Aire Lynx I
Best Uses: Day trips, overnighters, whitewater, all-day river adventures
Brand: Aire
Available At:
- Outdoorplay
– free shipping & no sales tax
- Mountain Plus
- NRS
- Backcountry
Number of Paddlers: 1
Stats: Length 10’ 3”, Width 37”, Weight 32 lbs, Load Capacity 350 lbs
Accessories Included: 10 year warranty, repair kit, owners manual, thigh straps, 3 sets of drain holes, 2 carry handles. cargo hold
Kayak Material: 1300 Denier, 22oz PVC coated polyester
Pros: Stable, rugged, easy to lift, comfortable, great maneuverability, compact, easy entry and exit, great for all skill levels, option of closed-cell floor or air-cell floor
Cons: A little more expensive than some other whitewater inflatable kayaks
More About the Aire Lynx I
The Aire Lynx is by far one of the most popular inflatable kayaks of the Aire series. It is a whitewater kayak designed for paddlers of all skill levels that will get you through even the toughest whitewater conditions with rugged class.
Closed-Cell Floor or Air-Cell Floor…
The Lynx is a self-bailing kayak that comes with the option of a closed-cell floor or a lighter, more compact Aire-cell floor. The closed-cell floor is supposed to give higher performance and dependability and the Aire-cell floor is perfect for trips on airplanes and backpack excursions as it is highly portable. It seems that for most people the closed-cell foam floor is the better all around choice. For one thing it is less expensive. It is also easier to set up as there is one less chamber to inflate and it truly does perform better. The light Aire-cell floor will be the choice of those who want the kayak to be as light as possible.The Aire Lynx will handle class III or IV rapids beautifully and many have proclaimed that they would trust this inflatable kayak with their life… it performs that good!
The Difference Between the Aire Lynx and the Aire Tributary Strike
If you are considering this boat you may also be looking at the Aire Tributary Strike as they are quite similar in many ways. The main difference is that the Lynx is American made, is a little more stable and costs a few hundred dollars more. However for that price increase you get a kayak that is 4 less pounds than the Strike, has a ½” larger tube and has an incredible 10 year warranty (as opposed to only 5 years for the Strike). For people who have tried both boats it seems that the deciding factor is that if you are going to be in class III or larger rapids than the Lynx will be well worth the extra money. If you are mostly going to be in less than class III rapids than the Strike will probably be all you need.
Excellent Features for Better Control
The Lynx comes with thigh straps and it is highly recommended that you use them in anything over a class II. They will allow you to control the edge of the boat (much more like a hardshell) and have more powerful strokes. This kayak is unlikely to tip on you but if you are hitting a big wave or a hole the thigh straps will help you to lean into it and absorb the energy as opposed to going up and over. This Aire Lynx also comes with a seat that has an optional flip strap for righting the kayak after a spill, tie-down loops on the boat to accommodate the adjustable seat and a handy cargo hold.
The Aire Lynx also comes in a larger two person version… the Lynx II. It is ideal for tandem paddling or for longer trips with more gear. The Lynx II performs beautifully as well.
Final Thoughts On the Aire Lynx I
The Lynx can handle just about any situation as well as any condition including smacking up against jagged rocks, sharp sticks and being dragged on gravel. These boats are tough and worth every cent.
Pro Aire Lynx I
- Stable
- Rugged
- Easy for one person to lift
- Comfortable
- Great maneuverability
- Compact
- Easy entry and exit
- Great for all skill levels
- Option of closed-cell floor (better performance) or air-cell floor (lighter weight)
- 10 year warranty!
Against Aire Lynx I
- More expensive then many others
The Aire Lynx I Inflatable Kayak Is Available At:
- Outdoorplay – Aire Lynx I Inflatable Kayak
- Mountain Plus – Aire Lynx I Inflatable Kayak
- Backcountry – Aire Lynx I Inflatable Kayak
We Also Recommend…
If you own or have used the Aire Lynx I please leave a comment and share your thoughts with others.
Enjoy this article? Stay up to date with more info from IKWorld by subscribing...
IKWorld Newsletter | via RSS Feed | Email Updates | Follow IKWorld on Twitter
Print
