The 5 Best Inflatable Fishing Kayaks: Buying Guide
Isn't fishing fun? It can be relaxing, casting a line into the sunset, and watching the dusk fall upon the horizon, or excited, feeling the line pulling out to the water, watching the rod bend with the strength of whatever has the hook in its mouth.
Are you finding yourself looking for hours at inflatable fishing kayaks and feeling like you're going blind with options and just want to head out on the water?
Look no further! Our review and buying guide will help you discover some of the best inflatable fishing kayaks to suit your needs.
But Why Inflatable?
So you want to go out there, relax, cast a line, and enjoy the serene water in what feels like eternal bliss. When you're fishing, you want to feel comfortable, calm, and content with your boat's safety and structure, which might make you ask, why use inflatable?
Well, inflatable kayaks can range from a glorified air mattress to an all singing all dancing aluminum ribbed, PVC welded kayak with a high back chair, and multiple air chambers. But, when it comes down to it, an inflatable fishing kayak is convenient, easier to use, more comfortable to transport, less expensive, and also, not as structurally inept as one might assume.
It means you can get out on the water at any time and anywhere and be confident in the security of your kayak.
Types of Inflatable Fishing Kayaks
Sit-on-top Inflatable Fishing Kayak
The sit-on-top inflatable fishing kayak is self-explanatory. The boat has an upright seat with no enclosed cockpit that sits on top of the kayak.
It usually means excellent back support from a proper seat and is easier to switch sides and fishing rods, making fishing from an inflatable kayak easy.
Sit-inside Fishing Kayak
These kayaks have an enclosed cockpit, which means the sides of the boat usually envelop the passenger. This typically means you won't get as wet (depending on your paddling skills, of course!)
Self Bailing Kayak
This kayak type has drainage outlets in the base, allowing any backsplash getting inside to escape so that it doesn't weigh down the kayak. This type of kayak is the best for whitewater rafting.
Canoe Type
Looks like a canoe, floats like a canoe, but it's inflatable? The canoe type is deep-seated and broad with taller walls, which allows for more room. It's a popular choice for fishing because of its size allowing for the storage of fishing equipment.
What Do You Want From an Inflatable Fishing Kayak?
So you can fish from anything, right? Anything that floats really? Be it, a canoe, rowing boat or an empty plastic barrel, but surely it could be much easier?
Well, it certainly can. Fishing friendly kayaks tend to come with extras to make your fishing experience easier and more enjoyable.
Whether you enjoy a fishing trip a few times a year or you're a hardcore fishing fanatic with waders up to your eyeballs, you might like to consider a kayak with a few of the following features.
- Fishing friendly kayaks might be fitted with swivel seats or raised seats to aid fishing from both sides of the boat.
- A rowing frame would allow you to use oars similar to a rowing boat instead of a kayaking paddle.
- Motor mounts are another feature in case you want an inflatable fishing kayak with trolling motor.
- Rod holders, guess what they're for!
The list goes on, but it would be useful to figure out which kind of features you would be most interested in before looking to purchase.
How To Choose an Inflatable Kayak?
Like most inflatable kayaks, you will want to consider durability and materials, comfort and size, weight support, and location, as well as air chambers and inflation.
Durability and Materials
Durability is essential in most products. After all, you always want any product to last a long time.
Inflatable kayaks need to be strong, especially with the added risk of punctures from sharp hooks or underwater obstacles.
The surfaces of inflatable kayaks are generally made from durable materials to avoid any risk of puncture, so there's no need to worry about a classic cartoon moment of popping the inflatable raft and torpedoing off into the distance.
Most inflatable fishing kayaks use heavy-duty PVC materials for their high durability and low cost. Other materials are available like other resistance plastics or nylon but these materials are not always as economical as PVC.
However, instead of looking at materials, it might be useful to consider the gauge. The gauge is comparable with the thickness of the material, which means the higher the gauge, the less likely it is to puncture. On the downside, it does add weight to the product making it more difficult to transport.
PVC performs well and is resistant to dry damage. It's also lightweight to transport. However, do not fret, even though it's lightweight, it has the capacity to carry a lot of weight in regards to passengers and cargo.
If you are worried about the boat's security, another feature on some boats can be aluminum ribbing or frames, which aid in the feeling of stability when you are seated in the boat, but this will also add weight to the kayaks.
Comfort and Size
When considering size, we encourage you to review the space required. How many seats do you need? How much fishing gear do you carry?
Inflatable kayaks can come with one to three seats, which can be adjustable or, in some cases, removable making space for more fishing gear. Woohoo!
At the end of the day, it's down to personal preference. Still, it is useful to remember if you are the kind of person who needs lots of space and is looking to purchase a three-seater kayak, this kind of inflatable kayak will be more substantial than one built for a single person.
Weight Capacity
Ever been in an inflatable fishing canoe and thought the boat was about to capsize from all the rocking? It could be because it didn't have the correct weight support for the number of passengers.
Weight capacity needs extra consideration when fishing with more than one person. For example, if a one-person kayak is able to take six hundred pounds, which is the weight of three average men, there will be lots of extra weight available for extra fishing gear.
However, if it's a three-person kayak with the same weight support and you intend to take three passengers instead of one, it becomes difficult to fit in the extra fishing kit.
Conditions
What type of water are you going on? Will you typically be going out on glassy lakes or steady rivers?
You want to be confident that you can manoeuver your boat quickly on a choppy sea or a speedy river to avoid potential dangers. It's also essential to move fast if you are casting a line to face the right way.
Shorter kayaks and canoes are easier to move. Boats that are wider and shorter are more comfortable to control while narrower boats benefit when it comes to speed.
Inflation
Ideally, you want your kayak to inflate pretty quickly. You don't want to be waiting to get out in the water when all you want to do is go fishing.
Usually, the kayak will come with its own foot pump, hand pump or electric pump. They should by no means be expecting you to blow it up by yourself which would be pretty impossible and could end in a particularly red face.
The kayaks should only take a few minutes to inflate.
A word of warning, do not store your kayak pre-inflated. If left inflated over a long period, this can damage the valves or the fabric.
What Are Multiple Air Chambers?
The best inflatable fishing kayaks should have multiple air chambers to ensure that, should a puncture occur, you won't sink the ship.
It's a great feature to ensure safety if you happened upon an accident, but not all kayaks have these, so if this is a feature you think you'd quite like, make sure to look out for it listed when purchasing.
The 5 Best Inflatable Fishing Kayaks
Right! Now the jargon has been explained, and you know what you are looking for; let's have a look at our top picks for the best inflatable kayaks.
Advanced Elements Straitedge Angler 2 Fishing Kayak
Advanced Elements designed this kayak with fishing fanatics in mind. It's a two-person kayak that is super strong, durable and has lots of additional fishing accessory extras. Also, the tracking is almost as straight as a regular hard shell kayak.
This kayak is 13ft long and weighs 47lbs in total, due to the Advanced Elements' patented built-in aluminum frame. Features include stainless steel d-rings and bungee deck lacing to strap your gear in and hit the water. With a weight capacity of 500lbs, you can take a friend with you.
It uses a multi-layer heavy-duty PVC fabric to fend off any potential cuts or punctures. Also, using abrasion pads on top to further relieve your puncturing worries when dealing with fishing hooks and tackle. The Straitedge Angler is tough! The bow is even strong enough to take on some class three rapids for when you're feeling frisky, truly a versatile kayak.
The Advanced Elements Straitedge Angler is a sit-on-top kayak that could be construed as canoe-like. It has a low center of gravity and wide frame, which makes it almost impossible to capsize accidentally and, with a high back seat and inflatable lumbar support (no achy backs) as well as two conveniently placed rod holders it's obviously designed with the intention to be the best inflatable kayak for fishing use as possible.
Fishing from inflatable kayaks has never been more portable, reliable, and at such an affordable price. The Sea Eagle SE330 is a two-passenger fishing kayak with a length of 11'2" and width of 2'10".
With a weight of 26lbs and it's own travel bag, this boat gets a gold star for transportability. The Sea Eagle is also a two-passenger boat to allow two people to adhere to its 500lbs weight capacity or one person with plenty of room for extra gear.
The Sea Eagle is lightweight and durable with strong welded seams and I-beam engineering, and although it shouldn't be considered an invincible raft, it is safe to use on any whitewater up to class three rapids. The Sea Eagle also includes a self-bailing drain valve which is convenient should you decide to hit those rapids, you won't find yourself bailing the water out your kayak with your tackle box!
This should enable any pro kayak anglers to reach the more challenging spots, enabling a prize fish catch to make any other fisherman jealous.
One minor thing to note is the Sea Eagle's tracking could be improved despite having two skegs included, but for a beginner's purchase, it is a good investment.
This inflatable kayak can take up to three passengers, and with removable seats, you can pick and choose who gets to come with you, if anyone!
The fishing kayak weighs 34.8 lbs and has a weight capacity of 490lbs, which considering it's a three-person kayak, may mean being careful about how much cargo is loaded into the kayak.
This kayak is 12ft long and made with a mix of PVC and tarpaulin. The hull has tarpaulin reinforcement to prevent any punctures or scratches. However, should a puncture succeed, do not fret this inflatable kayak is equipped with multiple air chambers and an 'Airtight System' which guarantees no leakage.
Other features it offers are spray covers to keep passengers and fishing kit dry and the 'Boston Valve' designed with double threading for easy inflation and deflation, helping you get set up in minutes.
This inflatable fishing kayak is for a person who enjoys flying solo, convenience, and tiny price tags!
The one person inflatable kayak is 10ft of durable strong 24 gauge PVC, which makes it hard-wearing, and with the tarpaulin reinforcement and polyester cover offering much needed protection against any potential punctures. Similar to other kayaks on the market, this inflatable kayak also has multiple air chambers to further resist those pesky roaming hooks and sharp rocks.
The floor construction is ridged and has a three-chamber design to maintain its shape and aid tracking. The setup and inflation could not be more straightforward and is said to only take under five minutes. The kayak also comes with a double lock valve to aid the super quick inflation.
However, the two most impressive things about this angler kayak are its transportability and also affordability! With two carry handles to get it from car to lake, this kayak all packs up into an integrated tiny little bag the size of a rucksack with convenient shoulder straps. This inflatable is super affordable and a perfect model for any beginner, solo kayak angler.
This tandem 10 ft 9-inch inflatable kayak is constructed with a frame made with 18 gauge PVC pipe and the bottom reinforced with 1000 D tarpaulin complete with 840 nylon cover making this inflatable kayak seemingly indestructible.
It is extremely unlikely you will have any issue with punctures, but should you find yourself hitting a particularly sharp rock, this kayak is equipped with multiple air chambers and a patented airtight system.
It's highly recommended for fishing as it includes 'Berkley quick set Rod holders,' paddle holders, and can attach a trolling motor should you choose to customize.
This boat truly is built for fishing comfort. The rod holders allow for a hand-free fishing experience, and adjustable seats make for relaxing and comfortable fishing trips with no structural worries when you're out on the water. Definitely one of the best tandem fishing kayaks!
Our Top Pick
Out of all the best reviews, our top pick for the best inflatable fishing kayak is, drum roll, please!
The Advanced Elements Straitedge Angler 2 Fishing Kayak truly exceeds expectations with all-around durability and maximum comfort, especially considering the heavy-duty PVC and the lumbar back support.
Many inflatable fishing kayaks suffer from poor tracking, or some models have sub-par maneuverability but not for this boat. For an inflatable option, it tracks well thanks to the removable fin and drop-stitch hull with chine.
If you wanted to make use of its many customizable features such as the ability to use a trolling motor or adjustable seats, Advanced Elements have made it easy to add anything you think you require onto this boat.
It can be used on any kind of water up to class three rapids making it suitable for anything from recreational kayaking to paddling rapids. If you're looking for a versatile kayak, this may be the best option in fishing kayaks.
Conclusion
So, you're ready to hit the water and use one of these best inflatable fishing kayaks. Say goodbye to the impossible to transport, heavy hardshell kayak, the makeshift inflatable air mattress, and that one time you used the summer vacation pink flamingo. You are ready!
Whether you have found your perfect kayak within this list or not, something important to remember is being sensible and safe on the water.
Have fun, stay safe, and catch some fish!