[Closed] Inflatable Kayaks

If budget isn't an issue, I'd look for dropstitch boats, which'll be a lot more rigid when inflated and therefore nicer to paddle.

I bought this one (not a dropstitch) for a family member to use. It's about the cheapest one you can get off eBay/Amazon.

It's fine for people who aren't really serious about it and don't know or care what the difference is between it and one that costs 5 times as much.

I've paddled it and on gentle rivers it's....fine.

I'd probably take a look at the Decathlon ones. They are well regarded.
I've looked at them and the quality is good.

Having borrowed a "proper" inflatable from @greybeard to try out canoeing on the local canal, we emnjoyed it so much we picked up one of the Aldi / Lidl ones when offered it at a bargain price

We managed about 30 minutes in it before deciding it was utter garbage and it was sold within hours of getting home.

Do NOT buy cheap.

Do NOT [s]buy cheap[/s] try out a decent one first

Ftfy

Edit: probably not allowed.

Don’t buy an inflatable with internal bladders as they will always let you down.

go with Nitrilon or dropstitch

We bought two intex inflatables in 2020. They are ok but track pretty badly, and I’ve since known of a few splitting and losing air.

In 2021 we bought a dropstitch twin from baysports (Australia). It’s much better, and has a bud enough payload for us to pack on our camping gear and have a few nights away. It lives in the back of our car and we live 10 mins from water so it gets a reasonable amount of use.

One thing to be mindful of - virtually all the inflatables have a very flat bottom. This makes them very stable, but fairly slow and prone to side wind. I think the Advanced Elements boats might have a more v shaped profile, and seem well made.

If budget is no option - buy a big shed and a proper kayak?

I found this useful

I went for the Decathlon dropstich one
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/2-person-touring-kayak-high-pressure-dropstitch-floor/_/R-p-303057

...and was impressed with how stable it was.

Hope that helps.

P

Neris smart.

It's a folding kayak with inflatable sides. Very tough fabric, and it's got shape so tracks and paddles properly. Can also set up as a single or a double or as a canoe. And you can get full spray decks for them.

https://www.neris.co.uk/neris_smart_pro_series.html

Mine with cold kids!
https://www.instagram.com/mr_evilgoat/p/CX_cCRVMR3x/?utm_medium=copy_link

Those Neris boats are interesting!

Looking at the video above ours is almost identical to the Sea Eagle. Probably from the same factory.

Here’s ours whilst out on a short paddle.

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Does anyone have any recommendations for good upgrade paddles?

We've been very happy with our Decathlon one. A whole group of our friends have got them and we all really enjoy them. We use them on the sea, lochs and rivers fine. They can handle gentle rapids well.

I've rented a gumitex one too and that handled some fairly serious rapids well but if you're just doing more gentle stuff with kids the Decathlon ones will be more than enough.

As above, avoid the really cheap ones that are just a posh inflatable dinghy.

Does anyone have any recommendations for good upgrade paddles?

Keep an eye out for Celtic paddles, Werner, the expensive Palm, second hand Lendal, possibly one of the carbon Ainsworths.

Any of the above in some nicer materials than 'just' alloy and a plastic mould blade will feel nicer.

We always managed to find them second hand, paddles are a bit like upgrading wheels and if they are not being used on white water, last really well.

Super helpful, thanks Matt.

I will look for s/h - they’re flipping expensive new!

Just remember that if you have an inflatable you will be looking for split (2pc) paddles.

werner are at a huge price premium at the moment as they practically shut down production last year.
Tbh even a good inflatable doesn’t warrant silly money paddles and something around the 80 - 100 mark new is the most you should really spend.

I will look for s/h – they’re flipping expensive new!

Agreed. We bought older Werner's for £50-60 each, a Lendal carbon for £40 and a slalom branded carbon for £20 in need of a coat of gel.

I wanted one for pootling on the river last summer with my 10 year old lad.

The Decathlon ones are very well regarded. But at the time I was buying out of stock so I went for the Intex Explorer. It's fine. We have fun. I wouldn't say it's much fun in any kind of wind or chop on open water, but a sheltered river pond or lake it's nice father and son time.

Thanks all for the feedback.I’ll take a look at the Decathlon kayaks. I’d not given them much thought as wrongly made the assumption they wouldn’t be all that much good.

They are only going to be used for pootling along rivers and canals with family so sounds like the Decathlon ones will be more than adequate.

I got the budget bladdered Decathlon one and its fine, however if you've got the budget I'd definitely go for a drop-stitch one if you think its going to be something more than just bimbling about in a lake for a few hours. They'll also handle rougher water better.

Thought I'd post here rather than start a new thread.

Received a lovely drop stitch inflatable kayak for my 30th birthday (Itiwit Strenfit X500 from Decathlon).

I paddle off a steeply shelved beach and am finding launching an issue - in my previous plastic boats I just slid in the boat down the shingle and into the water but I am wary of abrasion in my new boat - I'm having to wade waist deep into the water and then scramble into the boat.

Apart from that, the boat is more than adequate for my needs and the storage aspect is a plus for me living in a small flat. Rinsing and drying it is problematic though.

Happy paddling all.

Poidh....

I got an Aquaglide Chinook 100, as the Decathon one never seemed to be in stock. It's got the construction type that the guy in the youtube video doesn't like, but as I paddle with the dog (and have to haul her back in when she's jumped into the water!) I wanted a tough outer fabric. It does take ages to dry though.

I've been pretty impressed with it, although I have to change my stroke style because of how wide it is compared to a plastic boat. Speed and tracking is fine for what it is, and seem to be less affected by the wind than my wife in a canadian canoe.

Don't forget you're meant to be a British Canoeing member or get a C&RT licence to use the canals in England!