As someone who has spent a lot of time testing and paddling inflatable kayaks, I can say with absolute certainty that not all inflatables are created equal. My personal choice is Sea Eagle Inflatable Kayaks. I have two of them, the Sea Eagle 385 FastTrack and the Sea Eagle 380 Explorer.
Why use an inflatable kayak?
I have kayaked most of my life, usually in a traditional hard shell kayak. I bought my first inflatable a few years ago for several reasons:
- I live in a small condo and an inflatable is very easy to store (I keep mine in a closet)
- It is highly portable and can be carried in the trunk of your car, on a plane, in an RV and some are even light enough to be carried in a backpack.
- It is easy to care for: apart from drying and cleaning it occasionally, there is nothing else to do.
- It is perfect for traveling and exploring new waterways.
- it’s affordable
Why did I buy a Sea Eagle kayak?
I did a lot of research on all the different kayaks before settling on my first Sea Eagle kayak. There are some great manufacturers besides Sea Eagle, including Advanced Elements, NRS, AIRE, Tributary, Innova, and Airis. I carefully observed and considered each of these manufacturers.
In the end, I chose Sea Eagle for three main reasons:
- Their inflatable boats aren’t the best, but they are very well built and very sturdy and solid. They are known for taking a lot of abuse and that gave me confidence that I would not have to worry about punctures and repairs.
- Their kayaks are affordable. With several different models to choose from, they have an inflatable kayak for every need and every budget.
- They offer an excellent three-year warranty and 90-day hassle-free returns. This is always good for peace of mind.
The bottom line was that although there are more specialized and higher end models on the market, their inflatable kayaks met all my needs for recreational kayak use and gave me the versatility to use them in both whitewater and flat water.
I recently got my second Sea Eagle kayak because they came out with a new faster model that I thought would be great for paddling on lakes and oceans. It has exceeded my expectations and once again I am a fully satisfied customer.
Whichever model and manufacturer you choose to buy from, be sure to read consumer reviews as they will give you an unbiased report on the pros and cons of each kayak.
