Backpacks for Kayaking

5 mattzilluh
We bought a pair of Intex Explorer K2 inflatable kayaks last summer. They were inexpensive and served as a fine introduction to paddling for our family. Immediately, though, we were turned off by the size and softness of the side pontoons, and how they felt like they were preventing us from paddling efficiently. The floor is also floppy and does n't provide much support. We knew we wanted to upgrade, but all of the boats I was looking at were out of our budget. All of these problems and more were eliminated by the Quest Patoka. Full disclosure, we 've only used it once, so I ca n't speak to long- term durability. However, I was blown away by the initial experience. The Patoka has a drop stitch floor( which is removable for easy cleaning/drying) and high pressure pontoons which are much lower profile than the Intex. Together, these features combined to make a stable, supportive boat that slid across the water with ease, even when loaded to about 75% capacity. The 12+ foot length meant there is much more leg room, the foot supports are a huge upgrade, and the rigid pontoons provide hip support without blocking paddle movement. We will probably replace the inflatable seats with foam ones for better back support, but the seats just clip to metal rings inside the boat, so we should be able to get universal ones with no problem. To my inexperienced eyes, the build quality looked good- all the visible seams look like they have a half inch or more of overlap, and the material feels solid but not brittle. The boat has two skews- a smaller one at the front and a larger one in back. Both attached and removed fairly easily. The bag it came with definitely fits everything, and pack- up does n't take any longer than with our old inflatables. I will try to remember to come back and update this review once we 've used it a few more times, but compared to tue cheap boats we had before, and the Intex Excursion that we 'd been considering( which Big 5 sells for the same price we paid for the Patoka), this kayak feels like a HUGE upgrade, and I definitely am happy with our purchase.

5 Previously mattzilluh
We bought this boat about a year ago, and I could n't be happier with it. We have two now, so our family of four and 2 dogs can all go together. We 've taken these on lakes and Puget Sound. They 've been dragged over beaches, bumped into rocks and bouys and underwater tree branches, and been climbed over by dogs with pointy nails. They blow up easily and perform every time, whether riding solo, or with another person and/or dog. I did upgrade the seat to a high- back seat from a different company for more support- and got a bleacher cushion for more padding underneath me- which makes it much more comfortable. All in all, a great portable kayak that seams to have a lot of the design/build quality of name brand boats at a fraction of the price.

5 Brian in Florida
This kayak is awesome! Very buoyant and easy to maneuver the fins that attach on the bottom help a lot so far so good it weighs 45 pounds in the backpack works in the kayak does fit in the backpack after it ’s been used easily preparation to use the kayak is easy the pump attaches to the kayak Easily and the fill up time is quick after using the kayak. It ’s very easy to empty the air and fold it up. Very happy with this.

5 MrAP
The Patoka Inflatable Kayak can be 2 or 1 person. Comes with carrying Pack for easy storage and packing to your favorite spot at the water. Quite impressive with quality of this Inflatable Kayak. The lightweight maneuverability and stability. The weight limit is a max of 375 total weight. Still great for a adult and small child or one adult. Comes with everything you need to hit the water except the life jackets. Remember if you have 2 people you need 2 life jackets. Also repair kit comes with this as well. I would recommend this if you are needing to Kayak and have a small car or no storage room.

5 Megs
This inflatable kayak has worked well to paddle in our creek and out to the river with my son or daughter. I am careful to avoid downed trees or anything that could puncture it. We also plan to use it in the ocean and intracoastal. My 9yr old son fully inflated and assembled it by himself. It comes with 2 seats, 2 paddles, pump, repair kit, fins, and a nice zippered storage bag. While it is easy to setup, it does take some time and should be noted that there are a lot of parts to keep up with and the once inside the bag it is quite heavy and large to store or transport. For one person, it takes about 15 minutes to deflate and packup and bw 30- 45min to set up the first few times.