Top Five: Whitewater Inflatable Kayak

Inflatable kayaks promise to be a cheap alternative to traditional kayaks and most proclaim to be as good as hard sided kayaks. However, there are still people that question whether it is true or not. They want to know if an inflatable can truly handle bouncing off rocks in a white-water situation. The answer is, “yes”. Many inflatables are able to handle white-watering. Here is a list of our pick for top five whitewater inflatable kayak.

Jump To Available => Whitewater Inflatable Kayaks

What Makes an Inflatable Kayak Whitewater Worthy?

“Are inflatable kayaks any good?” is a question that is asked often. It is what drives potential buyers to spend hours searching the internet for facts and reviews for inflatable kayaks. Instead of spending all of your time searching through tons of information, why not start with looking for whitewater kayaks and what makes them ideal for white-watering? By doing so, you are weeding out the kayaks that cannot handle more than a pond. One important feature of an inflatable whitewater kayak is going to be self-bailing. If you have the self-bailing feature, you could handle class IV white-waters with a little skill. Without the self-bailing feature, you should look for durable material, a tough tarpaulin bottom, and multiple air chambers.

How Are They Different from Hard-Sided Kayaks?

A whitewater inflatable kayak is a lot different from a hard-sided kayak. They typically have higher sides and they are often wider than standard kayaks. This makes them more stable than other types of kayaks. However, hard kayaks are better at tracking than inflatables, even if the inflatable has a tracker on them. If you are curious about whether they can handle white waters as well as hard-sided kayaks, you have only to look at what others use their inflatables for and see what they say. Most people feel they are just as good, if not better than hard sided kayaks. They don’t puncture easily, can provide you with a more stable kayaking experience, and maneuver easily. For more proof of why an inflatable may be best for you, you should take a look at our choice for top inflatable kayaks.

Advanced Elements Attack

This whitewater kayak is self-bailing and has a 12” bow. The hull is PV Tarpaulin and there are independent PVC bladders. The large 35” width increases stability and it has a covered cargo bay for storing dry items. Current Attack Pricing here⇒

• Self-Bailing
• Tarpaulin Hull
• 5-Star
• Price $$
• 1yr limited warranty
• weight 34 lbs
• Max weight 225lbs

Tributary Tomcat Solo Inflatable Kayak

Using 30 ounce 500 denier outer PVC tubes and a slightly stronger floor, this inflatable is perfect for all types of kayaking. There are also inner bladders that have zipper access and topstitched seams throughout. It has a mesh drainage system. With your purchase, you get a one-year warranty and a repair kit. Current Tomcat Solo Pricing here⇒

• PVC
• Warranty 1-yr
• Mesh Drainage System
• Price $$
• 40 pounds
• 325 max weight

AIRE Tributary Tomcat Tandem

If you prefer to kayak with a friend, you will enjoy this kayak. It has two adjustable, hi-backed seats for comfort. It is self-bailing and has 3 air chambers. It comes with a 1-year warranty and repair kit to help you protect your investment. Current AIRE Pricing here⇒

• Tandem kayak
• Self-Bailing
• Warranty 1-yr
• PVC
• Price $$$
• 42 pounds

Outlaw II IK

This inflatable uses PVC-coated polyester along with a drop-stitch floor insert to ensure it is durable. It is a tandem kayak that has the self-bailing feature. There are also bow and stern handles to make it easy to carry. It comes with a 3-year warranty and a repair kit. Current Outlaw II IK Pricing here⇒

• Tandem
• PVC Coated
• 3-yr warranty
• Self-bailing
• Price $$$
• 34lbs
• 200+ pounds max

Sevylor Big Basin 3-Person Kayak

This 3-person kayak is rugged and durable. It is made with PVC and Tarpaulin. It has multiple air chambers and will never leak. The seats are adjustable and there are spray covers included. Current Big Basin Pricing here⇒

• PVC and Tarpaulin
• 3 person
• Price $
• 1 year limited warranty
• Max weight 490 pounds
• 34.8 pounds