Kayaking used to mean hiring equipment by the hour or investing in an expensive and cumbersome plastic kayak yourself. However, the arrival of inflatable kayaks means you can pack yours into the car like any other piece of luggage and inflate it on the shore or bank of a lake—often for a fraction of the price.
If this is the experience you’re looking for, look no further than our list of the best inflatable kayaks in the UK.
We’ve included a range of models to suit all ability levels, so even experienced kayakers can save money on their next purchase.
1. ITWIT Touring Kayak
Price: £199.99 (one-seater) or £279.99 (two-seater)
Skill level: beginner
Suitable for: small bodies of water, mild rivers
The ITWIT range of kayaks is sold exclusively by the sports goods franchise Decathlon.
As well as one and two-seater versions, Decathlon has created several other ITWIT kayaks designed to suit all skill levels and functions. These range from recreational use to touring on larger bodies of water (if not open water).
Decathlon has a strong reputation for producing a comprehensive range of good-quality products, so any ITWIT kayak guarantees value for money.
The ITWIT Touring Kayak is a great entry point into kayaking, as it’s wide and stable on the water.
The seats are comfortable, too, which mitigates the issue of discomfort on lower-end inflatable kayaks. If that’s not enough, you can inflate the kayak in an impressive seven minutes, and its patented bow shape means it offers good glide performance in the water.
2. Intex Explorer K2
Price: £143.90
Skill level: beginner
Suitable for: small bodies of water, mild rivers
Besides being a #1 Best Seller on Amazon, this two-seater inflatable kayak has over 31,000 reviews on the platform, 94% of which are positive.
Its price point is arguably the main factor behind its popularity. The demand for inflatable kayaks largely comes from people with a fledgling interest in kayaking, so the cost of the K2 makes it a low-risk purchase. It’s also available at a price point that hard-shell kayaks can’t compete with.
To say that the K2 only offers affordability does it a massive disservice, though. It’s equipped with everything you need to enjoy a relaxing day of rowing on a calm lake. It has high sides for stability, can carry two people, and comes with oars and a pump.
3. Z-Pro Tango
Price: £379
Skill level: beginner
Suitable for: small bodies of water, mild rivers
The Z-Pro Tango has been in production for over a decade, with a new version being released to tweak and improve the design every so often. This is the 2022 version.
The Tango is available in red and blue and can be modified for one and two-seater variations. But this kayak’s build quality distinguishes it from others on the market.
The Tango is a beginner kayak, but it features 840-denier fabric, a polyurethane coating top, and a 100-denier super-tough bottom to make it a little more rugged than its competitors. This will come in handy if you skim the bottom of a river in shallow waters or when disembarking at the shore.
Additional directional fins also help keep the kayak straight in the water and enable you to pick up more speed as you row.
4. Sevylor Adventure Plus
Price: £375
Skill level: beginner
Suitable for: medium-sized bodies of water, moderate rivers, easy white-water
The Sevylor Adventure Plus is a three-seater kayak perfect for families looking to take to the water and explore together.
The Adventure Plus model features the Sevylor signature Easy Inflation System, which prevents you from having to fiddle with multiple valves or compartments to inflate the kayak. This is a godsend if you’re new to kayaking and want to have a paddle.
It’s made from durable polyester with additional seam taping to increase strength and air and water tightness. You can also configure the seats however you like, so you can set up the kayak in a way that’s most comfortable for everybody on board—or make room for some light backpacks.
To make manoeuvring easy, this inflatable kayak has a removable fin that you can attach if you want to improve your control.
5. Aquaglide Navarro 13
Price: £679
Skill level: intermediate
Suitable for: large bodies of water, moderate rivers, touring
Now it’s time to look at the more intermediate inflatable kayaks, starting with the Aquaglide Navarro 130.
Aquaglide is led by a team of water sport enthusiasts from Oregon, USA, who specialise in stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, and aquaparks. Therefore, the company knows a thing or two about inflatable watercraft.
The most striking thing about the Aquaglide Navarro 130? It isn’t obvious that it’s an inflatable kayak. And with its drop-stitched hard-bottom floor, it also gives hard-bodied kayaks a run for their money in terms of durability.
The Navarro 130 features some neat design touches that kayakers will appreciate, too. For instance, the zip-on deck cover, zipped pocket, and bungee storage netting. It also comes with oar straps and a foot brace to prevent you from sliding around while you row.
6. Aqua-Marina Memba
Price: £355 (one-seater) or £355 (two-seater)
Skill level: intermediate
Suitable for: large bodies of water, moderate rivers, touring
The Aqua-Marina Memba kayak comes in two forms—the 330 and the 390. These numbers indicate the length of the kayak in centimetres, with the 330 being designed for one person and the 390 for two people.
Both versions of this inflatable kayak are currently available at the same price. This is a huge bargain if you’re looking for a two-person kayak.
The Memba range has shaken up the inflatable kayak market with its impressive rigidity. This kayak’s hull cover is made from durable polyester with in-built UV resistance, while the custom-made drop-stitched double wall fabric gives the kayak a 7cm hard floor.
There are also multiple storage pockets, and special care has been taken to provide a premium seat that you can set up in a comfortable way.
These features make the Memba range perfect for mid to long-range touring down wide rivers or over vast lakes.
7. Sea Eagle Explorer
Price: £999 (one-seater), £1,425 (two-seater), £1,525 (three-seater)
Skill level: experienced
Suitable for: white-water rapids, lakes and rivers, open water, touring
This inflatable kayak is tailor-made for the more seasoned kayakers out there.
Sea Eagle has produced high-quality inflatable boats since 1968, and it represents the best in class when it comes to inflatable kayaks.
The Explorer range comes in four forms:
- the 300x, which is for one person
- the 380x, which is for two people
- the 420x, which is for three people
- the 350fx, which is a fishing kayak
In a nutshell, the range includes something to suit every kayaker’s needs.
Each kayak has undergone testing to ensure they’re suitable for class four white water.
They’re even constructed from 1100-decitex material, so there’s a slim chance of a puncture as you weave through and over rocks. That isn’t to say they’re only suitable for more extreme forms of kayaking—they’re perfect for open water, lakes, river, and touring, too.
8. Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible Kayak
Price: £935
Skill level: intermediate
Suitable for: large bodies of water, moderate rivers, touring
If you’re looking for a versatile and highly portable inflatable kayak, this AdvancedFrame Convertible model is exactly that.
With the ability to convert it into a solo or tandem kayak in less than a minute, it’s ideal for solo expeditions and day trips with friends. Its versatility doesn’t sacrifice comfort, as the high-back padded seats offer plenty of support.
The hull design is the AdvanceFrame Convertible’s unique selling point. The bow and stern feature built-in aluminium ribs that make the hull more streamlined and improve tracking.
If you want to go the extra mile for comfort and durability, you can upgrade to the Convertible Elite model for a high-pressure rigid drop-stitch floor and additional seat padding.
9. Shipwreck ArrowStream
Price: £649 (one-seater), £779 (two-seater)
Skill level: beginner
Suitable for: medium-sized bodies of water, moderate rivers, easy white-water
Durability is crucial to getting the best out of an inflatable kayak. Considering its low price, this ArrowStream model from Shipwreck is a great choice for beginners looking for a long-lasting, quality kayak.
It has a drop-stitched floor for added rigidity and inflates up to 10 PSI. It feels almost solid when inflated, and its performance isn’t far off that of a solid kayak, leaving inflatable kayaks without these features behind.
The seats provide support and comfort through foam block padding, which can also be removed if you want to increase stability.
You can also pack the kayak into a rucksack, so you can easily carry it from your car down to the river. The bag has also been upgraded for the latest model to provide extra protection.
The ArrowStream provides a solid experience overall during each use, making it one of the best inflatable kayaks in the UK for beginners with a mid-range budget.
Specialist sport craft insurance with Insure4Boats
If you’re a keen kayaker, it can be deflating to suffer a puncture and watch those sunny days you could be out on the water pass you by. It would be equally frustrating if your inflatable kayak were lost or stolen.
That’s why you may want to consider specialist sport craft insurance.
We arrange sport craft insurance that protects your inflatable kayak against loss, theft, and damage. We’ll even replace it on a new-for-old basis if your kayak was purchased new in the last three years.
We also offer European and Worldwide cover, so you’ll be protected wherever kayaking takes you.
Click here for more information or take advantage of our 30% discount today.
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Please note the information provided on this page should not be taken as advice and has been written as a matter of opinion. For more on insurance cover and policy wording, see our homepage.
