Today's category is portable kayaks. These are the 5 inflatable kayaks and portable kayaks that not only made a great impression on me, but demonstrated their ability to deliver a quality experience for lots of different paddlers.
Now that summer has come to a close, it's time to reflect back on a season of bomber paddling trips. This time of year I like to give props to the best of the best kayaks that I personally got to test. And though there are many other models that get accolades online, or catch my eye in stores, I think it's only fair to speak to what I have personally tried out.
Best All-Around Portable Kayak 2022
Sea Eagle 385ft is Best All-Around Portable Kayak for 2022
Price: $999 – 1,499 USD (Depending on the package)
Length: 12′ 6″
Width: 36″
Weight: 35 LBS (16 KG)
Capacity: 635 LBS (288 KG)
Primary Use: Rivers, Lakes, and Oceans
Why is the Sea Eagle 385ft Fast Track the best portable kayak for 2022?
The Sea Eagle 385ft Fast Track gets my vote for the best all-around inflatable kayak. Its versatile design makes it well-equipped for flatwater paddling, but it can also confidently handle rougher waters, such as Class 1 and 2 whitewater, and open water settings with decent-sized waves and wind chop.
Tandem or solo
It can be paddled just as effectively solo or tandem, and with its weight capacity, all sizes of paddlers can have fun in this thing – particularly if they slightly favor stability over speed. But even with that caveat, one of the stand-out attributes of the 385ft is how efficiently it cuts through the water, especially for inflatable kayaks.
Drop stitch design
It achieves this performance benefit through a combination of a drop-stitch, inflatable keel that forms a V-bow, a hard shell nose piece, and a removable skeg that further helps it track.
The final thing that adds to its overall applicability is the value. There are different packages to choose from, depending on your budget, and the base offering comes with everything you need to get paddling: a paddle, seat, carry bag, repair kit, and a pump (just no lifejacket).
Best “Gateway” Kayak 2022
TuckTec Folding Kayak is Best Gateway Kayak for 2022
Price: $499 USD (Though it regularly sells for $375)
Length: 10′
Width: 30″
Weight: 28 LBS (13 KG)
Capacity: 300 LBS (136 KG)
Primary Use: Protected Water
What is a gateway kayak?
I consider the TuckTec a “gateway” kayak because it can be easily stored and transported, is easy to assemble, paddles reasonably well, has great durability, and comes with a 3-year warranty — all of this will likely inspire new paddlers to keep progressing.
Affordable and fun
In my experience, the TuckTec Folding Kayak offers the best overall value for beginners. The reason I say this is because it not only sells for an incredibly affordable price (often found online for $375 USD), but it also delivers a great paddling experience.
The danger of some inexpensive kayaks is that they aren't fun to paddle. And if someone's early experiences on the water aren't enjoyable, that might stop them from sticking with the sport.
Thankfully, the TuckTec ensures a quality first foray, without breaking the bank. A couple caveats worth mentioning: 1) Though the capacity is listed as 300 pounds, I think it's best used by paddlers weighing 220 pounds or less, and 2) I'd keep sessions short and sweet with the TuckTec (around 1 – 3 hours).
Check out the folding kayak review
Best Performing Portable Kayak 2022
Pakayak Bluefin 142 is Best Performing Portable Kayak for 2022
Price: $1,995 USD
Length: 14′ 2″
Width: 24″
Weight: 59 LBS (27 KG)
Capacity: 300 LBS (136 KG)
Primary Use: Touring
Why is the Pakayak the Best Performing Portable Kayak?
Because inflatable kayaks prioritize portability, and because they are typically a softer, less-streamlined design, performance usually lags in comparison to hard-shell kayaks. The Pakayak Bluefin 142 is a welcomed exception to this rule because it is a hard-shell kayak that comes in packable parts.
Performance and Portability
It will therefore appeal to the inflatable kayak market, while also having touring-level paddling capabilities (and the necessary storage to do so, which inflatables also tend to lack). Though this is an impressive balance between both worlds, the Bluefin 142 is on the pricier side ($1,995), and it sacrifices some comfort and speed (relative to a classic hard-shell), in order to achieve portability.
Nonetheless, this is a performance-driven and packable paddling machine, especially for people who are cool with giving up a smidge of stability in favor of improved efficiency.
Check out the best portable kayak review
Most Versatile Paddle Craft 2022
Isle Switch Inflatable SUP/Kayak is Most Versatile Paddle Craft for 2022
Price: $995 USD
Length: 11′ 6″
Width: 35″
Weight: 19 LBS (8.5 KG)
Capacity: 425 LBS (193 KG)
Primary Use: Rivers, Lakes, and Oceans
SUP/Kayak Hybrids are Versatile
In terms of paddling performance, I was pleasantly surprised by the Isle Switch. Because it has that wide, stable platform, and a flat hull, I wasn't expecting much in terms of speed. Now, the Switch still isn't for winning races, but it had a bit of zip to it, and with the help of that large, removable fin, it tracked quite well. But the thing that really put a smile on my face (and my family's) was how ridiculously versatile this thing was.
Versatility as a SUP, kayak, solo and tandem
It can be used as a stand-up paddleboard, a solo kayak, a tandem kayak, heck, we even had my wife, my daughter, and myself all on there at once! You can change the configurations of the seats on the fly so that you can be facing forward one moment, enjoying the view, and then turned towards each other, having a conversation, the next.
You can switch things up however you like, and that is the magic of the Isle Switch. Oh and did I mention how light this thing is? At only 19 pounds, this rig is a dream to move around.
Check out the SUP and kayak hybrid review
Those are the top dogs for me this year. But before I go, I have to give two honorable mentions to a couple crafts that are still well-worth looking into.
Honorable Mention #1: AquaGlide Chelan 120 Kayak
The Chelan 120 is light, easy to get around, and fun to paddle. If you're looking for a solo kayak that is exceptionally portable, this may be your boat.
Honorable Mention #2: Decathlon Itiwit Kayak
The Itiwit is another great beginner's kayak. It regularly sells for under $300 (USD) and it's good for one, two, or even three people. This makes the Itiwit an affordable boat for the family, or for having a fun afternoon with some friends.
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I can hear the “wrap it up” music playing in my mind, so that brings us to the end of the portable kayak awards. If you want to learn more about any or all of these boats, be sure to check out my comprehensive reviews for each. And for more gear reviews of all kinds, tips to help make you a better paddler, and everything else that has to do with having a good time on the water, subscribe to our newsletter.
