If you’re a lover of outdoor sports but don’t have the room for surfboards, stand up paddleboards and body boards in your garage, the inflatable variety is a good option.
I bought an inflatable SUP a few years ago. During the early days of COVID, I was desperate for a paddle – even if it was only in a 5km radius from my house – and the whole process was extremely simple.
The kits come with a foot pump to inflate them, the relevant fins, board and instructions so I’ve taken it on holidays and camping trips ever since.
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So when I saw Amazon’s best-selling inflatable kayak ($189.97) – dubbed the Intex Challenger – I was intrigued whether it would live up to the same heights my SUP did.
It’s actually the number one most sold inflatable kayak on Amazon at present so I felt like I was in good hands.
With 12,000 reviews recorded I have plenty of reading to do to get a feel for the product, and I was very impressed by what I saw.
“Got this kayak as I’m a beginner and didn’t want to spend money on a high end one. It’s super easy to inflate, surprisingly fast with the included hand pump, and seems very sturdy for an inflatable,” one man wrote.
Another said: “Easy to assemble and pumping it up didn’t take too long. All up about 10 minutes per kayak”.
A third added: “The kayak was easy to inflate and use along with being lots of fun!”
It’s a two-man kayak so you can make a day of it on the water with your partner, sibling or a friend.
I would recommend buying life jackets separately though – they don’t come with the kit and are essential to being safe on the waterways.
I’ve actually just placed an order for mine so I can put it to the test this spring.