Sevylor is one of the best-known inflatable kayak manufacturers and has made a name for itself among many people, especially with its entry-level models. The Sevylor Riviera is the cheapest inflatable kayak from this manufacturer, which promises a lot of paddling fun at the first glance. We had the possibility to review this kayak and want to tell you in this article what impression the boat has made on us and whether we would recommend it to you as a beginner kayak or rather as a simple fun boat.
1 315 cm | 10’3” 92 cm | 3′ 159 kg | 200.4 lbs 61 x 41 x 24 cm | 2′ x 1’3” 8”
Material: Weight: Pressure: Produced in:
PVC 8.8 kg | 19.4 lbs 0.06 bar | 0.88 PSI China
Which model has been reviewed?
Sevylor Riviera from 2018
How did we organize the review?
We have purchased the Sevylor Riviera ourselves.
How intensively has the product been tested?
low
high 1 bar = 1-3 km paddled (first impressions) 2 bars = min. 1 day/ 2 half-day tours 3 bars = min. 4 tours 4 bars = min. 8 tours 5 bars = min. 12 tours (very intense)
Where have we tested the product?
Whitewater
Calm rivers
Lakes
Product update of the Sevylor Riviera!
The Sevylor Riviera has been renamed to Sevylor Tahaa. Nothing else has changed on the kayak otherwise, which means that the Riviera and Tahaa are the same boats.
Table of Contents
Set-up and first impressions
Already during the set-up it was remarkable how light and compact the Riviera is. It seems quite astonishing that a 2 person kayak can weigh less than 10 kg (22 lbs). Inflatable boats are basically quick to set up and this also turns out with the Riviera. All you have to do is to pump up the two side chambers as well as the floor chamber and the boat is almost ready to use. Only the front splash guard is needs to be attached easily over the bug and the two seats in the inside of the kayak, which are inflated with the mouth. In addition to that, we should mention that Sevylor has come up with a rather clever concept for the spraydeck. You can use it as a kind of backpack for the rolled-up boat.
The boat can be carried as a backpack or as a simple carrying back
The air pressure displays on the side chambers are also a really clever idea from Sevylor and they are very practical. If the bar is in the green area, you know that the chamber has the ideal pressure. In that way, you don’t need a manometer for the air pressure control. However, there is no such pressure indicator for the floor chamber. Here, you need to compare the air pressure by hand pressure with one of the side chambers.
The boat is easily set up with an air pump
Measuring scales show if you have reached the ideal pressure
As a newcomer to inflatable kayaking, you can quickly get the impression of having a high-quality inflatable kayak in front of you. Not only does it look like a real kayak, but the design also makes it look really nice and professional. All the features give the impression that every detail has been taken into consideration.
The front spraydeck can be used as a backpack for the boat
However, someone who already has some experience with inflatable boats will immediately notice that the Sevylor Riviersa is clearly nothing more than a beginner kayak and if not even a better fun boat. The kayak doesn’t make a really robust impression either in terms of material or workmanship. Compared to more expensive inflatable boats, the boat skin is quite thin and therefore more susceptible to damage. Already when setting up the boat you should pay attention to a surface without pointed or angular stones. When putting the boat into the water, you should try to avoid any contact with the boat, especially not on stony ground.
The boat skin is quite thin and not very resistant
The incredibly light weight of 23.3 lbs for a 2 person kayak is clearly at the expense of robustness. For a kayak just over $100 you can honestly expect nothing else. The quality difference to a higher quality 2 person kayak like a kayak from Advanced Elements cannot be overlooked in such a comparison.
Thanks to the flexibly placeable seats, the Riviera can be quickly converted from a 2 person kayak to a 1 person kayak. The seats are placed inside the boat without fixation. They find support by the fact that they are wider than the boat interior. In this way, they are simply pressed into place. Another practical feature are the carrying handles at the back and front, which make a quite stable impression.
The seats can be placed anywhere inside the boat
The air pump or a backpack can be easily stowed behind the second seat.
There are not many ways to stow your luggage. It would be handy to have luggage nets on the splash guard behind and in front in order to fasten a pack bag or a small backpack. Depending on how you place the rear seat, you can also place the air pump or a backpack behind the seat. If you paddle the boat as a 1 person kayak, you can stow more behind your seat and even in front of your feet.
Review of the Sevylor Riviera on the water
Thanks to its low weight, the boat can easily be put into the water even by one person. However, the cordes on the front and rear splash guards are not really suitable for carrying the boat because they are only thin rubber cords. They can only be used to pull the boat towards a landing stage when nobody is sitting in it. The use of proper ropes would have been desirable.
If you buy the Sevylor Riviera, you should definitely buy a fitting fin because this is not included in the scope of delivery. Without a fin, the boat has almost no real straight-line stability and it quickly moves sideways. So paddling is not much fun and as a beginner you might ask yourself if there is something wrong with your paddling technique. The more likely problem, however, is the missing fin, because with it the straight line clearly improves, and at the same time the riding fun as well.
A fin and a higher quality paddle improve driving characteristics
The supplied paddle also didn’t convince us when we used it on the water. Firstly, the paddle with its plug-in system does not look very stable and secondly, what is much more important, the paddle surfaces are simply much too small compared to conventional kayak paddles. This means that you displace less water with each stroke and you drive much slower. The purchase of a better paddle is highly recommended.
The included paddle is unstable and makes paddle strokes harder
The seating system also has its disadvantages. Although the seats don’t slip noticeably when paddling, they offer little support on the back, especially when paddling more powerfully. They are comfortable and certainly quite well designed for people who prefer to go paddling in order to relax in the sun, but we were not convinced by the seats for ambitious paddling.
For one person, the Riviera offers enough space
If you paddle the Riviera alone, the is enough space for your legs, because you can place the seat as you like. In addition to that, there is plenty of room for luggage, but which cannot be fastened. With 2 persons the space is still completely ok, but not immensely and particularly for tall persons with longer routes quite unsuitable.
With an operating pressure of 0.06 bar (0.88 PSI) and a rather wide boat shape, it is also not surprising that you are not so fast on the water with the Riviera. But for small comfortable tours on lakes, the speed is still completely sufficient. With the low air pressure, the air chambers feels also quite soft. However, you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions and not simply inflate more air, as the pressure in the chambers can quickly rise, especially in high sunlight. And finally, the material is not designed for higher pressures.
Drain valve and the possibility for mounting a fin
The Sevylor Riviera is from our point of view especially suitable for calmer lakes and rivers, where you can avoid ground contact. Certainly there are also some who would use this kayak for the open sea, but we would not recommend it. The kayak is also not made for multi-day trips, nor for sporty and ambitious trips. It is a inflatable kayak rather for quiet and comfortable short tours.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Sevylor Riviera
The biggest selling point of the Sevylor Riviera is certainly the price. For a little more than 100$, you get a inflatable kayak that is worth its money at first glance. But everyone should be aware that in this price category you can’t expect a high quality kayak. Although the kayak impresses with its low weight and compact packing dimensions, it comes with poor material quality. A stable boat skin is especially important for an inflatable boat if you want to devote yourself intensively to your paddling passion and enjoy your boat for a long time.
A little budget should be planned in any case additionally for a fin and a higher-quality paddle. If you want to paddle it in pairs, you will have to buy a second paddle as well. These two things will upgrade the boat without a doubt.
Advantages
+ very light for a 2 person kayak + small packing size + quick and easy assembly + easily convertible into 1 or 2 kayak + appealing design + integrated backpack system
Disadvantages
– little robust material and no high-quality finish – little space for 2 tall people – poor directional stability – delivered without a fin – seats give little back support – low-quality paddle in scope of delivery
Conclusion on the Sevlor Riviera
The Sevylor Riviera can only be recommended for absolute beginners with a limited budget or for those who are looking for a better fun boat. Although the Riviera looks nice and professional and at first glance it can give a high-quality impression to beginners, it cannot compete with higher quality boats in terms of robustness and driving characteristics. Those who are serious about kayaking should rather look for a higher quality inflatable kayak from Sevylor or another manufacturer like Advanced Elements. If you want to buy the Riviera, you should also invest in a fin and better paddles.
The Frenzy Sit-on-Top kayak from Ocean Kayak is an affordable recreational kayak. It’s a definitely quite a short kayak and most people may wonder how it tracks. We had the chance to paddle it on the ocean and share with you our experience and impressions of the Frency Ocean Kayak in this review. If you are looking for a two persons sit-on-top kayak, then you should consider the Ocean Kayak Malibu Two.
2 270 cm | 9′ 78.7 cm | 2’6” 147.4 kg | 325 lbs Single layer polyethylene 20 kg | 44 lbs
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
First impressions of the Frenzy Ocean Kayak
The brand Ocean kayak stands for quality and affordable kayak. All their kayaks are made in the USA and well-made and finished. They are well designed and have beautiful look. The handles and the fittings for the seat as well as the boat itself make very robust impression. It’s for sure that you will enjoy your frenzy kayak for a very long time.
It’s a pretty short and a quite wide kayak and we first had our doubt if that we would loose quite much in terms of speed and performance on the water.
But being short and wide is absolutely fine for recreational sit-on-top kayak because it ensures a very good stability on the water and it is much harder to flip with the boat. Most beginners start with a recreational kayak and under that aspect, stability is a key factor.
When handling the boat for the first time, I was quite impressed how light it was for a two person kayak. I was able to put in the water on my own. Thanks to its shortness, it’s possible to load and unload it easily from the car. This makes it also quite easy to store the kayak indoors.
Review of the Frenzy Ocean Kayak on the water
The handles on the side of the boat are easy on the hands for transportation and to put the boat into the water.
Our first concerns about the speed and the performance on the water were completely gone once we got on the water. The kayak tracks really well for being so short, even when taking large and long strokes. It goes also fast with little effort if you want to. However, you should keep in mind that it can’t have the same speed as a long touring kayak.
The Frenzy is a very wide boat at 31’, which has a great stability on the water. We have never had the feeling that we could flip with the kayak. It remained really stable on the water even when we had some bigger waves. At the same time it’s very responsive thanks to the wideness.
It has stern and bow bungee storage areas, which are perfect for dry-bags or backpacks. I am a taller person and I still had enough space for my legs. I think even for larger persons the frenzy kayak could be a good choice.
Final notes on the Frenzy Ocean Kayak
It’s one of the best hard-shell kayak for people who prioritize ease of transportation over performance on the water. However, the kayak tracks really well for being so short, even when taking large and long strokes. So, you don’t really loose too much of performance as you would might think at first. You can actually paddle it on any kind of water, ranging from lakes, rivers, bays to open water.
The Intex Challenger K2 is the best-selling kayak from the inflatable boat manufacturer Intex and probably the best-selling kayak on the Internet. The boat is available as a 1-person kayak (Intex Challenger K1) and as a 2-person kayak (Intex Challenger K2). There are a lot of positive reviews of this low-priced inflatable kayak online. Not to forget that the Intex Challenger K2 is supplied with all the necessary accessories (two double paddles and an air pump). This actually sounds too good to be true.
We wanted to find out what the truth is and tested it for you. We have already paddled numerous inflatable kayaks and can therefore make a good comparison.
2 351 cm | 11’5” 76 cm | 2’5” 159 kg | 353 lbs 59 x 32 x 41 cm | 1’9” x 1′ x 1’3”
Material: Weight: Pressure: Produced in:
PVC 15 kg | 33.1 lbs 0,069 bar | 1 PSI China
Which model has been reviewed?
Intex Challenger K2 from 2018, Intex Challenger K2 from 2023
How did we organize the review?
We have purchased the Intex Challenger K2 ourselves.
How intensively has the product been tested?
low
high 1 bar = 1-3 km paddled (first impressions) 2 bars = min. 1 day/ 2 half-day tours 3 bars = min. 4 tours 4 bars = min. 8 tours 5 bars = min. 12 tours (very intense)
Where have we tested the product?
Whitewater
Calm rivers
Lakes
Table of Contents
Set-up and first impressions
The Intex Challenger K2 is delivered in a light and thin transport bag. The bag doesn’t make a rough impression but for short transports or storing the kayak at home the transport bag should be sufficient. The Challenger K2 is not a very lightweight inflatable. Everyone who wants to transport the kayak some hundred meters by foot should buy a larger transport backpack (e.g. the affordable Itiwit boat backpack*).
The Intex Challenger K2 comes in a thin carrying bag with all the necessary accessories.
The transport bag fits the complete folded boat (weighed 10.45 kg or 23 lbs) and all the accessories. These include two inflatable seats, an air pump, an inflatable “footrest” for the person in front, a skeg, two double paddles including drip rings, a measuring strip (for checking the air pressure) and repair patches. The supplied Intex Double Quick II* is a small-volume double-stroke pump with three different attachments. Double stroke means that air is expelled both when the piston is pushed down and when it is pulled up, thus enabling more efficient pumping.
The kayak set includes two paddles and an air pump
The boat itself consists of a bottom and side chamber, which are inflated via Boston valves with the supplied air pump. As the pump is relatively small, it takes a little while to inflate the boat completely, despite the double-stroke function. Alternatively, you could buy a larger pump, which would make it much quicker and easier. On the other hand, a small pump is of course more space-saving (especially handy when taking it with in the boat)
The kayak consists of tow separate air chambers that are inflated one after the other.
The measuring scale printed on the air chambers is pretty practical. At the correct operating pressure, the measuring scale is 10 cm long. It is important to inflate the air chambers correctly, as too high an operating pressure can damage the air chambers and too low an operating pressure can impair rigidity and riding characteristics.
The kayak has boston valves
Measuring scale to check the correct air pressure
Soft air chambers due to the low air pressure
The two seats consist of a seat cushion and a backrest, which are inflated by mouth or with one of the air pump attachments, just like an air mattress. Inflating them was not only a little tedious, but also a bit fiddly, as the air always escaped quickly before the valve was closed.
There are two Velcro strips in the interior on the floor of the boat for attaching the seats. There is a longer strip for the rear seat so that its position can be varied. The Velcro fastening on the floor also prevents the seats from slipping while paddling. The seats are also attached to the side chambers of the kayak using two adjustable straps. These straps can be used to adjust the position of the backrest.
Inflating the seats
Placing the seats
Fastening the backrest using the straps
There is also a footrest for the person in front. This is a small air cushion that is placed in the bow. This gives the front paddler (especially small people) a better grip when paddling. The rear paddler already has good support when paddling due to the front seat.
Inflating the “footrest”
Placing the footrest
A very nice feature is the front luggage net, which is very spacious. A bag or backpack and shoes can be stowed underneath it without taking up additional space in the boat or getting in the way. The luggage net is also easy to reach on the water.
However, an additional luggage net at the rear would have been even better. For a light bag or shoes, it fits quite well at the front. However, if you want to stow more weight (e.g. a backpack with a few drinks, the cockpit will quickly sag at the front and further restrict the footwell).
There is a spacious luggage net at the front
Cosidering the price, it really surprised us that there is a skeg included. A directional skeg can be attached underneath the kajak hull, which is secured with a split pin. A directional skeg noticeably improves the directional stability of an inflatable kayak, as inflatable kayaks tend to float on the water rather than in the water compared to rigid hull and folding kayaks.
Overall, it is noticeable that the bottom of the kayak is very flat and has no keel. On the one hand, this speaks for good tipping stability and good trim on the water.
Mounting the skeg
Bottom of the Intex Challenger K2
Review of the Intex Challenger K2 on the water
Unlike the Intex Explorer K2 and Intex Excursion Pro, the Challenger K2 does not have carrying handles. Instead, we use the safety lines for transportation, which works well due to the low weight of the kayak, as long as the kayak is not loaded with luggage. For longer transfers on river tours, however, the carrying handles would definitely be missing.
If you have got some experience with inflatable kayaks, you will also notice that the material is not as thick as used for high-quality inflatables. So, the boat skin can’t be very resistant and solid. Therefore, you should really try to avoid any contact with the ground. Be also careful outside the water with the kayak that there are no sharp stones or branches on the ground.
The kayak has no carrying handles. The safety lines can be used instead
Compared to the Intex Explorer K2 or Excursion Pro, the Challenger K2 has a semi-open cockpit. A cockpit is a practical protection against splashing water. However, the space between the floor chamber and the cockpit chamber is so narrow in the kayak that you have to contort yourself to get your legs under the cockpit.
As the kayak is very flexible with the soft air tubes, it still works well enough. As long as your legs are under the cockpit, even tall people have enough legroom. On longer tours, we would feel too cramped due to the cockpit. And in many cases, the space under the cockpit is definitely too small when wearing shoes. One more reason why it is more of a fun boat, as the kayak is best paddled barefoot.
With a little effort, the legs go under the cockpit
If the legs are under the cockpit, the person in front has enough legroom
There is much less space in the back. The legs have to be bent at an angle (e.g. 1.86cm / 6’1″ tall) in order to sit properly. If you lean heavily into the backrest, the soft backrest bends backwards. This indicates a lack of support in the lower back area (particularly important on longer trips). Moreover, the backrest is difficult to adjust on the water. The cockpit makes it difficult to reach the straps to loosen or tighten them.
Rear footwell
The seats provide little support
We also don’t have enough space in the back when paddling. Both paddlers sit too close together. It is not possible for the paddler in the back to fully extend the arm when paddling. This is because the kayak is pretty short for a 2-person kayak with a cockpit (due to the cockpit, the seat can only be positioned far back to a limited extent) at 351 cm / 11’5” in length.
In terms of handling characteristics, the kayak’s initial impression on the water is impressive considering the low price. For an entry-level kayak with a relatively low operating pressure, the Challenger K2 can still be paddled relatively quickly on the water. The skeg also ensures good directional stability. However, if you paddle too fast (around 6 km/h or 3.73 mph), paddling becomes a wobbly affair. Compared to other inflatable kayaks, the Challenger K2 is somewhat sluggish and reacts slowly to a change of direction. The person in the back needs several powerful paddle strokes to move the kayak in the desired direction.
The double paddles fulfill their purpose for short tours
The kayak can be paddled relatively quickly on the water
The kayak is fine for short trips on the water.
The seats are very comfortable to sit in. However, the emphasis is on relaxation. The seats are not designed for longer trips. The seats are too soft and provide too little support. The Challenger K2 also has a relatively low operating pressure (0.069 bar). Higher quality inflatable kayaks (e.g. Gumotex Solar, Gumotex Seawave, Itiwit x500, nortik scubi 1 XL, …) have a 3-5 times higher operating pressure, which results in considerably better handling characteristics and a significantly higher rigidity.
The paddles supplied (1000 g or 2.2 lbs each, which is not too heavy for an entry-level double paddle) definitely serve their purpose for beginners and are comfortable to paddle for short distances. But you shouldn’t expect much more from these double-blade paddles. However, you should not forget that a high-quality paddle often costs more than the whole Intex boat.
The paddle blades have a high flex (very flexible) so that powerful paddle strokes quickly become ineffective. They are also 5-piece paddles. This saves a lot of space when disassembled, but the double paddles also make a somewhat wobbly impression with a total of 3 plug-in connections. On the other hand, the drip rings, which reduce splashing water in the boat, are a positive feature.
Intex Challenger K1 as a 1-person kayak
The Intex Challenger K2 can also be used as a 1-person kayak. The Velcro strip on the floor and the seat straps are long enough so that you can position the front seat sufficiently far back or in the middle of the kayak. The footrest cannot be used in this configuration. Nevertheless, a reasonable paddle is possible, although the footrest would be missing on longer tours in the long run.
The Intex Challenger k2 can also be used as a single kayak
There is plenty of space in the 1-seater configuration. There is also enough space behind the seat to stow a large backpack.
Although the trim of the kayak is still good on the water (despite the low operating pressure), the straight-line stability and speed are logically poorer when using this 2-persons kayak as a 1-person kayak. Nevertheless, with the Intex Challenger K2 in the 1-person configuration, you can reach a speed of approx. 5 km/h or 3.12mph, which surprised us.
The trim on the water is still amazingly good
Dismantling the kayak
Dismantling the boat has proved to be harder than the setup. On one hand it was not easy to wipe out the water. The Challenger K2 has some hard-to-reach areas (especially in the bug) that makes wiping the boat dry quite difficult. Whereas deflating the air chambers was easy thanks to the Boston valves
Strengths and Weaknesses
The greatest strength of the Intex Challenger K2 is the unbeatable price including the accessory. And, that’s why this kayak is so popular. You have got everything to start paddling. But for this low price you shouldn’t really expect a high-quality kayak. Intex kayaks look great and professional regarding design but at a closer look you notice big difference with inflatable kayaks from other manufacturers that cost much more.
The operating pressure is quite low and the material of the boat skin is too thin. On our first day, we had already two little holes in the floor chamber and we have started paddling yet. We could repair it quickly without any big problems. But the used material for the boat skin is very sensitive and the greatest weakness of this inflatable boat. So, we can only partly recommend the Intex Challenger K2. We wouldn’t call it an actual kayak but rather a fun boat. For paddling from time to time a bit on a calm and small lake where you want to relax the Challenger K2 is great option. But this boat is not a good option for anybody looking for a real kayak. If you want to do regularly some longer tours, you should invest in high-quality kayak.
Advantages
+ very affordable + very handy cargo bungee net in front + kayak paddles and pump already included seats can be positioned variably + comfortable seats for chilled kayak tours + can also be used as a single kayak Good speed and good directional stability + good trim on the water + attractive design
Disadvantages
– lack of carrying handles on bow and stern – more fun boat than inflatable kayak – sensitive boat skin – low operating pressure and therefore soft air chambers – more difficult to dry/clean due to lack of drain valve and existing cockpit (hard to reach places in the interior) – little space with shoes (especially at the front due to the cockpit) – little space for the rear paddler to paddle properly (short seat distance) – footrest not very useful – seats provide too little support on longer tours – wobbly double paddles – short warranty period of 90 days (from day of purchase)
Conclusion on the Intex Challenger K2
The Intex Challenger K2 is a very affordable inflatable kayak and very popular among beginners. It comes with an astonishing amount of accessories and nothing is missing that you need for paddling. You only need to buy two life jackets. However, due to the low price, you should not expect a real inflatable kayak, but rather a fun boat. The operating pressure is too low for this and the material is too thin.
Perfect for short tours, but still more of a fun boat than an inflatable kayak
We even had two small punctures in the bottom chamber of one model on the first day, even though we hadn’t even paddled yet (most likely caused by stones when setting up on the shore). This can be mended, but it is still an indication that the material is not very resistant. The Challenger K2 can therefore only be recommended to a limited extent.
It is intended for smaller tours on lakes where the focus is on chilling on the water. The Intex Challenger K2 is also suitable for a leisurely river or lake tour lasting a few hours, as long as you avoid ground contact and don’t have too high expectations. It is not intended for people or aspiring ambitious paddlers who want to go on regular tours lasting several hours.
Unfortunately, the Intex Challenger K2 does not have carrying handles
If you’re wondering whether the Intex Challenger K1 or K2 is right for you, we recommend reading the article 1, 2 or 3-seater canoe – Which boat size should it be? Here we compare the different sizes of inflatable boats and show under which circumstances which size is most suitable. There are also frequent questions about the differences between the Intex Challenger K2 and the Intex Explorer K2. We have tested these two inflatable kayaks for you in a comparison test.
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.
The Intex Excursion Pro looks quite similar to the Explorer K2 but here there are especially differences regarding material and quality. The Excursion Pro is the most expensive inflatable kayak from Intex but the boat skin is much thicker and it has much more features. If you are willing to pay more, then this one might be the better choice for you.
The Intex Explorer K2 is one of most affordable inflatable kayaks. On the internet a lot of customers share positive experience with this inflatable Intex kayak. Most of the customers can only make a limited evaluation since they have never paddled any other inflatable kayaks than the Intex Explorer K2. We have examined the Explorer K2 carefully and have paddled it on a bathing lake. We have already paddled many inflatable kayaks and are able to give you a solid recommendation for who the Intex Explorer K2 is best suited for.
2 312 cm (10’2”) 91 cm (3′) 160 kg | 353 lbs 59 x 34 x 41 cm | 1’9” x 1’1” x 1’3”
Material: Weight: Pressure: Produced in:
PVC 14 kg | 30.9 lbs 0,069 bar | 1 PSI China
Which model has been reviewed?
Intex Explorer K2 from 2018
How did we organize the review?
We have purchased the Intex Explorer K2 ourselves.
How intensively has the product been tested?
low
high 1 bar = 1-3 km paddled (first impressions) 2 bars = min. 1 day/ 2 half-day tours 3 bars = min. 4 tours 4 bars = min. 8 tours 5 bars = min. 12 tours (very intense)
Where have we tested the product?
Whitewater
Calm rivers
Lakes
Table of Contents
First impressions and assembly
The Intex Explorer K2 comes in a thin transport bag, which does not look particularly robust and the carrying handles are not padded. However, the bag should be sufficient for storing the kayak or for carrying the kayak short distances to the water. The bag contains the boat and all its accessories. If you often want to transport the kayak and accessories a few hundred meters on foot, you should buy a larger transport backpack (e.g. Itiwit boat backpack*).
The Intex Explorer K2 comes in a thin carrying bag with all the necessary accessories.
The transport bag contains the folded boat (weighed 9.45 kg / 20.8 lbs) and all the accessories. These include two inflatable seats, an air pump, a skeg, two double blade paddles including drip rings, a measuring strip (for checking the air pressure) and repair patches.
The included Intex Double Quick II* is a small-volume double-stroke pump with three different attachments. Double stroke means that air is expelled both when the piston is pushed down and when it is pulled up, thus enabling more efficient pumping.
It’s amazing that so many accessories are included for such a low price. This makes immediate paddling possible.
The kayak set includes two paddles and an air pump
The folded kayak is quickly out of the bag. At first, the material makes a pretty rough impression, but reminds us a little of the somewhat thicker PVC material of an air mattress at the second glance, which air mattresses are made of. Compared to higher quality inflatable kayaks, there are huge differences in the roughness of the used material. That’s why you should be very careful with the Explorer K2 and prevent any contact with stones and branches.
The kayak must be unfolded for the setup. The air chambers can be inflated with the included air pump. The Intex Explorer K2 has two side chambers and a bottom chamber. We really like this multiple air chamber design because it makes the boat safer. If the kayak were to get a puncture, only one air chamber will deflate and the other two will remain still inflated.
The two side chambers each have a Boston valve, which is common for beginner kayaks. The bottom chamber, on the other hand, only has a simple plug valve, which is reminiscent of the valve on an air mattress. It is functional, but still makes a very cheap impression for an inflatable kayak.
The kayak consists of three separate air chambers that are inflated one after the other.
Inflating the kayak was simple and quick (less than 10 minutes). Intex has printed a measuring scale on the chambers. With this scale you can see with the included measuring strip or ruler if the right air pressure is on each chamber. This is very useful and important at the same time. A too high air pressure would damage the chambers for sure and a too low air pressure would reduce the driving performance of the boat. As well as the boston valves have been working great.
The Boston valves have a 2-way closure system. If the cap comes off, the air in the chamber still remains in the boat.
The printed measuring scale is practical. This allows you to check the air pressure of the boat with the measuring strip supplied.
The two seats were a bit more cumbersome to inflate. But we really liked the Veclro straps on the floor of the boat. They hold the seats in the right position when paddling. The Velcro strap for the backseat is longer dimensioned so that you can adjust the position of the backseat more individually, either more legroom or more space for you gear behind the backseat. Both seats have a backrest with adjustable belts which are attached to the side chambers. All in all, the seats are a good feature of the boat in this price segment.
The seats are also inflatable
The backrest is fastened with two straps
Mounted kayak seat
Stern and bow are equipped with small spray decks that can be inflated as well. These can also be inflated to give them more shape. The side chambers are pretty high compared to other Intex kayaks. Moreover, the Intex Explorer is not suited for white-water at all. We assume that these are intended to give the boat a better look. The carry handles on the bow and stern are really practical for lifting the boat.
Carrying handle
Storage space in the stern
After inflating, the boat must be turned to mount the included skeg. This is secured with a split pin. The skeg is recommended for a better directional stability, as inflatable kayaks tend to float on the water rather than in the water compared to rigid hull and folding kayaks.
Finally, the Intex is completely set up. We are especially pleased by the appealing design of the boat. The last thing to do before paddling is to plug the paddle together. You will notice immediately that the paddles are not made for longer paddling tours. They are quite wobbly and that even in new state. But nevertheless, two functioning double-blade paddles for that low price, hard to believe.
Mounting the skeg
Despite the low price, we could not find any manufacturing faults with the boat. The PVC material is welded together in a similar way to an air mattress. Nevertheless, you can see that the boat skin appears thin. The boat skin is a simple PVC foil without any reinforcement (such as a polyester core on the inside).
Workmanship and material of the Intex Explorer K2
A big difference between the Intex Explorer K2 and other higher-quality inflatables is the low air pressure that results in very soft air cambers. The Intex Explorer reminds us more of a fun boat than a proper inflatable kayak.
The air chambers are quite soft due to the low pressure.
Review of the Intex Challenger K2 on the water
Two people can easily carry the inflatable kayak to the water when unloaded using the carrying handles. The open design makes it very easy to get in. However, the low air pressure compared to higher quality inflatable kayaks or drop-stitch kayaks is noticeable here. The soft bottom and side chambers don’t give a lot of support. When you get in and sit down, it reminds us more like a bathing boat.
However, the soft air chambers and inflatable seats make it very comfortable when the focus is on spending time on the water. The emphasis is on chilling. However, the seats are not suitable for longer and sportier tours as they do not provide sufficient support. Nevertheless, if you only plan short trips, the focus is on relaxing on the water, you don’t go paddling often and you don’t have high expectations, you will be completely satisfied with the Intex kayak to begin with.
Suitable for short trips on the water
There is not much space in the boat
What we notice when paddling are the rather high and wide side chambers. On the one hand, this makes the boat more stable and safer on the water. On the other hand, when paddling with the double paddle paddle, you often come up against the wide side tubes, which would be annoying on longer trips.
We were surprised by the speed. You can reach a reasonable speed with the Intex Explorer K2. Speeds of between 5.1 km/h and 5.6 km/h (between 3.2 mph and 3.5 mph) are realistic in good conditions. If you paddle too fast, it becomes a pretty wobbly affair. A change of direction by the person behind also works quite well. It is more maneuverable than the Intex Challenger K2. The skeg supports the directional stability of the boat well. We also have to say that we had good conditions for kayaking with an inflatable kayak that day (no wind or waves).
The paddles are not too bad for beginners
There is just barely enough space for two adults and a daypack. A small daypack or dry bag can be placed behind the rear seat. There is no room for luggage at the front of the bow, as the person in front would otherwise not know where to put the feet. Due to the more open design, you sit less cramped than in the Intex Challenger K2. Nevertheless, the person in the back must place the feet on the sides of the front seat to avoid having to sit at an angle in the boat. However, this is no problem as the soft side chambers are so flexible.
The paddles supplied (1 kg / 2.2 lbs each, which is not too heavy for a beginner double blade paddle) definitely serve their purpose for beginners and are comfortable to paddle for short distances. However, you shouldn’t expect much more from these double blade paddles. You immediately notice that the double paddles are not intended for long tours. In addition to the high flex of the paddle blade, the double paddle is quite wobbly overall, even when new. But still, for the price, two functional double paddles, hard to believe. On the other hand, the drip rings, which reduce splashing water in the boat, are a positive feature.
Intex Explorer K2 as a 1-person kajak
The Intex Explorer K2 can also be used as a 1-person kayak. The Velcro strip on the floor and the seat straps are long enough so that you can position the front seat in the middle of the kayak. For longer tours, we would personally miss a footrest. A larger dry bag may help here.
The Intex Challenger k2 can also be used as a single kayak
There is plenty of space in the 1-seater configuration. There is enough space behind the seat to stow a large backpack or dry bag.
Although the trim of the kayak is still good on the water (despite the low operating pressure), the straight-line stability and speed are logically poorer when using a 1-person kayak. Nevertheless, with the Intex Challenger K1 in the 1-person configuration, you can reach a speed of approx. 4.8 km/h (3 mph), which surprised us.
Transport bag, which also serves as a inflation and dry bag
Dismantling of the Intex Explorer K2
After the use, the Intex Explorer K2 dries quickly. Deflating the kayak is easy as well. So, there is no problem to fold the kayak as it was before. We really liked the drain valve. The boat can be tipped backward, and the left water runs out of the drain valve easily. The boat can be wiped dry without using a sponge to get out the water.
The drain valve is good for emptying the boat of water
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Intex Explorer Kayak
The greatest strength of the Explorer K2 is not the boat itself but the offer, i.e. the included accessory and the really low price for an inflatable kayak. The less robust boat skin the main weakness of the Explorer K2 which should not be a surprise considering the low price.
The Intex Explorer K2 is a great offer for those who don’t have high demands
Advantages
+ complete accessories already included + seats can be positioned variably + practical carry handles to lift the boat + very affordable + appealing design + easy boat cleaning thanks to drain valve + good maneuverability as a 2-person kayak + can also be paddled alone + good directional stability with the skeg
Disadvantages
– sensitive boat skin – rather a fun boat than an inflatable kayak – little space for luggage and tall paddlers in the back – low air pressure and therefore soft air chambers – seats provide too little support on longer tours – wobbly paddles – short warranty period of 90 days (from the day of purchase)
Conclusion on the the Intex Explorer K2
The Intex Explorer K2 is one of the best-selling inflatable kayaks for a reason. It is easy to paddle for beginners and comes with all the accessories you need for paddling. It is primarily for people who want to spend some time on the water. Covering distance or longer tours (paddling for several hours) are not the main focus. Then the Intex Explorer K2 is a good option.
The Intex Explorer K2 is easy to paddle for beginners but not designed for long tours
However, if you really want to go paddling on selected tours, you should spend more money on an inflatable kayak. The Explorer K2 is not designed for longer paddling. The seats do not provide enough support, there is not enough space in the long term and the operating pressure is too low to expect good handling characteristics similar to a hard-shell kayak. In addition, the boat skin is too thin and only seems to be designed for gentle use. We don’t recommend the Intex Explorer K2 for trips on the water with grounding included, that can happen on rivers.
A very similar alternative to the Explorer K2 is the Intex Challenger K2
A lot of people wonder what the differences between the Intex Explorer K2 and Intex Challengers K2 are. We have reviewed both in our article Intex Explorer K2 vs Challenger K2. Check also out our article about Intex to get an overview of all his products.
Accessories for the Intex Explorer K2
The scope of delivery of the boat includes the following accessories:
Kayak paddle
Inflatable foot brace
Air pump
Skeg
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.
The Intex Excursion Pro looks quite similar to the Explorer K2 but here there are especially differences regarding material and quality. The Excursion Pro is the most expensive inflatable kayak from Intex but the boat skin is much thicker and it has much more features. If you are willing to pay more, then this one might be the better choice for you.
Inflatable kayaks (also: blow up kayak or air kayaks) are gaining more and more popularity recently. Known manufacturers are improving continuously their materials and construction, so that they are not anymore considered as fun boats only. They can be really an alternative to solid kayaks. In the following you are going to learn all about air kayaks, in particular the differences to solid and folding kayaks, the advantages and disadvantages of inflatables and their uses. Whether you consider yourself as beginner, occasional or professional paddler, we present you the right inflatable kayaks at the end.
Table of Contents
What is an inflatable kayak?
A kayak is a slim designed paddle boat, which is navigated with a double-bladed paddle. Traditional kayaks are covered by a deck that prevents the entry of spray water or waves. The paddler is sitting in driving direction. Kayaks are fast and very manoeuvrable paddle boats that has been originally used by Eskimos in Greenlandic for hunting. Thanks to these characteristics kayaks are widely used in water sports and for touring nowadays. Therefore, kayaks are perfect for anyone who likes to paddle fast and to make long distances. But also among beginners kayaks are very popular for small and comfortable trips on the water.
Inflatable kayaks get more and more popular
Inflatable kayaks are also called airkayaks, which are usually made of PVC or a woven fabric coated in rubber or PVC. In a inflatable kayak, air is pumped into the boat chambers with the help of an air pump.
For an inflatable an air pump is used to inflate air into the chambers of the boat. Depending on the material used for the kayak, it is possible to inflate more or less air into the chambers, which has an impact on the operating pressure. The more pressure the air chamber has, the better its stiffness and driving characteristics. Kayaks with a high operating pressure are mostly the ones that can be found in the higher priced segment.
Setup of an inflatable kayak
In their first years, the kayak community didn’t take them really seriously since they were quite vulnerable to damage and their driving characteristics were not comparable to a hardshell kayak. But a lot has been changed since then and they are quite popular for white water and touring. A good compromise was found between robustness, compactness with low weight and reasonable driving characteristics. Only race kayaking is still a dedicated area for hardshell kayaks
Manufacturers of inflatable kayaks
Meanwhile there are a large number of manufacturers on the market, such as Advanced Elements, Sea Eagle, Aquaglide, Aqua Marina, BIC, Blueborn, Bestways, Gumotex (Innova in the USA), Grabner, Sevylor, Itiwit, Intex and many others. Advanced Elements is the market leader of high quality inflatable kayaks in the USA, and has been experiencing increasing popularity in other countries as well. The American manufacturer has some kayaks with very good driving characteristics in its product range. The target group of these brands are beginners as well as ambitious paddlers.
Another big brand of inflatable kayaks is Intex, which offers the cheapest inflatable kayaks on the market. A 1-person inflatable kayak (Intex Challenger K1) is already available for under $100. The target group are beginners who want to paddle on a lake or beach in good weather and who are looking for some relaxation on the water. The situation is similar with the inflatable kayaks from Sevylor and Itiwit. In contrast to the Intex kayaks, these boats have a slightly higher air pressure and are a little more robust due to the textile coating. Meanwhile Itiwit also offers inflatable touring kayaks (Itiwit x500), and replaces the textile cover of its new beginner models with a boat skin made of PVC coated polyester fabric (e.g. Itiwit x100).
What makes a good inflatable kayak depends on your own needs and the intended use. Of course, it can be said that the higher priced inflatable kayaks are of better quality, therefore have better performance on the water and a better durability. In our opinion a good inflatable kayak costs between $500 and $1000. There are also inflatable kayaks that cost well over $1000.
But not everyone can afford or needs an inflatable kayak that costs $1000. That’s why we would like to present you interesting inflatable kayaks in three different categories, most of which we paddled ourselves.
Prices for inflatables range from $100 to over $1000
Inflatable kayaks for nice weather and recreational paddlers
These inflatable kayaks are mainly boats for occasional paddlers and for those who would like to try it out first to see if the paddling enthusiasm will grab them.
In this category you can also find the cheapest inflatable kayaks. These inflatable kayaks (less than $100 depending on the offer) have a low air pressure and a pretty thin boat skin made of a PVC film compared to other inflatable kayaks. The inflatable kayaks are especially suitable for small and calm lakes, slow moving rivers and for paddling in the sea near the beach in good weather conditions. Some boats even come in a complete set, including paddle, fin and pump (e.g. the inflatable kayaks from Intex or Sea Eagle). You should never expect high quality workmanship or exceptional driving characteristics from these boats. Such boats are mainly intended for short paddling and resting at and on the water.
Then there are inflatable kayaks between $200 and $500 in this category, intended for occasional paddling and short trips of 2 to 3 hours on calm waters. The brands Sevylor and Itiwit are especially represented here. These inflatable kayaks have a higher operating pressure and the PVC tubes are protected by a separate textile cover or are made of a more robust material. The air kayaks are easier to paddle and are more robust compared to the cheapest models.
Inflatable kayaks for families offer space for two paddlers as well as another one for a smaller child. For a larger child and longer tours a 3-seater kayak should be preferred. Sevylor and Iitiwit Touring inflatable kayaks (e.g. Sevylor Adventure Plus, Itiwit x100+ 3-seater) are usually available at a much lower price than the boats from Innova (Gumotex) and Sea Eagle. Gumotex (Innova) and Sea Eagle boats are especially recommended if the boat is used frequently in the season and longer tours are planned. This is because these inflatable kayaks have a higher operating pressure (thus better driving characteristics), a more robust material and a higher durability. The Gumotex Thaya for example is especially interesting for families. Thanks to its drop-stitch floor it lies stable like a board on the water and offers a lot of space inside.
If you are planning kayak tours on a regular basis and want to go on long distance tours, you should invest a little more in your air kayak. Especially for someone who is used to kayaking with solid ones, you will surely only be satisfied with an inflatable of this category. For more money you will definitely get a better boat. Due to the high level of workmanship, these boats are suitable for regular and intensive use.
From our point of view manufacturers like Advanced Elements, Sea Eagle or the European manufacturer Gumotex (Innova) offer really good touring inflatable kayaks. These inflatable boats can be used for tours on lakes and rivers as well as for paddling near the coast. Also white water (up to level 2) is possible with most of their models. The kayaks have their own strength on the water, which you should consider before buying. The Gumotex Swing has an integrated cockpit and due to its shorter and wider hull shape it is very maneuverable as well as tip-stable and therefore the ideal inflatable kayak for river tours. The Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame kayak, on the other hand, are little longer and sleeker, and more suitable for lake tours.
The used material of the boat skin in an inflatable kayak is the most important criterion for the durability and the possible uses of the boat. Depending on the manufacturer, different materials are used for the boat skin. Many manufacturers even use a combination of different materials.
In almost every product description you will read that the material is especially thick and robust. However, inflatable kayaks with a thick boat skin made of robust material have their price. Cheap inflatable kayaks are far from being able to compete with the coated fabric materials Gumotex (Innova) for example. Very cheap inflatable kayaks consist only of a relatively thin PVC skin. They are much stronger than the material of an air mattress, yet too thin for regular paddling with possible ground contact.
Inflatable kayak with polyester cover
Woven fabric coated in rubber
Some manufacturers separate the boat skin from the actual air chamber. The air chamber lies in a kind of nylon or polyester cover, which is supposed to protect the chamber from damage. Such constructions can be found on some Sevylor, Itiwit and Advanced Elements boats. The air chabber sare made of PVC and the cover is made of a more resistant material. The disadvantage of such nylon and polyester covers is the longer drying time after paddling and the possible risk of mold growth. PVC and rubberized fabric materials can easily be wiped dry after paddling.
Air kayaks consisting of a polyester or nylon cover also have another disadvantage when it comes to repairs. They are difficult to repair if they tear. Rubberized fabric materials are easy to repair in case of a defect, comparable to patching a bicycle tube.
Air pressure and use of Drop-Stitch
An air pressure of less than 0.1 bar (1.5 PSI) is not much for an inflatable kayak. You can literally push the air chamber in with your hand. That’s how soft the chamber is. Such kayaks are designed more for recreation and leisure purposes, but not for kayaking. The higher the quality of the air chamber, the higher the allowed air pressure for the chamber. From an air pressure of 0.2 bar (3 PSI) on, the side chambers of a kayak are pretty hard. The allowed air pressure varies depending on the manufacturer, model and air chamber. The exact specifications can be found in the product description and the instructions of the boat.
Cheap inflatables have a low air pressure
High-quality inflatables have a high air pressure
In recent years, drop-stitch technology has been increasingly used in inflatable kayaks. Drop-stitch technology is already widely used on inflatable SUP (Stand Up Paddling) boards, and is also indispensable. With this technology the upper and lower inner walls of the air chamber are interwoven with textile threads. The thousands of threads inside the inflatable chamber prevent the air chamber from expanding beyond a certain size. It enables higher air pressure without putting additional stress on the air chamber and results in a much more rigid structure than regular inflatables with little increase in weight.
Drop-Stitch enables the production of high-pressure air chambers, so that they can be inflated (depending on the manufacturer) up to an air pressure of well over 0.3 bar (4.4 PSI). Thus drop-stitch kayaks achieve very good stability and stiffness. From which air pressure an air chamber is considered a high pressure air chamber is not officially defined.
Some inflatables come with a separate drop-stich floor
On inflatable kayaks with drop-stitch floor (e.g. Advanced Elements Convertible Elite, Gumtoex Thaya or Gumotex Rush) the floor does not give way when getting in and out. The boats have a much stiffer hull and therefore better paddling performance on the water. The manufacturers advertise with very similar driving characteristics of a solid kayak. Whether with or without drop-stitch, the typical wind susceptibility of air kayaks still remains, as they tend to float on the water rather than in the water due to air buoyancy.
Classical inflatable without drop-stitch elements
Inflatable with an integrated drop-stitch floor
On large and calm waters, a drop-stitch construction makes sense, because the very stiff and shaped air bottom makes it easier to glide through the water. In the white water area (already from white water class 1-2) classic inflatable kayaks still have their advantage. First, they ride the waves more gently with their more flexible bottom. Second, even when touching obstacles in the water, softer air chambers give way better.
Kayaks with open or closed deck
Among the inflatable kayaks you can find models with open and closed decks. inflatable kayaks with closed deck (e.g. Gumotex Swing, Gumotex Framura or Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame) have an integrated cockpit as spraydeck, which is equipped with a seat hatch. The cockpit is firmly connected to the side chambers and is not removable. The air kayak resembles more an “actual” kayak. The cockpit keeps the inside of the boat very well dry, especially from splashing water during longer tours or in white water. You can also completely close the seat hatch with a spray skirt, which is a great advantage in white water or during cold seasons. For inflatable kayaks mainly spray skirts made of nylon are used. The coaming of an inflatable kayak is not stiff enough for neoprene spray skirts and the skirt would not find a hold due to its high elasticity. In addition, the luggage can be safely stowed under and on the cockpit using luggage nets.
Inflatable with open deck
inflatable with closed deck
In contrast, inflatable kayaks with an open deck are mainly intended for paddling in summer and for families. The entry and exit is easier, the seats can be placed more flexibly in the boat and are not bound to seat hatches. You feel more free in an open kayak because you can stretch and bend your legs and put your feet in the water if you like
A variety of open inflatable kayaks can be equipped with an optional spraydeck (e.g. Gumotex Rush, Gumotex Seawave, Grabner inflatable kayaks or the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible), which means you can paddle them both open and closed. These inflatable kayaks combine the advantages of both designs.
In addition to kayaks with open decks, there are also sit-on-top kayaks. With a sit-on-top kayak you sit on the kayak instead of in the kayak. Sit-on-top kayaks are mainly intended for calm lakes and for the coastal area in summer when the temperatures are warm. They are ideal as bathing kayaks as well as for paddling beginners, because they are extremely stable and the re-entry out of the water is much easier than with conventional kayaks. An inflatable sit-on-top kayak can also be easily taken on vacation.
Safety of inflatable kayaks
The majority of inflatable kayaks are very stable due to the wide hull, as a result of the side chambers, and their air buoyancy. As a rule, it is much more difficult to capsize with an air kayak than with traditional kayaks. However, inflatable kayaks are somewhat slower due to their wider hull. The Itiwit x100, Gumotex Swing and Thaya are particularly stable among inflatable kayaks.
An inflatable kayak is very stable on the water thanks to its side chambers
But there are also inflatable kayaks (e.g. the Gumotex Framura or the Itiwit x500 kayak by Decathlon) that are designed for speed. These inflatable kayaks are much narrower , which makes them more sensitive to capsize, and they are mainly designed for experienced paddlers who want to make a lot of distance.
Compared to hardshell kayaks, the boat skin of inflatable kayaks is more sensitive. That is why almost all inflatable kayaks today have a multi-chamber system. This means that the boat cannot sink with a hole in one chamber. Air kayaks often consist of a separate floor chamber and two separate side chambers. In case of a hole, the inflatable kayak can be patched.
Almost all inflatable kayaks have several separate air chambers which are inflated via the respective valve
High-quality inflatable kayaks are additionally made of a very thick and tear-resistant material, so that the risk of such damage is minimized.In the last seasons we have paddled very often with inflatable kayaks from Gumotex and Advanced Elements, we have not been very gentle with the kayaks (touching the ground in shallow rivers, landing on pebble beaches, …) and never had a hole in the boat skin, maximum fine scratches.
Paddling performance of inflatables
Inflatable kayaks have a reputation for poorer paddling performance than folding and solid kayaks. This is definitely the case with very cheap inflatable kayaks (e.g. Intex Challenger K1). High-quality inflatable kayaks now offer partly very good paddling performance. Nevertheless there are differences to traditional kayaks.
In contrast to solid and folding kayaks, inflatable kayaks tend to float on the water rather than in the water due to their air buoyancy. Therefore the directional stability is less given and also the wind susceptibility is higher. If it is too windy, a tour with an inflatable kayak on the lake is not much fun, because the high side chambers give the wind a lot of surface to attack. The boat drifts off course again and again.
Due to its construction, an inflatable kayak is susceptible to wind
For an improved paddling performance, a fin can be attached to the bottom of many air kayaks. A fin is a directional fin that significantly improves the directional stability of the inflatable kayak and the boat will therefore deviate less from the course. If you want to go on longer trips with your future inflatable kayak, make sure that a fin can be attached to the kayak.
With inflatable kayaks the air pressure also plays a crucial role. The higher it is, the stiffer it is. A high stiffness enables a faster paddling and more stability on the water. Especially inflatable kayaks with high pressure are more likely to be found in the higher-priced segment.
A fin helps for a better straight running characteristics
As with a traditional kayak, the paddling performance depend strongly on the hull shape. In general it can be said: The longer and narrower a kayak is, the better it is in terms of directional stability and speed. With decreasing length and increasing width, the kayak becomes more agile and stable, but then also loses speed. That is why you should always pay attention to the dimensions when choosing an inflatable kayak, because they already give you a good indication of the paddling performance.
In addition, the shape of the bottom has a significant influence on the paddling performance. Compared to folding and solid kayaks, the hull of an inflatable kayak is less well shaped. Nevertheless, new technologies such as drop-stitch or the use of stiffening elements offer some possibilities. A flat bottom provides a lot of stability with a loss of performance at the same time. The V-shaped hull, on the other hand, offers optimal paddling performance, but is somewhat more prone to tipping. The middle between the two shapes is the round kayak bottom.
flat hull
round hull
V-shaped hull
Average speeds between 4 to 5 km/h (2.5 – 3 mph) are quite realistic with inflatable kayaks. There are also inflatable kayaks (e.g. Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite) that can be paddled at an average of over 6 to 7 km/h (3.7 – 4.3 mph). This is partly because the boat is nice and long and sleek. Also, such boats have a well-formed hull due to a drop-stitch bottom and frame braces in the hull as well as the stern. Because of the aluminum frame in the bow, the water is really cut instead of being pushed in front of it. This creates a bow wave much later, and higher speeds are possible with an inflatable boat.
Space and seating comfort of inflatable kayaks
Inflatable kayaks are available as 1-, 2- or 3-person kayaks. Due to the air tubes, inflatable kayaks offer slightly less interior space than rigid hull or folding kayaks. Nevertheless, the interior space of inflatable kayaks is perfectly adequate. Many solo paddlers even buy a 2-person inflatable kayak and still paddle it alone. This is possible because the seats of many 2-person inflatable kayaks (e.g. Gumotex Solar, Rush 2, Seawave, Thaya, Grabner Holiday 2, Itiwit x100+, …) can be placed variably. On the one hand, due to its length, the boat has better driving characteristics (especially the straight line and speed) than a 1-person air kayak and on the other hand, it offers more space for luggage on longer trips.
The interior is slightly narrower than hardshell and folding kayaks
Because of the air tubes, you sit more comfortably in a classic inflatable kayak. There are no hard spots or edges that could press. With a drop-stitch construction, the comfort is strongly dependent on the seats used. Cheap inflatable kayaks often have the weakness that the back of the seat does not provide enough support during longer paddling tours. It is also more comfortable to paddle an inflatable kayak in colder seasons. The inflatable floor insulates well from the cold water.
Legroom in an inflatable kayak is highly dependent on the specific model and also the manufacturer. Inflatable kayaks from the manufacturers Gumotex (Innova), Grabner and Advanced Elements offer a lot of legroom due to their generous boat length and are therefore very suitable for long kayak tours. Cheap inflatable kayaks (e.g. Intex and Sevylor) are on average 50-100 cm shorter. For example, the Intex Challenger K2 has a length of 351 cm (11’5′)’ and the Gumotex Rush 2 has a length of 460 cm (15’1”). Nevertheless, the Gumotex Rush 2 hardly weighs more.
Hybrid kayaks
Hybrid kayaks have both air chambers of an inflatable kayak and the frame of a folding kayak. Thus, they combine the advantages of both types of kayaks. Due to the air chambers, the kayak has a more stable water position and the assembly is faster and easier. The framework provides better shaping of the hull, which results in significantly better gliding characteristics. The construction of hybrid kayaks is somewhat more complex than that of pure air kayaks, but it is much more limited compared to classic folding kayaks.
Hybrid kayaks – a combination of inflatable and folding kayak
For example, Advanced Elements’ AdvancedFrame series uses aluminum bracing in the bow and stern. In addition, the boats can be equipped with a so-called backbone (collapsible bottom bar). You can read about the benefits of these additional reinforcing elements in our test report on the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame.
The scubi kayaks from the manufacturer nortik go a bit further, and use a plug-in frame for the bottom of the kayaks. Despite the frame, the kayaks are no heavier than a conventional air kayak. We were convinced by the driving characteristics of the scubi series on the water.
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Advantages and disadvantages of inflatable kayaks
When buying an inflatable kayak you need to be aware of the advantages and downsides in order to make the right choice. For this reason you’ll find in the following a short overview of these advantages and downsides. We want then to pick out some of them to explain them in detail to you.
2 person kayaks with gear require a big backpack
A small 1 person inflatable fits in a bag
If you want to have an extremely practical kayak to take it just everywhere you want, then an inflatable is the right choice for you. This applies also to everybody who has neither the space to store a large hardshell kayak nor a car to transport it. In this case, an inflatable kayak is the only option. If you have enough space at home and a car, then a hardshell kayak can be a consideration. They are more robust which results finally in a higher durability and they are better performing on water.
Sometimes the question is raised if a folding kayak isn’t a good alternative either and indeed it is. For folding boat you need to stretch the boat skin over a frame of rods. The assembling is for a folding a way more complex and requires more time. Therefore, folding kayaks offer a better stiffness and better performance on the sea, as well as on lakes and calm rivers. Nevertheless, most of the inflatable kayaks are lighter than folding kayaks. In addition to that, folding kayaks are normally also more costly.
Inflatable kayaks are very easy to carry to shore due to their light weight
Advantages
+ already cheap models available + flexible use (river, lake, sea) + good speed for an inflatable boat + also available as 1 boat + easy to transport and stow away to save space
Disadvantages
– susceptible to wind – limited space – slower than fixed hull or folding kayaks – some maintenance required
Required accessoires
Very few inflatable kayaks come in a complete set. For the majority, you still have to buy an air pump, paddles, life jackets and a manometer for checking the air pressure separately. For a quick setup of the kayak we recommend a double action pump, to pump air in both directions. You check the air pressure of the boat with a manometer. If the air pump does not have an integrated manometer, there are special manometers for the valve type of the respective kayak.
Conclusion
An inflatable kayak offers a plenty of possibilities to discover the nature in a different way without any big logistical effort. In contrast to hardshell kayaks, beginners have already the possibility to start with a small budget. However, you need to keep in mind that those entry-level kayaks can’t compete with high quality inflatables regarding finishing and performance. If you have the budget and if you already know before that you are going to make long tours or paddle on running rivers, then you are should think about getting a kayak from Advanced Elements or Aquaglide straight from the beginning.
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Hi, I'm Christian and love to discover the nature from the water at any time and in an easy way. For this there is nothing better than portable boats, which are now indispensable for me!
