Sea Eagle Kayak Comparisons
Sea Eagle kayaks are some of the most popular inflatable kayaks on the market. They are not the top of the line but they do offer more versatility and features than most others in their price range.
It is no secret that I am a big fan of Sea Eagle kayaks, in particular their Explorer kayaks. My favorite model is the Sea Eagle 380X. I found that this inflatable kayak meets almost all of my needs:
- Tandem kayak that can also be paddled solo
- Versatile enough to paddle in different types of water
- Decent warranty
- Rigid yet very comfortable
- Can be taken traveling… anywhere
- Costs under $1000
Those were my basic requirements for an inflatable kayak and the 380X Sea Eagle kayak fit the bill… but how does it stack up to other comparable inflatable kayaks?
Below I will go through some comparison factors to other similar models.
The Sea Eagle 380X Compared To:
Aire Super Lynx
I strongly considered the Aire Super Lynx when I began searching for the right inflatable kayak. This kayak has been extremely popular and is similar to the Sea Eagle kayak in that it is a jack of all trades but a master at none. I don’t mind that because it tends to mirror my kayaking style.
- The Super Lynx is longer and is able to pick up higher speeds, which is nice.
- It weighs 43 lbs.
- It can hold a good amount of weight
- It is self-bailing and is known to be very comfortable.
- The quality is excellent and it has a top of the line warranty.
The problem… it is expensive. The Aire Super Lynx runs roughly at $1500 and that only includes the kayak and the seats. With the Sea Eagle kayaks you can get the kayak, the good seats, the good paddles, the air pump, etc. all for just over $800. Once you add all the essentials to the Super Lynx it will end up costing more than twice as much. Even though I do believe the Super Lynx is worth it, I am willing to settle for a slightly less impressive inflatable kayak for a much, much lower price.
Another thing to consider is that if you do plan on paddling your tandem kayak solo at times, the Super Lynx is long and may not be as easy to handle for one person.
Advanced Elements StraitEdge 2
The AE StraitEdge 2 has had its share of popularity. I would describe Advanced Elements kayaks as “middle of the road”. I like the StraitEdge because it can be paddled on flat water or whitewater, it is self-bailing, similar in size and weight to the 380x as well as similar in price.
I ended up dismissing it for a few reasons:
- There is no option to add a rudder.
- I am not fond of the AE seats (though these can always be changed).
- The Advanced Elements quality of construction is not as good as the Sea Eagle kayaks, nor is their warranty.
Aire Lynx II
No doubt about it, the Aire Lynx is a fantastic inflatable kayak. This kayak has many factors that are better than the Sea Eagle kayaks including:
- the quality
- the warranty
- the performance
In fact they are better than just about every other inflatable kayak on the market. However the Lynx is purely designed for whitewater and would not track well or paddle well on flat water.
I like the fact that it weighs only 39 pounds but dismissed it because I am not a hardcore whitewater kayaker. The Lynx II costs almost twice as much as the 380X and if I were to pay that kind of money, the kayak better meet all my needs. The Lynx II would be well suited to those wanting a really good quality, compact inflatable kayak that is able to take on big rapids.
Tributary Strike 2
For some reason the Tributary Strike seems to get overlooked. The Tributary kayaks (owned by Aire) do not offer the same excellent quality that the American made Aire kayaks do. The Tributary Strike however is one of the better ones and does offer versatility, a decent performance, similar dimensions to the Sea Eagle 380X as well as great stability.
It is in truth quite comparable to the Sea Eagle Explorer kayaks… the big difference is that it costs a fair amount more. Why would I pay almost $1000 for this kayak then still have to buy my paddles and my pump when I can get just as good of a kayak with Sea Eagle for a lot less? Well I wouldn’t.
Conclusion…
I know that not everyone would agree with me but even when I consider all these other similar inflatable kayaks, my choice is still the 380X Sea Eagle kayak. I am willing to sacrifice a little speed for a kayak that meets all my other needs.
The one thing that I would have preferred was a kayak that weighed a little bit less. The Sea Eagle 380X weighs 47 lbs which is still okay but for traveling I would have loved it to weigh less. However for all the pluses it offers I was willing to overlook this. Besides when a kayak is too light it tends to get blown by the wind and becomes hard to control.
I suppose that if I were to recommend one inflatable kayak that offers everything the Sea Eagle explorer kayak does and more it would be the Aire Super Lynx. It comes down to whether it is really worth it for you to spend twice the amount of money for a slightly better kayak. For me right now, it is not… but I would consider it down the road.
For more detailed information on individual models please see our reviews of inflatable kayaks.
Tributary Kayaks
September 10, 2009 by IK World
Filed under Kayak Brands
Tributary kayaks are actually one of Aire’s line of kayaks. They are manufactured overseas and this allows for a lower price tag then Aire’s inflatable kayaks that are manufactured in the U.S. They feature the same great air retention that the Aire line has and they are backed by an awesome five year warranty (1 year warranty on the Tomcat inflatable kayaks).
The AIRE company has been around for more than two decades. They began with a vision to create the most cutting-edge whitewater kayaks on the market and that drive and ambition is still strong today. With a huge lineup of Aire kayaks and their 6 models of Tributary kayaks, they have been an unbeatable force in the inflatable kayak industry.
The Tributary inflatable kayaks have long been popular for those who want the same great AIRE cell technology that the Aire kayaks have but for a more affordable price. Their quality and construction are not as sound as the Aire kayaks but they are still extremely rugged and well made.
Picture provided by Aire.com
Below are the 6 Models of Tributary Kayaks…
- Tributary Sawtooth – great for flatwater, unique design allows for high speeds
- Tributary Sawtooth II – two person version of the Sawtooth, good for flatwater, quite long and known for higher speeds
- Tributary Strike I – very versatile, hybrid design, is able to track well on flatwater and handle whitewater rapids
- Tributary Strike II – two person version of the Strike, great for flatwater and whitewater
- Tributary Tomcat Solo -sturdy, good for beginner whitewater paddlers
- Tributary Tomcat Tandem – two person version of the Tomcat Solo, lots of space, good load capacity, good for recreational whitewater use
What is the difference between Aire and Tributary?
There are four main differences between Aire and Tributary kayaks.
- Warranty – Tributary kayaks have a 5 year warranty on manufacturer defects and a 1 year warranty on Tomcats. Aire kayaks have a 10 year no fault warranty.
- Materials – Tributary kayaks use lighter materials than the Aire kayaks. Though the materials used for Tributary kayaks are still extremely rugged and solid, they are not as rugged and solid as the Aire kayaks.
- Where the kayaks are made – Tributary kayaks are manufactured overseas. Aire kayaks are manufactured in Idaho, USA.
- Price – Because of all of the differences, the Tributary line of kayaks are offered at a much lower price point than the Aire kayaks.
Tributary Kayak Material
The Tributary Sawtooth, Strike I and Strike II are made with 1200 denier PVC-coated polyester. The Tomcat Solo and Tandem are made with 1200 denier with a heavy duty PVC shell. Denier refers to the thickness of the threads. The higher the denier, the thicker the threads and therefore the tougher the material. 1200 denier is excellent.
Are there any negatives to the Tributary Kayak?
Of course nothing is perfect. Though AIRE has provided us with an excellent choice of inflatable kayaks for those on a budget, the fact that the Tributary kayaks are cheaper in price does come with some compromise in quality. There have been some reports that the Tributary kayaks will have some stitching problems after heavy use.
However with the five year warranty, I wouldn’t be overly concerned as they are still a great choice for many people. If you are an experienced and avid kayaker, likely the American made Aire kayaks are going to appeal to you more. If however you are a beginner to novice kayaker then the Tributary line is perfect and will be more than perfect for recreational use.
Final Thoughts on Tributary Kayaks…
I wouldn’t hesitate in purchasing one of the Tributary inflatable kayaks. AIRE is a company that has built a phenomenal reputation for quality and excellence and even though their Tributary line is manufactured overseas, they are still solid, rugged and best of all… more affordable. If you plan on bashing your kayak daily in heavy whitewater then no Tributary may not be the right choice. However for the majority of kayakers any one of their models will offer a lot of fun and adventure for many years.
Read our comprehensive Tributary kayak reviews for more detailed information and pictures.
OR view other inflatable kayak reviews.
Inflatable Kayak Online Retailers
June 21, 2009 by IK World
Filed under Essential Tips
Listed below are the online retailers for inflatable kayaks and for kayaking gear and accessories.
- Sea Eagle
- Mountain Plus
- NRS
- Amazon
- Altrec Outdoors
- Innova
- Backcountry
- Water Outfitters
- REI
- West Marine
When making a purchase online, especially a large one like an inflatable kayak, it is important that you are purchasing from a 100% secure, reputable and established website. The ten outdoor recreation stores listed here are some of the very best. Not only have they been around for a long time, they also provide phenomenal customer service, most of them have outdoor gear specialists ready to answer any of your questions and also have the best prices and deals. Read below for detailed information on each company.
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Sea Eagle – Inflatable Kayaks
- Been around for 40+ years.
- Sell only top quality, rugged inflatable boats.
- Great selection of inflatable boats and kayaks for all different types of water activities including kayaking, canoeing, fishing, sailing, motoring, stand-up paddling and yachting.
- 3 year warranty on all of their boats!
- Offer a 180 day risk free trial.
- Excellent prices – often have great sales.
- Lots of excellent pictures of real people using their boats and customer videos.
- Good FAQ page.
- Offer some used inflatable boats at a discounted price.
- Free shipping within the contiguous US (for boat packages).
- Will ship to Canada and Internationally.
- Downloadable instructions available on their site for the boat your purchase as well as video instructions.
- Very helpful customer service.
- Inflatable kayak brands available: Sea Eagle
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Mountain Plus – Inflatable Kayaks
- Phenomenal site for any outdoor enthusiast.
- Carries not only inflatable kayaks but all kayak and outdoor gear and accessories.
- Free shipping on any order over $45.
- Excellent international shipping rates – some of the cheapest I’ve seen.
- Most of their inflatable kayaks come with a free electric pump!
- Excellent online live help for any questions or concerns you have.
- Great outlet section with sales up to 60% off.
- Mountain Plus blog.
- Established online store since 1995, nearly 15 years.
- The Mountain Plus team will bend over backwards to make sure you receive excellent customer service.
- Inflatable kayak brands available: Advanced Elements, Aire, NRS, Tributary
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NRS – Inflatable Kayaks
- Founded in 1972.
- Excellent resource for kayaking information.
- Always lots of sale items.
- Excellent customer service.
- Every kayaking gear option you can think of.
- Will Ship to Canada and Internationally.
- Rock solid guarantee. Return or exchange any item you are not satisfied with.
- Gift cards available.
- Fast & very low priced shipping.
- Inflatable Kayak brands available: NRS, Aire, Tributary
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Amazon – Inflatable Kayaks
- Usually has a decent selection of different inflatable kayaks
- Sometimes have some good sales prices
- Huge website with very established reputation
- Also sell just about anything else you can think of
- Can ship all over the world
- Inflatable kayak brands available: Usually carries most inflatable kayak brands
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Altrec Outdoors – Inflatable Kayaks
- Good outlet section with savings up to 80% off.
- Free shipping on orders over $45 in the contiguous U.S.
- Will ship to Canada and Internationally.
- 100% lifetime guarantee – Return for a refund at anytime if you not are happy.
- Exceptionally fast delivery.
- Excellent customer service.
- Price Match Plus guarantee – If you find an identical product offered by another US authorized online retailer, they will beat their price by 5% of the difference.
- Live chat available with a customer service rep/gear specialist.
- Great selection of doggie water gear.
- Established online outdoor gear store since early 1999.
- Inflatable kayak brands available: Advanced Elements, Aire, NRS, Tributary, Innova, Trak
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Innova – Inflatable Kayaks
- European inflatable touring kayaks as well as whitewater inflatable kayaks and canoes
- Based out of Burlington, WA
- Most of Innova kayaks are made PVC-free – better for the environment
- One of the original producers of high end inflatable kayaks
- Very popular on the West Coast
- Sells all of the Innova brand inflatable kayaks as well as clothes, PFD’s and equipment
- Excellent customer service and very knowledgeable staff
- On-site blog with pictures, stories and news
- 2 year warranty on all Innova kayaks
- Shipping to all over the world
- Inflatable kayak brands available: Innova
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Backcountry – Inflatable Kayaks
- Free shipping on orders over $50 within the contiguous U.S.
- Will ship to Canada and Internationally.
- 100% guarantee – If you are ever not satisfied with your gear at anytime, even 30 years from now, send it back for a full refund.
- Live chat available with a customer service rep/gear expert.
- Gift certificates available.
- They have a great blog available on their website.
- Excellent customer service.
- Voted one of the top 50 internet retailers.
- Great outlet store on the website with huge savings.
- Good selection of UV protective clothing.
- Inflatable kayak brands available: NRS, Tributary, Aire
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Water Outfitters – Inflatable Kayaks
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REI – Inflatable Kayaks
- Huge outdoor gear storeStarted by 23 climbers in 1938
- 80-plus stores all over the U.S. as well as their huge online store
- Great outlet selection
- 100% satisfaction guarantee – if you are not satisfied with your purchase it can be returned for a full refund
- Option to become an REI member with lots of benefits
- Great expert advice
- International shipping
- Free shipping to any one of the REI stores where you can pick it up from there
- Gear and accessories for paddling, cycling, climbing, hiking, camping, travel and fitness
- Inflatable kayak brands available: Aire, Advanced Elements, Airis, Innova
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West Marine – Inflatable Kayaks
- $2.95 shipping on any order over $99
- International shipping available
- Marine store with good inflatable kayak selection
- One of the world’s largest boating supply retailers
- Been around for a very long time
- Excellent reputation
- Besides being an online retailer they have over 375 stores in 38 states, Puerto Rico and Canada
- No hassle returns – if you are ever dissatisfied with your purchase they will replace it
- Excellent customer service
- Very passionate about making sure the customer has a good experience and with providing great products
- Inflatable kayak brands available: Airis, Sevylor, West Marine kayaks
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