5 Best Inflatable Kayak For Your Next Fishing Trip

For a loving adventure athlete, kayaking has become more than just a sport. Anyone can go for kayaking at an open ocean water or rapid whitewater. Before going to kayaking, you must have a kayak.

Wooden, plastic, and foldable kayaks each have their pros and cons. We’ll be discussing and different type of kayak, the inflatable kayak.

Inflatable kayaks are the best choice since they are easy to store, lightweight and easy to transport. Like others, inflatable Kayaks have a broad range of designs for the kind of paddling you want to do. The price of an Inflatable Kayaks depends on the quality and features.

Why should you buy Inflatable Kayaks?

Easy to store: If you live in a small apartment where every extra space counts, then buying Inflatable Kayaks is the best, because these are easy to store in small place.

East to transport: You can carry a kayak as a backpack. These are lightweight. You can also put them on the roof of your car.

Low Price, Best quality: No doubt that Inflatable Kayaks are cheaper than another type of kayak.

Secure packaging: Usually every Inflatable Kayaks comes in a compact transport packaging, which can easily keep fitted inside a car or even into a boat.

5 Best Inflatable Kayaks

Advanced Elements Advanced Frame

It is the best choice for optimal durability, comfort, and light transport lovers. You can carry in the trunk of your car. Aluminum frames make it more rigid than most Inflatable Kayaks.

Folding, inflating and attaching one or two seats is very easy in this kayak. You can do all these things in 20-30 minutes. Seats are very comfortable, for one or two passengers.

Three layers which make it safe from puncture rips through the inner linings. It is nearly 60 pounds in weight, which is a little heavy, so don’t lift it without support. Portability and versatility make it better. You can easily transport, inflate and fold up it.

If you are looking for efficiency and comfort with portability and durability, then this is the best pick for you.

2. Intex Explorer K2 Kayak

Intex Explorer K2 Kayak

The impressive features like small, lightweight ease of handling and carrying; it is the best choice in inflatable kayaks. It is a high quality, inflatable and handy kayak for two persons.

It is lightweight and comfortable structure makes it different from others. Hence it's the most sold kayak online. Its streamlined design gives ease of padding. It is lightweight.

Easy to locate in fast and rough water or if you lost somewhere in the water. It will be surely suitable for your sports adventure and also to your pocket. Seats can be easily removed or fitted according to need. 30.4 pounds weighted kayak which can take up to 400 pounds.

It comes with two paddles, air pump, inflatable seats and carries bag, which can make you journey in water.

3. Sevylor Big Basin 3 Person Kayak

Sevylor Big Basin 3 Person Kayak

If you are looking to go in kayaking with family and friends, then it may be the best partner for you. It can hold 490 pound, which is good enough capacity for average three young persons. States are adjustable and removable from the unit.

It is an extra large Kayak, which provides comfort to all three passengers on board. It has built with multiple air chambers, so if a puncture happens at the bottom, you can still continue your journey safely. Its bright color makes make kayak easy to locate in a crowd.

In this package pumps and paddles are not included. You have to buy them separately. It comes with 1-year warranty, carry bag and pressure gauge.

4. Sea Eagle Se370 Inflatable Kayak With Pro Package

Sea Eagle SE370 Inflatable Sport Kayak Pro Package

For fishing lovers, this is amazing. It gives you fish (if you can catch), comfort, durability along safety. SEA EAGLE KAYAK the best kayak package for the fishing lovers that we found over the internet.

SEA EAGLE KAYAK made of lightweight material, which is easy to inflate, carry and use, the best option for a fishing kayak. K80 PVC makes it strong against any puncture. It can carry up to 3 people, an almost weight of 650 pounds. Many people use this kayak to go fishing with their kids on the weekend. Two molded skegs, just like a surfboard makes it go faster and further, without more paddling effort.

5. Intex Challenger K1 Kayak

Intex Challenger K1 Kayak

If you are looking out for your wallet and also looking for best in the quality kayak, then Intex Challenger K1 Kayak will be best for you. It is made of durable welded material with catchy eye graphic, is the best for added safety on the lack or slow moving river.

The cockpit is designed for comfort and maximized space and inflatable I-beam floors which add stability. Intex Challenger K1 Kayak made of rubber, which is approx. 25 pounds and has maximum weight capacity is 220 lbs. It is east to transport and inflate. Even an old lady can inflate it with the included pump with it.

Factors To Consider When Shopping For An Inflatable Fishing Kayak

Inflatable kayaks are good investments. They’re very popular nowadays that almost every boat store is stacking up on them. No matter how much you like the design, there are many other factors to consider when buying inflatable kayaks. 

Pack up and set up

When choosing an inflatable kayak, consider the time it would take you to set it up, the amount of effort you have to pour into it, and the complexity of the process. Many inflatable kayaks would only take you about 5 minutes or less to set up. They have valves that make it easier to inflate and deflate them. Of course, those would cost you a bit more than basic inflatable kayaks, but they are more convenient. If you can, try to invest in them. They’ll be worth it in the long run. 

Price

Keep in mind that inflatable kayaks are more prone to punctures than hard shells. So if you can, buy the best one that you can get your hands on. The top of the line inflatable kayaks are made to be extremely durable that even knives will have a hard time cutting through them. That’s the kind of quality that you should be aiming for. Those kayaks would cost you more, but they’ll last much longer, and they will be worth it. 

Plus, expensive kayaks usually come with really long warranties. So at least you’re sure that you can get your money’s worth before you need to buy a new one. 

Material and Durability

Since the introduction of inflatable kayaks, people have been asking whether or not they’re safe. Well, it really depends on the material it’s made up of. Even cheaply produced hard shells can get you in trouble. It’s the same for inflatables. The top inflatable kayaks are made from materials that won’t get easily damaged. Some are even sewn with three or more layers of the same durable material to make sure that nothing will get through it. They would cost you, but your safety is guaranteed with them. 

Speed

This is a real deal breaker for any types of kayaks. Its speed will really depend on the way the kayak is designed and constructed. Remember that in kayaking, you’re paddling through the water with your own arms. Slow and heavy kayaks will tire you and get you stranded in the middle of the water. 

Be critical in the performance of the kayak. Many inflatables can give the best hard shells a run for their money. They’re fast and smooth that from a distance, you won’t be able to tell that it’s inflatable. Read reviews online before buying anything to see what people are saying about their performance on the field. 

Comfort

Imagine taking both an inflatable and a hard shell to fishing. Of course, you’ll be out in the open for a while waiting for a catch. One of the things that you can’t help but do is lean on the kayak. Hard shells are firm. They’ll give your back a hard time and won’t give you any comfort at all. That’s another factor where inflatables have them beat. Inflatables are soft. Leaning on them is like lying down on a cushion. You can stay there for hours without having a single sore spot on your body. 

This doesn’t apply for every inflatable. Some manufacturers forget to take comfort into account in an attempt to boost the kayak’s performance. This can really affect your experience with the kayak and the length of time that you can spend on it. When buying kayaks, imagine yourself relaxing on it. Can you see yourself saying on top of that kayak for hours? If you answered yes, then by all means. Go ahead and buy it. 

Are inflatable kayaks reliable?

The short answer is yes. There’s a reason why there are many inflatables on the market today. The demand for them continues to rise. Many people are beginning to shake off the notion that they’re unstable and dangerous. Which really not true, inflatable kayaks have certain standards to meet before they can even be legally sold in the market. They are regulated by the American boat and yacht council.

Many inflatables nowadays are made from durable materials that are resistant to damages. The best ones even have two or three layers of the same material for added protection. In case of an emergency, inflatables are equipped with air chambers that are designed to slow down its deflation long enough to see you safely back on shore. 

These kayaks are perfectly safe. Many people have been using them for years, and they can attest to its great performance and superior quality. 

Can you fish from an inflatable kayak?

Yes, some inflatable kayaks are even built mainly for fishing. Those kinds of inflatable kayaks usually come with built in fishing rods and plenty of storage equipment. They’re also made of materials that won’t easily get damaged or punctured. 

Take the Sea Eagle 370 Sports, for example. It’s a starting fishing kayak equipped with fishing rod holders and lots of storage space. It also has a maximum capacity of 650 lbs. So you don’t have to worry about hauling lots of fishes. This kayak could carry them comfortably. It’s been tried and tested by many fishing enthusiasts over the years. If it served them well, it won’t fail you. Give it a try. Inflatables are much cheaper than hard shells anyway. You’re not losing anything with purchasing it. 

Benefits of Inflatable Kayaks Over Hard Shells

Portable

The main thing that draws people to inflatable kayaks is the fact that you can fit it in a bag when it’s not inflated. Transporting hard-shell kayaks is stressful. All you can do is tie it on top of your car and hope for the best until you get to your destination. With inflatables, you can fit your entire kayak in a bag and set it up when you arrive. 

Inflatable kayaks usually come with their own bags. They are around 3 feet long and are light enough to be carried around in one arm. With a bag that small, you shouldn’t have a hard time finding space for it in your car.

As discussed above, setting up an inflatable kayak doesn’t usually take more than 5 minutes. Packing it up should also take you roughly the same amount of time. Inflatables are designed for convenience. They are made to take away much of the hassle that you would usually experience with hard-shells. 

Cheaper

The second best thing about inflatable kayaks is that they’re much cheaper than hard-shells. The best inflatables could cost you about the same amount as basic hard-shell kayaks. But, remember that you’re taking much more risks in buying inflatables than hard shells. It’s part of why they’re cheaper. It’s not to say that inflatable kayaks are dangerous but buying cheap ones with weak material can get you in serious trouble on the water.

Since they’re cheaper, try to get the most expensive one that you can find. We know that just because it’s expensive, it doesn’t mean it’s good. However, when it comes to kayaks, it kind of does. The more expensive it is, the better the performance, and the longer it usually lasts. 

Same good performance

Even if inflatable kayaks are cheaper and compact, they can still perform really well in the water. There was a time when people could reason out that inflatables can’t compete with hard shells in terms of durability, stability and speed. That’s not true anymore. Modern inflatables can compete with hard shells in almost everything. The new ones are made from triple layers of durable materials to make sure that nothing can get through them. They’re also designed to be just as fast as hard shells in the water and sometimes even smoother. Many inflatables on the market are extremely stable. Some can even boast about being impossible to tip over. 

How to modify a cheap inflatable kayak for fishing?

Top of the line fishing kayaks have almost everything that you’ll need on a fishing trip. If you’re trying to modify a simple kayak to a full-blown fishing kayak, you’ll need to add everything that a typical fishing trip might need. 

The first thing that you need are rod holders. It’s the most common feature found in fishing kayaks. Rod holders are important because they keep your hands free to do other activities like tending to your equipment or eating while you wait for a catch. There are tutorials on Youtube on how to make your own rod holders. You can also buy ready made ones that are specifically for boats and attach them to your inflatable with Velcro.

Another thing that you should add is extra storages. Fishing kayaks are built to carry many equipments. If you’re trying to make a fishing kayak of your regular kayak, you need to make more storage space in it. There are so many DIYs available online to help you make this happen. Just be mindful of your kayak’s maximum capacity before making the adjustments. 

There are many other additions that you need to do in order to make your regular kayak suitable for fishing. You’ll need paddle holders to get your paddle out of your way while you fish, stake out poles to steady your boat, etc. The best way to find out what you need is to go out fishing and note what specific upgrades you wish you had. Then get working and add them to your kayak when you’re already back home.

Conclusion

There are different types of Kayak. We tried to make your shopping easy. Choosing a kayak depends on various specifications and quality.

Let us know which kayak you selected from our list. If you've already owned a Kayak then share your views about that, we would like to share them with our readers.


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