What are Inflatable Kayaks?

Inflatable kayaks are multi-layered PVC or Hypalon boats with air channels to help you stay a float on the water. They are very similar in design to hard shell kayaks from with all of the same features and functionality. The only difference is they are inflatable and able to be packed to and from the water with ease. Inflatable kayaks have the same performance abilities as traditional hard shell kayaks at a fraction of the total weight.

In an inflatable kayak, you can get to and from the water without the hassle of boat storage or roof racks. All you need to do is pull up, roll out your kayak, pump it up and get on the water for a day of fun.

Best Inflatable Kayak Brands

Intex Inflatable Kayaks

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Driftsun Inflatable Kayaks

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Sea Eagle Inflatable Kayaks

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1 Person Inflatable Kayak

One person Inflatable Kayaks are a great budget friendly way to get out and explore. If you are just looking to get into kayaking this is our favorite option. They will teach you everything you need to know from paddling techniques to kayak safety. Single person Kayaks are easy to maneuver in the water and give you the freedom to go anywhere your mind desires. Most 1 person inflatable kayaks will range in price from $150 – $500 depending on brand and quality of materials. You will want to look for a package style kayak to help get you started with everything you need.  

If you are more of an expert you may be looking for an adventure style inflatable kayak. These are usually more expensive and built to last. If you are looking for one of these style kayaks make sure you look at the quality of materials and warranty of the kayak. These adventure style inflatable kayaks will cost you upwards of $1000 so be ready to pay.

2 Person Inflatable Kayak

Two person inflatable kayaks or often referred to as tandem kayaks are the most popular. Tandem Kayaks are stable and usually quick with two people paddling. In the case where you are a single rider they offer extra storage for your gear or even your fur babies. For the most part they are affordable ranging from $200 to $500 depending on brand and accessories. Storing and transporting your two person kayak is extremely easy as they deflate down to a size any person should be able to carry to and from the water. 

When looking for the best two person kayak there are a few things to be watching for. A quality inflatable kayak for 2 people will be portable, easy to set up and handle well on the water. They will also be made out of Hypalon which is a strong rubber synthetic style material designed for kayaks and paddleboards. PVC is another option, but they struggles when exposed to sunlight and chemicals. 

3 Person Inflatable Kayak

Three person Inflatable kayaks are not as popular at single or double kayaks, but for those people who want to take their furry friend or even carry extra gear they can be a great option. When looking for a 3 person inflatable kayak there are a few things you want to keep in mind such as carry weight, stability and quality of materials.  The 2 big one for us are the carry weight and stability of the kayak. The more weight you add to the kayak the lower it sits in the water creating an opportunity for capsizing. Make sure you check the max load of the inflatable kayak before you make a purchase. Most of the 3 person kayaks we see will hold 2 adults and a small child, pet or extra gear. Stability is the other item to pay attention two.  With a 3 person inflatable kayak you add additional length to the kayak and in most cases the manufacture dose not and any addition width to help with stability. Always pay attention to length and width of a 3 person kayak to make sure you are getting the best option for you. 

Types of Inflatable Kayaks

We categorized inflatable kayaks in to four different categories by usage rate/purpose, materials and price. Even with all of the tech advancements for inflatable kayaks one thing is always true, better kayaks will always cost more money. Below are the three different types of inflatable Kayaks.

Limited Use Inflatable Kayaks

• Single Layer of Vinyl Material Construction
• Great for light recreational paddling
• Cheapest inflatable kayak option ranging between $80 and $250

The first type of kayak is Limited Use inflatable kayaks. They are the best way to learn kayaking they are usually cheap and a great entry level choice. The best news is there are hundreds of options to chose from. Often times these are made from cheaper materials so don’t expect them to be the best or last for years and years. You get what you pay for.

Limited use Inflatable kayaks are usually light weight and easy to store and carry to and from the water. This makes them a great option for kids as well. They are fun for trips to community ponds and floating the river, but always know the quality of your gear and never push it past its limits. After you have gotten your feet wet with a limited use inflatable kayak it is time to grow into the next category. 

Below are a few of our recommendations for entry level limited use inflatable kayaks. 

Hobby Inflatable Kayaks

• Made from single layer vinyl material wrapped in fabric
• Suitable for heavy recreational use
• Mid-range inflatable kayak option ranging between $300 and $700

The second type of kayaks are Hobby Inflatable Kayaks. These are the mid category for quality and price. These inflatable kayaks are designed to help the kayaker push the limits. They are built to last and the quality is a large jump over entry level kayaks. Most of the time they are made from a single layer vinyl material that will stand up to rocks and offers a lot of durability against sun damage. Below are a few of our recommendations for hobby inflatable Kayaks. 

Adventure Inflatable Kayaks

• Made from thick PVC or Hypalon
• Can handle any adventure
• High-end inflatable kayak option costing $800 or more

The third type of kayaks are Adventure Inflatable Kayaks. These are built to last and by far the most superior in durability, performance, and design. The materials used are similar to life-saving boats, so you know that these inflatable kayaks will keep up with any adventure you throw at it. Adventure inflatable kayaks are a great option for the person who has a lot of experience and spend all of their free time out on the water. These are for the die hard kayakers who don’t mind spending over $1000 on an inflatable kayak.  

Below are a few of our recommendations for adventure inflatable Kayaks. 

Fishing Inflatable Kayaks

• Made from thick PVC or Hypalon
• Can handle any adventure
• High-end inflatable fishing kayak option costing $1000 or more

The forth type of kayaks are Inflatable Kayaks. These are categorized based on their unique ability to fish from. Now you can fish from any inflatable kayak, but these are the kayaks with one purpose… to catch more fish. Inflatable Kayaks for fishing are build tough and will usually be between $500 and $1000. The quality and features of fishing kayaks goes up with they price. It is important to look for a fishing kayak with lots of storage for your gear and built to be stable. Having a stable inflatable kayak for fishing is very important due to the random sudden movements trying to catch fish. Below are a few of our recommendations for inflatable fishing Kayaks.   

50 Most Popular Inflatable Kayaks

Below is a list of the 50 most popular inflatable kayaks on Online Outdoor Outlet. We offer single, double and triple rider inflatable kayaks at the best prices. 

Are Inflatable Kayaks Safe?

One of the last things we want to talk about is inflatable kayak safety. We get asked all the time and honestly the answer is yes. Inflatable kayaks are safe if you maintain them and use them with the right amount of caution. Even though they are built much better and use better materials they are not indestructible. You need to use caution while paddling to stay clear of anything that my pop you kayak. Most inflatable kayaks are not built for rough water like rapids or big waves. You will need to read your owners guide book and follow their instructions to stay safe. If you do all of this there should be no problem with safety in you new inflatable kayak.   

Final Thoughts on the Best Inflatable Kayaks

We hope you enjoyed this list of the best inflatable kayaks for your next adventure. Leave us a comment below letting us know how you think we did with the inflatable kayak referrals. Did we miss your favorite I-Kayak? chair?

As always thanks for taking the time to check out our outdoor gear guide. At Online Outdoor Outlet we are here to help you escape to the outdoors with the best gear to paddle on. Having one of the best inflatable kayaks will make your next adventure more relaxing and more fun. Hopefully, this guide helped you find the a new kayak. Please share this post with your friends and family before you leave us. As they say, the more, the merrier! Happy Adventuring!

Make sure to follow Online Outdoor Outlet on all of our social channels for weekly updates!

All Products in this blog can be found on Amazon.

The post Best Inflatable Kayak – Entry Level to Experts appeared first on Online Outdoor Outlet.

Summer boating trips are always circled on our calendars here at Online Outdoor Outlet. One of those reasons is for the endless hours we spend pulling a tube behind the boat. There is just something about pulling someone as fast as you can while trying to throw them through the air that just brings a smile to our faces.  In this gear guide blog we are going to highlight some of the best boating tubes and towable tubes for boating. We will cover what you should look for in a boating tube as well as our favorite tubes for one, two, or three plus riders. 

What to look for in a Boating Tube

Boating tubes are one of those things where quality of the product really matters. You need a tube that can stand up to the test of high energy circles of deaths as well as offer that nice smooth ride. Having a tube fail for what ever reason is a real day killer and could possibly cause an injury. A high quality tube will have an outer nylon shell with some sort of padding and a strong multiple chamber PVC bladder.

Towable Tube Covers

When looking at a boating tube you should always inspect the cover. High quality covers will come with padding in all the right places offering comfort over long rides. 420 Denier Nylon is a great choice for a cover, but if you can find 840 Denier Nylon you know you have the good stuff. The seams on the nylon cover should be double stitched and have a raised feel to them. They should also offer a way to remove the PVC bladder completely for realignment and minor repairs. 

Knuckle Guards and Padded Handles

You want to look for a tube with padded handles and knuckle guards for extended fun on the water. Thew will keep your hands from getting sore or painful after a ride. Knuckle guards are often over looked, but they keep your hands from hitting the body of the inflatable tube. If these are missing you will get scrapes and bruises on your hands.

Towable Tube Bladders

Most boating tubes will come with some sort of PVC bladder chamber. The highest quality bladders will have 3+ chambers and be made of 30 gage PVC with welded seams. While there are benefits to single chamber tubes such as faster inflate and deflate times they also require more attention throughout the day. We always look for multiple chambers even in our single rider boating tubes.

Best Tubes for Boating & Towable Tubes

How Many People Can Be Towed In a Boating Tube?

All towable tubes should come with a rider rating listing the number of riders who can safely be pulled. Most inflatable boating tubes will list riders from 1 – 4 and in some cases with extremely large towable tubes you will see up to 8 riders. More importantly the safety rating will also come with a maximum weight for the tube. Following the weight rating for a tube is essential to the safety of those being pulled and failure to do so can result in serious injuries. With that being said here are some of our favorite tubes for different rider counts.

Best Towable Tubes for 1 Rider

Whether you are looking for excitement or just a comfy ride across the lake towable tubes for one rider can be a ton of fun. When looking at boating tubes for one rider most people look for a disc shape inflatable tube where the rider is on their stomach. This style of riding is usually fast and exciting. You can also find a more relaxing ride by finding one with a comfy back rest and padded top to sit on. This style of tube is usually the safest choice for those who prefer safety over adrenaline. Below are some of the most popular single rider boating tubes.  

Best Two Person Towable Tubes

Towable tubes for two riders is very similar to single riders. They come in lots of shapes and sizes for you to chose from. If you are looking for that excitement or just comfort you can find it in a two person tube. For that fast paced action with lots of turns we recommend a tube that is wider for increased stability. If you are looking for a ride to take the little kids on we recommend a sit in tube with a divider between the riders for increased safety. Below are some of the most popular 2 person boating tubes. 

Best 3 Person Towable Tubes

Three person tubes are by far the most popular. They have enough room to get people out for multiple rides through out a day and don’t add too much weight to slow the boat down. Three rider tubes also allow you to play fun tubing games like king of the tube and last rider standing. When looking at the best 3 person towable tubes we alway recommend tubes with lots of handles and designed to sit down. This style of boating tube offers the best surface area keeping the tube riding high in the wake. You should also look for a tube that is wider than long to increase the speed the boat can pull the tube at. Below are some of the most popular 3 person boating tubes. 

Best Large Towable Tubes (4-8 Riders)

For those looking for a party tube look no further. For the best large towable tubes you want to make sure there are lots of handle and at least 3 different air chambers. Large boating tubes take a beating and usually require a little more up keep over time. You will want to look for a tube with a maximum weight capacity above 600 lbs to ensure durability. Below are some of the best large water tubes. 

Common Tubing Question:

We get asked questions about tubes almost daily. Below are some of the most common questions we get with answers.

What is a Booster Ball and does it Help?

A Booster Ball is attached to the tow rope between the boat and the tube. It helps to boost the performance of your boat and tube by keep the slack in the line out of the water. These can also prevent water from the rope to spray on the tubers when the line snaps tight.

What is the Best Towable Tube Rope Length?

Most Tow ropes for tubes are designed to be low stretch and are extremely strong.  When you are looking for a tow rope you should look for a rope that can handle the number of riders for the tube. The over all length of your tubing tow robe should be between 50 – 65 feet. Find a Towable Tube Rope.

Can you Patch a Hole in a Towable Tube?

This on is easy, YES. There are tons of different style of patch kits available for towable tubes. Below are a few that might work for you!

We hope you enjoyed this list of the best towable tubes and boating tubes for your next adventure toe the lake. Leave us a comment below letting us know how you think we did with the boating tube gear referrals. Did we miss your favorite Tubing gear?

As always thanks for taking the time to check out our outdoor gear guide. At Online Outdoor Outlet we are here to help you escape to the outdoors with the best watersports gear. Having the best tubing gear will make your next adventure more fun. Hopefully, this guide helped you find the towable tubes. Please share this post with your friends and family before you leave us. As they say, the more, the merrier! Happy Adventuring!

Make sure to follow Online Outdoor Outlet on all of our social channels for weekly updates!

All Products in this blog can be found on Amazon.

The post Best Boating Tubes and Towable Tubes for Boating appeared first on Online Outdoor Outlet.