Maybe a lot of you can relate to having memories of going to the beach or lake and buying an inflatable toy in the shape of an orca or a dolphin and having some fun splashing around! The problem came whenever any of them got a puncture and then all of the fun went away.
Those memories at least on a personal level come from the mid-nineties. Things have changed a lot since then. However, we don’t blame anybody who still fears the dreaded punctures and stays away from inflatables. Heck, we typically advise to stay away from these types of products. Sometimes though we can’t ignore some of the true benefits that inflatables bring, like easy storage and transport! Of course, that is not the only benefits you get.
Today we are going to be looking at the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak. An inflatable option for your kayaking needs!
source: amazon.com
About The Product
The kayak's dimensions are 30-by-15-by-108 inches (W x H x D), with 27.2-pound weight and 220-pound maximum capacity. You don’t necessarily need to pump it up to maximum capacity. It really depends on where you are going to use it and what you like essentially. For an inflatable product, the cargo net is pretty decent.
You can hold multiple things on there without the fear of them falling out. Especially if you are going to use it in calm rivers or lakes. It also comes with a paddle and pump so you really don’t need anything, but what comes in the box, to be able to go out and have some fun. In case you have any trouble with punctures, it does come with a patch to cover any minor problems quickly.
Making this a more durable kayak than most other inflatables out there. Another advantage is that it is very easy to inflate. So you won’t have to worry about spending hours trying to just get it pumped up. Allowing you to spend more time having fun rather than setting up.
A Quick Summary
What We Like
A lot of times when it comes to water sports there is a lot of time spent on preparing everything and getting everything set up. Especially when you live an urban area and have to travel somewhere to be able to get to the water. Sometimes it is a lot like getting on a ride at a packed theme park. You have to wait a long while for just a tiny bit of fun! In this case, it’s totally the opposite.
You can take it straight out of the box pump it up and get in the water. The easy inflating and deflating features make it a very practical asset for any avid water sports fan. This allows the K1 Challenger to be a great starting spot for people who want to go ahead and get into kayaking. Even though punctures are and always will be an issue with inflatable products in this particular case you will get a product you can tell at first sight that it is decently manufactured.
source: amazon.com
The resistant vinyl allows for relatively heavy-duty use. As long as you take good care of your kayak, you should have a durable product. I think it is a great way to take a calculated risk if you want to get into kayaking. You will only be spending around 50+ dollars on these products instead of over 400. So it is a great way to test out whether kayaking is to your liking or not! The paddle is very well made for a product in this price range. Which is also a definite positive asset in our book!
What We Do Not Like
The seat was not the best feature that this kayak had to offer. This makes the cockpit not that accessible especially when wet. We know that making every aspect of this kayak inflatable is best for maneuverability and keeping its easy storage capabilities. However, it doesn’t make for the most comfortable or practical feature.
Although it has some decent features when it comes to incorporating anti-puncture materials we have read certain reviews online that claimed this, not 100% true and this kayak will develop holes over-time. That fact alone should be enough to warrant the raising of red flags on this product. Not surprising though as it was something we predicted.
So we can’t put too much of a knock on them for that. Overall the reviews online and the results we had out in the water throw out very positive feedback. So like we said at this price range, we really can’t get too picky.
Where To Buy
Some people online complained that their Intex Challenger K1 Kayak came with pieces missing. Specifically speaking they claimed that the product they received lacked the seat and the paddle. We have a vast experience with online shopping and we can acknowledge that there are no guarantees that you will receive exactly what you ask for 100% of the time.
Regardless of who the manufacturer or how the shipping process is handled there might be some mistakes. We say this because there was one particular person complaining that he received an incomplete product, but only realized this once the warranty ran out because he had not yet used it.
Even if you buy, this at a winter sale try to at least take it out of the box before the warranty runs out! If you are even more of a skeptic try and test it in a pool or something first. Other than that, read the warranty guidelines and make sure to buy only from verified sellers!
source: amazon.com
Conclusion
This is a great product to start getting used to being out in the water. If you are an avid kayaker, you might want to get your kids started in one of these! It works as advertised if you want it to be a durable product though you are going to have to take good care of it! We would give this product a 4-star grade!
Our Rating
