are inserted into the pockets provided and thus form the ends of the kayak even better. We think it’s a great idea, because the kayak looks even stronger and higher quality by simple means.

Although the AdvancedFrame Convertible is an open kayak, it is equipped with very generous spray covers at the bow and stern. This is practical in two ways: On the one hand, the spray covers protect against splashing water when there are waves. On the other hand, luggage can be attached to the canopy without disturbing paddling. A luggage net is already attached to the top of the bow, for example to attach a daypack comfortably and safely. On the top of the stern there is only a device in the form of four D-rings. This allows luggage to be fastened with a luggage net or cords. It would have been better if it had already been integrated.

So that the cockpit is not sagging and stretched, there are small air tubes at the front and rear on both sides to inflate. This is again a small detail, which makes the kayak higher quality.

The zipper in the front spray deck is very practical for cleaning the boat and positioning the Drop-Stitch or BackBone correctly. But a zipper in the spray deck, which is supposed to keep water out? We tested it. Advanced Elements was aware of this and covered the zipper with grey strips. This works very well in the front area. Most of the water doesn’t flow in. In the long run, it drops a little. It becomes more problematic at the end, where the zipper is located. Here the water runs through and you get wet when paddling. If you expect waves when paddling, you should cover the zipper with removable adhesive tape (e.g. the Scotch Supreme fabric tape, compared to conventional fabric tapes, it leaves no traces of adhesive). The nylon fabric of the top, on the other hand, does not let water through.

The seats can easily be placed in the kayak and sit firmly so that they do not slip any further. The backrest can be individually adjusted with the straps. If you want to paddle the kayak alone, place a seat in the middle of the kayak and use the middle buckles on the side walls to fix the backrest. We like this concept of a variable sitting position very much.

The inflatable kayak from Advanced Elements has many other useful features. It has carrying handles at the bow and stern, which is self-evident, but some inflatables do not have. There are even holders for the double paddles. These are especially useful when carrying the boat around, or when you want to relax on the lake in a kayak and the paddles are not needed. The boat can also be converted into a closed kayak with a cockpit. Therefore, the kayak is equipped with a zipper all around in order to mount the optionally available cockpit. Attaching the cockpit was very easy.

Advanced Elements has attached great importance to good driving characteristics. This can be seen in the different characteristics of the boat. The keel of the bow and stern are well formed for an inflatable kayak. These reinforcements are achieved by aluminium rails inside the boat. Thus the water is cut and not “pushed in front of itself”. Not only the keels are well formed, but also the bottom of the boat. On the photo you can clearly see the smooth and flat bottom, which is formed by the inlaid Drop-Stitch floor.

In addition, the inflatable kayak has three integrated direction fins on the bottom. A very flat and elongated fin at the front and rear of the kayak and a large directional fin at the bow. All three directional fins are very flat, so grounding by the fins is unlikely and straight-line stability is improved at the same time.

Review of the AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite on the water

We could already test the boat under different conditions (e.g. on rivers in cities, big lakes with moderate wind and mountain lakes), where the boat had to endure some demands. Our experiences refer to the AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite, with drop-stitch floor.

When we first paddled the Advanced Elements AdvanceFrame on the water, we were immediately impressed by the performance. For a inflatable kayak it is very easy to paddle and we always had the feeling of moving pretty quickly. Compared to many other inflatable, the Advanced Elements forms a bow wave much later and is therefore faster and easier to paddle.

Since the Dropstitch floor can be inflated up to 0.41 bar (5.9 PSI), it does not deform when paddling. This makes paddling in the Advanced Elements kayak even more efficient. The solid floor prevents possible deformation due to the weight of the paddlers. This results in a flat and smooth underside of the kayak in the water, with significantly less water resistance. You had the feeling of sitting in a high quality solid hull kayak. 

Even in windy conditions, the inflatable kayak had made a good impression, which is not a matter of course for an inflatable kayak. Because in principle inflatable kayaks are more likely to float on the water than in the water compared to solid hull and folding kayaks. The side chambers give the wind a lot of surface to attack and make paddling more difficult. We had also noticed the effect of the wind on the Advanced Elements and were slightly drifted off course depending on the wind direction. Nevertheless we were satisfied with the performance. In spite of moderate wind and rough sea we made good progress and had a speed of up to 6 km/h (3.7 mph).

Compared to many other kayaks, the Advanced Elements is stable in the water. It is not quite as stable as the Gumotex Swing 2 (which in our opinion is one of the most stable inflatable kayaks), but still absolutely sufficient. On our paddle tour through Berlin the partly heavy waves of passing ships could not bring the Advanced Elements AdvancesFrame into an unstable position. We always felt safe in the boat.

The kayak offers paddlers enough legroom. So it is also suitable for tall people. However, we think it is a pity that there is no footrest for the front paddler. That’s why the front paddler has to move its seat forward so that the feet can be pushed against the inner of the bow.

The seats give a good support when paddling. The backrests are strong enough and do not bend. The seat cushion also retains its position in the boat. During longer trips, however, it can be a bit uncomfortable for the buttocks, as the seat is firmly padded and the Drop-Stitch floor is also very firm. However, we do not consider this to be a disadvantage as a paddle boat is not a sofa. If you like it more comfortable, you can use a soft seat cushion. Alternatively, the AdvancedFrame Convertible with Back-Bone instead of Drop-Stitch would be recommended in this case. There is the standard floor with 0.1 bar (1.45 PSI), which is softer and therefore gives more softness when sitting.

We also find it practical that it is very easy to adjust the backrest when paddling. We have often used this on longer trips to avoid having to sit in the same position all the time.

As a single kayak the AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite also has a good trim, so the hull is evenly distributed in the water. The driving characteristics had convinced us here as well. As a 1er the boat can be steered well and paddled quickly. In the 2-seat configuration, the front paddler is well protected against splashing water by the very generous spray deck at the bow. This advantage disappears with the 1-seat configuration, as you slide backwards considerably. Here a 1er cockpit would be recommended on longer tours. Apart from that we also find it a pity that there is no footrest, but this doesn’t bother when paddling comfortably.

We really liked the additional deck for solo paddlers. There is a cross brace at the front of the seat hatch so that the deck does not hang down in the paddler’s foot area. The hatch closure is a good idea, and in our view the better solution to the zippers in the deck. Through the roll closure no water gets inside the boat.

The luggage net also convinced us. The click closures make it easy to accommodate even large luggage. In the case we had clothes and other items of three people stowed in the carrying bag of the boat.

Dismantling the kayak

The dismantling and folding of the boat was easy. However, the kayak did not fit so loosely and easily into the supplied carrying bag. Here it helps to fold the boat without seats, footrest and drop-stitch floor and to lay into the bag. Afterwards it is much easier to store the remaining parts in the carrying bag.

However, at home the kayak has to be disassembled and inflated slightly so that the nylon covers dry properly. Especially the nylon covers of the side chambers dry badly. It is advisable to reposition or turn the tubes after some time, so that everything is dry at the end.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The good driving characteristics are definitely the greatest strength of the Advanced Elements, which it offers as a inflatable kayak. Paddling is really fun with the boat. The two biggest weaknesses of the Advanced Element are its high weight and bulky pack size. Also the long drying time through the nylon cover is a bit annoying compared to Innova and Aquaglide boats. These boats of the manufacturers can be simply wiped dry with a cloth.

Conclusion on the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite

For an inflatable kayak, the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite has got solid hull drivinig characteristics. With its pack size and weight it belongs to the bulky and heavy inflatable kayaks. As the boat is originally designed for the American market, where the next lake will be reached by car instead of public transport, it is easy to understand why the manufacturer placed less emphasis on weight reduction. On the other hand, the boat scores in driving characteristics, comfort and equipment. With the AdvancedFrame Convertible, it is obvious that the manufacturer did not want to copy another inflatable kayak and bring it onto the market, but wanted to set itself apart from the conventional inflatable kayaks. From our point of view, the manufacturer has succeeded. The integrated aluminium rails in the bow and stern of the boat in combination with a dropstitch bottom or a backbone result in an inflatable kayak which is so unique on the market. It is really fun to paddle because it is very easy and fast. We also noticed that Advanced Elements didn’t cut corners here when it came to workmanship and equipment. The kayak is solid and has a lot of equipment.

Due to its weight, we recommend a permanent canoe cart for the Advanced Elements. If you take your car or camper and paddle accessible rivers and lakes, this aspect is of little importance to you. For those of us who mainly use public transport and like to carry a boat on our backs for more than half an hour, the inflatable kayak is less suitable. For our tests we had transported the boat in a backpack, but only the boat without any other equipment. We usually transport our Innova Swing 2 with all the equipment in a backpack and it is even lighter than the Advanced Elements. The material had made a robust impression on the tours and had to put up with a lot. Small traces of use (like small long scratches) are visible, but not further critical from our point of view. Nevertheless, we recommend paddling the boat with care and drying it properly after the tour. Then you have a great infatalbe kayak, which will give you a lot of paddling fun for many years.

We have also reviewed the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame 1-person inftlable kayak. This is a great alternative if you are looking for a lighter and more compact kayak and if you would paddle mostly alone.

Accessory for the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite Kayak

The Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible can be equipped with a 1-person or 2-person cockpit and thus be converted into a closed kayak. We had tested it and found the installation of the cockpit very easy. Personally we found the interior a bit too narrow. Nevertheless it is a good option to protect yourself from splash water and cold in spring or autumn.

The Sevylor Adventure Plus is the big brother of the popular Sevylor Adventure and offers space for up to 3 people. We have reviewed this inflatable canoe and would like to share our impression with you. At the end we also give a recommendation for whom the boat is especially suitable.

Technical Specs

Which model has been reviewed?

Alpacka Expedition with removable whitewater deck from 2020

How did we organize the review?

We have purchased the Sevylor Adventure Plus ourselves.

How intensively has the product been tested?

First impressions and assembly

The Sevylor Adventure Plus has a nylon cover that protects the inner tubes from damage. This is a good idea, because the nylon cover is definitely more robust than the PVC material. In addition, the nylon cover gives the boat the impression of a real canoe. The disadvantage of this nylon cover is that it is more susceptible to dirt, dries more slowly and makes the boat heavier.

Don’t forget: Plug in the fin before inflating. This is to support the straight run stability of the boat. The fin is already included in the delivery. The boat was in a thin fabric bag. This is mainly for storage and short transport.The inflatable boat makes a very valuable impression when unpacked. The air tubes are already inside the nylon cover. All in all, the assembly is quick and easy. The only requirement: The air tubes must be placed correctly.

There are two zippers in the nylon cover at the front of the interior. These allow access to the inner tubes in order to position them correctly before assembly or to replace them in the event of damage. The seats can also be removed from their nylon covers. This is handy if you want to wash the nylon cover of the seats.

All three air chambers are equipped with Boston valves. The Boston valve is a 2-way screw valve, which allows a safely and quick in- and deflating. The handling of the valves was very simple as well.

The included manometer is particularly practical for determining the air pressure in air chambers. The side chambers may be inflated with 0.1 bar or 1.5 PSI and have a good stiffness due to the nylon cover. The bottom chamber, on the other hand, may only be inflated to 0.06 bar or 0.88 PSI and feels rather soft. It’s a pity that the chamber in the floor doesn’t have a higher air pressure to achieve a higher overall stiffness and better driving characteristics.

The seats are also in a nylon cover and make a high-quality impression. These are equipped with two plug valves, one for the backrest and one for the seat cushion. However, the inflating of the seats is negative. The air escaped again and again, if you take away the pump or the mouth in order to close the valve. So, the seats are never really inflated and are therefore very soft. When the valve is closed, the air is held.

The seats can be attached to the floor with Velcro strips and the backrest with straps to the side chambers. This allows the position of the backrest to be varied. The position of the seats in the boat can only be changed very slightly. Here it would be good if the Velcro strips on the floor were slightly longer to position the seats according to the space required in the boat.

The Sevylor Adventure Plus is a very versatile inflatable kayak. It can be converted quickly as a 1, 2 or 3 canoe. As a 3er canoe the Adventure has an optimal weight distribution, but the paddler in the middle has no legroom, unless it is a child. As a 2er canoe the space for paddlers and luggage is good. The person in the back has a lot of legroom, the legroom for the person in the front man is unchanged. As a 1er canoe only the middle seat is used.

Tall people can’t stretch their legs completely. Especially with shoes it is quite tight for the feet. It is more comfortable to paddle without shoes.

The Sevylor Adventure Plus is equipped with small spray decks at the bow and stern. The carrying handles are practical, which makes carrying the boat much easier. There are also small luggage nets to attach a backpack, dry bag or other items (e.g. water bottle, pair of shoes, …).

The Sevylor Adventure Plus is equipped with small spray decks at the bow and stern. The carrying handles are practical, which makes carrying the boat much easier. There are also small luggage nets to attach a backpack, dry bag or other items (e.g. water bottle, pair of shoes, …).

The luggage nets are quite small compared to other inflatable kayaks. Only a small light rucksack or packsack finds place here. Nevertheless, sufficient for small paddle tours. The bungees can be tightened so that the luggage is secured.

There are fixing rings on the boat walls. Unfortunately, these are too small to fasten e.g. a dry bag. Otherwise it would have been a nice feature.

The Sevylor Adventure Plus has a strap with a clip fastener that holds the boat walls together. Using this feature, the boat is a little narrower and runs slightly easier through the water. If you leave the strap open, the interior is a bit wider and offers more space for paddlers and luggage.

Review of the Sevylor Adventure Plus on the water

We have paddled the Adventure Plus with a paddle from Bravo, which can be used as a single- or double-blade paddle. If you paddle in pairs you use the paddle as a single-blade paddle. Paddling with a single-blade paddle had worked surprisingly well. The side chambers of the boat are not too high and wide, so you could easily make paddle strokes. The Adventure Plus has also made reasonable progress in terms of speed. The directional stability was also good, we only had to correct rarely. In terms of maneuverability we had expected a bit more. The boat is easy to navigate, but it doesn’t react so quickly to a change of direction. A longer paddle would help. Nevertheless, we liked the driving characteristics altogether well.

The single paddling was done with a double paddle. We recommend using a longer double paddle (at least 230 cm / 7’5” ). The directional stability during solo paddling was not as good as paddling with another person together. Paddling with a paddle for two was more fun than paddling alone with a double paddle, because of the driving characteristics.

The seats have proven to be a major weakness of the Sevylor Adventure Plus when paddling. The problem is that the seats don’t provide any support when paddling. The backrest is very low and bends away quickly. A backpack behind the rear seat can help for the person in the back.

Strengths and weaknesses

Final notes on the Sevylor Adventure Plus

The Sevylor Adventure Plus is definitely not a bathing boat (like the Sevylor Riviera). Due to its nylon cover it is more robust than inflatable canoes or kayaks in the entry-level segment, which are only made of PVC. We liked the driving characteristics considering the price. The Sevylor Adventure Plus is the ideal boat for occasional paddlers who want to undertake short tours of several hours with breaks. The Sevylor Adventure Plus is not designed for ambitious paddlers, as the seats do not provide sufficient support when paddling, the floor chamber is too soft and if the nylon cover were damaged it would be very difficult to repair the boat.

Alternatives to the Sevylor Adventure Plus

Sevylor isn’t the only brand for inflatable kayak for beginners but there are also Intex and Itiwit, which offer also some good kayaks at the entry-level. The Excursion Pro is the best kayak from Intex in terms of quality and material. It doesn’t have a nylon cover and that makes the drying after the paddling tour much easier. 

Another popular brand for inflatable kayaks is Itiwit from the sport goods retailer Decathlon. They have kayaks with nylon covers as well and these are pretty cheaper if you compare it to what you get for this price. They also have kayaks without a nylon cover but with a thicker boat skin and drop-stitch floor. They are a bit more expensive but compared to other inflatables it’s still a very competing price.