A very useful video for the millions of owners out there around the world. Thank you. The Intex K1/K2 has been a first kayak for many and a way for folks to get out on the water without much expense. It's amazing how often the Chinese makers neglect to put good instruction manuals in with their products. Or even any instructions at all. I bought a kayak cart and without instructions for my hard kayak, and there were fortunately many videos on YT showing the best ways to strap it on to avoid common problems. Other tips for the Intex K1/K2 kayaks. After a trip you may have difficulty opening the bottom part of the boston valve. If so, when you are opening the top of the valve counter-clockwise, don't lift off the cap. Just continue to more forcefully turn it counter-clockwise and the upper cap will then open the lower valve like a wrench would. Best also not to fully inflate the bottom of the seat as well. And if repairs are needed for any holes, there are many YT suggestions for that also. One of the better ones recommended that a circular patch of vinyl be stuck on with Loctite fabric glue.
Thank you for visiting and for your insights. The trick here was only to pack it the same way it was folded originally. So, I always follow it step by step after having taken pictures when unpacking for the first time.
Happy to help. When you unpack it for the first time, take a picture of each step of unfolding. You can't go wrong after doing that. 😉 Side note: it also works on nearly all pool loungers, mattresses, etc.
Fortunately I haven't thrown the cardboard rings out yet..gonna fish them out of recycling box. Thanks for the video this was exactly what I was looking for.
Glad you liked it. I don't think there even is another video showing how to pack the Challenger K1 away. These rings come helpful. If you lose them, substitutes can DIY'ed I guess. 😅
I'm glad to hear this way was useful for you. This way is in fact how you get it when unboxing for the first time. I took pictures of each fold so that I knew how to put it all back. BTW, these photos are available on my Instagram, and the link is in this video's description. 😉
Great video. I always wish things like this came with slightly bigger bags/boxes lol. I threw away my rings thinking they were just for packaging so I made some out of tennis balls.
I'm still not entirely sure if Intex put these rings just to protect the valve casings from deforming or to keep valves open by not allowing screws to seal them back (or both). I figured out the rings could be used this way and they just make packing the kayak away much easier.
Thank you so much! I just followed your instructions and managed to pack it exactly to the size you showed without problems. Now it's half the size I usually managed to do it 🙂. By the way, don't rely on the flimsy bag provided by the manufacturer. It'll break at the most inconvenient time. Better get yourself a bigger duffle bag or something similar, as you're probably going to have other stuff as well (like a change of clothes or similar).
I'm happy it proved helpful. For the bag, I now use this kayak maybe once or twice a year (I'll be recording my practical overview of it soon for instance or a short sea throwback trip to show what I had been doing before I started the channel) and I normally drive to my launch places so this bag is carried over 10-15m at most 😅and I keep everything else separately. This was my starter kayak and currently it doesn't need any more upgrades. 😉
Haha, thanks. I developed packing skill around 20 years ago when I used various loungers on lakes. They didn't want to fit back in their boxes until I dedicated some time just for that. 🙃 By the looks of it, this skill also proved very helpful with Intex's kayak. 😉
Anything you could stick in there and prevent valves from capping themselves would do. 😉 You want to be able to squeeze the remaining air out once the kayak is folded.
its really surprising that you managed to put it back into the box as well.... i am not even able to get the kayak inside the filmsy bag provided by Intex. I will give it a try next time... where can i get the cardboard rings ....
It's not that difficult really. I've been doing the same thing with many inflatable chairs and loungers. It is the matter of packing it the same way as it was originally when purchased. Cardboard rings come with every new kayak. If you don't have them then there is nowhere they can be had from. You might need to figure a DIY replacement out or keep checking on the bottom valve if it hasn't capped itself while folding. I also left a link to my picture guide on Instagram. Shown from a slightly better angle.
Hey Maryanne, It will be perfectly fine to pack it without those rings. The valves might just be capping/closing themselves while you're folding the boat and getting residue air might be a bit more of an exercise. That's the only thing these rings help with - to block valve screws to cover the openings. 😉
He said "the Skeg Box" meaning the 'Skeg Fin Attachment Fitting', which is integral to the bottom of Kayak. If it were broken, floor chamber would leak rendering it unusable. Ergo when folding be sure to NOT try to fold on it - fold on ether side of it - just as factory did.
A very useful video for the millions of owners out there around the world. Thank you. The Intex K1/K2 has been a first kayak for many and a way for folks to get out on the water without much expense.
It's amazing how often the Chinese makers neglect to put good instruction manuals in with their products. Or even any instructions at all. I bought a kayak cart and without instructions for my hard kayak, and there were fortunately many videos on YT showing the best ways to strap it on to avoid common problems.
Other tips for the Intex K1/K2 kayaks. After a trip you may have difficulty opening the bottom part of the boston valve. If so, when you are opening the top of the valve counter-clockwise, don't lift off the cap. Just continue to more forcefully turn it counter-clockwise and the upper cap will then open the lower valve like a wrench would. Best also not to fully inflate the bottom of the seat as well. And if repairs are needed for any holes, there are many YT suggestions for that also. One of the better ones recommended that a circular patch of vinyl be stuck on with Loctite fabric glue.
Thank you for visiting and for your insights.
The trick here was only to pack it the same way it was folded originally. So, I always follow it step by step after having taken pictures when unpacking for the first time.
Thank you! I just bought a K1 and will be using it on Saturday for the first time. Great instructions! I appreciate you sharing your knowledge.
Happy to help. When you unpack it for the first time, take a picture of each step of unfolding. You can't go wrong after doing that. 😉
Side note: it also works on nearly all pool loungers, mattresses, etc.
Fortunately I haven't thrown the cardboard rings out yet..gonna fish them out of recycling box. Thanks for the video this was exactly what I was looking for.
Glad you liked it. I don't think there even is another video showing how to pack the Challenger K1 away.
These rings come helpful. If you lose them, substitutes can DIY'ed I guess. 😅
Thank you! the cardboard rings were still in my recycle bag in my apartment. I just tried your method and omg, this was so easy and effective!
I'm glad to hear this way was useful for you. This way is in fact how you get it when unboxing for the first time. I took pictures of each fold so that I knew how to put it all back.
BTW, these photos are available on my Instagram, and the link is in this video's description. 😉
Great video. I always wish things like this came with slightly bigger bags/boxes lol. I threw away my rings thinking they were just for packaging so I made some out of tennis balls.
I'm still not entirely sure if Intex put these rings just to protect the valve casings from deforming or to keep valves open by not allowing screws to seal them back (or both).
I figured out the rings could be used this way and they just make packing the kayak away much easier.
Thank you so much! I just followed your instructions and managed to pack it exactly to the size you showed without problems. Now it's half the size I usually managed to do it 🙂. By the way, don't rely on the flimsy bag provided by the manufacturer. It'll break at the most inconvenient time. Better get yourself a bigger duffle bag or something similar, as you're probably going to have other stuff as well (like a change of clothes or similar).
I'm happy it proved helpful.
For the bag, I now use this kayak maybe once or twice a year (I'll be recording my practical overview of it soon for instance or a short sea throwback trip to show what I had been doing before I started the channel) and I normally drive to my launch places so this bag is carried over 10-15m at most 😅and I keep everything else separately.
This was my starter kayak and currently it doesn't need any more upgrades. 😉
The card board rings! Who knew.. Awesome tip.
Thank you!
Good folding skills, you should see mine when I'm done kayaking 😂
Haha, thanks. I developed packing skill around 20 years ago when I used various loungers on lakes. They didn't want to fit back in their boxes until I dedicated some time just for that. 🙃
By the looks of it, this skill also proved very helpful with Intex's kayak. 😉
My K1 didn't come with the cardboard rings.
I'll see if i can make them to fit.
Anything you could stick in there and prevent valves from capping themselves would do. 😉
You want to be able to squeeze the remaining air out once the kayak is folded.
Thanks! You rock!
its really surprising that you managed to put it back into the box as well.... i am not even able to get the kayak inside the filmsy bag provided by Intex. I will give it a try next time... where can i get the cardboard rings ....
It's not that difficult really. I've been doing the same thing with many inflatable chairs and loungers. It is the matter of packing it the same way as it was originally when purchased. Cardboard rings come with every new kayak. If you don't have them then there is nowhere they can be had from. You might need to figure a DIY replacement out or keep checking on the bottom valve if it hasn't capped itself while folding.
I also left a link to my picture guide on Instagram. Shown from a slightly better angle.
Well that was great! I can never get anything back into a box like that!
My "2/3 - 2/3" rule works on all Intex inflatables, including loungers and mattresses 🙃
Hi. Don't know about the Intex, but usually you can vacuumize your inflatable gear by using the same air pump (just using to the other hole).
Not if you have boston valves... 🙃
Thanks for this video. I bought my K1 second hand and don't have the cardboard rings. Is it OK to pack without them or will I damage the valves?
Hey Maryanne,
It will be perfectly fine to pack it without those rings. The valves might just be capping/closing themselves while you're folding the boat and getting residue air might be a bit more of an exercise. That's the only thing these rings help with - to block valve screws to cover the openings. 😉
What is the cage box is?
He said "the Skeg Box" meaning the 'Skeg Fin Attachment Fitting', which is integral to the bottom of Kayak.
If it were broken, floor chamber would leak rendering it unusable.
Ergo when folding be sure to NOT try to fold on it - fold on ether side of it - just as factory did.