Airis Play
Best Uses: Day trips, flat waters, calm rivers, ocean, camping, excellent for traveling
Brand: Airis – Walker Bay
Available At:
Number of Paddlers: 1
Stats: Length 8’ – 9’, Width 35”, Weight 15 – 18 lbs, Load Capacity 225 – 250 lbs
Accessories Included: Backpack with padded straps, high pressure air pump with gauge, repair kit, owner’s manual, bow keel and rear skeg, splash guard rim, cup holder, 2 sealing drain valves, 2 year warranty
Kayak Material: UV treated, multi-layer PVC fabric and 7-layer polymer coated fabric with drop stitch fibers
Pros: Stable, rugged, easy to lift – extremely light weight, comfortable, great maneuverability, compact, easy entry and exit, cup holders, extremely lightweight and great for traveling
Cons: Would like to see a cargo hold on the front of the kayak – they are only at the back
More About the Airis Play
Great tracking, easy to maneuver, super light weight – literally carry it on your back, great for lakes, ocean surf, rivers, exploring coves and all sorts of different water destinations. The Play is super rugged, completely tear resistant and extremely comfortable. Plus it has cup holders!
There is the option of adding the GTS sport seat which offers extra padding and lumbar ergonomics. This seat will allow you to paddle for hours on end without even the faintest back ache.
The Play comes in two different sizes. The Play 8 is slightly smaller and great for small to medium paddlers and the Play 9 is perfect for medium to large paddlers. Rarely does one get the option to choose the size of their inflatable kayak beyond solo and tandem and I love that the Play offers that selection.
Who Would Want the Airis Play?
The Play is perfect for anyone looking for a super high quality solo inflatable kayak that can literally be transported in a backpack anywhere you want to go and used on all types of water for recreational use. It is a great kayak for any person of any age. Airis is a little pricier than some of the competition but it is high class and high performance all the way. Well worth it and great value for the money.
In a League of Its Own
Airis kayaks simply cannot be compared to other inflatable kayaks. They have extra material added in high wear areas and are built to last. They also have more stretch and are more tear and scrape resistant than any other inflatable kayak.
Airis kayaks are so completely rigid that they are actually very much like a hard-shelled kayak. They are made using AirWeb High Pressure Construction which makes it possible to inflate an Airis kayak to more than 6.5 PSI or 0.45 bar. This is up to six times the maximum air pressure of other inflatable kayaks. Consequently they have a hull that is unbelivably rigid and durable without having to use any aluminum inserts or complicated frame parts. Assembly time therefore is extremely quick and simple.
Consistent Performance
Each Airis kayak comes with a bow keel and a rear skeg that really helps these kayaks to track beautifully. The shape of the Airis kayaks provide for ultimate stability and comfort. If you chose the deluxe high back seat your back will be completely pain free for longer kayaking trips.
Imagine Carrying your Kayak in your Backpack
Each Airis kayak comes standard with a custom AirPack backpack. The AirPack is super lightweight and comes with padded shoulder straps for extra comfort plus two sets of gear straps for your paddle and air pump. With this backpack you can carry your kayak while biking, or on the bus, as well as hiking or on an airplane. The Airis Play weighs between 15 and 18 pounds so it is unbelievably light.
Final Thoughts On the Airis Play
For a solo recreational inflatable kayak you will simply not find any that are of the same quality as the Airis Play. This kayak can handle lakes, rivers as well as ocean surf. As the name implies, it is a play boat and you are guaranteed a lot of fun with it. The Play is covered by a two year warranty but this kayak will last you a very long time. I highly recommend getting the deluxe high back seats. They will make your ride ten times more enjoyable.
Pro Airis Play
- Extremely stable
- Rugged and completely rigid
- Easy to lift – it weighs only 15-18 pounds
- Comfortable – especially with the high back seats
- Great maneuverability
- Compact – fits into a backpack
- Easy entry and exit
- Cup holders
- Great for traveling
- 2 year warranty
Against Airis Play
- I wish the Play had front cargo holds – they are only at the back
The Airis Play Inflatable Kayak Is Available At:
- Amazon.com – Airis Play Inflatable Kayak
- West Marine – Airis Play Inflatable Kayak
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Pictures on this page provided by: Outdoorplay
If you own or have used the Airis Play please leave a comment and share your thoughts with others.
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I would strongly encourage you to list the Airis Play 8 under your whitewater boats. It is definitely the best inflatable whitewater play boat on the market. The flat bottom, broad bow and short water line give it performance that is unrivaled by all the other IKs I’ve tried (which is most of them, including the Force). It planes easily, spins on a dime…this boat is it!! You can see video on youtube.com and search for aklish89. Or go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Walker-Bay-Boats/31203402855?ref=ts to see pics and video.
I cut off the skeg, and added an NRS back band and thigh straps to maximize performance. Depending on leg length you may need to add additional d-rings to get ideal thigh strap placement, but it is well worth the little extra effort.
Thanks Aaron for the excellent information and feedback. We will definitely consider adding the Airis Play to the whitewater category. We watched your videos… awesome!
Allison