Got this kayak and have taken it out numerous times to different lakes. I absolutely love it and will never go back to a hard Kayak ever again. It inflates very fast with the included pump and deflates even faster. I don't have a lot of upper body strength, so that is the main reason I wanted it. I throw it in the back of my jeep and go. Carrying it to/from the water by myself while inflated is very easy too as it is so light weight.
have you ever taken it out in water that is not as calm as this? I'm looking at getting one, but the lake is not always this calm where I would be using it
@@titanh9399 Wear a kayak specific life preserver is the best advice i can give. Also a lightweight helmet would help as your head can hit low hanging branches at the waters edge.
My wife and I used the Intex k2 for the first time today. LLanberis north Wales U.K. It was a very breezy day on the lake. Temperature was 23 degrees and very choppy. The K2 performed very well. This craft is not a kiddies toy. It performed brilliantly. Marks out of ten!! = a good Ten. It coped with waves. And you could honestly make progress against the waves. Never felt insecure in this craft. A great buy for the money. As for life at sea?That has yet to be conquered.
@@hexmole8914 they come with a skeg so they track straight and are easy to steer. Ive let loads of people have a go on mine and nobody's ever had any problems with control
Thank you, I've been looking for a kayak like this since I saw the flood waters of Hurricane Harvey. I'm not going to stranded next time. I'm getting the two seater K2 so my dog can have space.
Superb unboxing and clear, precise explanation. 98% of TH-cam 'Unboxers' should watch this to see how it's done correctly! Fully appreciate d here in the UK!
The first time I kayaked I used my parent's Explorer K2. It was fun but after a while it felt a bit cumbersome. My friend had a Challenger K1 and let me try it. It felt like a speedboat in comparison. It was no effort to go a lot faster than the K2 and I could turn it on a sixpence. I enjoyed it so much I bought myself one. A fantastic little boat.
Great review, very helpful and detailed. I was looking into getting 1 and this video confirmed my decision. As I am first kayaker this will be a good start up kayak 🔥
Happy music, lighthearted.. I have this kayak and am happy with it. Light, easy to pack in the van... not for white water, just for fun in sheltered areas. Easy to pump up and collapse
I am 5’4”. This kayak is perfect for me. I recommend it for people under 5’7”. The leg room is tight even for me. You can see that in this video Other than that, they are good for lakes and rivers with no white water and drops. The steering is also good in comparison to other inflatables.
Novice kayaker here who doesn't want to keep paying to rent kayaks, lol. Just got this kayak on clearance, and I wanted to see it in action. It had good reviews, and it looks good in your video. I'm excited to try it out. Thanks for posting this!
This kayak is great. Friends and I just got ours and have been out a few times. I just ordered an Air pump with a car adapter… The pump it comes with works great but you have to be bent over to use it so I want to relieve as much strain as possible :-) I am not a small girl and in fact I slightly exceed the weight limit, but it still works fine if that helps anyone else to decide. I figure I’m sitting on the inflatable bit on top of water (ie, not a hard surface) so I’m not going to pop the kayak! I also tried both ways: inflating the lower seat which is a separate chamber to the backrest, and leaving it flat, I’m not sure which one I like better but it’s nice to have the option). I’ve got some gorilla tape as well just in case it does get a puncture, but it comes with patches. The other day a boat went past us (friend and myself) for the first time and the waves made us bounce a bit which was rather awesome. However my husband tells me next time we need to face into the waves so it doesn’t knock us over. Luckily the waves weren’t that high! If it helps anyone decide, I’m not super sporty although I try… My balance isn’t great and like I say I’m a bigger girl, but this is working fabulously and I am loving it. Get on your local Facebook pages or kayaking websites to find a nice calm river or a lake near you, and just go for it. It Is easy to carry yourself, however my friend and I have decided will do it two of us at a time. We are both in our mid to late 40s and figure the last thing we want is to strain anything before we’ve even gotten in the kayak! Ha ha. But absolutely I recommend this kayak. Not big, not heavy, very manageable and easy to store. The paddle can be feathered or straight, the air pump works beautifully, the only extra things we need to buy are the emergency boat kit and your lifejacket. Oh and Amazon has great waterproof phone holders that come in a pack of two for your keys in your phone so… No excuse not to get out there!
Oh, and I should say I was nervous about putting the fin on… You can have it on or not… Because I didn’t want to scrape it getting into the kayak from the beach. I haven’t mastered getting in off a dock yet :-)… However I put the kayak in water probably up to my knees or thighs and I just sat back into the kayak and swing my legs around and it was all good. However I have used it without the fin. It worked fine, but you do tend to go in circles when not paddling which is sort of fun!
Great review mate I understand you did this 4 years ago but I wanted to tell you even though you probably know now. The green inflatable triangle which you keep referring to as a footrest is actually to stop water from filling the front of the kayak. However as I said you probably know this by now. Once again great review. I'm not trying to be clever as I only found this out myself recently. 👍
Nice video the only one about single seater kayak k1. Does it have a warranty? Does it move wayward towards the paddle side everytime we paddle ..... This is happening with all k2 videos. The music... 😀 As if watching Charlie Chaplin or Tom & Jerry while kayaking.....
my experience was that the little nose thing that might be referred to as a footrest really didn't function as one, which made my seating pretty awkward. I'm 5'6" and wear size 10 shoes and my feet were frequently getting compressed which made my ankles really uncomfortable. I had to remember to occasionally change the position of my feet and angle of my ankles to help relieve this. I think it's fun for casual relaxing short outings but kinda awkward for purposeful paddling. It can be done though with a bit more effort and discomfort. Certainly worth the price :)
I think it depends how much inflated it is and how you position the seat as well. For longer rides, I do change the positioning a bit so that I do not seat the same way. I think the "foot rest" also helps lifting the front a bit as well. For entry level, it is still an awesome Kayak and I still enjoy mine every time I take it on water.
I have this kayak and just tried it today. It's great, but this video seems to leave out a lot of questions I have. First, do those cardboard rings stay around the two valves or come out? I took them out. I thought it was packing material. And why wasn't the inflating demonstrated? We coped, but the instruction manual was very limited and I just made things up in terms of inflating. Explaining the business end of that pump would be GREAT.
My understanding is that the Cardboard rings were there for protection in shipping. I did not see anything in the manual that states to reuse them but that is up to you / check manual. Thank you for watching and your comment.
I have the explorer k2 (yellow) two person kayak and absolutely love it love it love it. I'm interested in this kayak too for my next one. Want to get two of them so my wife and I can race. We love going out on the banana lol but we have friendly competition. She paddles faster than me to the point I can't keep up, but I paddle much longer strokes than she does. Eventually we'll see who's faster lol. As amazing as it is to go out on the k2 together, having our own separate ones could be fun as well. St the very least one, so if only one of us goes out we don't have it use the two person, though the k2 is quite roomy with just one person and holds a ton of gear if you want. Great video, thank you!
Thanks for watching - glad you liked the video. The Explorer K2 sounds fun! If you want the Challenger K1, keep an eye on it as it does go on sale on Amazon from time to time.
Getting close to getting this kayak, rather than the Challenger 2 "boat/dinghy" (which is a lot cheaper). I think I prefer this as I would like a bit more control over speed and direction as I will be taking it on sea. May I ask, would I have room to store the pump and perhaps a bag/rucksack on the Kayak? I want to set up along the coast and paddle back about 2 miles to where I live, so need to take stuff with me. Thanks.
Its a great Kayak if you don't weigh much, are a bit on the short side, and speed isn't a factor. In return you get a very stable, controllable Kayak that as long as you don't puncture it, will likely get you to where you aim it on the water. It's a great learning and pleasure Kayak, but don't confuse it with having the capabilities of a rigid Kayak.
Yes, though it depends on the person and height they want to bee of the "ground". I did take some air out of the seat and found it to be a bit of a better fit for me too.
I would have liked to see the actual inflation with that supplied pump and later the deflation. I assume one can toss this into the trunk of a car once deflated and dries out?
Thank you for watching! For inflation attach the hose and pump. :) Each person will do it at their own pace so to keep the video moving, I did not include that footage. Also, I have electric pump and it is super fast for me. Since it is not included with Kayak, I did not want to deviate from the actual items one would use. Once deflated, I wipe it down, fold it and put it in the car. No issues.
How do you remove the skeg/fin from under the kayak? Would be great if you can do a video on that. Its easy to attach but a real challenge to remove! Instruction manual isn't much help.
It does take some effort to remove it, but I think this is by design so that it does not fall off if you hit something with it (shallow water etc). I did put a little bit of silicone / or WD-40 spay to make it a bit easier.
I'm gonna order 2 of these for my daughters. In the spring I got my brother the K2. He loves it. He puts his 2 daughters in the front seat (they're 5 and 4 yrs old) and he can out run my hard sit on top 10.5 ft yak. I didn't know they came with the ruller to check inflation. His first trip out we didn't put enough air in it and he sagged making it extra slow. We paddled back and put more air in and it skimmed with ease.
I am sure your daughters will love it! Be careful not to over-inflate on hot/summer days when the material is more "stretchy" . I use the ruler to make sure i do not over-inflate it.
Would need help to figure this out @ColoradoRMN : Bonjour! :) I have 2 questions for you : 1) Just bought a kayak and when I inflated it, I could notice that the air chambers (tubes that we see if kayak is upside down) are not all equals... I mean the tubes, for example, 1st and 2nd from the left side are not the same size once inflated to the good volume (that could be verified with the 10 cm transparent plastic ruler) of the the ''tubes'' simitrically opposed on the other side. The 1st ''tube'' from the side where there are the valves is bigger than the opposite one on the other side, and the 2nd (on the side of the valves) is smaller than the symetrically opposed ''tube''... Is it normal (maybe to balance the boat because the valve?) ? I'm not sure and I'm afraid it migh navigate badly (and cannot try it now because here, it is snowing during winter... all the water places are frozen ) Could you please verify this on your kayak to let me know if it is normal ? I tried to reach the coy (with the number in the instructions booklet but couln't get an answer... And if there is a manufactured default or problem, would like to know to return the product to Amazone before it is too late. 2) As well, to put it away, I don't know where to fold it exactly in order not to damage the kayak. Could someone be kind enough to answer me at : nancyhoule71@videotron. ca It would be greatly appreciated... Thank you very much and happy New Year!
Getting it back into the bag is an absolute nightmare (at least for me). I got rid of the bag when i accidentally tore the zipper and replaced it with a plastic tote.
I edit videos and sometimes apply music thinking it’ll work great. So I usually sit on a video for a few days and try to enter the eyes and ears of a viewer…
Soooo. Can you put another fin underneath to stop the row turning??? Also, how would this hold up for fishing?? Could you possibly stand up in it if you put a thin board down?? Does the plastic seem durable enough to last?
Can not stand in it as it is a flexible rubber / vinyl. You have to be in a seating position to spread the weight. As for fishing, it something I have done in it but if you do be super careful as you do not want to puncture anything with that hook.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. As you can clearly tell, all my videos on my channel are from consumer point of view; all products I actually purchased myself, tested myself, and reviewed myself. Since this is the cheapest inflatable kayak on the market, my feedback is for those who, like me, are exploring this kayak. There are plenty of other "professional" you tube channels that may provide their own opinion which, hopefully, you will find more beneficial. Thanks again for stopping by. Have a great day!
At first I thought the X1 was swinging wildly right and then left every time you paddled. Then I realized that you mounted the camera to yourself and you were twisting your body every time you paddled.
Hi Thank you for this video I want to ask you do you think it is safe to try it alone the first time if i dont know how to swim? ( i will choose an area where I know there are a lot of kayaks so the can help if I fall down)
No - please learn to swim first. Not just for this but any kind of Kayak or water activity. Learning to swim is not hard and can safe your life in case something ever happens. Please be safe, learn to swim, then have a lot of fun.
Compared to a hard shell kayak, in rougher waters, or slightly windier day, can it still move quickly, and if the current is pulling you out to sea, can you paddle very quickly to avoid that or is the kayak not able to handle that
No special training. Know how to swim, have life jackets, use on clam days (too windy makes it more difficult), and do not go too far until you build up experience. Have a whistle with you and always wear life jacket. Good luck and enjoy!
Hi there, I wanna ask how long is this boat after fully pumped? Can I place it in my car trunk without deflating? Also, I have an electronic pumper, can I use it instead of the manual pumper?
Depending on the car. Official size listed is as "Measures 30 by 15 by 108 inches". I have a '16 Subaru Outback and can fit it inside inflated via reclining the front passenger seat and removing the headrest to give it room. Shorter cars would not be able to do so.
At minimum, I do dry it off using the synthetic absorbent drying towels ( like amzn.to/3CcfCXH ). They are small and compact and do a great job anytime it is in any water (salt or fresh). Very important to do if you are taking it between lakes to ensure there is no cross contamination. Good idea to wash it off as well when you are home.
I just ordered the K1 and I’m just reading the comments about not having enough space. Would it be a problem for someone 6’1 (185 cm) and 85 kg to fit in it properly? I didn’t want to order the K2 because it would be too much space/more weight paddling solo but now I’m a little bit concerned I made the wrong choice.
Yep, mine got a hole in it the first trip out and didn’t even make it out on the water. Patched it up and second trip out it held for 2 hours but was leaking air somewhere so getting back was dicey. Gonna keep trying to patch, but not a big fan. And they were running $150+ when I bought it. :(
Hi there! I have just got this Kayak. I am wondering if it is okay to keep the kayak inflated for a few days or do you need to let the air out everytime?
I think you can - just not long term. I inflate mine to let it full dry after I use it and I also keep it inflated if I know I am going to use it again the next day. Do not keep it inflated at full capacity, however.
It is a good camera and given its low price point as apposed to the GoPros. The DBPOWER Action Camera (12MP 1080p) is on Amazon for $30-39; for this price point I have no complaints. You can see some other video footage I did with it on my 2 other videos driving in the snow and my Chainsaw (the part of the video when the footage/camera is attached to the chainsaw; the other footage was shot on my cell).
The manual states "Our kayaks comply with ISO 6185 standard" . I am not sure if the actual kayak has the label printed on it; will look for it next time I am out on it.
@@Karbon_Based_Life_Form Well, the high end inflatable kayaks stay straight. I guess they are more stable. I am just think whether I should buy this one. Are you happy with it?
@@polymful I've kayaked for over 20 years, have paddle over 100 different kayak models and pretty much every one of them will move from side to side with each stroke (though, an efficient forward stroke will reduce that). I 9' long, 24" wide kayak with a relatively flat hull is just not going to track as well as a true sea kayak (and certainly not as well the 17'10" long, 21" wide cedar strip kayak I built).
Thanks for the review, just bought one. Can't find the ruler though. I'm guessing the bag doesn't hold water, meaning I have to dry it before packing or bring a tub to put it in. What do you do?
The ruler is really small and clear so may be hard to find. Bag does not hold water, which is ok for it to help it dry once in it - I think it is a good thing. Once the Kayak is out of the water I drain as much of the remaning water as I can then use I use the "Absorber" synthetic drying towel (advertised to use for drying cars) which are inexpensive and it works really well. I do open it up in the garage and let it air dry once I am home / at camp site.
@@ColoradoRMN I did finally find the ruler. Found the challenger to be good on extremely calm waters, but found it interesting how waves made it bow slightly. Weird feeling. Still haven't found the solution to drying or hanging it yet, but only been on it once so far. Thanks for the response.
Not so much a criticism but I was almost getting a headache watching the 1st few minutes of your vid- whatever camera you are using distorts the picture on the edges of the screen while you are moving the camera around jumpily! Informative vid though - didn't know about the footrest part or rear cargo area :)
Hi Stefan - I have not used it on a river yet. If it is large and calm and has little risk of rocks / sticks, one could use it. I would not use it on rivers that have higher water flows, rocks, tress / branches that stick up due to risk.
Hope common sense is in use! Do not use this in a river with alligators, do not spill hot coffee on yourself, do not jump out of a plane without parachute. Remember to plugin your refrigerator if you want it to function right. :)
Got this kayak and have taken it out numerous times to different lakes. I absolutely love it and will never go back to a hard Kayak ever again. It inflates very fast with the included pump and deflates even faster. I don't have a lot of upper body strength, so that is the main reason I wanted it. I throw it in the back of my jeep and go. Carrying it to/from the water by myself while inflated is very easy too as it is so light weight.
have you ever taken it out in water that is not as calm as this? I'm looking at getting one, but the lake is not always this calm where I would be using it
Aren’t you scared it may pop or get a hole? And got any advice for a new kayaker?
@@titanh9399 just do it
@@titanh9399 Wear a kayak specific life preserver is the best advice i can give. Also a lightweight helmet would help as your head can hit low hanging branches at the waters edge.
thats why i am looking at this kayak, i am not strong either and dont have storage for a hard kayak.. this seems a sensible choice for myself
Such relaxing scenery and the most irritating music of all time. But thank you for the video! Helps in my decision!
Thanks for the feedback!
I quite liked the music
@@KaylaSaysRawwr you should get a hearing aid LOL
The music was great!
I liked the music - it made me laugh :-)
My wife and I used the Intex k2 for the first time today. LLanberis north Wales U.K. It was a very breezy day on the lake. Temperature was 23 degrees and very choppy. The K2 performed very well. This craft is not a kiddies toy. It performed brilliantly. Marks out of ten!! = a good Ten. It coped with waves. And you could honestly make progress against the waves. Never felt insecure in this craft. A great buy for the money. As for life at sea?That has yet to be conquered.
Nice! Glad you enjoyed it.
These are amazing kayaks! Ive had mine for 4 years and used it A LOT. I im still using it and i still love it!
does ti stay in a straight line? i get worried i will do circles or drift sideways when in sea conditions
@@hexmole8914 they come with a skeg so they track straight and are easy to steer. Ive let loads of people have a go on mine and nobody's ever had any problems with control
Hi. Looking to buy one of these one of the people using it is 5’10 or 6’. Do you think it’s too short or a good leg length?
@@jennaanderson7947 im 6ft 3 and my brother is 6ft 2 so you'll be absolutely fine!
Andy hillhouse Thank you so much!
I'm totally sold on this kayak, the music did it
The music made me think about wanting to kill myself previously. Different strokes for different folks.
Thank you, I've been looking for a kayak like this since I saw the flood waters of Hurricane Harvey. I'm not going to stranded next time. I'm getting the two seater K2 so my dog can have space.
nice
You might want to get an Excursion Pro K2
@@jennykelly4111 thank you, I'll explore that!
How did your purchase go? im looking into buying this myself is it still intact
Superb unboxing and clear, precise explanation. 98% of TH-cam 'Unboxers' should watch this to see how it's done correctly! Fully appreciate d here in the UK!
Thank you, Dennis, for the positive feedback. Much appreciated!
The first time I kayaked I used my parent's Explorer K2. It was fun but after a while it felt a bit cumbersome. My friend had a Challenger K1 and let me try it. It felt like a speedboat in comparison. It was no effort to go a lot faster than the K2 and I could turn it on a sixpence. I enjoyed it so much I bought myself one. A fantastic little boat.
Thanks for sharing! Those are great!
Great review, Colorado ! I have buyed a K1 Explorer yesterday.. I'm grateful for your explanation. Thanks !
You are welcome! Enjoy it!
Great review, very helpful and detailed. I was looking into getting 1 and this video confirmed my decision. As I am first kayaker this will be a good start up kayak 🔥
Same here
@@jordynclaus2971 did you guys get it and if so.... how's it doing?? im really really debating on getting this
@@makhahn618 no I did not😂😂
Happy music, lighthearted.. I have this kayak and am happy with it. Light, easy to pack in the van... not for white water, just for fun in sheltered areas. Easy to pump up and collapse
Glad you like the music! Thanks for watching.
You may be a first time kayaker but you did a heck of a review, you convince me to get this kayak, looks awesome! Thank you!
Thank you. Hope you enjoy it!
@@ColoradoRMN I got two for my husband and I and we loved it and it was so easy to set up thanks to your video!
I am 5’4”. This kayak is perfect for me. I recommend it for people under 5’7”. The leg room is tight even for me. You can see that in this video
Other than that, they are good for lakes and rivers with no white water and drops. The steering is also good in comparison to other inflatables.
This comment is what I was looking for.. I am 6'2''.. I guess I'll need to buy a K2 to fit. Thanks!
Novice kayaker here who doesn't want to keep paying to rent kayaks, lol. Just got this kayak on clearance, and I wanted to see it in action. It had good reviews, and it looks good in your video. I'm excited to try it out. Thanks for posting this!
I hope you love it and have a lot of fun times with it!
How did it go?
Tried kayaking for the first time a month ago in K1 and loved it! Just got my K1 few days ago.
I am looking forward to buy one this summer. First time kayaking
This kayak is great. Friends and I just got ours and have been out a few times. I just ordered an Air pump with a car adapter… The pump it comes with works great but you have to be bent over to use it so I want to relieve as much strain as possible :-) I am not a small girl and in fact I slightly exceed the weight limit, but it still works fine if that helps anyone else to decide. I figure I’m sitting on the inflatable bit on top of water (ie, not a hard surface) so I’m not going to pop the kayak! I also tried both ways: inflating the lower seat which is a separate chamber to the backrest, and leaving it flat, I’m not sure which one I like better but it’s nice to have the option). I’ve got some gorilla tape as well just in case it does get a puncture, but it comes with patches. The other day a boat went past us (friend and myself) for the first time and the waves made us bounce a bit which was rather awesome. However my husband tells me next time we need to face into the waves so it doesn’t knock us over. Luckily the waves weren’t that high! If it helps anyone decide, I’m not super sporty although I try… My balance isn’t great and like I say I’m a bigger girl, but this is working fabulously and I am loving it. Get on your local Facebook pages or kayaking websites to find a nice calm river or a lake near you, and just go for it. It Is easy to carry yourself, however my friend and I have decided will do it two of us at a time. We are both in our mid to late 40s and figure the last thing we want is to strain anything before we’ve even gotten in the kayak! Ha ha. But absolutely I recommend this kayak. Not big, not heavy, very manageable and easy to store. The paddle can be feathered or straight, the air pump works beautifully, the only extra things we need to buy are the emergency boat kit and your lifejacket. Oh and Amazon has great waterproof phone holders that come in a pack of two for your keys in your phone so… No excuse not to get out there!
Oh, and I should say I was nervous about putting the fin on… You can have it on or not… Because I didn’t want to scrape it getting into the kayak from the beach. I haven’t mastered getting in off a dock yet :-)… However I put the kayak in water probably up to my knees or thighs and I just sat back into the kayak and swing my legs around and it was all good. However I have used it without the fin. It worked fine, but you do tend to go in circles when not paddling which is sort of fun!
it's a nice little kayak that's great for small waters or calm lakes, got one last year and I really like it. For the money, it's hard to beat.
Just bought a Intex Challenger K2 very impressed Intex in my opinion is a top-notch company
Congrats! Enjoy it!
Thank you. I just ordered one today. I'm so excited to start using it.
Thanks for watching. Hope you had a chance to use it this season and enjoyed it.
It is perfect kayak for me, I am 180 cm tall and my weight is 110 kg. It works perfect, easy to row and rule.
Good to know! Enjoy it on water and have fun!
I just ordered 2 of these and expect them by this weekend. Can't wait!
Great! Enjoy it and have fun!
Great review mate I understand you did this 4 years ago but I wanted to tell you even though you probably know now. The green inflatable triangle which you keep referring to as a footrest is actually to stop water from filling the front of the kayak. However as I said you probably know this by now. Once again great review. I'm not trying to be clever as I only found this out myself recently. 👍
Thank you - it makes sense. :) I appreciate the feedback.
Looks good... I think I'll snag this for the summer time. thanks for the review!
Enjoy! Thanks for watching!
I would have liked to seen how to inflate the kayak. I that could be edited in, that would be great.
These comes with something called boston valves that helps in inflating and deflating very fast..
But obv you need an outlet *somewhere* yes?
Sweet! I just ordered one today and this video made me way more excited for it!
Hope you enjoy it!
Where did you order it from?
Jay Doshi Amazon
@@ericbarragan811 I can't seem to find it. Do you mind sending a link please?
@@jaydoshi8485 amzn.to/38eV7e4
Very good review. I just ordered this and I cannot wait for it to get here so I can get out on the lake and do some magnet fishing!
Thank you for your feedback!
Are you hapoy with the result of this boat?
Using this when fishing, watch out for the hook snap into it.
im ordering mine when i get paid tomorrow i live in aviemore and there is a really nice river near me (river spey) cant wait :)
Wow!I love the look of the kayak! I am going to buy one today!😎
C Maas yeah going to hit the lake on Thursday to test it out
@@everythingstrangerthings4488 hey! Just a question, is it awkward inflating it in public?
I’m 6 foot 1 would I be better with a k2? K2 Is loads more money that’s the trouble
Getting motion sickness watching you paddle man
Nice video the only one about single seater kayak k1.
Does it have a warranty?
Does it move wayward towards the paddle side everytime we paddle ..... This is happening with all k2 videos.
The music... 😀 As if watching Charlie Chaplin or Tom & Jerry while kayaking.....
my experience was that the little nose thing that might be referred to as a footrest really didn't function as one, which made my seating pretty awkward. I'm 5'6" and wear size 10 shoes and my feet were frequently getting compressed which made my ankles really uncomfortable. I had to remember to occasionally change the position of my feet and angle of my ankles to help relieve this. I think it's fun for casual relaxing short outings but kinda awkward for purposeful paddling. It can be done though with a bit more effort and discomfort. Certainly worth the price :)
I think it depends how much inflated it is and how you position the seat as well. For longer rides, I do change the positioning a bit so that I do not seat the same way. I think the "foot rest" also helps lifting the front a bit as well. For entry level, it is still an awesome Kayak and I still enjoy mine every time I take it on water.
After reading so many positive reviews, I am now proud owner of one. Going camping soon⛺️
I have this kayak and just tried it today. It's great, but this video seems to leave out a lot of questions I have. First, do those cardboard rings stay around the two valves or come out? I took them out. I thought it was packing material. And why wasn't the inflating demonstrated? We coped, but the instruction manual was very limited and I just made things up in terms of inflating. Explaining the business end of that pump would be GREAT.
My understanding is that the Cardboard rings were there for protection in shipping. I did not see anything in the manual that states to reuse them but that is up to you / check manual. Thank you for watching and your comment.
Thank you for this awesome review video! So helpful :) Edit to add I LOVE the music too
Thank you. Glad it was helpful!
I have the explorer k2 (yellow) two person kayak and absolutely love it love it love it. I'm interested in this kayak too for my next one. Want to get two of them so my wife and I can race. We love going out on the banana lol but we have friendly competition. She paddles faster than me to the point I can't keep up, but I paddle much longer strokes than she does. Eventually we'll see who's faster lol. As amazing as it is to go out on the k2 together, having our own separate ones could be fun as well. St the very least one, so if only one of us goes out we don't have it use the two person, though the k2 is quite roomy with just one person and holds a ton of gear if you want. Great video, thank you!
Thanks for watching - glad you liked the video. The Explorer K2 sounds fun! If you want the Challenger K1, keep an eye on it as it does go on sale on Amazon from time to time.
@@ColoradoRMN thanks for the tip!
@@Gkitchens1 It is on sale today, cyber monday.
Samuel Robinson idk why I just now got the notification of your message. Go figure I missed it lol
Getting close to getting this kayak, rather than the Challenger 2 "boat/dinghy" (which is a lot cheaper). I think I prefer this as I would like a bit more control over speed and direction as I will be taking it on sea.
May I ask, would I have room to store the pump and perhaps a bag/rucksack on the Kayak? I want to set up along the coast and paddle back about 2 miles to where I live, so need to take stuff with me. Thanks.
Would have liked to see the deflation and packing process as part of the review.
Its a great Kayak if you don't weigh much, are a bit on the short side, and speed isn't a factor. In return you get a very stable, controllable Kayak that as long as you don't puncture it, will likely get you to where you aim it on the water. It's a great learning and pleasure Kayak, but don't confuse it with having the capabilities of a rigid Kayak.
Thanks! Been researching them & had pretty much picked this one. This video helped!👍🏻
Thank you! Hope you love it as much as I do and have lots of fun with it.
its alot more comfy if you dont put much air in bottom part of seat, had this boat 3 years now.
Yes, though it depends on the person and height they want to bee of the "ground". I did take some air out of the seat and found it to be a bit of a better fit for me too.
The paddle works better if it isn't held upside down. Common error.
Thank you! Learned that quickly.
Can you clarify this? Why is it upside down?
@Writer B.L. Alley Thank you, but I don't get it at all. Is there a YT video showing the right way?
Well done review. Makes me want one even more. Just what I need to get to those hard to reach fishing spots.
Thank you for the feedback! It is an awesome kayak. I kayaked in the grand Tetons (video uploaded in my profile) and had a great time with it.
You'll have to tell me how you make out fishing in an inflatable. I'm terrified because fishing involves sharp objects.
Don't use an inflatable, I'd suggest a solo canoe.
Good video, music and all.
Thank you!
Nice video sir. Just ordered a k1... can't wait to get it!
Thanks for watching. Glad you liked the video and hope you get to enjoy the K1 as much as I do. Have Fun!
HOW DID you like it? How tall are you and how much do you weigh?
This was a tremendously helpful review. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for instruction for this small green thing 👍😉
This was really helpful :) Thank you! Going to buy one now.
Glad it was helpful!
I would have liked to see the actual inflation with that supplied pump and later the deflation. I assume one can toss this into the trunk of a car once deflated and dries out?
Thank you for watching! For inflation attach the hose and pump. :) Each person will do it at their own pace so to keep the video moving, I did not include that footage. Also, I have electric pump and it is super fast for me. Since it is not included with Kayak, I did not want to deviate from the actual items one would use. Once deflated, I wipe it down, fold it and put it in the car. No issues.
@@ColoradoRMN Thanks for all of that information
How do you remove the skeg/fin from under the kayak? Would be great if you can do a video on that. Its easy to attach but a real challenge to remove! Instruction manual isn't much help.
It does take some effort to remove it, but I think this is by design so that it does not fall off if you hit something with it (shallow water etc). I did put a little bit of silicone / or WD-40 spay to make it a bit easier.
@@ColoradoRMN You have to push two parts of the plastic mechanism in and then slide it to remove it.
I'm gonna order 2 of these for my daughters. In the spring I got my brother the K2. He loves it. He puts his 2 daughters in the front seat (they're 5 and 4 yrs old) and he can out run my hard sit on top 10.5 ft yak. I didn't know they came with the ruller to check inflation. His first trip out we didn't put enough air in it and he sagged making it extra slow. We paddled back and put more air in and it skimmed with ease.
I am sure your daughters will love it! Be careful not to over-inflate on hot/summer days when the material is more "stretchy" . I use the ruler to make sure i do not over-inflate it.
Is this good for a short female ? 5'2 and 110 pounds never kayak before
I would say yes. Can't see a reason why it would be an issue on an inflatable Kayak.
@@ColoradoRMN Thanks !
nice video . i was wondering how tall are you i been looking at this inflatable kayak but i dont know if i will be to tall for it im just over 6 ft
Thanks for watching. 5'9" here and I had extra room (with the foot-rest) so I think you should be fine.
Is it odd that I enjoyed this review so much! Thanks. The music was LOL!
Glad you liked the video and had fun with the music!
ColoradoRMN ours came in the mail today. Thanks again for the review.
Would need help to figure this out @ColoradoRMN : Bonjour! :) I have 2 questions for you : 1) Just bought a kayak and when I inflated it, I could notice that the air chambers (tubes that we see if kayak is upside down) are not all equals... I mean the tubes, for example, 1st and 2nd from the left side are not the same size once inflated to the good volume (that could be verified with the 10 cm transparent plastic ruler) of the the ''tubes'' simitrically opposed on the other side. The 1st ''tube'' from the side where there are the valves is bigger than the opposite one on the other side, and the 2nd (on the side of the valves) is smaller than the symetrically opposed ''tube''... Is it normal (maybe to balance the boat because the valve?) ? I'm not sure and I'm afraid it migh navigate badly (and cannot try it now because here, it is snowing during winter... all the water places are frozen )
Could you please verify this on your kayak to let me know if it is normal ? I tried to reach the coy (with the number in the instructions booklet but couln't get an answer... And if there is a manufactured default or problem, would like to know to return the product to Amazone before it is too late.
2) As well, to put it away, I don't know where to fold it exactly in order not to damage the kayak. Could someone be kind enough to answer me at : nancyhoule71@videotron. ca It would be greatly appreciated... Thank you very much and happy New Year!
Getting it back into the bag is an absolute nightmare (at least for me). I got rid of the bag when i accidentally tore the zipper and replaced it with a plastic tote.
I edit videos and sometimes apply music thinking it’ll work great. So I usually sit on a video for a few days and try to enter the eyes and ears of a viewer…
Soooo. Can you put another fin underneath to stop the row turning??? Also, how would this hold up for fishing?? Could you possibly stand up in it if you put a thin board down?? Does the plastic seem durable enough to last?
Can not stand in it as it is a flexible rubber / vinyl. You have to be in a seating position to spread the weight. As for fishing, it something I have done in it but if you do be super careful as you do not want to puncture anything with that hook.
Hi, nice video man ! is it possible to adjust the angle of the paddle please ???
Yes. One side has the 3 holes / options. Middle one is same for both sides. The other two are based on the angle / side you set.
okay, thank you very much !
clear explanation, great video... thank you
Thank you! Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the review
Thank you for taking the time to comment. As you can clearly tell, all my videos on my channel are from consumer point of view; all products I actually purchased myself, tested myself, and reviewed myself. Since this is the cheapest inflatable kayak on the market, my feedback is for those who, like me, are exploring this kayak. There are plenty of other "professional" you tube channels that may provide their own opinion which, hopefully, you will find more beneficial. Thanks again for stopping by. Have a great day!
At first I thought the X1 was swinging wildly right and then left every time you paddled. Then I realized that you mounted the camera to yourself and you were twisting your body every time you paddled.
Cheers buddy 🇬🇧
The music!! Lol 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I thought it was appropriate for the video. :D
Hi
Thank you for this video
I want to ask you do you think it is safe to try it alone the first time if i dont know how to swim? ( i will choose an area where I know there are a lot of kayaks so the can help if I fall down)
No - please learn to swim first. Not just for this but any kind of Kayak or water activity. Learning to swim is not hard and can safe your life in case something ever happens. Please be safe, learn to swim, then have a lot of fun.
Is this an okay size for a kid? I can’t get a good idea of the size. It looks smaller. But you said it’s 9 ft? My daughter is 7, 4’1”, 60 lbs
Compared to a hard shell kayak, in rougher waters, or slightly windier day, can it still move quickly, and if the current is pulling you out to sea, can you paddle very quickly to avoid that or is the kayak not able to handle that
Good review but I had to turn the sound down because of the music
Great video, i m 1m65, do u think there is enough space for my feet
What would you recommend - this kayak or one if those 3-2 person rafts with oars?
Will I be able to carry this from my House to the water? Its like half a mile. What can I use to bring it?
Any recommendations on a carry bag? I find the one it comes with is too flimsy and not suitable for transport
Do you need any kind of training to hit this in calm lake waters or anyone can do it. I know swimming and will b using life jackes.
No special training. Know how to swim, have life jackets, use on clam days (too windy makes it more difficult), and do not go too far until you build up experience. Have a whistle with you and always wear life jacket. Good luck and enjoy!
I wish you were more cognizant if the fact that you're wearing a camera on your head so the less/ slower the movement the better.
Thank you for the feedback; you are right! The 2nd video I did (with the K1 in the Grand Tetons) I think was a bit better. Thanks for watching.
great video very helpful
Glad it was helpful!
A great review - thanks very much (I'm sold) ;-)
Glad you found it helpful. Have fun and be safe - enjoy it!
Hi there, I wanna ask how long is this boat after fully pumped? Can I place it in my car trunk without deflating? Also, I have an electronic pumper, can I use it instead of the manual pumper?
Depending on the car. Official size listed is as "Measures 30 by 15 by 108 inches". I have a '16 Subaru Outback and can fit it inside inflated via reclining the front passenger seat and removing the headrest to give it room. Shorter cars would not be able to do so.
ColoradoRMN Thank you! I just ordered it yesterday it looks nice. Great video!
@@carbondioxide2882 You are welcome - enjoy it and have fun once you get it.
And I'm guessing I should thoroughly wash this after use in salt water
At minimum, I do dry it off using the synthetic absorbent drying towels ( like amzn.to/3CcfCXH ). They are small and compact and do a great job anytime it is in any water (salt or fresh). Very important to do if you are taking it between lakes to ensure there is no cross contamination. Good idea to wash it off as well when you are home.
@@ColoradoRMN thank u sm
Is ur life jacket in the front of the kayak cos it's not much use there
I just ordered the K1 and I’m just reading the comments about not having enough space. Would it be a problem for someone 6’1 (185 cm) and 85 kg to fit in it properly? I didn’t want to order the K2 because it would be too much space/more weight paddling solo but now I’m a little bit concerned I made the wrong choice.
I think you will be fine but I am sure by now you got the K1 and figured it all out? :)
ColoradoRMN yeah I got it but haven’t used it yet. Going on vacation next month so will be finding it out by then!
Music starts at 4:49
I’ve popped four of these in the last month. That being said, I’d probably recommend you buy it for $70 lol
Yep, mine got a hole in it the first trip out and didn’t even make it out on the water. Patched it up and second trip out it held for 2 hours but was leaking air somewhere so getting back was dicey. Gonna keep trying to patch, but not a big fan. And they were running $150+ when I bought it. :(
@@annereillylmt7047 This is scarey thought
Love the Curb Your Enthusiasm paddling music!
Hi there! I have just got this Kayak. I am wondering if it is okay to keep the kayak inflated for a few days or do you need to let the air out everytime?
I think you can - just not long term. I inflate mine to let it full dry after I use it and I also keep it inflated if I know I am going to use it again the next day. Do not keep it inflated at full capacity, however.
Where did you get the kayak from? Do you mind sending the link please?
Would it be good for fishing, want a kayak but am not able to fit one on my car but I’m worried about popping an Inflatesble
hi good vid, What the max weight of a person that it will take plz ?
220
I'm interested in buy in a action camera. Is the camera good quality before u up scaled it?
It is a good camera and given its low price point as apposed to the GoPros. The DBPOWER Action Camera (12MP 1080p) is on Amazon for $30-39; for this price point I have no complaints. You can see some other video footage I did with it on my 2 other videos driving in the snow and my Chainsaw (the part of the video when the footage/camera is attached to the chainsaw; the other footage was shot on my cell).
here you may wanna ditch the paddle and get something a bit more substantial. Whats the verdict on that folks?
Their paddle is fine. While it is may not be the best in class, I find it to be great without any issues.
When I ride this kayak i'm always falling right or left, any thoughts?
If you are seating too tall, reduce air / pressure in the seat cushion so you seat lower.
could you use it in the surf ?
The music made me laugh balls off I don't know why it was so funny. Lol
Horribly irritating, glad you like it
Like a Bennie hill soundtrack
The music reminds me of the video game Dragon Quest. 😄
Does your kayak have a label showing that it is in compliance with International Standard ISO-6185 ?
The manual states "Our kayaks comply with
ISO 6185
standard" . I am not sure if the actual kayak has the label printed on it; will look for it next time I am out on it.
The boat seems to be turning from side to side as you row
@@Karbon_Based_Life_Form Well, the high end inflatable kayaks stay straight. I guess they are more stable. I am just think whether I should buy this one. Are you happy with it?
@@polymful I've kayaked for over 20 years, have paddle over 100 different kayak models and pretty much every one of them will move from side to side with each stroke (though, an efficient forward stroke will reduce that). I 9' long, 24" wide kayak with a relatively flat hull is just not going to track as well as a true sea kayak (and certainly not as well the 17'10" long, 21" wide cedar strip kayak I built).
Thanks for the review, just bought one. Can't find the ruler though. I'm guessing the bag doesn't hold water, meaning I have to dry it before packing or bring a tub to put it in. What do you do?
The ruler is really small and clear so may be hard to find. Bag does not hold water, which is ok for it to help it dry once in it - I think it is a good thing. Once the Kayak is out of the water I drain as much of the remaning water as I can then use I use the "Absorber" synthetic drying towel (advertised to use for drying cars) which are inexpensive and it works really well. I do open it up in the garage and let it air dry once I am home / at camp site.
@@ColoradoRMN I did finally find the ruler. Found the challenger to be good on extremely calm waters, but found it interesting how waves made it bow slightly. Weird feeling. Still haven't found the solution to drying or hanging it yet, but only been on it once so far. Thanks for the response.
@@-8_8- do you still have it? I have one and I'm skeptical about the longevity
Eyes front when you've got that helmet cam on! Good review.
Will do!
The music is like everything is wrong but it actually works great
Is this ok to take in the sea or is it just for lakes ?
I used mine only on lakes so far, so cannot comment on that aspect.
Not so much a criticism but I was almost getting a headache watching the 1st few minutes of your vid- whatever camera you are using distorts the picture on the edges of the screen while you are moving the camera around jumpily! Informative vid though - didn't know about the footrest part or rear cargo area :)
Would you use it on the river, yay or nay?
Hi Stefan - I have not used it on a river yet. If it is large and calm and has little risk of rocks / sticks, one could use it. I would not use it on rivers that have higher water flows, rocks, tress / branches that stick up due to risk.
I live in Texas. We have gators and gator gars in our rivers. Down here this is a joke lol
Hope common sense is in use! Do not use this in a river with alligators, do not spill hot coffee on yourself, do not jump out of a plane without parachute. Remember to plugin your refrigerator if you want it to function right. :)
What is the musical composition playing while you are kayaking?
ColoradoRMN Ok, Thanks. I am really enjoying this kayak and your video.
Thank you! Glad you liked the video and enjoying this kayak as well. I still love mine!
That music was hilarious. It's even more funny b/c people couldn't stand it.