No, you aren’t lost. This is InflatableBoarder’s list of the Top 10 Best Inflatable Kayaks (IKs)!
Before I was bitten by the SUP bug I was a kayaker. In fact, it was my work as a whitewater kayaking instructor and guide that ultimately led me to paddling stand up paddle boards.
Some paddlers see kayaking and SUP as at odds with each other, while I think they compliment each other very well. There are certain things that are easier in a kayak than on a SUP and vice-versa. And not everyone wants to SUP. While we keep working on bringing them to the light side, we can still encourage them to have fun recreating on the water with a kayak.
Kayaks come in many shapes, sizes, and constructions to meet different needs. Inflatable kayaks have been able to build on the technological advancements from stand up paddleboarding to make better, higher performing vessels. There are inflatable kayaks for everyone from weekend lake trips with the family to adventure backpackers, coastal explorers, and whitewater junkies.
We put together this list of the Best Inflatable kayaks for our friends and family looking to get on the water with a seat and a double-bladed paddle.
This list spans a wide range of kayak styles and sizes, so we’ve given each entry an award for Best of its class to help you narrow your search.
As always, let us know if you have any questions by writing a comment below, and we’ll see you on the water!
Best Inflatable Kayaks (IKs) Comparison Chart
| section-hd | Top-Rated Inflatable Kayaks (IKs) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOARD | DIMENSIONS | CAPACITY | WARRANTY | PRICE | |
| Nixy Tahoe | Nixy Tahoe
| BEST Value Hybrid IK 12'6" x 39" 33 pounds | 600 lbs | 2 years, 30-Day Return Period | Read Full ReviewCheck Best Price |
| Thurso Compass 150 | Thurso Compass 150
| BEST Value Drop Stitch IK 12’6" x 34" 42 pounds | 600 lbs | 2 years, 30-Day Return Period | Read Full ReviewCheck Best Price |
| Sea Eagle RazorLite 393RL | Sea Eagle RazorLite 393RL
| BEST Performance IK 12'10" x 28 35 pounds | 500 lbs | 3 years, 120-Day Return Period | Review Coming SoonCheck Best Price |
| Oru Kayak Coast XT | Oru Kayak Coast XT
| BEST Performance Folding Kayak 16'0" x 25 32 pounds | 400 lbs | 3 year, 30-Day Return Period | Review Coming SoonCheck Best Price |
| Bote Lono Aero | Bote Lono Aero
| BEST Fishing IK 12’6" x 35.5" 51 pounds | 400 lbs | 2 years, 30-Day Return Period | Review Coming SoonCheck Best Price |
| Aire Tributary Tomcat | Aire Tributary Tomcat
| BEST River/WW IK 10’3” x 36" 34 pounds | 375 lbs | 5-years, 30-Day Return Period | Review Coming SoonCheck Best Price |
| Kokopelli Rogue R-Deck | Kokopelli Rogue R-Deck
| BEST Value Packraft 7’6" x 37" 7.9 pounds | 250 lbs | Lifetime, 30-Day Return Period | Review Coming SoonCheck Best Price |
| Alpacka Gnarwhal | Alpacka Gnarwhal
| BEST Whitewater Packraft 7’10" x 35" 8.5 pounds | 250 lbs | Lifetime, 30-Day Return Period | Review Coming SoonCheck Best Price |
| Bote Vali Aero | Bote Vali Aero
| BEST Compact IK 11'0” x 34.5" 16.5 pounds | 300 lbs | 2 years, 30-Day Return Period | Review Coming SoonCheck Best Price |
| Oru Kayak Beach LT | Oru Kayak Beach LT
| BEST Family Folding Kayak 12'1” x 29 25 pounds | 300 lbs | 3 years, 30-Day Return Period | Review Coming SoonCheck Best Price |
Nixy Tahoe – BEST Value Hybrid IK
12’6” x 39” | 33 lbs
Read Full Review Here
Starting our list is the Nixy Tahoe inflatable kayak. As fans of Nixy’s iSUPs, we actually reviewed the Tahoe when it was released last year, and we were impressed!
The Tahoe uses a hybrid construction with a drop stitched floor (like an iSUP) for rigidity and performance, with lightweight PVC pontoons for the sides. Combined with its 12’6 length and removable fin, the rigid bottom makes for a great flatwater boat, while the 13” diminishing tubes give it plenty of maneuverability and rocker for rivers up to Class II (though you’ll want to take the fin out).
The Tahoe is also designed to be paddled as a Tandem kayak, or you can adjust one of the seats for solo paddling. Nixy provides a full kit of accessories with the Tahoe with two paddles, two seats, a double chamber hand pump, and a rolling bag.
Bottom Line: The Nixy Tahoe is one of the best values for a traditional inflatable kayak with excellent construction and a full kit of accessories.
Thurso Compass 150 – BEST Value Drop Stitch IK
12’6” x 34” | 42 lbs
Read Full Review Here
Thurso Surf makes fantastic iSUPs that have been dominating our Best lists for years, so it wasn’t a shock when their first inflatable kayak hit the water with a splash!
The Thurso Compass 150 uses a full drop stitch construction for the floor and side walls. This lets you inflate the kayak up to 15 PSI – which is extremely high for an IK – for maximum rigidity. Like on a SUP, the more rigid the kayak the more comfortable and stable it will feel, and the better it will glide through the water. You can even stand up and use the Compass like a SUP, get a better view of the fish you are chasing, or just to stretch your legs.
Thurso also includes a complete accessory kit to use the Compass as a tandem kayak with two inflatable seats, two paddles, a rolling bag, and an electric pump to make reaching those higher pressures easier.
Bottom Line: The Thurso Compass 150 is a great deal for a high-quality, high performance, all drop stitch inflatable tandem kayak.
Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl – BEST Performance IK
12’10” x 28” | 35 lbs
Full Review Coming Soon
Sea Eagle was one of the first companies to build an inflatable kayak using drop stitched floors and sidewalls. They’ve combined this great technology with their over 50 years of boat design experience to create a high performance inflatable kayak with the RazorLite 393rl (and tandem version the 473rl).
While we haven’t had a chance to run a full test and review cycle with the 393rl, I have been quite impressed with its performance on the water. The dropstitch construction allows for 10 PSI inflation – plenty to keep the boat completely rigid – and the shorter side walls and hard bow and stern molds slice through the water and improve tracking, while the adjustable foot braces let you paddle with proper technique for maximum efficiency and speed. The narrower beam (just 28”) is a more advanced shape to match the advanced construction.
Bottom Line: The Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl is designed with paddling performance at the forefront, but still packs into an easy to transport backpack.
Oru Kayak Coast XT – BEST Performance Folding Kayak
16’ x 25” | 32 lbs
Full Review Coming Soon
The Oru Kayak Coast XT isn’t your normal hard-shell kayak, nor is it an inflatable kayak. This folding design from Oru Kayaks blends the ability to shape boats for specific performance results with the portability of an inflatable.
The Coast XT is not a beginner’s kayak. It’s a 16’ long sea kayak that is built for performance, speed, and tackling open-ocean conditions on multi-day treks.
The extruded polypropylene material is abrasion resistant, treated for UV resistance and designed to stand up to thousands of use cycles. Once constructed, the lightweight plastic shell creates a rigid structure complete with bulkheads, foot braces, and a cockpit combing that is compatible with nylon and neoprene sprayskirts – making the Coast XT fully ocean compatible and rollable.
Bottom Line:The Oru Kayak Coast XT is the best portable kayak solution for those seeking ultimate performance on open water.
Bote Lono Aero – BEST Fishing IK
12’6” x 35.5” | 51 lbs
Full Review Coming Soon
Bote has been making quality fishing-focused products since their inception nearly twenty years ago. The Bote Lono Aero is an obvious step in the evolution of Bote products for anglers and has created one of the most versatile and best fishing kayaks out there.
The full drop stitch construction is ultra rigid while keeping weight (for a kayak of this size) to a reasonable 51 pounds. That includes the rear standing/storage deck (also drop stitched) and one of my favorite inflatable kayak seats.
Add in a plethora of mounting options for fishing accessories, coolers, racks, and the option to add a full pedal-drive system, and you’ve got the ultimate fishing craft for everything from lakes to flats to rivers.
Bottom Line: The Bote Lono Aero is an epic inflatable kayak for anglers with heaps of versatility and outfitting options, including adding a pedal drive, though it does come with a standard kayak paddle as well.
Aire Tributary Tomcat – BEST River/Whitewater IK
10’3” x 36” | 34 lbs
Full Review Coming Soon
For thrill seekers, nothing beats the intense ride of a whitewater river. While there are many ways to experience the rapids, the Tributary Tomcat by Aire is one of the most effective and versatile choices.
The time-tested PVC and Aircell construction, decades of design iterations, and the ability to function as a fun day runner or loaded up for a week-long river expedition make the Tomcat our pick for the top river running inflatable whitewater kayak.
Don’t take our word for it – the Tomcat is the boat of choice for whitewater outfitters, guides, and clubs nation-wide! It’s certainly the most popular whitewater IK amongst my local club members – the photo above is from a club trip here in northern New Mexico – and is great for beginners through expert paddlers.
Bottom Line: The Aire Tributary Tomcat is a maneuverable and capable inflatable kayak developed specifically for rivers and whitewater.
Kokopelli Rogue R-Deck – BEST Value Packraft
7’6” x 37” | 7.9 lbs
Full Review Coming Soon
Kokopelli packrafts offer some of the best performance to value ratios for this budding new sport. Born from multi-sport adventure enthusiasts, packrafts blend lightweight materials with nimble designs to make it possible to navigate waters unreachable by car. But they’re also great for your local river runs and lakes!
The Rogue R-Deck is one of the best value packrafts available because of its performance and versatility. The “R” stands for “Removable” – you can choose whether to run the Rogue R-Deck as a fully-decked and skirted whitewater machine, or leave the deck at home for a lightweight flatwater craft. And we mean light – less than 8 pounds at its baseweight!
Bottom Line: If you are looking for the ultimate in packable performance, the Kokopelli Rogue R-Deck should be at the top of your list.
Alpacka Gnarwhal – BEST Whitewater Packraft
7’10” x 35” | 8.5 lbs
Full Review Coming Soon
Packrafts have grown following among whitewater paddlers for their extremely nimble but capable designs for adventure paddling. Alpacka has dominated this realm with their high-performance Gnarwhal packraft.
Expedition whitewater paddlers, multi-sport adventure seekers, and weekend warriors alike have flocked to the Gnarwhal for its top-notch handling in hard whitewater.
Bottom Line: The Alpacka Gnarwhal is purpose-built for lightweight adventure on heavy whitewater.
Bote Vali Aero – BEST Compact IK
11’0” x 34.5” | 16.5
Full Review Coming Soon
Packrafts are known for their portability, but they aren’t the only option out there for small packing and lightweight kayaks. The new Bote Vali Aero is impossibly light at just over 16 pounds, but inflates to a full size 11’ recreational kayak in just minutes.
The Vali takes on a classic recreational kayak design that excels in flatwater, but has enough rocker and maneuverability for calm rivers and even the occasional class I rapid.
While it isn’t as decked out for fishing as the Lono, the Vali’s capacity and open deck make it easy to bring everything you need for a day on the water – fishing, camping, or both!
Bottom Line: The Bote Vali Aero is an ultralight and packable, but full-size inflatable kayak ideal for flatwater. It also includes a breakdown paddle with the kit.
Oru Kayak Beach LT – BEST Family Folding Kayak
12’1” x 29” | 25 lbs
Full Review Coming Soon
Rounding out our list of the Best Inflatable Kayaks is another folding-style boat from Oru Kayaks. The Beach LT is a lightweight folding recreational craft with an open deck design. This makes it comfortable and easy to get in and out of, share with a kid or pet, and still performs on the water more like a traditional hardshell kayak, while only weighing 25 pounds.
The folding design also makes it easy to pack multiple kayaks into the trunk of a smaller vehicle, leaving space for the family in your seats!
The folding design requires no pump, and assembles in minutes letting you spend more time on the water with your friends and family.
Bottom Line: The Oru Kayaks Beach LT is the best compact folding kayak for paddling with kids and pets.
Best Inflatable Kayak FAQs
What is an Inflatable Kayak (IK)?
Inflatable Kayaks (IKs) take on a variety of shapes and styles, all within the same design family as traditional hard-shell kayaks. These craft are designed to paddle with one, two, or three people at once using double-bladed paddles. Longer and flatter IKs tend to paddle better over long distances on flat water, while shorter boats with more rocker (upturned bow and stern ends) are designed for maneuverability and handling waves or whitewater.
Inflatable kayaks come in many different constructions as well. They range from very basic single-skin vinyl found in ultra-cheap boats sold at big box stores, to advanced custom materials and drop-stitched constructions like an inflatable SUP that make the boats exceptionally rigid when inflated. There are even folding kayaks made with solid plastic materials that blend the best of both hard-shell kayak performance and the portability of inflatable boats.
What should you look for when choosing an Inflatable Kayak?
With such a huge range of sizes, shapes and materials, it’s important to match your needs with the right kayak. We highly recommend avoiding the ultra-cheap inflatable kayaks you find at big-box stores or large online retailers. These kayaks are made with very thin, delicate air bladders that puncture easily and provide no rigidity. They fold significantly when seated in them and paddle very poorly, especially in the wind.
Consider the size vs the use. Kayak size will change based on the number of passengers they are designed for and what type of paddling you want to do. Solo boats can be as little as 9’, while tandem boats up to 15’ or more. For most solo boaters on flat water and calm rivers we recommend boats 10-12’ long with moderate rocker profile (how far the bow and stern turn up from the water). You’ll typically want a kayak between 32-36” wide for easy stability. If you are looking for a fast, efficient boat for touring, fitness, or racing, then you’ll want longer (15-20’) and narrower (<30”).
River paddlers, especially those looking to hit a few rapids, will want a shorter kayak between 7’-10’ and 34-38” wide with a high rocker. These shorter boats are designed for maneuverability and handling larger waves and holes on the river. Packrafts are ultra-light inflatable kayaks designed for easy transportation while backpacking, bikepacking, or adventure racing, but are also great boats to use when you can still drive to the river.
Folding and modular kayaks use rigid materials to give you a feeling more like a hard-shell kayak, but with easier portability. Modular boats sacrifice far more portability for a small increase in performance while folding boats offer the best combination of the two.
Recommended Gear for Kayaking
Unlike most inflatable SUPs, most inflatable and rigid kayaks come with relatively few accessories. Inflatable kayaks from brands that also make inflatable SUPs (like Nixy, Thurso, and Bote) often come with complete accessory packages including paddles. But most boats from kayak-only companies will only include the boat and a basic pump. So there are a few key accessories you’ll need to pick up with your new Inflatable Kayak.
- Paddle – Most kayaks don’t come with a paddle, so you’ll need to pick one to get moving on the water. Choosing a paddle can be just as personal as choosing the kayak. For most users in a traditional Inflatable Kayak you’ll want a paddle that is between 240-260cm long with narrower “low-angle” blades. One of our top recommendations on a budget is the Old Town/Carlisle Magic Plus. For river paddlers and packrafters the Aquabound Shred 4-piece is a great value. For dedicated kayak anglers with a larger boat, the Wilderness Systems Origin Angler gives you more power and a built-in line hook.
- PFD – A PFD (Personal Flotation Device), sometimes called a life jacket or buoyancy aid, is a critical piece of safety equipment while on your kayak and may be required by local law. There are thousands of options for PFDs, and it is important to choose one that not only fits you well but is designed for paddling. A quality, well-fit PFD is not noticeable when being worn. See our Best PFD reviews here.
- Dry Bag – Not everything we bring with us on our IKs should get wet. Soggy sandwiches and waterlogged phones can ruin a good day out on the water. Dry bags come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes to fit your needs. See our Best Dry Bag reviews here.
- Coolers – Whether you are keeping your drinks cold or your catch fresh, a great cooler can make the difference after hours out in the sun. See our Best SUP Cooler reviews here.
- Electric Pumps – Using the hand pump that comes with your board is a great way to warm up for your day paddling. But every now and then, it’s nice to relax while getting ready, too. Electric pumps are easy to use and let you focus on other things while inflating your boat. See our Best Electric Pump reviews here.
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