review

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.

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.

Technical Specs

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?

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Technical Specs

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?

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 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 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 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 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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Alternatives to the Intex Challenger K2

A similar inflatable kayak is the Intex Explorer K2. The biggest difference is the design. We have also an article where we compare both boats: Intex Challenger vs. Intex Explorer.

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.

If you are hasitating between the Challenger K2 and Explorer K2,  make sure to read also our review about the Intex Challenger K2 and our  Intex Explorer vs Challenger article.

Technical Specs

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?

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 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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Other Intex kayaks

A similar inflatable kayak is the Intex Challenger K2. The biggest difference is the design. We have also an article where we compare both boats: Intex Challenger vs. Intex Explorer.

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.