So you’ve made the wise choice to get an inflatable kayak and now you are wondering which inflatable kayak will be the right one for you.
Considering the right factors before you purchase your inflatable kayak will ensure you get the right boat that is going to fit your needs.
Know what your own criteria are and consider these points in your decision making process:
What kind of kayaking will you be doing?
Knowing what kind of paddling you will be doing as well as how often you will be doing it is key.
There are all different types of inflatable kayaks that are geared for the complete beginner to the more advanced paddler.
Choosing the right one will allow for a more enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Have a general idea of how often you will be kayaking. That will determine the quality of boat you will want to purchase.
What type of waters will you be paddling in? Will you be mostly on the lake, on the ocean or in the whitewater rapids?
Having a general idea of what kind of kayaking you will be doing most will help you to choose a kayak that you will be happy with.
Weight and Portability
Inflatables are an excellent alternative to hard shelled kayaks as they offer easy storage, convenient portability, are fairly light weight and are excellent for traveling.
Even though they tend to be slightly lighter than the traditional kayak they can differ considerably within themselves in size and weight.
You will want to be conscious of your own personal size and weight when considering which inflatable kayak to purchase as well as how much gear you will likely bring with you.
Passenger Capacity
There are single passenger inflatable kayaks as well as double passenger inflatable kayaks.
A single passenger kayak tends to have more maneuverability than a double passenger kayak. However a double passenger kayak can certainly be very fast and stable.
A double (tandem kayak) offers the option of bringing along someone who perhaps doesn’t have the experience that you do.
They are great for couples and families. It all depends on whether you want to share your boat with another person – or perhaps with your favourite pet for that matter.
As an option there are a few tandem inflatable kayaks that can be converted into a solo kayak.
This offers the convenience of paddling with a friend or going out on the water alone.
Maneuverability
Certain kayaks will maneuver better than others. Some will be great at tracking straight ahead and others will be great at turning easily.
As a general rule, a shorter boat will maneuver better and a longer boat will track better.
If you are just starting out you will notice that the beginner boats are shorter and wider.
A more advanced kayaker may want a longer, narrower boat so that they can pick up higher speeds and have good tracking.
Check out our Fave Inflatable Kayaks and out Ultimate Inflatable Kayak Guide for more ideas on which kayaks are right for you.
What touring inflatable tandem would you recommend for (ice) cold flat water? I’d use my existing Aire Tomcat Tandems with an added skeg, but since it has a “vent” in the bottom, having to sit in a couple inches of 33 degree water wouldn’t be fun if I’m kayaking around icebergs, and it also doesn’t track well at all. How can I tell if a touring kayak lets water in through the bottom, is there a term for that? Thanks!
Hey Chris, The kayaks that have drain valves and are self-bailing are the ones that let water in. You can still get a kayak with drain valves but you need it to have open/close valves so you can close them if you don’t need them – so no water gets in. A few tandem kayaks I would recommend for paddling in ice cold water are the Sea Eagle FastTrack or Explorer (either the 380X or the 420X if you need extra space) or the Star Paragon Tandem (I’ve only reviewed the solo Paragon but there is a tandem model as well). Out of those three the FastTrack tracks the best. The Explorer is the most stable and the Star Paragon is kind of in between these two, decent tracking and stability. All three of those kayaks have strong material and are constructed well, no worries about paddling around icebergs. I’ve known of several people who use the Sea Eagle kayaks for paddling in Alaska. All three of these kayaks would keep you dry!
Thanks Allison!