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Let us know if this sounds familiar—you absolutely love to get out on the water in a kayak but you either can’t afford a hard-shell kayak, you don’t have the space to store it, or you don’t have the physical strength and/or mobility needed to maneuver it around. Any of that strike a chord with you? Well, that’s why we’re here.
Inflatable kayaks are an amazing alternative to solid kayaks. They’re more affordable (usually), easier to store and transport, more stable on the water, and they still offer one-, two-, and three-seater options. They’ll almost always come with the accessories you need too. That means paddles, air pumps, repair kits, seats…the whole deal!
Does an inflatable kayak sound like the thing you need for your next great adventure? We’d love to help you choose the best one. They’ll vary in things like price, weight capacity, inflated size, weight, performance on the water, and so much more. We encourage you to think about every feature because they all matter.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best inflatable kayaks in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Solo Pick: Advanced Elements Lagoon 1 Inflatable Kayak
Tandem Pick: Sea Eagle SE370K_P Inflatable Kayak
3-Seater Pick: Itiwit KTI 100 3-Seater Inflatable Kayak
Solo Budget Pick: Intex 68305EP Challenger Inflatable Kayak
Tandem Budget Pick: Intex Explorer K2 Inflatable Kayak Set
The Advanced Elements Lagoon 1 Inflatable Kayak has a lot of features working in its favour. One of our favourite things is the seat. It’s incredibly comfortable and feels well-padded when it’s fully inflated, and it also has a high-quality backrest that will actually keep you comfortable. The boat is also really lightweight at only 23 pounds, so it’s easy to carry all by yourself. Kind of important, right?
We’re also fans of the bungee deck lacing. It lets you store your dry bag or any other gear on the boat without it stealing your precious leg room. The performance of this kayak in water is also something to admire. Rigid panels on the bow and stern help with tracking, and it’s one of the most responsive kayaks you can buy since it’s shorter than most. You’ll learn to love it, we promise.
While we love everything about the boat itself, we do want to warn you about a couple of things as well. First of all, although we absolutely love how responsive this kayak is, it will take some getting used to since you’ll need to paddle a bit differently to go straight. We would also prefer it comes with all of the accessories you need, but sadly, you need to purchase everything separately.
Reviewers have a high opinion of the Advanced Elements Lagoon 1 Inflatable Kayak. Even adults 70+ have no problem inflating or carrying this kayak by themselves, and although it takes some getting used to, it’s incredibly responsive and tracks well. People find the seat comfortable, and they really appreciate the quality of the backrest.
Inflated Dimensions: 8.3’ x 2.8’
Weight: 23 lbs
Colour: Gold and gray
Seating Capacity: 1
Weight Capacity: 250 lbs
Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
Very easy to carry single-handedly
Bungee deck lacing on the nose increases storage space
Seat is very well-padded when inflated and has a backrest
Rigid panels on the bow and stern improve tracking, and it’s very responsive
Cons:
All accessories need to be purchased separately
Responsiveness takes some getting used to
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
All in all, the Advanced Elements Lagoon 1 Inflatable Kayak is our favourite of all the single-seaters this year. If you love to enjoy some peace and quiet on the water all by yourself, this is the one you need. It’s easy to carry, fits everybody up to 6’2”, and is the most responsive little kayak money can buy.
The Sea Eagle SE370K_P Inflatable Kayak is one of our all-time favourite inflatable kayaks, so it was an easy choice for our top tandem pick this year. With a weight capacity of 650 pounds, this thing is more than capable of accommodating every adult duo that could want to kayak. It’s roomy enough for a small child or a dog, too. With side ties at the nose and tail, it’s even got plenty of space for your gear.
The hull material is incredibly tough, and it’s one of the things we like most about this boat. Not only does it make the boat safer on the water, but it also lets you bring along every member of your family, even the four-legged ones. We also really like the self-bailing drain valve—it’s safe, and it means you won’t have to get rid of excess water by hand. Win-win.
We’ve got a couple of low points to mention before we wrap this up. First, the carry bag isn’t large enough to fit all of the accessories—only the kayak and the seats. This is a major design flaw, in our opinion. Also, this is a pretty heavy boat, and while that’s great for durability, it is a bit trickier to carry around, especially if you’re heading to a campsite.
Reviewers have a great opinion of the Sea Eagle SE370K_P Inflatable Kayak. It’s large enough to comfortably fit any two adults, and lots of people also bring their dogs and/or small children with them as well. There’s lots of storage space for camping gear, and the entire boat is incredibly durable. It’s easy to steer and very stable even when there are boat wakes to deal with.
Inflated Dimensions: 12.5’ x 2.8’
Weight: 44.2 lbs
Colour: White and blue
Seating Capacity: 2
Weight Capacity: 650 lbs
Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
Extra-tough hull material is pet-safe
Has side ties at the nose and tail for tons of gear storage
Self-bailing drain valve improves safety
Comes with two paddles, two inflatable seats, a foot pump, a repair kit, two removable skegs, and a carry bag
Cons:
Heavier than the average inflatable kayak
Only the kayak and seats fit inside the carry bag
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
All in all, the Sea Eagle SE370K_P Inflatable Kayak is nearly flawless. Aside from a heavier design and a too-small carry bag, this boat is perfect. It’s got tons of room for people, pets, and gear, and it’s one of the most durable inflatables out there.
There are a lot of things we like about the Itiwit KTI 100 3-Seater Inflatable Kayak. The first thing we want you to know about is the 3-keel design. It keeps the boat really steady and helps it glide smoothly through the water—you won’t have to fight it even if you’re all off-balance. The keels are all removable too, just like the seats, and they can all be stored in the included backpack.
We really like the versatility of this inflatable kayak. If you’re a family of two, you can use the 2-seater seat arrangement, but if you’re a family of three, you’ll all still be comfortable with the 3-seater arrangement. Don’t worry about storage space, either. This boat has some bungee cords on the tail to keep your things secure and out of the way while you’re paddling.
There are only two things that we need to warn you about before you jump ahead with a purchase here. First of all, this boat doesn’t come with a pump or a paddle, so you’ll need to budget for those items as well. And it’s just annoying needing to make two purchases. The other thing is the weight capacity—it’s just over 500 pounds, so it won’t be high enough to accommodate every trio of adults.
Reviewers really like the Itiwit KTI 100 3-Seater Inflatable Kayak. They don’t have any problems inflating or deflating it regularly, and the backpack makes it a lot easier to carry than a standard duffel-style bag. It glides smoothly on the water and always feels stable, too. People also love how light it is for a 3-person kayak.
Inflated Dimensions: 12.5’ x 3.5’
Weight: 37.4 lbs
Colour: Orange
Seating Capacity: 3
Weight Capacity: 507 lbs
Warranty: 2 years
Pros:
3-keel design is perfect for smooth gliding
Comes with removable keels, seats, and a backpack-style carry bag
Seat position can be changed to suit two or three people
Has bungee cords on the tail end for extra storage
Cons:
Pump and paddle need to be purchased separately
Weight capacity limited to 500 pounds
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Overall, the Itiwit KTI 100 3-Seater Inflatable Kayak is our top pick of all the 3-seaters you can buy right now. Why? It’s got plenty of room for legs and gear, it won’t put up a fight when you’re trying to inflate or deflate, and it glides so, so smoothly on the water.
The Intex 68305EP Challenger Inflatable Kayak has a lot going for it. It has a covered cockpit that’s roomy enough for (most people’s) legs, and the entire nose is covered by a mesh cargo net so you have room to store all of your belongings securely. If you’ve ever owned a kayak without any net storage, you’ll already know how valuable it is.
We also really like how durable this inflatable kayak is. The ultra-strong PVC material is resistant to impacts and abrasions, so it’ll hold up well to rough waters and rough handling. To make sure you get off to a great start, this boat comes with a paddle, inflatable seat, carry bag, removable skeg, manual air pump, and a repair kit. Pretty great, huh?
We do have a couple of negatives to talk about, too. First, the carry bag that you get with this kayak is just plain awful—the zipper breaks easily, the bag rips easily…it’s just bad. Also, the inflation vent system on this one is not great—you’ll probably have a hard time inflating the seat.
Reviewers have mostly good things to say about the Intex 68305EP Challenger Inflatable Kayak. Most people think it has enough leg space, and it inflates quickly and is easy to paddle around in. Those are the highlights. Their main complaints are the low-quality carry bag (most people had to buy a new one) and the difficulty in deflating the boat.
Inflated Dimensions: 9’ x 1.1’ x 2.6’
Weight: 23.9 lbs
Colour: Green and blue
Seating Capacity: 1
Weight Capacity: 220 lbs
Warranty: 90 days
Pros:
Comes with a paddle, carry bag, manual air pump, removable skeg, repair kit, and inflatable seat
Ultra-strong PVC is high-impact and abrasion-resistant
Cockpit is roomy and has space for legs and gear
Has a mesh cargo net covering the entire nose for extra storage
Cons:
Inflation vent on the seat is difficult to use
Carry bag is of poor quality
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Overall, the Intex 68305EP Challenger Inflatable Kayak is our top pick for budget-friendly solo kayaking. We don’t love the inflation vent layout, but otherwise, the boat is pretty flawless. It’s got a great kit of accessories and is one of the most durable options around.
The Intex Explorer K2 Inflatable Kayak Set is a really great option for couples kayaking. It comes with all the accessories you need to get started right away! That includes two paddles, two inflatable seats (with backrests!), a carry bag, a removable skeg, and a manual air pump. The paddles disassemble into five pieces too—it all fits in the bag!
Our favourite thing about this kayak is how stable it is on the water. Since it has a low-profile deck, high-buoyancy sides, and an I-beam deck floor, this thing is almost impossible to capsize, even if you exceed the weight limit. Which we don’t recommend.
It probably won’t surprise you that a budget-friendly option like this one is going to be a little imperfect. Only one repair patch makes up the ‘repair kit’ (and sometimes you don’t even get that), so you’ll need to be careful when packing up the kayak.
The paddles are also pretty sucky, so you may want to replace them with better-quality ones. Our final thought is the lack of bungee straps/netting—all of your belongings have to go in the boat itself, and there isn’t a ton of room for that if you’re actually making use of the tandem design.
Reviewers have a really good opinion of the Intex Explorer K2 Inflatable Kayak Set. They don’t love the paddles, but everything else about it is a hit. They enjoy how easy it is to inflate with an electric pump, and the seats are really comfortable. It’s easy to fit two people in the kayak even if they’re both tall, and there haven’t been any capsizing incidents. Everyone is really enjoying it.
Inflated Dimensions: 10.25’ x 3’ x 1.6’
Weight: 35 lbs
Colour: Yellow
Seating Capacity: 2
Weight Capacity: 400 lbs
Warranty: 90 days
Pros:
Comes with two seats, two paddles, a removable skeg, a carry bag, and an air pump
Paddles disassemble to fit in the carry bag
Low profile deck, I-beam floor, and high-buoyancy sides keep the kayak very stable on water
Inflatable seats have backrests and are very comfy
Cons:
Only one repair patch is included
No bungee straps or net for storage
Paddles are low-quality
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4/5
All in all, the Intex Explorer K2 Inflatable Kayak Set is a really great choice for tandem kayaking. It doesn’t have the highest-quality accessories, but the kayak itself is durable, stable, and moves well on the water. You can’t get much better at this price point.
Inflatable kayaks can range in price from just over $100 to well over $500. Generally, the more expensive models will be larger (higher seating capacity), have a higher weight capacity, and will be durable over time.
Inflatable kayaks can seat one, two, or three people at a time. Of course, the more seats there are, the larger the boat will be, but the pricing will be fairly consistent no matter how many people it can hold. Just keep in mind that the more seats it has, the longer you’ll need to inflate and deflate. And there won’t be as much legroom in the two and three-seat options.
The weight capacity of an inflatable kayak is very important to pay attention to, especially when you’re looking at two or three-seaters. Some three-seaters are limited to 500 pounds, and that won’t always be enough for three average-sized adults and gear. For safety reasons, make sure you choose a boat that can easily hold your weight, plus a little extra.
Most inflatable kayaks will come with all of the accessories you need (things like paddles, carry bags, repair kits, pumps, etc.). However, this will not always be the case. Some kayaks may be missing one or two accessories, and some might not come with any at all. Since every item is necessary, we recommend looking for a boat that has them all.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.