Intex 68309EP Excursion Pro K2 Inflatable Kayak Set: Includes Deluxe 86in Kayak Paddles and High-Output Pump – SuperTough PVC – Adjustable Bucket Seat – 2-Person – 400lb Weight Capacity

I was looking for an inflatable kayak because I don’t have a suitable vehicle to transport a rigid kayak and I didn’t want to give up a lot of basement or garage space to store one. I had researched a few and was hesitant because the cost on some that were well reviewed in articles was a bit more than I wanted to spend, plus I wasn’t convinced that I would fit comfortably in the one I was researching. There is a small lake near me that I planned to use it on primarily. One day I saw some people in one while I was hiking around the lake and I asked how they liked it. They gave it rave reviews and it turned out that it was this model: Intex ExcursionIt was much more affordable than others I had been looking at and it can handle 2 riders (or one) so that gives me ample room for traveling solo and can still stow some stuff in front and back. The people I talked to that raved about theirs were traveling with 2 in kayak and doing so comfortably, so if I want to carry a passenger I thing there is enough room. But I always think it’s more fun to go with someone who is in their own kayak and travel side by side. The other thing that won me over was that this particular model comes with 2 paddles, pump, and pressure gauge. So for one price I was getting pretty much everything I needed and the price was better than others I was looking at that didn’t come with those things.I never had an inflatable kayak before so I wasn’t expecting it to handle well compared to rigid kayaks that I’ve been in. That is part of why I had been looking at more expensive models… I figured that if I cheaper out too much that it would not be a very useful boat. So I was a little bit skeptical. I have to say though that when I got this one it really won me over on the first outing. I had intensions of trying to find adaptor for a powered tire pump that I have (even though instructions say not to use a compressor) but I figured that on first outing I would just try the hand pump that it comes with and see how hard or easy it was to pump that way. I was pleasantly surprised: it was very quick and easy to pump it up. Even on the first try, I had the kayak fully inflated in just over 5 minutes. It requires just a little effort, not too much at all. Consider it a little mini warmup before you go paddling. In subsequent trips, now that I know what I’m doing, I’ve gotten a little faster with it maybe 3 to 5 minutes on average and I’m pumped up and ready to put kayak into water. When you are done, you deflate boat with same pump, switching hose to other side to make it a vacuum. This is pretty quick and easy process as well. When I got into the water, I was pleased that it didn’t feel droopy or saggy like a pool raft, this feels like a real kayak- pretty rigid and stable. When I started paddling I was pleasantly surprised, it is a fast kayak and you can get it going well without a lot of resistance. Much faster than I was expecting and the tracking is pretty good at least as good as any rigid plastic kayak that I’ve ever rented anywhere. Probably better because you can put in a removable keel rudder fin on bottom. There are two sizes provided. I’ve just been using the small one so that I don’t scrape it in shallow parts of lake on rocks or branches near shore or in coves. The small one works just fine … bigger one might be better if you were going to be in deeper water… like at a beach. The paddles that come with it break down into several section so they are easy to transport and store. They work pretty well. You get two, so you have one for each if you go with two people on board, but I’m just looking at it as a backup set if I lose or break the first paddle. It seems pretty sturdy and comfortable enough for basic use. If you got a little more serious, you might want to upgrade to a better paddle that is lighter or stronger or more comfortable but these aren’t too bad to get you started. I am sort of a cheapskate, so I most likely will just stick with these paddles unless or until anything goes wrong with them, they work just fine. There is maybe a slight bit of play in them that I can feel where the sections snap together, but this is very minor so I am not too concerned.The only negative thing I can really come up with does not affect me too much where I go because I can park very near to the put in point. The weight for everything is a bit heavy if you had to go hiking very far. They provide a nice backpack to put everything in. But good luck ever getting the boat and the seats and the pump and paddles all in there. If you did, the kayak itself is about 35 lbs. With the other items from the kit I guess you’d be about 40 lbs, not including any other gear you might want to take out. It would be feasible but not very easy to go hiking and take all of this with you, but it’s much better if you can park near water and not attempt to carry it all far. Once you inflate kayak, you can drag it easily over grass and that is simple way to get it a short distance into water. If you have to go further you can team carry it or balance on head or shoulder solo and that is not bad for a short distance when it is inflated. Obviously it weighs nearly the same when inflated but it is a lot easier to move around. You can attempt to store it all in the backpack and then hike with it like they show in promotional video— but good luck doing that!For the lake I’ve been going to it is perfect. There is another lake with a large creek that feeds it, I went exploring that creek more recently. Current isn’t very strong and most of the creek is deep enough so I went back in around 2-1/2 miles and just had to avoid some shallower parts where I was running aground. That was very successful as well. This thing is pretty rugged, however I would be a bit more cautious if I were taking it somewhere with rapids or sharp rocks or underwater branches. That might be enough to puncture or tear it. Overall though, I am very enthusiastic about this purchase and enjoying it quite a bit this Summer.

So, I bought this feeling a little uncertain about it due to the lack of reviews, especially compared to the cheaper Intex Explorer (which is well reviewed and well known). After using it today (as well as seeing ColoradoWoodsman's excellent comparison), I know I made the right purchase.First off, aside from life vest, the package includes EVERYTHING you need to enjoy your day on the water. This is an excellent starting kit for someone looking to get into the hobby, and will easily allow owners to upgrade as they go (more on that in a bit).Out of the box, setup took me about 15 minutes all told (reading the book, inflation and check out). Everything was solid, and no problems. Deflation took only a few minutes, and everything (aside from the paddles) fits into the provided bag. It is portable, but I wouldn't want to hike for any length of time with the kit by myself (and being a single father...).Taking it to the ocean today (specifically a mangrove protected area, so not open waves), the boat performed amazingly. For those curious, I had:Myself @ 230lbMy daughter @ 50lb2 Camelback bags @ 4l capacityDue to the shallow water I used the short skeg. The boat was very stable, and felt as solid (if not more) as a plastic hulled boat. The body was very rigid (inflated to spec and verified with the included gauge), and showed no flex even when being rocked by good wake. The boat also tracked very well, but turned very quick when needed (I suspect the short skeg helped that). With a strong paddle, I could basically turn in place, and never ran into something uncontrollably. I also didn't feel like I had to put a ton of extra energy into paddling; the boat didn't putter to a stop if I took a break, though I am sure it didn't cruise as long as a solid hull might have. That said, I wasn't feeling like I was fighting the vessel, and it made the experience great.As noted, my daughter and I brought ourselves and some backpacks, and we still had room for more cargo. There is a solid area behind the rear seat, as well as in the front, and y pi u can easily fit a dry bag in both areas. I ran with my backpack between my legs, and still had plenty of room. The foot rests were also very useful, and provided genuine support for strong paddling. The inflatable seat look a little cheaper compared to expensive models, but they did the job just fine, and had no problem paddling for around 3 hours without discomfort.So, with all the raving, nothing is ever perfect, so I will point out some honest critiques for buyers to consider:-I expect the included carry bag to last about 3 more trips. It is easily the weakest part of the package, and should be changed first. It holds EVERYTHING, but just doesn't feel sturdy.- The paddles are usable, and while I don't expect them to snap on me, there is no way to adjust for different size arms. I am 5'6", and had no problem getting good strokes, but bigger/smaller users may want to make sure they are a good length for them.- Seats also tend to be a personal choice, so i will note that the seats are not a proprietary system, and you can easily upgrade them if you need. They follow the common yak system of the back supported by forward hooks, and i see no reason you couldn't upgrade the seats. Again, i was happy with them, but they are inflatable to only one size, so different users may want to consider something down the line.- The bow and stern could really use some sort of webbing or extra tie down for gear. There a metal d rings all around that can be used for anchors or ties, but nothing on top to hold anything (like an anchor you might attach to the d rings). This leaves only the foot space and aft space as the only secure storage; I am sure you can add something, but it's not there out of the box.At the end of the day, it only took about 20 minutes to tear down, and that included a fresh water rinse. It's easy to pack down, and has no problem going back in the bag (just make sure you deflate it as much as possible to get the space). I know my daughter and I will have many more adventures thanks to this boat, and I really think it is an amazing value at its price. I compared it to a sea eagle 380x I was able to examine, and aside from weight rating, I didn't feel like I was making a sacrifice in quality for what I wanted (sure, I won't take class 4 Rapids like the eagle, but.... that's not a problem for me.. heh). This boat swings above its weight, and I think, if given a chance, will really get a good following like it's cheaper cousins. If this is in your price range, spring for the extra.. it's worth it!