Intex Challenger Kayak, Man Inflatable Canoe with Aluminum Oars and Hand Pump

Product Information

The skeg is definitely a must-have for the kayak because it improved the performance on the water a lot. The boat itself consists of a bottom and side chamber, which are inflated via Boston valves with the supplied air pump. The Challenger weighs in at 33 pounds 3 ounces total, making it one of the lightest tandem boats we tested. We even had two small punctures in the bottom chamber of one model on the first day, even though we hadn’t even paddled yet (most likely caused by stones when setting up on the shore).

We struggled to keep it in a straight line on the calmest of water, and it’s not suitable for rough conditions as it takes a lot of effort to paddle when there are waves pushing against you. Get Out With The Kids is packed full of ideas and useful info for enjoying outdoor activities with your kids. However, it’s not hugely supportive, unlike a fibreglass kayak seat, so it might start hurting your back if you’re going out for several hours. There are also frequent questions about the differences between the Intex Challenger K2 and the Intex Explorer K2.As always the styling has to be important and Intex’s use of color certainly helps this inflatable kayak stand out from the crowd. If you're ready for a bigger investment that comes with serious paddling prowess, the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible Tandem is our favorite inflatable two-person kayak. I go kayaking with my dad who has a fibreglass kayak and can keep up with no problems in terms of speed and moving around, but all kayaks are different in terms of what they’re designed to do.

But if you're just looking for something for a weekend or a season, this still might be in your wheelhouse — just don't expect anything miraculous from it. They are made of thick inflatable material (thicker than a beach lilo for example), but less thick than some other inflatable kayaks on the market – but as I say, no problems as of yet. Like the other models, the Challenger K2 features a fully-inflatable construction, detachable skeg that slides into place, and inflatable seats that are actually very comfortable. The seats are inflatable and attach via velcro and buckles, allowing you to find a more comfortable position specific to your needs. Intex kayaks look great and professional regarding design but at a closer look you notice big difference with inflatable kayaks from other manufacturers that cost much more.Great for experiencing lakes and mild rivers solo, this Sports Series kayak is perfect for one adult. Great for experiencing lakes and mild rivers solo, this Sports Series kayak is perfect for two adults. It survived having a very small, mellow dog riding on the bow, but we're not confident it would have done so well with a more excitable canine. Definitely recommend it to all who wish to have not only a bit of family fun in the water, but also last minute solo adventures down the river.

A directional skeg noticeably improves the directional stability of an inflatable kayak, as inflatable kayaks tend to float on the water rather than in the water compared to rigid hull and folding kayaks. So I fold it and put it in my trunk so no worries about installing a kayak on top of my car like I would have to do with a non inflatable! Inflating them was not only a little tedious, but also a bit fiddly, as the air always escaped quickly before the valve was closed.But we missed having our own boats so we could take them traveling, stop paying so much on rentals, and head to the water whenever it beckoned. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. The person in the back needs several powerful paddle strokes to move the kayak in the desired direction.

Set up takes all of five minutes, while breakdown takes about ten minutes to clean any sand and squeeze out all of the air – the latter task is greatly sped by the include proprietary valve for rapid deflation. The Intex Challenger K2 Kayak is sporty and fun with a streamlined 2 seater design for easy paddling. The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. What’s even crazier is that this week marks exactly 6 years since I first bought my two Intex Challenger K1 kayaks*, and I’m very happy to say that they’ve lasted really well and I’m excited to continue using them this summer.

A bag or backpack and shoes can be stowed underneath it without taking up additional space in the boat or getting in the way. Once the air is completely out, the boat and all its accessories will fit without any problems into the carrying bag. The material seems thick and sturdy, which means it shouldn’t tear or puncture anytime soon and should stand up to a fair amount of wear and tear. It’s a no-brainer, especially if you’re a beginner kayaker – but I’ll talk more about that in a second.