Whereas the durability of hard-shell kayaks is mostly dependent on the material, for inflatable kayaks, it is mostly dependent on price and purpose. For example, we sell inflatable whitewater kayaks that are designed to take a beating and inflatable fishing kayaks that are designed to handle hooks, fins and knives! Comfort or lack of is one of my biggest bug bears when it comes to hard-shell kayaks. It usually only takes about 15 minutes before I start looking for a beach!
Cheap inflatable kayaks are pretty terrible on the water, but so are cheap hard-shell kayaks …. An inflatable kayak packs up nicely into a bag, so it take up much less space in your home. You can put it in a closet if you want — no need for a garage or a shed. There are pros and cons to both hard-shell and inflatable kayaks when it comes to set-up.
A useful comparison is the time and effort it takes from getting up in the morning and deciding to go kayaking, to being out on the water. Check out this video of me inflating the AdvancedFrame Sport in the same amount of time it takes to make a cup of tea 4 minutes and 10 seconds and you can decide for yourself which is quicker and easier:. Good quality inflatable kayaks are much cheaper than good quality hard-shell kayaks.
Always go for good quality — you get what you pay for! At Oz Inflatable Kayaks we have so many awesome inflatable kayaks , people sometimes find it hard to choose, so here are some kayak buying guides to get you started:. Like most things in life, there are pros and cons to each.
The truth is that there is no winner in the sit-in vs sit-on-top kayaks debate, and no loser either. Both have their advantages and disadvantages and hopefully this article will help you figure out which is right for you. Open water kayaks have to be able to cope with swell and chop. Paddling an inflatable kayak is really quite similar to paddling a hard-shell kayak. Depending on the model you choose it may have a slightly different feel as they tend to be a little wider and more stable but in general the feeling is the same.
If you have already tried kayaking in a rigid kayak then you will have no problem with an inflatable. Which one you choose will totally depend on your needs, your budget and how much time you plan to invest in kayaking.
To begin searching for inflatable kayaks see our Top 5 Inflatable Kayak Reviews. Subscribe to our newsletter for paddling tips, latest reviews, epic videos and discount codes. Intex Challenger K1 Review — Ultra cheap, portable and fun! Step 1 — Try Kayaking First If you have already experienced kayaking then you do not need to worry about this step.
Paddling a kayak can be quite different than paddling a canoe and you can easily experience kayaking in two ways: Go out with a friend who already owns a kayak or see if you can borrow their kayak for the day… this is especially helpful if they own an inflatable kayak. Rent a kayak for a couple of hours — Depending on where you live, it may even be possible to rent an inflatable kayak.
Step 2 — Take a Kayaking Lesson By signing up for a kayaking lesson you will learn some excellent and useful safety tips as well as different kayak strokes. Step 3 — Watch YouTube Videos and Read Reviews Although some local kayak stores do carry inflatable kayaks, they usually do not carry all of the models.
Without actually seeing the model in person, the best way to get a feel for it is to: a Look for pictures and reviews online such as on our website! This is a great way to see regular people using their inflatable kayaks and can give you the most real life experience without actually being there with the kayak yourself. As you already know, kayaks can be made from a wide range of materials. This has a direct influence on its weight.
Inflatable kayaks are much lighter than rigid ones. They are made from synthetic rubber and plastic polymers, and typically weigh about 25 pounds ca. Hardshell kayaks can be made from composite materials, wood, plastic or fiberglass.
They are much heavier, weighing at least 55 pounds ca. This means that carrying them from the house to the car, then to the water will be more difficult. An inflatable kayak is easily deflated and takes up little space, meaning they are very easy to transport. It is a totally different story with hard kayaks.
Transporting it is a challenge on its own, since you need to fix it to a roof rack or trailer. The heavier weight of a hardshell kayak can mean that 2 people are needed to pick it up and take it to the water.
Unless you want to drag out on the ground…. Just like in the transportation category, inflatable kayaks are much easier to store than their hardshell counterparts. An inflatable kayak can be stored in small spaces, even if you account for the air pump.
You can always find somewhere to store them, be it in your car, garage, hotel room, or camping tent. In fact, you can buy inflatable kayaks that fit inside backpack, so you can take them hiking. Just make sure the kayak is dry before storage. The capacity of both inflatable and rigid kayaks varies from kayak to kayak. The lower limit is around pounds ca. Generally speaking, the weight capacity of an inflatable kayak will be somewhat higher than that of a comparable hardshell model.
When comparing hard and inflatable kayaks of similar quality, hardshell kayaks usually need more maintenance than inflatable ones. Inflatables are made of flexible, yet durable materials. The strong synthetic materials that inflatable kayaks are made of nowadays are just harder to damage. Even if you manage to puncture it somehow, you can easily fix it with a repair patch. Thanks in advance. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Our write-up on beginner kayaks might help you? Im not much of a kayaker but would be if i had one. Im liking the inflatable option due to travel and storage flexibility. But…i have a med sized dog who goes everywhere with me. Enough storage for some minimalist camping is key also. Any suggestions? The Coleman Colorado might be a good choice for you.
You should be able to pack a lot for camping as well. I took it out around 15 times this year. Rivers include S. Platte, Cache la Powder, Colorado Rivers. I have an intex challenger 2 person yellow inflatable kayak. I have been out on it just twice since I got it. I really like it. I am looking for a big backpack to haul all my gear. Yes, the Intex kayaks are entry-level. Look for a large rolling suitcase canvas like.
Very helpful info. I almost bought a tandem hard shell but the comparison made me change my mind. We will start with a durable inflatable and see how it goes. If you like the inflatable you can always purchase a hardshell, or another higher quality inflatable in the future. HI Guys We live in Florida and we are water people, springs, lakes, creeks, beach…but we are lazy, dont want to deal with heavy kayaks.. We still believe on the inflatable concept, any recommendations.
If you want a budget inflatable, how about one of the Advanced Elements range? Hey there, I am looking to purchase an inflatable kayak because I want to be able to take it along with me on airplanes etc.
But I am also looking to be able to use it for multiday overnight paddling trips, so I would like some storage space in it. Are there any inflatable kayaks out there with storage compartments?
I am 69 years old my wife is We live on a river in WV. Purchased two Challenger K1 kayaks from Wal Mart last year never used until a couple weeks ago. We are in good shape but have never Kayaked before. These are a blast and we enjoy these as much or more than our other water toys.
I could have used a shop vac to inflate but used the provided pump to see how difficult it would be. Way better than expected. Kanawha River has a lot of commercial and large pleasure boat traffic. We love riding the waves near shore and also visit the inlets.
These have a storage area for beverages etc. Worth every penny spent!!!! The K1 really is bargain basement, in the kayaking world.
Interesting read-i like seeing the comparisons. My husband and i just purchased a tandem hardshell sit on top for our first kayak. We love the size and can pick up some serious speed.
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