Best Inflatable Kayaks - How to choose the right one for you
Our guide to help you find the inflatable kayak you’re looking for.
We often hear the same common questions from customers about the inflatable kayaks we stock. This guide will answer everything you need to know, from how well they actually perform in the water, will they puncture and what you can get for your budget.
What to consider when buying an inflatable kayak
What are they made from?
One of the main differences between inflatable kayaks is the materials and technology used to make the hull.
Many of the most expensive inflatable kayaks will be made from high denier PVC, because it has a high strength-to-weight ratio, allowing manufacturers to create lightweight, strong and efficient kayaks. A high denier PVC of 1000 is ideal in preventing punctures.
Some on the budget end will use a thin vinyl, leaving them susceptible to puncture, or a multi layer approach with a vinyl inner and nylon outer. While the nylon outer helps reduce the risk of puncture it also take a long time to dry and therefore we prefer a high denier PVC.
What’s happening on the inside of the kayak chambers also makes a big difference.
Advanced technology like drop-stitch or Tech-Stitch for instance holds the two walls of the chamber together with hundreds of strong fibres. When inflated to pressure this creates a solid surface comparable to a hard plastic moulded kayak in the water.
What kind of inflatable kayak should I buy?
Inflatable kayaks can be classed into two broad categories: recreational and performance.
Performance inflatable kayaks are typically narrower and longer. This allows them to move more quickly in the water, reducing the strain on the paddler and making them ideal for longer journeys. They also typically have more storage space.
Recreational inflatable kayaks are primarily designed to be more stable and easy to steer. They usually have less storage space and a large cockpit for easy access. They are shorter and therefore easier to turn. If you’ve never paddled before you might be more comfortable with a recreational kayak’s increased stability.
In either category there are budget and high end options but as the old adage goes you typically get what you pay for. Good materials and design make a big difference.
Within these two broad categories there are options tailored to more specific needs (e.g. inflatable fishing kayaks) but typically they are the same thing just slightly redressed.
What size & weight should I look for?
There is usually an inverse relationship between stability and speed depending on the width of the kayak. Similarly weight and durability are often at odds.
Wider kayaks will typically have more surface area in the water and will be more stable but will therefore be slower due to increased drag. You’ll need to choose whether you need stability or efficiency.
As mentioned cheap vinyl materials will weigh less but may fall apart and puncture. If you can find a lighter weight high grade PVC, that is the gold standard for a good durability to weight ratio.
What happens if I get a puncture?
Most inflatable kayaks have three or more chambers. Even if you puncture one the others will provide enough buoyancy to get back to shore and repair the damage.
Cheaper vinyl kayaks are thin and susceptible puncture. However kayaks with a high denier PVC or a fabric outer layer rarely puncture and are easily repaired if they do (most come with a repair kit).
High quality PVC materials have been used in whitewater rafts for decades and can hold up to even the most challenging conditions. They can be incredibly strong.
Are they difficult to set up & pack away?
No, assuming you pick the right kayak and pump. With a good inflatable kayak and a quality pump you can usually have them on the water in a few minutes.
Important things to look out for are the number of inflation points and whether or not they use the same nozzle to inflate each valve. Fewer inflation points are typically better and you don’t want to be fiddling around with different nozzles.
In terms of packing away, kayaks with outer fabric layers soak up the water so take longer to dry. Kayaks made only of PVC or vinyl are comparably quick to dry/ wipe down and pack away.
What to expect for your money
As with anything, the more you spend, typically the better inflatable kayak you're likely to get. Often this means a more solid construction, more rigid surfaces and a more durable kayak that performs well in the water.
There are so many different types of inflatable kayak out there that no one kayak does all things better than the rest. You’ll still need to decide for instance if your preference is for something more stable or something more efficient in the water. By their nature there is a trade off between those to things as to increase stability you typically need a wider hull that will increase drag for instance.
Budget inflatable kayaks
There are a lot of budget inflatable kayaks out there. The bigger manufacturers that come to mind are Intex, Sevylor and Bestway along with the hundreds of others out there on Amazon and the like.
These kayaks are typically constructed of vinyl and susceptible to puncture or so slow in the water it’s unenjoyable. Given these concerns, we’d personally recommend that it’s not worth buying something that you’ll never want to take out paddling.
However if you are limited for funds but desperate for an inflatable kayak Intex are fairly reliable for the price.
Mid range inflatable kayaks
This is typically where you find some of the better recreational kayaks. Some of the Aquaglide models like Klickitat and the Razor Kayaks Ultra Series are stable, hardwearing and don’t cost a fortune.
You are best to look for something that doesn’t have a fabric covering, has a hardwearing PVC and a strong floor using drop-stitch, Tech-Stitch or something similar.
Best overall inflatable kayaks
If you want the best performance kayaks you’ll need to spend a bit more.
The best inflatable kayaks are going to be made with the best technologies and materials, and will have a streamlined design. If you’re looking for high-performance efficiency, it’s best to avoid self bailing kayaks as the holes increase drag and reduce efficiency.
The Razor Kayaks High-Pressure series and the Advanced Elements Elite series are in this category. They are both made well, although the Advanced Elements do have a fabric coating that takes a while to dry.
Razor Kayaks have a solid full Tech-Stitch hull and PVC surfaces that dry easily and are unparalleled in the water.
What accessories do I need for my inflatable kayak?
Pumps
Essential for any inflatable kayak, pumps come in many shapes and forms. A good quality pump can make a big difference to how often you use your kayak and how quickly you get on the water.
You’ll need to ensure you get the right valve fitting for your kayak and we suggest a pressure gauge as well.
Foot Pumps
While they do pack up to a small size and are cheap it just takes so much time and effort to get the kayak inflated. Often they won’t have a pressure gauge either, which is in our view essential.
It’s best to avoid these if you are planning to use your kayak with any sort of regularity.
Hand Pumps
Hand pumps are the most commonly used pumps and for good reason - they get you on the water quickly with limited effort.
These pumps come in a variety of forms. Often they’ll be classed as single, double or triple action. Single action pumps have one chamber and will pump on the down stroke, double action pumps will pump on the up and down stroke and triple action pumps have two chambers pumping on the up and down strokes.
A triple action hand pump will give you the maximum efficiency and inflate your kayak the fastest.
Electric Pumps
Depending on how you will use your kayak an electric pump may be suitable for you. They are not as fast to inflate as a good triple action pump but obviously take less effort.
Electric pumps also need a source of electricity. Usually that means you’ll need to plug it into your car’s 12v cigarette lighter plug and that will therefore limit how you use it (but you can always carry the inflated kayak to the water). Portable electric pumps currently don’t have the juice to get a kayak up to the pressure you’ll need.
Paddles
Kayak paddles come in a variety of shapes and forms. There are a lot of things to consider including materials, how many pieces it comes in, if it has feathering, length as well as shaft and blade types. We could write a whole article on it really but hopefully this summarises the key points.
A good paddle makes a big difference in how efficient you are in the water and you’ll enjoy your experience much more with a good one.
Materials
The materials used typically determine cost. Typically the more expensive the paddle is the lighter and more rigid it will be.
At the lower end are aluminium with plastic paddles. There is a wide range in this category and some are better than others. A good aluminium alloy shaft is ok but we suggest avoiding a plastic blade as they often don’t provide enough rigidity in the water or have an inefficient shape.
Good fibreglass paddles provide decent rigidity and are fairly lightweight. This is a good option to still have a solid paddle without spending an arm and a leg.
On the high end carbon fibre paddles are no doubt the best type of paddle for recreational and performance inflatable kayaks. They are ultralight, rigid and just feel really good in hand. Once you’ve used one there is no going back.
Blade & shaft type
Blades come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Fatter and shorter blades generally speaking offer greater power and manoeuvrability but require much more energy for each paddle stroke. A longer thinner asymmetrical paddle blade with a slight curve is typically better suited to recreation and touring in an inflatable kayak.
A straight shaft with multiple configuration options will allow you to deal with different conditions and find what is comfortable for you.
Number of Pieces
There is not much point getting an inflatable kayak that packs down to a small size but having a paddle that in most cases will be taller than you are and won’t fit in the car. A 2 piece is good but a 4 piece paddle is best and will easily fit in most kayak bags.
PFDs
Personal Flotation Devices are one of the most important investments you can make. Not only do most countries regulate their use but there are countless paddler lives lost that could have been avoided by wearing one.
If you take one thing out of this article it’s that you need a PFD.
You don’t need to spend a fortune on a PFD. It really comes down to personal preference, comfort and ensuring it’s suitably rated.
That said there are some great kayaking specific PFDs with that won’t restrict your movement, have pockets and places for your drink bottle or bladder.
How to make the most of your inflatable kayak
When you've chosen your inflatable kayak and added your accessories, the next step is to actually use it. What can you do?
There are plenty of great online resources, books and apps out there with short to multiday paddling trips. There are also plenty of local kayaking clubs out there that are friendly and welcoming to new members along with many different kayaking events from races to wild and wacky that you can take part in. Whatever you’re planning on doing to do we suggest exploring all options for maximum enjoyment.
The biggest piece of advice we can give is just to take the plunge. Get yourself a good quality inflatable kayak and you’ll enjoy it for many years to come.