Sea Eagle Sport Kayaks versus Sea Eagle Explorer Kayaks
February 12, 2010 by IK World
A lot of people who are considering purchasing a Sea Eagle inflatable kayak have questioned whether to buy the Sea Eagle sport kayak or the Sea Eagle explorer kayak. Besides price there are some major differences to be aware of.
Think of it this way… the sport inflatable kayaks are more of a base model and the explorer inflatable kayaks are more hard core. Below are some facts and comparisons that may be helpful if you are sitting on the fence as to which one is best for your needs.
Sea Eagle Sport Inflatable Kayaks
- Available in two different sizes (330 & the 370)
- Can be paddled in lakes or rivers
- Self-bailing
- Between 11’2 and 12’ in length
- Both sizes are 34” in width
- Weigh between 26 lbs and 32 lbs
- Can hold between 500 lbs and 650 lbs depending on which size
- Both sizes cost under $500
Sea Eagle Explorer Inflatable Kayaks
- Available in three different sizes (340X, 380X & the 420X)
- Can be paddled in lakes, rivers or ocean (optional rudder is available)
- Self-bailing
- Between 11’1” and 14’ in length depending on the model
- All three sizes are 37” in width
- Weigh between 42 lbs and 54 lbs depending on size
- Can hold between 600 lbs and 853 lbs depending on size
- All three sizes cost over $500 but under $1000
More about the two different types of Sea Eagle kayaks
If you have kayaked before and plan to use your kayak more then a few times per year, then you may not be satisfied with the Sport Kayak. It is a great inflatable kayak for a brand new paddler and for those looking for some simple recreational fun.
The Sport Kayaks can handle many different water types but is still a base model for an inflatable kayak. Consequently the price is excellent but the performance is only so-so.
Also another factor I would like to point out is the comfort level. I have used both types of Sea Eagle kayaks and though I enjoyed paddling the Sport Kayak I also found myself a bit cramped and after awhile a little uncomfortable. This is not a kayak to take out for hours on end.
The Explorer Kayaks are bigger, sturdier, tougher and able to handle much bigger water. I believe it is possible to “grow out” of the Sport Kayak but the Explorer Kayaks can keep you satisfied for a very long time. I find that I am very comfortable in the Explorer Kayak and with the better seats and paddles it offers a much nicer ride.
Conclusion on the two different kinds of Sea Eagle inflatable kayaks
Bottom line…
The Sea Eagle Sport Kayaks are best suited for:
- Brand new kayakers
- Those on a tight budget who still want a quality boat
- Recreational kayakers
- Those who love to travel… either by car, airplane or by RV
- Kids, families and yes even dogs
The Sea Eagle Explorer Kayaks are best suited for:
- New kayakers to experienced kayakers
- Those able to spend an extra few hundred for a better boat
- Those wanting the ability to take on bigger water
- Those who love to travel by car or by RV… the bigger models are getting a little heavy to take by plane
- Families, kids, dogs, anglers, and any other person who wants a great quality inflatable kayak that may not be the fastest in the water but will likely last forever.
Hope this helps. Please check out our comprehensive reviews of Sea Eagle inflatable kayaks for more detailed information on each individual model.
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Hello there, your website is amazing thank you for putting all this informations together. This summer i am planing a kayaking trip ( for 4 ppl) on the Danube, from Germany to the Black Sea, thus i was wondering if there is a specific kayak you could reccomend all four of us will be buying one. We are going to be flying from London to Germany to start the trip. Also i have been looking at the 2 man kayaks since we will have gear that will have to come with us. Any advice would be great, thank you.
Tanja
Hi Tanja,
Wow, that sounds like a trip of a lifetime… What an awesome adventure!!
A few kayaks come to mind that you can take a look at… If it were me I would really want to keep the weight of the inflatable kayak down since you will be doing some airplane travel, so although there are some great kayaks that would work well for the actual kayaking part of the trip, I have only picked ones that weigh less than 40 lbs.
I think these three are likely the best ones to consider…
1. Sea Eagle FastTrack – Similar to the Sea Eagle Explorer kayaks, the new FastTrack is very versatile and really strong. I think it would hold up well if you should encounter different types of water conditions and it is supposed to be able to get some pretty good speeds. It is self-bailing so if water gets in, you can easily drain it out and it only weighs 35 lbs. which is really light for a 2 person inflatable kayak. Also it can hold a lot of weight.
2. Innova Helios II – I mention this one because I know of quite a few people who have done some long kayaking trips (on ocean and calm rivers) in the Helios II and they have loved it. It weighs only 33 lbs. so it is really lightweight for travel and it packs up into a nice package. I think it is one of the best tandem inflatable kayaks for airplane travel. However a couple of things you may not like are that it is not self-bailing and it is not as open as many other inflatable kayaks so there may be less room for gear.
3. The Aire Lynx II – The Lynx II is a super high quality inflatable kayak. The Lynx was designed for heavy whitewater use but I think the longer tandem version would be ideal for what you are planning and would be quite versatile for different water. It is a good length and weighs 39 lbs. It is self-bailing and extremely tough… likely one of the most well-made inflatable kayaks on the market. However the Lynx II is going to be the most expensive out of these three.
All three of these are worth considering. I think if it were me I would go for the FastTrack as I think it will meet all of your needs and is still a decent price.
Hope this helps and good luck to you! Will you be posting your adventures anywhere?
Allison
Hi Allison, thank you for your help I’ll let you know how it goes. Thus far we have not decided to post our adventures but that is something we may have to consider. Once again your website is an invaluable resource to people looking to buy an inflatable kayak, thank you for doing all the leg work.
Thanks Tanja