Intex Challenger K1 Kayak

Summary

Price At Time Of Writing | $159.00

Our Overall Rating | 65 out of 100

Pros - Handles ok, easy to dry, price

Cons - Small cockpit, slow, poor tracking, thin materials

Overall - Feels more like a pool toy than a kayak

Technical Specifications

Open Size - 274x76cm

Weight - 13kg

Load Capacity - 100kg

Packed Size - 59x41x22cm

Our Analysis & Ratings

This is definitely the cheapest kayak we tested and in our opinion it does feel more like a pool toy than a kayak. It handles ok and is easy to dry but the cockpit is hard to squeeze into and the thin materials make it susceptible to puncture. It doesn't go that fast and it's hard to keep it going in a straight line.

We suggest spending a bit more if you can to get something you will actually want to use – but if you’re on a budget, then this is one of the better options around at this price point.

Performance - Not suitable for rough conditions, this moves around a lot when trying to paddle in a straight line. It's easy to manoeuvre around corners but hard to keep straight and isn't that fast.

Construction - Made from vinyl, this is a flimsy construction that we have concerns would puncture if snagged or rubbed up against rocks.

Setup/Pack down - Fairly easy to inflate. The pump it comes with is difficult to work with, so best to BYO pump, and we are not a fan of the valves on the kayak. Like the Excursion Pro it's easy to dry and that is a big plus.

Portability - Quite lightweight and compact at 13kg, easy to get in and out of the car boot. We mark down its portability significantly though as the thin materials that make it lightweight and compact significantly reduce the kayak quality and risk of puncture.

Comfort - We are not a big fan of the inflatable seats as they are a bit uncomfortable and make it hard to create a good surface to paddle against. Our big issue is the size of the cockpit though as it is a real squeeze to get into it.

Overall - Stable, ok handling. Just slow & made with thin materials.