Not only have I been looking forward to trying out the AquaGlide Chelan 120 inflatable kayak, but a lot of you have been asking for it in the comments sections of my other reviews. It's not everyday that you find a portable kayak that also has all-day performance – hence the shared intrigued amongst us. But as we all know, it's easy to make bold claims. The question is, do they hold any water? Or rather, does the Chelan 120 hold its own on the water? That's what we're going to unpack today.
ABOUT THE AQUAGLIDE CHELAN 120
PRICE: $1,100 USD
LENGTH: 11′ 3″
WIDTH: 32.5″
WEIGHT: 28 LBS (13 KG)
CAPACITY: 300 LBS (136 KG)
BEST USE: Touring
The Chelan 120 has 3 air compartments, 2 side compartments, and a floor. The side compartments are made of Duratex. The side compartments inflate to 3-psi. The floor has drop-stitch construction. The floor inflates to 6-psi. There are 4 carry handles, 1 on each end, and 1 on each side. The seat is also inflatable and has a high backrest. In addition, there's an adjustable footrest, lots of loops throughout the kayak to tie things down, deck bungees on both the stern and bow, splash deflectors for both the stern and bow, a Scotty Mount for accessories, a removable skeg/fin, and 4 sealable scuppers to drain water that gets in the cockpit.
How portable is the AquaGlide Chelan 120 kayak?
Top marks for portability! Being that the Chelan 120 is an inflatable kayak, it comes as no surprise that it's a breeze to move around. But it's not just the fact that it packs down into a generous equipment bag, it's that the Chelan 120 is light. Most inflatables are in the 35 to 45 pound range, whereas the Chelan 120 weighs in at only 28 pounds. By my assessment, most of the weight savings comes from AquaGlide using those Duratex side compartments, and drop-stitch flooring, which eliminates the need for an internal bladder.
Is the Chelan 120 kayak easy to pack?
I was happy to see that the carry bag AquaGlide gives you has extra volume built in. One of the common challenges with inflatable kayaks or SUPs is that they're so dang hard to pack back in at the end of the day. You just can't match the original factory-pressed condition with your bare hands. So it was a relief to see this bag had a nice buffer.
Is the AquaGlide Chelan 120 kayak stable?
At 32.5 inches wide, with good-size side tubes (say that 5 times fast!), the Chelan 120 is a very stable kayak. Sitting flat, I felt no wobbliness whatsoever. However, one thing to note is that the inflatable seat cushion does elevate you and the overall center of gravity. I could see a situation where if some waves or a strong gust came along, the paddler might topple out even though the kayak itself may not flip. Since the Chelan 120 is specifically designed for flatwater, I'm still going to give it top marks, once again, in this category.
Is the Chelan 120 kayak comfortable?
Very much so. One of the best indicators when I'm doing these paddle tests is noticing how the time passes. Sometimes, after less than an hour, I'm aching to wrap things up. Other times, I easily paddle for 2+ hours and have to stop myself so that we can film my breakdown while the light is still good.
The Chelan 120 took me into the second category. I covered lots of ground for this review and my butt was still feeling gooooood. Comfort is typically one of those things that gets sacrificed. In order to make inflatable kayaks more portable, you lose comfort. So it was a real treat to experience the soft, yet supportive seat in this boat. Just note, you'll want a high-back life-jacket to line up with the high-back seat.
What is the capacity of the Chelan 120 kayak?
In terms of height, I would say that the upper limit is about 6-foot-4. I'm 6-foot-2, with something like a 34-inch inseam, and was nearing the length limit. My feet were pressed up against the front splash guard. I could have also moved the seat back a bit to free up some length.
You just wouldn't want to push it too far, or that will make the kayak a little stern-heavy. This would take away from the paddling performance. Weight wise, AquaGlide lists a capacity of 300 pounds. I don't think someone who's close to the upper limit would feel particularly confident and comfortable because you sit relatively high in this boat. I'd suggest that anyone north of about 230 pounds scout out some higher-capacity options.
How does the Chelan 120 kayak perform?
Is the Chelan 120 kayak a touring kayak? This is slightly misleading question since its lack of stowage capacity doesn't make it suited for long-haul trips. I see why some might consider it a “touring kayak” without the storage capacity.
This boat is 11-feet, 3-inches long, tracks quite well with the help of that removable skeg. For an inflatable kayak with such a flat hull, it moves along nicely. It's not the most efficient boat in the world, but that comes with the territory. For the type of kayak this is, it performs relatively well. I accept AquaGlide's touring kayak designation!
Is the Chelan 120 kayak maneuverable?
Oh yes! I was able to spin a full 360 with just two strokes. This kayak is highly maneuverable.
What are the features of the Chelan 120 kayak?
I like that both the bow and stern have deck bungees. These are the only spots to store gear. You'd be hard pressed to pull off an overnighter, but these areas do allow for a couple of dry bags. I also appreciated all the loops and tie-down-points within the kayak. This makes it easy to secure your gear and maybe do some accessorizing.
I was a little mixed on the pockets. The pockets on the seat were really cool, but I don't think I will get much use out of the side ones. I was also a little iffy on the scuppers. Because of where the floor sits relative to the waterline, these valves actually pull water into the boat if left open. If the kayak took on a big rush of water, opening the scuppers would drain most of it out, but you'd still be left with a little bit on the floor. So they're good in the event that the boat swamps, but you'd want to leave them closed while paddling.
And lastly, in the so-so department, I wasn't sure how effective the cockpit splash guard was. I went for a spin in some Class 1 water, but nothing really hit the front of the kayak that needed deflecting. And in my case, the back guard was missing from the package. I am certain that this is something AquaGlide would quickly correct if notified, but for now, I can't speak to its effectiveness either.
Is the Chelan 120 kayak worth it?
Though there are many inflatable kayaks out there that ring it far below the $1,100 (USD) price tag of the AquaGlide Chelan 120, you tend to get what you pay for. The Chelan 120 is a kayak that you can grow in as a paddler. A lot of cheap models really only act as a litmus test for newbies.
If they decide that they like it, then usually that first purchase has to be tossed aside and a “real” kayak is needed to get into more serious paddling. But with the Chelan 120 you can log long, quality days on the water. And for that, it is certainly worth the investment.
If you've been following along with some of my other high-end inflatable kayak reviews (like this inflatable kayak review, and this one), you'll notice that the AquaGlide Chelan 120 is priced similarly, but slightly higher. It's worth noting that this is the lightest of the three, and that's part of where the premium price comes from. What isn't included in this package is a paddle or a pump, and so that will have to be factored into the equation too.
Who is the AquaGlide Chelan 120 kayak for?
This is a flatwater kayak. As I tested for myself, it can handle a bit of chop/some Class 1 water, but generally, you'll want to stick to calm, sheltered areas. But if conditions are good, the Chelan 120 is great for covering long distances. Other than that, extra-large paddlers will probably be more comfortable in something else, but the Chelan 120 does have good range, and was certainly comfortable for my 6-foot-2, 200 pound frame.
So those are my thoughts on the AquaGlide Chelan 120 inflatable kayak! I'm glad I finally got to test it out. I'm a fan of this boat and I hope you all took some valuable feedback from this review. Make sure to share your thoughts with the PaddleTV/In4Adventure communities as it helps to spread real-world word (another tongue-twister) about these boats. And of course, for more gear reviews, paddling how-tos, and exciting new adventures, follow along with PaddleTV.
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