Inflatable kayaks offer the ultimate in convenience as they are easily transported to and from the water and able to be stored in small spaces.
Inflating your kayak is easy but the first time out can take a little figuring out.
There are a few different types of pumps you can use and depending on the type of valves your kayak has you may need extra attachments.
The most standard ways to fully inflate your kayak is:
- with a foot pump
- with a hand pump
- or with an electric pump
Most kayaks will come with their own pump with attachments to properly fit the type of valves they have, which usually works well.
Some people choose to upgrade to a better pump that can make inflation easier as well as faster.
Over the years I’ve used many different pumps and some I definitely like more than others.
The Foot Pump
My first inflatable kayak came with a foot pump and I got used to using that pretty fast.
I find the foot pump works well, it is easy to pump as you don’t have to bend over and you can alternate legs if you get tired.
Overall the foot pump inflates the kayak fairly quickly and is easy to bring along with you to and from the water.
The foot pumps are not expensive and they definitely do wear out. I have had a couple, the first one I broke just from excessive use and I got quite a bit of sand and gravel in it at a certain point.
They’re not super strong so you do have to be semi-careful with it when pumping.
I also find that I sometimes need to tighten the hose a bit when it is attached to the valve when I am pumping.
It’s not a perfect device, but it does the trick and I have used it for years.
The Hand Pump
The typical hand pump has been improved upon over the years and some of them have low and high-pressure modes.
The majority of inflatable kayaks and canoes come with a hand pump.
A good hand pump will inflate your kayak quickly and with the high pressure mode you can even reach the higher PSI levels fairly easily if your kayak is capable of holding the air pressure.
The Electric Pump
The price on electric pumps for kayaks has come way down over the last few years so they are more affordable than ever.
Once I started using an electric pump it was really hard to go back to hand pumping. I don’t find the electric pump necessarily faster to inflate my kayaks but of course it is way easier.
I simply set the PSI level on the pump, secure the hose to my kayak valve and attach the alligator clips to my car battery then press On. I can sit back and let it do the work.
There are several different electric pumps out there and I have tried the majority of them including several air compressors (which don’t work well for inflatable kayaks).
We have narrowed it down to two great electric pumps that work great with just about any inflatable kayak.
Check out our recommended electric pumps for inflatable kayaks here.
When To Inflate Your Kayak
When you inflate your kayak will depend on how you are going to transport it to the water.
If you are going to transport it in the trunk of your vehicle then you would inflate it once you get to the water. This is what I usually do.
However if you have a roof rack and don’t want to have to deflate your kayak all the time if you are using it often, then you can inflate it at home first.
Once inflated it is no problem to leave it inflated if you choose.
Just make sure it is stored out of direct sunlight and that you check the air pressure before taking it out. You may need to top it off before hitting the water again.
Attaching The Pump
The foot pumps and the hand pumps will usually come with the proper attachments for the different types of valves used on inflatable kayaks.
Sometimes it will take a little fiddling to secure the hose and the attachment in the valve but after you’ve done it once it is normally a snap.
Inflating The Kayak
Inflatable kayaks usually have 3 main air chambers. Check the instructions for the specific kayak you have before inflating.
Normally you would inflate the floor air chamber first, then each side.
It may be necessary not to fully inflate each side right away… just inflate one side part way, then the other and make sure the floor is positioned properly. Then finish inflating.
If your kayak comes with a skeg you will want to attach the skeg before inflation.
Pumping up an inflatable kayak is not difficult and won’t take very long.
With the foot or hand pump you can expect to be pumping for about 5 – 8 minutes, depending on the size of your kayak.
With the electric pump it will be done in about 2 minutes.
Over time you will learn what best works for you and your kayak.
When I inflate my intex for the first time floor panel stays up when I take out my pump off but side panels go down when removing hoe
I got Creases on the side of my kayak so water came in ,what do I do
Hi Joann, Which inflatable kayak do you have? Usually most of the creases will come out if there is enough air in the kayak. How are the creases allowing water in? I’m just trying to visualize what’s happening. Let me know and I’ll see if I can help more!
Hi! I’ve kayaked for fifty two years using sea kayaks. inflatables have caught my attention for their lightness. A friend had a Hydro force Ventura so I bought one for placid waters. After three inflations the left floor chamber stays flat. I didn’t snag it, rip it, or explode a seam. What do I do? And thanks for listening. Kayakers are a congenial lot. Andrew in Wisconsin/North Carolina
Hey Andrew, That’s really strange, it the left floor chamber is staying flat there must be a leak somewhere. Honestly I’d be inclined to contact the dealer to see what they have to say. Possibly it’s a warrant issue.
2021 Sea Eagle SE-330 2-person inflatable. Inflating with SE foot pump, in accordance with “inflation monitor,” yields less than rigid side tubes. I can squeeze easily the tubes with my hand. More like an under-inflated basketball than a ball than bounces. I’ve spoken to the company who offered guidance to fill it to what I’m comfortable with. For me, the inflation monitor markings are exceeded about a 1/4” when the chambers are filled to minimal rigidity. I don’t want to weaken the kayak over the long run by potentially overflating.
I’m curious, for those who have and use the SE-330, do you paddle with the side chambers taut or decidedly pliable?
Thanks.
Hi i purchased an intex k2 inflatable kayak and the instructions says that the strip it brings needs to match the length of the inflation gauge 10cm however i inflate it pretty well and measured the little plastic “gauge” inflation strip ruler or whatever its called lol and it still doesnt match any insight ? Also i left it in the sun after i used it will this damage it or make the material they use for it flimsy? I felt it was pretty flimsy yesterday when i got in it would bend as if it ddnt have enough air water got in when i got in too 🥺 im new to this
Hi Marilyn, That Intex K2 kayak is such a great little inflatable kayak for the price but my biggest gripe is the cheap pump that comes with it. It’s so hard to tell how much air you’ve put in. I always had trouble with this too. I would usually just wing it and pump until it felt solid. It’s pretty tough to over inflate it with that pump so if you just keep pumping until it’s too hard to pump anymore you should be good. I wouldn’t recommend leaving it in the sun for too long of a time after use if possible. It can weaken the material and also cause the air pressure to rise, which could put pressure on the seams. However leaving it out one time shouldn’t be a big deal.
Sevylor Inflatable Quikpak K1 Kayak. No gauge. How would you know if you are overfilling it?
With no gauge that’s pretty tough. The only way to know would be to use a pump with a gauge. They should all come with gauges, I never understand why they wouldn’t include that in the package.
Hi I’ve bought a sevylor tahiti kayak with the sevytest pressure strip. I’ve inflated to the right level (in the green) but feels quite soft. Should inflatable kayaks have a bit of give or be quite ridged
That totally depends on the inflatable kayak and the type of construction. In my experience the Sevylor kayaks don’t inflate as rigid as some of the others. So it makes sense that it might have a little give. With the higher end brands such as Sea Eagle, Aire, Innova, etc. the kayaks are super rigid with no give.
Hello,
Just purchased a Sevylor Alameda premium IK with the easy inflation system, not had it on the water yet, planning the test run shortly. Just a question on the skeg, the instructions recommend this is attached prior to inflation, what happens if conditions change on a route and it needs to be removed? Does it need to be deflated to remove the skeg? Thanks Steve
Hi Steve, I haven’t tried the Sevylor Alameda yet but it looks like a really fun kayak. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it once you’ve taken it out! As for the fin, I haven’t seen this specific one but typically the fins on the Sevylor kayaks are not removable once the kayak is inflated. You need to be able to kind of scrunch the material on the kayak to fit the fin into place, which isn’t doable once inflated unfortunately. Once it’s on your stuck with it unless you want to deflate the kayak.
Hey, I just bought a new intex excursion pro tandem kayak, but I’m wondering how much air pressure is needed when inflating each chamber? Online manual doesn’t say. It came with a pressure gauge, but not much good without knowing how much is needed.
PT
I checked the manual online as well and it doesn’t say anything about how much air pressure to use, which seems strange. However most inflatable kayaks hold between 2.5 and 3.5 PSI. There’s a few that hold more but those would be safe numbers to stick with. Happy paddling!
I bought same kayak few weeks ago and it really is the best infaltable kayak on the market. Its PERFECT!
Hello, I just bought a 1-2 person itiwit inflatable kayak but can’t seem to find information on how I’m supposed to gauge with the valves on the boat what 1.5 PSI is…any tips on figuring that out? I read the PSI question asked and answered above but how would I know if my kayak is more or less “durable” as far as what you were answering in the above response?
Thanks
Did it come with a pump? If not then I would suggest getting a hand pump that includes a gauge. That way you can tell what PSI level the kayak is at while you are inflating it. Or if you are using a foot pump, it’s nearly impossible to over-inflate with those but you won’t be able to tell what pressure it is at. A hand pump with a pressure gauge is the way to go.
I have just purchased a second hand (almost never used) tandem ) A Stearns IK 140 – and my question is how much should it be inflated? I had a prior kayak bust a seam on a channel possibly from too much pressure ) – A gauge does not make sense – so my question is if two people lift the inflated boat from each end, should the be any bend in the channels when unloaded – boat will be used on lakes or rivers like the Hudson, How much bend should there be in an inflated boat with no load – I think none, but other people tell me it should bend of its own weight –
Hi Harvey, The Stearns inflatable kayaks don’t actually hold that much air pressure. The 140 IK can only hold about 1 PSI of air pressure for the floor and only 1.75 PSI for the side chambers. You will likely notice some flex/bend in the middle when lifting from either end. There is less bend in a more durable kayak that can hold more air pressure but the Stearns will show some flex for sure.
Hi, I’m considering buying my first kayak, and I’m looking at getting an inflatable one, I’m just slightly worried that it would easily pop? Is this easily done? I.e branches or rocks, also once fully pumped up what sort of pressure is needed to seat two male adults (roughly 75kg each)? I’m just wondering if it will start to fold in places and start going under… Or would I be better off just buying a hard one? (Total beginner, sorry :), if you could email me that would be great, thank you
Hey Stefan, All good questions. Inflatable kayaks can really vary in quality as well as in rigidity. If you get a good quality inflatable kayak it will be durable, strong and rigid… And definitely no problem holding 2 male adults at 75kg each. Take a look at the Sea Eagle FasTrack for example. It’s a great kayak, well made and very durable. With a little care it should last for many years. It can hold over 600 lbs. and still paddle well. I have had that kayak loaded up with two adults, 2 dogs and a child…. A heavy load, which made for slower paddling but the kayak held up great. A good inflatable kayak won’t tear or ‘pop’ easily. In fact they can usually withstand a fair amount of abuse. Most are made with military grade PVC. Also worth noting that most IK’s have three separate air chambers. So if you ever did end up with a tear or leak in one area you would still have two separate air chambers that would keep you afloat and get you back to shore safely. I have been paddling inflatable kayaks for over ten years now and I love them. They are so extremely portable. I can transport my kayak in the trunk of my car and it only takes about 5 minutes to setup and inflate. Good luck, I hope you try one out!