The Intex Explorer K2 inflatable kayak is one of the cheapest kayaks around. It has received over 28,000 positive reviews on Amazon. People really like it! But cheap doesn’t always mean good. So let’s see how the Intex Explorer K2 actually fares in an in-depth, unbiased review.
Intex Explorer K2 Specifications
Price: $150 (USD)
Length: 10’ 3”
Width: 36”
Weight: 37 LBS (16 KG)
Capacity: 400 LBS (181 KG)
Best Use: Calm water
The Intex Explorer K2 comes with:
- Two paddles
- Two seats
- A pump
- A repair patch
- A bag
A Gateway Kayak
The Intex Explorer K2 has a whopping 28,000 positive reviews on Amazon and an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. That is a surprisingly good rating for this kayak.
It is probably rated so highly because this is a gateway kayak. It is a very affordable kayak and comes with everything you need to get on the water. So it is the perfect way to test the waters. It lets people try out and see if they enjoy being on the water before spending on a more expensive kayak.
But people’s expectations are low for a kayak this cheap. They often want it just to float on the water at the beach or on the lake. It is not quite as simple as a pool toy, but more like a beach toy. And it does its job as a beach toy. It puts smiles on people’s faces and gets them out on the water. But, as a kayak, it stinks!
When I say this, I’m not saying you shouldn’t love the kayak for its purpose. However, in this review, I am comparing it as a kayak and comparing it to other available kayaks, ones of a comparable price and more expensive ones. So let’s get started.
Portability
Every element of the Intex Explorer K2, including paddles, can fold down and fit easily into its carry bag. It is a highly portable kayak and comes in one of the smallest packages you can buy. So it gets high marks for portability.
The Intex Explorer K2 is easy to inflate. It has five main chambers: a floor, two side tubes, and two end skirts. There are also two seats. It is quick and easy to put together but does feel very soft.
Stability
The Intex Explorer K2 is a very stable kayak. You can feel very confident in this kayak. Stability is probably one of the main selling points of this kayak. So it gets high marks for its stability.
Comfort
The Explorer K2 is an incredibly soft kayak, which makes it hard not to feel comfortable. There is space to sit cross-legged or in any comfortable position. So in that sense, it is comfortable.
The seat, however, is soft but has no actual support. When you lean on it, it just collapses on itself. That means you cannot lean back because there is no back support.
Because the Intex Explorer K2 is so soft, the boat sags in the middle where my weight is. When my butt sinks, my feet end up higher than my butt, which is an incredibly uncomfortable position. The most comfortable kayaks are the exact opposite and have raised seats.
The other comfort issue is that there is a quarter-inch seam that sticks up on the side of the kayak. Whenever you take a stroke your thumb hits the seam. This is incredibly annoying and is not something I have ever encountered in another kayak.
So the Intex Explorer K2 is not a comfortable kayak to paddle because you end up having to sit in a crunched position, with legs raised and no back support. It is more useful as a lounge boat, where you kick back and relax rather than actually paddle.
Performance
The Intex Explorer K2 is so soft that it acts like an amoeba in the water, which kills all your speed. As a rule, the stiffer and closer to a hard shell your kayak is, the better it cuts through the water.
The Intex Explorer K2 does not cut through the water. There is no V in the bow so it moves aggressively from side to side. This means that you lose so much of the power from your forward stroke to the boat flopping around. The removable fin helps it go straight to some extent, but this is still by far the slowest kayak that I have ever paddled.
So it gets low marks for performance. On the flip side, it is a very maneuverable kayak. You can almost do a 360-degree turn with one stroke. This is kind of cool but doesn’t help you move anywhere!
Value
I have already touched on this earlier, but $150 (USD) for the entire Intex Explorer K2 package is as cheap as it gets. It is amazing value for what you get. But you do have to understand the limitations of what you are getting.
The Intex Explorer K2 is not a kayak that is designed for paddling and going on kayaking trips. But it is great fun for having an on-the-water experience and getting a taste of whether kayaking is for you. If it is, you are very quickly going to want to upgrade your kayak.
If you don’t want to spend the money then do not try a better, higher-performing kayak. Once you have tried a kayak with a few extra features and a better hull shape you will really notice the difference.
For me, the paddle that comes with the Intex Explorer K2 is very representative of what the kayak is. The paddle is aluminum and very bendable and flexible. When you pull on the blade in the water you lose power because the blade literally folds in half. This shows you the quality of this kayak. It is made for you to be on the water and not to paddle.
Who is The Intex Explorer K2 For?
Very simply, this kayak is for people who are looking to test the water with kayaking. Are they comfortable going out on the water? Do they like the feeling of being on the water? Does paddling hurt their shoulders? It is an incredibly cheap way to test out whether kayaking is something they want to continue doing.
It is also for people who only want to get out on the water and float. They might want to enjoy an evening, or an hour or two, splash around with friends and family.
It is sold as a K2, but the capacity on the website and the side of the kayak say different things. On the side of the kayak itself, it says that the capacity for two people is 330 LBS, and with gear, it is 400 LBS. This means it only really has the capacity for two small adults or an adult and child. Size and capacity wise it is more of an adult and child kayak or a single kayak.
So all in all I love, but also kind of hate the Intex Explorer K2!
Kayak: Intex Explorer K2
PFD: NRS Odyssey PFD (Touring and Rec)
Clothing: NRS Short Sleeved Guide Shirt
Sunglasses: Wiley X
