10 Best Inflatable Kayaks 2019 [Buying Guide]

Your Authors and Guides

Heather
Patton

Jennifer
Trimbee

Samantha
Dewitt

Your Authors and Guides

Heather Patton

Jennifer Trimbee

Samantha Dewitt

How to Choose the Best Inflatable Kayaks

If you’re interested in kayaking but don’t have a vehicle that’s capable of transporting one to the water, we’re here to change your life. Consider the inflatable kayak. We researched a range of models to narrow down the top inflatable kayaks because we want to help you get out on the water. Before we get deeper into our inflatable kayak reviews, here’s all the details about what you need to know when deciding on an inflatable kayak.

Persons Capacity - These kayaks hold 1 - 3 people. The great thing is the ones designed for multiple people can be adjusted. When you’re going alone, you’ll have a ton of space. When your buddies want to come along, it’s not a problem.

Weight Capacity - This is important because keeping to the weight restriction will make sure you stay safe on the water. Pay close attention to this when you’re using kayaks that can fit multiple people. There will still be a max weight limit.

Material - Most of these are made with nylon, vinyl, or polyethylene. They also all have a special bottom, usually made of tarpaulin, that is extremely resistant to punctures. Which is obviously important, you know, when you’re in a boat.

Accessories - While there are a few products on our list that don’t come with anything, most of them give you quite a bit of useful stuff and end up being a great buy. You’ll get paddles, pumps, repairs kits, carrying bags, etc.

Inflated Size - Obviously, this is how big the kayak is once you put air in it. Some of our top products are surprisingly big and spacious! You might be surprised by the different sizes we found in our research.

Weight - When this matters is after a long day on the lake when you have to deflate it, put it back in the carrying bag, and carry it back to the car. Is it light enough for you to do it yourself?

Top 10 Products

Inflatable kayaks are a great way to get into the sport when you don’t have room in your car or your budget. It’s an amazing sport and this is a great way to get started. Now that you know the top features to look for, let’s float right into our inflatable kayak reviews. If you don’t have a lot of time but we’ve piqued your interest, check out our top and budget picks first. Now, let’s get right to it!

Sea Eagle 380x

Our top pick is also the best inflatable kayak for ocean use. It might actually also be our best 2 person inflatable kayak, too. Actually, this one can hold up to 3 people, 750 pounds max. It’s made out of 1000-denier nylon and high pressure fabric that resists tears and punctures. How does it do it? It’s designed to be like crocodile hide - thick, tough, and impenetrable. That’s not all. It comes with a lot of extras, too, including a foot pump, repair kit, and carrying bags. This one is rated for Class IV rapids and is great for adventure goers and hardcore outdoorsy types. Something unique about it is that the drains are convertible. So, you can use it as a dry-only kayak or open the drains in rough water.

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Intex Challenger K1 Kayak

You can call this our budget pick or you can simply say it’s a top inflatable kayak that doesn’t cost a whole lot of money. Intex didn’t cut any corners with this one. Mostly, they just wanted to make kayaking accessible to more people. It’s constructed out of super tough vinyl that’s resistant to both punctures and UV rays. You might be wondering if it’s supportive. Well, thanks to the strong I-Beam support, you can actually stand in it. The cockpit is designed for comfort, providing you both strength and support. Need a place to stow your stuff? The included cargo net helps you keep everything in one play, safe and dry. One more thing. It’s also brightly colored and very noticeable, which is an ideal safety feature for to have.

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Sevylor Quikpack

If you’re looking for a kayak that you can use by yourself to chill out on in the water, the Sevylor has a lot to offer. First of all, it comes with a hand pump and can be inflated in as little as 5- minutes. You know what that means? More time on the water. The easy to carry backpack system is convenient and unique - it actually converts into the seat and even gives you a backrest! It’s protected from punctures by the tarpaulin bottom. Just in case you do spring a leak, though, the multiple air chamber system keeps you afloat. Carry handles make it easy to get in and out of the water. And get this: there’s even a cup holder and multiple foot rests.

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Advanced Elements Advanced Frame Kayak

Technically, this is a hybrid between a folding frame kayak and an inflatable one. Which is a little funny because it looks just like a hard shell kayak. The 3-layer construction makes it tough and durable. It’s composed of two layers of vinyl with a layer of polyester sandwiched in between. There are 7 chambers so you don’t need to worry about staying afloat in case something does happen to one of them. The seat on this one it really comfortable, it’s adjustable and offer high support. It can keep you comfortable for hours of paddling. With bungee deck lacing, molded rubber handles, plus the reinforced bow and stern, this really looks like a hard shell kayak. It performs like one, too. It’s just a lot easier to transport.

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Elkton Outdoors Inflatable Kayak

Are you a fisherman? Were you hoping to find an inflatable kayak that was perfect for fishing? Well, because this kayak is made of 18-gauge rip resistance tarpaulin, it’s not only tear resistant. It’s hook resistant, too. It even comes with enough fishing related accessories for 2 people, including 6 rod holders. There are also 6 mesh pockets around the inside of the kayak so you can stash anything you need to take with you to make your fishing trip a true adventure. This kayak comes with seating for 2 but can also be adjusted to have only 1 seat. This inflatable kayak also comes with a carry bag, inflates quickly, and is easy to repair. With 3 removable air chambers, you can diagnose and correct and problems quickly.

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Driftsun Voyager Inflatable Kayak

Take this one from the garage to the trunk of your car to the water in no time at all. Once removed from the carrying bag, the Driftsun Voyager inflates in less than 5 minutes into a full sized kayak. The included double action high flow air pump is amazingly fast. Plus, the bottom is made of heavy duty tarpaulin to protect it from rips, tears, and punctures. Thanks to the rocker profile and pointed nose, this inflatable kayak is a great performer, even in choppy water. In addition to the pump, this kayak also comes with a rear tracking fin, travel bag, and repair kit. That’s not all: it’s really comfortable, too. The adjustable padded seats have high backs and the lightweight aluminum paddles have comfortable ergonomic grips.

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Blue Wave Sports Kayak

This inflatable kayak is designed for one person and has great stability and control because of its aerodynamic design. To make it easy to inflate, the pressure valve is oversized. But that’s not all. It also has a double locking air-tight deal so you don’t need to worry about leaking. Guess what else? The vinyl construction has anti-leak welding so no water gets in. This one’s sealed up tight. Plus, there are 3 air chambers including the inflatable I-Beam floor. You get a lot of accessories with this, too, including oars, foot pump, carry bag, and a repair kit. That’s not all. To make sure you’re as comfortable as possible when using it, there’s a heavy duty fabric seat and a foot rest inside to help you relax. Not that you’ll need help.

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Airhead Montana Kayak

This is the longest inflatable kayak that we came across that’s meant for 2 people. If size matters to you, this is the best inflatable tandem kayak. It’s 12 feet long! This one was built to handle moderate white water thanks to its semi-rigid heavy duty polyethylene construction. In addition to being spacious, there are some other comfort features as well: grab handles, elbow guards, and a foot rests just to name a few. The backs of the seats are adjustable and each has a mesh storage pocket where you can stash the important things you brought with you. This is a safe one, too. First of all, it’s bright orange. Plus, each of the 3 air pockets is surrounded by UV and water resistant nylon so they won’t corrode.

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Sevylor 3-Person Kayak

This is another 12 feet long kayak but this one is designed for 3 people. But that’s not all. It’s comfortably designed for 3 people. Even when you’re using all 3 seats, everyone has enough room. That said, if you want to remove a seat, you can! Imagine how much room you’ll have in this inflatable kayak then! The tarpaulin bottom is puncture resistant and, just to be on the safe side, the multiple air chambers allow it to stay afloat even if one has punctured. The seats are adjustable and spray covers help you stay dry while you’re out on the lake. Despite its giant size, it weighs only 35 lbs. One great thing about this kayak is how stable it feels. It stays even and keeps the course.

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Sea Eagle SE370K_P Inflatable Kayak

This kayak includes the Pro Package which comes with a nice little collection of accessories. What do you get? Two deluxe inflatable seats, two kayak paddles, a foot pump, carry bag, and repair kit. The self-bailing drain helps you get rid of water quickly if necessary. But, because Sea Eagle kayaks are built so tough, this one will be extremely difficult to puncture. They really can take a beating. This inflatable kayak is one of Sea Eagles most affordable kayaks, but don’t let that fool you. This is one of the best inflatable kayaks around and outshines most other brands. And check this out: it’s really lightweight for its size. Light enough for one person to carry it on her own. One more great thing is it inflates in about 8 minutes.

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Article last updated on:

June 4, 2019

See more reviews:

Other Sports Reviews

Best Inflatable Kayaks

Top 10 Buying Guide

Our Recommendations

Sea Eagle 380x

Intex Challenger K1 Kayak

How to Choose the Best Inflatable Kayaks

Top 10 Products

Sea Eagle 380x

Intex Challenger K1 Kayak

Sevylor Quikpack

Advanced Elements Advanced Frame Kayak

Elkton Outdoors Inflatable Kayak

Driftsun Voyager Inflatable Kayak

Blue Wave Sports Kayak

Airhead Montana Kayak

Sevylor 3-Person Kayak

Sea Eagle SE370K_P Inflatable Kayak

TOP PICK

Sea Eagle 380x