The crux of this run is Mishiwaka Falls at 7:45 To anyone impressed with the performance and durability of this inflatable kayak: I feel I need to warn you that Intex's new model of Explorer K2 is not as sturdy as the old Intex Explorer K2 I used for these videos. When the design changed over the life span on the IK dropped from 2 years to 2 months (ofcourse this is with heavy use, clearly going outside of what this boat is meant for). Price did drop to about 50% of what I payed for the old model, making it more affordable. The Explorer K2 should still work well for lakes and Class II/III rivers but I would be weary about attempting the heavy use and class IV rapids seen in this video.
I've shown the video to friends who impressed by your skills and the Intex Explorer K2. Intex should send you folks a commission check. The video convinced a bunch of folks to buy the Explorer K2. Good job.
I bought mine a month ago and have at least 8 times on the water already. You guys really make me feel like I made a good purchase. It's killer watching it go through these rapids! Well done
Wow! I bought one to drift on Florida’s lazy spring fed rivers and wifey is all worried about how tough it is. I’m gonna show her this. Thanks for posting.
Hate to say it but they did a remake of that boat a few years back and the new design is a fraction of the sturdiness that the old design was. Old design would last a 2 seasons of abuse like this everytime. New design lasts 1-2 river trips like this.
I hope Intex makes this right by you :) On perhaps an average day for you- you showed these kayaks are not a joke and in the right hands- are actually rockstars. Looked like a helluva ride! Cheers.
Just got the K2 and used past weekend. Honestly can’t beat it. Less then 10 min in water. Don’t know about class 4’s for me but very impressed. Great video!
Thanks for posting this, I just bought one of these for fishing in some much calmer waters and was worried about their stability, but they look like they handled this very well, so I'm sure they'll handle calm lakes and rivers just fine for fishing.
Saw your review on Amazon. I'm impressed. I might actually buy this. Thing is, I'm not even trying to use it for something like this; just a calm river that's a bit too slow to tube. Figured a cheap kayak was the next best thing. Thanks for sharing!
@@simoncorriere8209 SO don't go by this video and think the new ones will handle it??????????????? Cuz I'm amazed a boat that price can handle that water. I'm looking for an inflatable for Class III/IV water.
Nice video.. great footage and music... Can't imagine river running in my Intex explorer.. but sure was fun to watch.. makes me much more confident in its everyday use.. and I think your river skills is what made up for floating an inflatable down a decently moving river...
right? I am taking mine out for its maiden voyage today and have been watching videos, I have seen dogs in them, and now this, really instills confidence int his Kayak
I've read that the Intex Explorer K2 is a great little starter IK for the $$$. But if you can afford an extra $120 (or so), it's beefier brother is even better - the Intex Excursion Pro K2. It's an overall great "starter plus" IK for the $$$ too. You can't go wrong with either of these babies if you're just going for a weekend of little adventures a few times a year. Nice vid =)
Gotta love this.great video and music ... I take my K 2 in the ocean and it's really a great boat. For the price. 80 bucks online about A year and half ago. W paddle. Pump and seats
@@JD-fk4qq The old model has a grey spray deck (- at the front of the kayak, as you can see in the video) The new model’s spraydeck is yellow with the Intex name on it.
Innanzitutto complimenti per il video...ho appena acquistato l' Intex explorer k2 per 124€ su Amazon..avevo fatto un po' di ricerche e mi era sembrato un buon prodotto in rapporto qualità-prezzo, sempre considerato il prezzo base e lo sconto.. pensavo che fosse giusto un giocattolo con il quale sperare di farlo durare per una vacanza..voi avete mostrato invece che con 124€ ho effettuato l'acquisto del secolo mettendolo a dura prova sulle rapide..ed un giocattolo non resiste a tali sollecitazioni..quindi se già prima ero convinto immaginate adesso..grazie ed un saluto dall' Italia 🇮🇹
Nice video. Thanks. BTW... these boats are now (08/2022) $160+ on Amazon! ...Just sayin'. I've paddled five or six of my local class II-III(IV) whitewater rivers in rafts and inflatable kayaks (IK's) for over 30 years, and have literally owned a score or more of them. They have ranged in price from $50 to over $4,000 each. I currently own six IK's - two inexpensive "department store" vinyl ones that are older but very similar in size, design, construction and materials to the Intex Explorer K2, and I have four, $500 self-bailing, whitewater ones made of thick, fabric-enforced PVC. I picked the latter ones up about 7 years ago for a tremendous discount during a spectacular and rare clearance event. (I also have a couple of hard plastic kayaks, but that is for another video.) In whitewater I like to paddle the inexpensive vinyl kayaks as well as any. They usually don't self bail, but they do ride high and dry and therefore will usually only need to be dumped a few times on an average trip. I also like the way the vinyl ones handle. They are light, quick to accelerate or spin, and are very forgiving. They rarely ever pitch anybody into the river, even in the teeth of the worst rapids. This isn't as cut and dried with every IK. Even some of the most brutally expensive, purpose-built, Hypalon and PVC whitewater self-bailers I've owned or used over the years weren't nearly as nice and confidence-inspiring to paddle as some of the cheapest ones, and some will ceremoniously hurl you into the drink at the slightest mistake. The finest single inflatable boat-related accessory I ever purchased was a small, cordless Makita blower, Model DUB182 and a set of cheap, plastic valve nozzles that happen to fit over the rubber tube. It inflates them on the river bank in mere seconds each, and it gets them plenty firm enough to just jump in and shove off (it also clears the driveway of grass clippings and does lots of other things). I have filled six or more boats at a time with it and have never run out of battery. It also completely deflates them for quick, compact and easy packing when you're done. It doesn't like the tiny "mouth-type" valves on cheap pool floats and some kayak seats, but any other type of valve is pure cake. I take a small hand pump on the river in a dry bag just in case, along with a repair kit and duct tape, but have only had to use these things a time or two across 3 decades and well over a thousand individual boat-miles. With inflatables, you just have to be aware of the fact that it can be punctured, and treat them accordingly. They can take the usual knocks and scrapes on the river, but do try to be careful in the shallows and don't scrape them against things any more than you have to. Don't stand in them when gravel or rocks are under you, whether in the shallows or on the bank. And I NEVER drag my IK's on the ground - anywhere - nor do I allow friends and guests to do so. Always pick your boats up and carry them. This is especially true at put-ins and take-outs where sticks, thorns, sharp rocks, broken glass etc is a possibility. Whether or not I can actually see any of these hazards has nothing at all to do with it. This is a chance you simply don't have to take, so don't. And NEVER EVER over-inflate them. If in doubt about this, err on the side of caution and leave them a little soft. Believe me, you'll still be fine. You might even get used to the feel of it and learn to think nothing of it. Okay, If you haven't picked up on it yet, I am a bit anal about taking care of my boats. This is why one of my IK's is still going strong after 20 years and hundreds of river miles, though it cost me only $75 at the time of purchase! And every day some careless bonehead is online complaining about getting a hole in the side and blaming the boat! Somehow I just can't sympathize with most of them. In 30 years I've had one cheap boat fail because of a factory defect, and it went straight back to the place of purchase for a cheerful and complete refund. Anyway, sorry to go on and on. I just got completely into the video. Thanks again, and paddle on!
Ralph, thank you Brother for sharing your wisdom & extensive experience with IKs for all us newbies ! Just got my basic Intex Challenger K1 and hit the lake today for the maiden voyage - very successful ! Q: when in river rapids with rocks are you using it with, or without the Skeg ? Thank you - David in Texas
@@psalm2forliberty577 Skegs are for straight line speed on lakes and class 1 rivers. They will cause you grief in most any kind of whitewater, where rocks, waves, holes and shallow ledges abound. Here a skeg will catch on things and prevent the quick turns and maximum maneuverability that is needed to avoid such obstacles in moving water.
...skegs will also get "grabbed" by swirling underwater currents in whitewater and abruptly pull you in unexpected directions. This is unnerving at best, and at worst will sometimes even dump you. I'd definitely keep the skeg and use it on flatwater though.
@@ralphcantrell3214 Ok great to know ! Do you think using the Skeg when it could hit rocks (low river level or rapids) poses a danger - like have you seen one get hit & RIP a hole in the boat ? Or do they just get mangled ?
@@psalm2forliberty577 Yes, in whitewater a skeg will grab on all sorts of things, and this could even damage the boat. You can't beat a skeg in still water though, as long as it isn't too shallow. A skeg makes a boat want to go straight, and gives you the most speed and distance per paddle stroke.
The INTEX EXPLORER 2 ain't no pool toy! It is a very durable and well made craft! I haven't taken mine on rapids like this but I would take my Intex anywhere on the planet (except deep ocean water) in an instant without any fear of gear failure.
I use the INTEX K1 in up to class II rapids and am not at all worried about it. Not the most manuverable kayak (wants to scoot out from under you if you have to turn 90 degrees to a really fast flow), but it's much better made than I ever expected and two of them fit in the very small trunk of my car. This month we're taking them through the Etowah Mine tunnel. It will the first time I'll be able to use some of my caving gear (helment/camera/light) and kayak class two rapids in the dark lol....
Nice line fella! 👏 I’m looking to grab one of the new models and will be using it to paddle about my local bay and river on high tide. I take it it should be fine? I’m not looking to drag over rocks or put it through it’s paces or anything mainly chilled use such as lazy paddling and sunny days on the bay.
Completely off topic but damn I love that song. 😎 Ooh and I got the Explorer K2 as well since a few weeks ago, only used it on still water here in my hometown in Lokeren, Belgium
Howdy - great video thanks ! Q: are you using tge detachable Skeg (bottom fin, newbies) in these rapids ? I was wondering how sturdy is the Skeg & its attachment point to boat - is there danger to rip it off & create hole in boat ? Love to hear input from anyone with experience !
@@StoutAdventureCo 100% for sure. I'm in East Texas where we have mainly lazy rivers like the Neches and freshwater lakes. Rapids are a distant 💭 thought. Just nice to know these modest boats aren't a total joke. I just did my first Lake trip it fud very well - I thought, given my lack of context. My hands were a bit raw I paddled probably 1.5-2 miles. Are there better quality collapsible oar with a comfort grip or not ? Now I'm in Emerald Coast Florida to try it here. Your time & feedback are much appreciated 👍🙂
Class 3 and 4? Holy crap! That's impressive for cheap inflatable kayaks. I generally paddle a 17' handbuilt mahogany and fiberglass greenland style sea kayak, but I wanted to drag my wife out on the water and thinking about a cheap tandem inflatable from Amazon. I was trying to decide between the Explorer K2 or Challenger K2 for mostly calm lakes and maybe class 2 /3. The Challenger is slightly longer and narrower, so probably better for tracking /cruising speed, but the shape of the Explorer looks better for waves and rapids. Do you need the skeg for tracking in calm water?
Phrancis5 explorer is slow on flat water and skeg is recommended in flat water but never in white water, I finally got a real deal white water IK after having so much fun on thia guy but this was great for learning on and thank you for the comment
I was just trying to find videos on TH-cam because I’m planning a river trip soon. Both myself and my two sons on a K2 each. I’m going to be upgrading to a C eagle soon to tackle some more serious Whitewater but I’ve easily gone over class one and class two rapids in this inflatable kayak. It’s a little bit federally to have to take out an in-flight but it’s a hell of a lot easier than having to put the kayak on a rack and carry it everywhere. I like my inflatable kayak for a lot of reasons. I’ll keep a patch kit and a portable pump And it anytime I go kayaking and I get my kids and myself to practice flipping over and crawling back in out of the water. It’s pretty good because it takes a lot of kit if you want to go camping or fishing etc. I wouldn’t dare take it over class for rapid but my hats go off to you for having balls to do this. Great video. Keep on paddling. :-)
Thank you, best real white water inflatable kayak is the Aire Solo Tomcat Tributary @ $700. Check out my other vids, they have roll handles on the belly so getting back in is not that hard. th-cam.com/video/8-KMq8ESnc4/w-d-xo.html
Rolland Deschain why would you say that is the best one? I was looking at a sea eagle sport or maybe a 370 or even a 380 they do get a little bit pricey though. I was looking at them because they have been around for such a long time and offer at least a three-year guarantee and also have been rated for a class III in class for Rapids. That being said, I am really damned impressed that you took an InTEXT K2 over class III and four rapids. That took a little bit of craziness and a whole lot of guts. I’ve only been over class one and class two rapids in mine But I also have been over class one and class two rapids in an innertube made by insects. It’s just made for river floating it was called a river runner. It was purely by accident that we went over rapids in these things. We were caught on the river during a thunderstorm which got nasty. My kids were really freaked out by it. Fortunately I got everybody out at the first available chance and got them to safety. A river in the mountains can swell up and get very angry and very fast very quickly. So tell me why this other one you suggested is the best one. If I’m going to make an investment I’m definitely Open to hearing real life feedback from people who have used them.
I really don't know much about the Sea Eagle but I was under the impression that it is more geared for flat water use. The Aire Tomcat Tributary is specifically designed for use in high class white water and is the cheapest inflatable you will find inside most white water shops. Even though it is cheaper than other inflatable white water kayaks, it can handle pretty much anything the user can until you start getting into tough class V rapids with holes capable of folding any small inflatable in half. The Aire Tomcat has fetures included that specifically make it suited for high class white water. It has 4 mesh ports which measure to around 12"x 2" each and allows even a full boats worth of water that comes over the top to be drained in seconds. I love the 20 or so attachment rings on the floor, that allow seat adjustment, foot brace installation and adjustment and leg strap installation and adjustment. All of which will help you customize and control your boat as white water currents attempt the flip you. If you do flip the handles on the center bottom of the boat can be used to hold on and stay up out of the water if the rapid is fierce. Once you get a moment of calm or even in fierce rapids you can use the handles on the bottom to flip the boat and re enter your inflatable without ever getting to the side to get back in.
@@StoutAdventureCo that's a shame 😠 they changed it so it wasn't black on the seats but made it weaker. Either way it's alright I'll only be using it on a fairly calm lake. Wind will be my biggest issue.
@@StoutAdventureCo I picked it up today and took it out on the water for a few hours. My first time on a kayak and I absolutely LOVED it. Really amazing and totally different than all other inflatable boats I've ever used. I think I'm hooked!
@@StoutAdventureCo one thing I did notice, is if I stopped padlding for a minute or two it would always turn to orient with the wind and waves even when in a super calm water with very little wind, and unless I'm paddling wrong which I probably am, it has pretty huge swings from wide to side as I paddle.
Kayaks, especially inflatables that sit high on the water, are very prone to windvaning. The wind and waves will turn the lighter end of the kayak away. The solution is to put more weight at the front end, so that the back of the boat stays behind you! On the other hand, putting more weight in the back of the boat is better when going WITH the wind and waves. Shifting your seat forward when solo, or putting the heavier paddler in front will keep you pointed into the wind and waves better. So, shift your weigh and balance your load accordingly.
Thanks for the video, I am taking mine out today for its first use, wont be anything this rough, calm lake :p - but it is nice to know it can handle this - awesome job, though i think it would have been cool if we could hear you guys reacting :P
I am wanting to get this for a lake. Thanks for posting the video! Do you have a picture of the box you can send me? I am confused on what you mean by newer model vs older model? If you have a picture or can link me to a picture I’d love to see if maybe I can find the older model anywhere
The new one doesn’t last three days; the old one lasted two years! That says it all! I have two of the new ones and one got a puncture just from transporting it ten miles in the van. I have no idea how it happened but I wouldn’t trust these further than I could swim to land. I always, always carry the air pump and wear my PFD every moment. I am always worried about poking it on a rock or branch. Does anyone know how to spot the better quality older ones? Might be a good used kayak purchase.
Glad to hear someone else agrees with how I feel about the new models. Unfortunately the old models are all years old since the manufacturing date now and even if never used before I supsect the material is probably aged to the point of being just as flimsy as the new ones, but hey that is just a guess. Old model had a totally different pattern printed on them, same color scheme but easy to tell the difference.
Wow. You’re right! The graphics are very different. The older K2 has black seats; the newer has gray. The older has Explorer K2 The newer just has Explorer The older has Solid color graphics The newer has a “Broken bricks” design Buyer Beware! I see some current sellers using the old pictures! Is this truly what they are shipping or are you getting the cheaper newer design? Who knows?
Thank you so much for posting this. I love my explorer for fishing but wasn't sure if it would handle any whitewater. You really put it to the test! I'm assuming you didn't have the skeg on. It looks as though it responded well though. LOVE THIS VID!!!!
No skeg for White Water. Had a few old models that worked great, they tended to stay intact after 2 years of scraping rocks on the river. New models are not as sturdy and rarely make it to day 3 of use in white water.
@@StoutAdventureCo are you saying the older intex explorer was of better quality? I've just ordered an excursion pro and was hoping to be able to do some white water kayaking this summer. It is suppose to be off higher build quality then the explorer but i don't know if that says much if the quality had decreased.
Try putting a bunch of coats of flex seal on the bottom and see how it looks after a run. For more durability, hot glue a piece of canvas to the bottom and flex seal over that.
@@freegee3503 i totalt missed this replay. I was out in a creek before the spring flood and me and a friend(it's a two sitter) pushed our way over lots of rocks in very shallow water and I'm happy to report it held up very well! Haven't really pushed my luck over rocks in the same manner since then. Might try something this weekend.
Do you install the seat at all? I tried whitewater kayaking with my k2 and put the seat strap in the forward position but use the rear velcro. It's okay but after flipping the seat bounces around...
yeah, great video. seems like this is your thing. any thoughts on the intex excursion pro being better suited for class 4 rapids? i'd imagine doing it only on occasion? thanks.
did you guys have your rudders in, Im thinking the rocks would knock it off? I just bought the k2 challenger cant wait to do this, i better get a helmet haha
@@StoutAdventureCoHi I broke my skeg with big hole on rocks maybe you fix your kayak how to fix it could you give me some tips ? Or put it to trash bin
Tiffany Decker I guess I should start by saying that this is not really a white water inflatable but there are no true white water inflatables even near the price range of the intex explorer With that being said it is a great kayak, this weekend a guy with 0 white water experience took on some class III rapids for his first river run ever, it was the guy in the intex explorer and another guy in a cheap ducky that stayed in the boat and me and my buddy in $600 aire tomcat tributary white water kayaks both took a swim, so it works pretty good with all things considered Expect to pull to the side and empty the boat after any big rapids and if not cared for it will get holes after a few seasons I would recomend it for a cheap option for a few seasons but you will probably want to upgrade down the road
Padillac is a beast that will last decades on the river if well taken care of. Intex explorer is surprisingly stable. I went into some issues with the last manufacturing I tried out years ago in the pinned comment of description or something.
Any issues with with punctures? I was thinking about picking one up. Im and doing a 30 mile paddle trip down a class 2 stream with a friend. I have a Zoik Big Ego. Was going to let me friend use this but I am a little worried about punctures. The section of river we are running is a low runnable level listed by americanwhitewater.org
Todd Wooten I always use to recommend these and all the ones I had lasted 2 years before I had any issues with holes but the last one I ordered had a new paint job and slightly different layout and it appears the new design is not as durable, the new one lasted 1 lake trip and 2 white water trips and by the end of the 2nd white water trip I had a hole in the floor of the boat I won't be ordering another intex explorer now that they have changed the design but it might get you through the trip
Hello sir, i had a question. I want to buy an inflatable kayak to ise it on a rapid class 2 for one person what can i buy there are stones And the water is not that deep. But want a good inflatable kayak thats not that expensive
serhat oksuz the intex explorer is the cheapest feasible option I know of One major downside are that the singular drainage port is not sufficient in draining the boat so any rapids that come over the side of the boat will have to be dumped out on shore A secondary downside is that the intex is sturdy but not super sturdy, my original 3 intex each lasted 2 years of heavy use and abuse, but they remade the boat recently and it seems to be weaker, the last one got a hole after the combination of 1 lake trip and 2 white water trips, meaning it lasted less then a month
Thanks for the answer !, so what do you prefer me to buy i want to go next week somewhere with friends And what to buy an inflatable kayak budget is between 100-250€
serhat oksuz I always use to recommend the intex explorer but like I said, the last one I got did not last nearly as long and that is a bit of a deal breaker for me, all in all it is the only inflatable in that price range that I have purchased that I would recomend for use in white water, sorry I could not be more help
Sam Rashidi the challenger does not have drain holes and would be a little less qualified for white water. They redesigned the explorer and it seems to be made less sturdy then the old design. Old one lasted 10 or more white water trips, new one lasted 2 and because of that I would no longer recommend the explorer for even class III white water.
I can understand why. For all the awesome features of this kayak, if you don't have the skeg in on a lazy river or lake the tracking is terrible. In the example videos here I would suggest the kayak is being run more like a single person raft than kayak, with aggressive compensation for direction by the person paddling. The skeg has been the only drag (pun implied) in owning this kayak as far as getting it down shallow rivers and over deadfall/rocks. Thanks for posting these videos!
I am not well versed on "good storage" but from what I understand partially inflated, out of sunlight and around room temperature with little flux in the temp and dry over humid are aome of the more important things for "best" storage mine were kept either rolled up in my car or car toper or rolled up at home. They experienced extremes in temperatures and being tossed around roughly. still they lasted a whole season every time but by the second season they were full of tiny holes, not on the bottom where impacts are taken but on the sides where a tip in the role had been worn through I got some nicer inflatables now, I do roll them but they are stored indoors at a pretty consistent temp and moved around gently, after use wash them off before storage and at end of season it is wise to use a raft cleaning spray (local shops use 303) and when I take them out for adventures I try to never have them in the sun unless I am using them on the water and try to keep my car cool when they are packed in there. sorry I cant be more help but that's abiut all thw knowledge I have gatgeres of inflatable kayak cleaning
Hello, maybe you can help me in a question. I've bought an Explorer K2, and the internal valve of the chamber of the floor is leaking. The superior cover stops the leaking, but I feel this is not right, is it?
Sounds detective to me, unfortunately the Intex Eplorer has fone down in quality over the years. They changed the design and the new model is not nearly as sturdy.
No,no,no. You must bought a kayak for 15K dollars. With a red diamond button and catapult, for the sending a help sygnal by satellite transmitter and for rapid rescue.
Lol, well this use to be enough kayak to get you through easier class IV rapids. Their remake is far less sturdy and I do not suggest it for white water.
cheranguista old design was stury and would last a few seasons of abuse on white water and lake, making between 10-20 river trips and 10-20 lake trips and was great for up to class III, it would not port well so some big rapids would fill it up and would required docking to drain them New design is not sturdy and lasted 1 lake trip and 1 river trip and then got a hole on the 3rd river trip, so it lasted less then a month which is not long enough to make it worth it to me, not to mention the pain of dealing with a flat boat in the mountains, they messed up the cheapest river inflatbale on the market
Rolla Stout Did they stop selling the old design by replacing it with with the same model name, or is it possible to find the old one online still? I was about to purchase one, but not if it’s poor quality now.
I had one of these things and it wouldn’t even stay up right with me in it granted I weigh 230ibs but gave it to a kid and it barely worked for him guess I got a bad one
I feel I should warn you that their new model is not as sturdy as the old Intex Explorer I used for these videos. Life span dropped from 2 years to 2 months with river use when the design changed over, but price did drop to 50% what I payed for the old model as well.
Bob Builder I love it, porting is the biggest issue as it fills with water and does not deal. fast enough so you have to get out and dump it if you dare go down class 3 or 4 in it, it is slow and has little maneuverability in the morr hectic waters and you have to store it gently, but I never put a single hole in one from the river, lots of holes from bad storage though so watch out! patches hold great if you use stabond and pvc, good one lakes but very slow uploaded a video of me doing pineview rapid (class 4), of the poudre canyon, in my new ducky but my buddy is right behind me in the Yellow Intex Explorer he bought for $70, I told him he would exit the rapid swimming but he didn't
Extremely impressed. Wife and I want something to tow behind our sailboat, not for emergencies but just to explore islands and calm riivers. Think this will do. Thanks for the video.
You do not put anything on the floor of the kayak. You put your back pack across the front. then when you are over rocks you bridge your body on the sides with your two legs and arms. All your gear in garbage bags and tied to the kayak in case you capsize. Get out and swim with the kayak. Protect it because it can be your lifeline to survival. Iguana
The crux of this run is Mishiwaka Falls at 7:45
To anyone impressed with the performance and durability of this inflatable kayak: I feel I need to warn you that Intex's new model of Explorer K2 is not as sturdy as the old Intex Explorer K2 I used for these videos.
When the design changed over the life span on the IK dropped from 2 years to 2 months (ofcourse this is with heavy use, clearly going outside of what this boat is meant for).
Price did drop to about 50% of what I payed for the old model, making it more affordable. The Explorer K2 should still work well for lakes and Class II/III rivers but I would be weary about attempting the heavy use and class IV rapids seen in this video.
What model of the explorer you have?
I've shown the video to friends who impressed by your skills and the Intex Explorer K2. Intex should send you folks a commission check. The video convinced a bunch of folks to buy the Explorer K2. Good job.
I bought mine a month ago and have at least 8 times on the water already. You guys really make me feel like I made a good purchase. It's killer watching it go through these rapids! Well done
Hey man, is the new or the old model?
This is awesome! We used to run rivers in cheap inflatables. It is fun! Brought back many crazy memories of good times. Thanks for posting.
I was skeptical on getting one of these for lake/calm river fishing, but after seeing it nail these rapids I’m sold. I can’t wait to try it out.
Just a warning, new model is not as sturdy
Wow! I bought one to drift on Florida’s lazy spring fed rivers and wifey is all worried about how tough it is. I’m gonna show her this. Thanks for posting.
Hate to say it but they did a remake of that boat a few years back and the new design is a fraction of the sturdiness that the old design was.
Old design would last a 2 seasons of abuse like this everytime. New design lasts 1-2 river trips like this.
Read my pinned comment
I hope Intex makes this right by you :) On perhaps an average day for you- you showed these kayaks are not a joke and in the right hands- are actually rockstars. Looked like a helluva ride! Cheers.
Thanks friend, how did you find this video? I never figured out why this video gets so many views compared to my others.
@@StoutAdventureCo Searching for reviews on the kayak.
Just got the K2 and used past weekend. Honestly can’t beat it. Less then 10 min in water. Don’t know about class 4’s for me but very impressed. Great video!
Are you taking this on class 2/3?
just purchased our intex, taking it out today for the maiden voyage!
Thanks for posting this, I just bought one of these for fishing in some much calmer waters and was worried about their stability, but they look like they handled this very well, so I'm sure they'll handle calm lakes and rivers just fine for fishing.
How is it so far man?
@@rinor9987 they are pretty good man
Saw your review on Amazon. I'm impressed. I might actually buy this. Thing is, I'm not even trying to use it for something like this; just a calm river that's a bit too slow to tube. Figured a cheap kayak was the next best thing. Thanks for sharing!
Just a warning, new model is not as sturdy
Same here
@@StoutAdventureCo what model# is the old one please?
@@777sgiles they discontinued the old one and now they only sell the new version.
@@simoncorriere8209 SO don't go by this video and think the new ones will handle it???????????????
Cuz I'm amazed a boat that price can handle that water. I'm looking for an inflatable for Class III/IV water.
Aawesome video which shows that the Explorer is up to the task! Thanks!!
This video convinced me to buy this kayak. Now I have two of the doubles. Thanks for posting!!!
Just a warning, new model is not as sturdy
@@StoutAdventureCo is the new model still good ?
Nice video.. great footage and music... Can't imagine river running in my Intex explorer.. but sure was fun to watch.. makes me much more confident in its everyday use.. and I think your river skills is what made up for floating an inflatable down a decently moving river...
right? I am taking mine out for its maiden voyage today and have been watching videos, I have seen dogs in them, and now this, really instills confidence int his Kayak
Just a warning, new model is not as sturdy
@@StoutAdventureCo and costs more 😞 ordered mine yesterday too.. hopefully be okay for easy use. Epic runs in the video!
@@StoutAdventureCo do you know what has changed in the new model? Material isn't as thick or something?
I've read that the Intex Explorer K2 is a great little starter IK for the $$$. But if you can afford an extra $120 (or so), it's beefier brother is even better - the Intex Excursion Pro K2. It's an overall great "starter plus" IK for the $$$ too. You can't go wrong with either of these babies if you're just going for a weekend of little adventures a few times a year. Nice vid =)
jesus christ lol, that was epic. next up should be one of those yellow ducky float rings!
My thoughts exactly, or maybe an inflatable mattress XD
Just bought one. Thanks for video
Gotta love this.great video and music ... I take my K 2 in the ocean and it's really a great boat. For the price. 80 bucks online about A year and half ago. W paddle. Pump and seats
lol didn't realize how capable my K2 really is
The old model was better, read the video description for more info
@@StoutAdventureCo How do we know which is the old and which is the old model ?
@@StoutAdventureCo what specifically made the old one better? I've seen people add 0.5mm pond liner strips to the bottom for added protection.
@@JD-fk4qq The old model has a grey spray deck (- at the front of the kayak, as you can see in the video) The new model’s spraydeck is yellow with the Intex name on it.
Thanks for sharing, I was thinking of getting one for my kids to screw around on local lakes but good to know they can handle some rapids!
Just a warning, new model is not as sturdy
Bought mine today ...first time out in the waters.....hopefully I enjoy it like everyone being in water and nature
fatkiddeals?
I've been renting a tandem for years for the Colorado when I had this at home thinking it wasn't good enough!
After watching this video, I’m surely taking my k2 explorer deer hunting !!!
Thanks for the video! I've got the Intex Challenger K1 and was unsure if it could handle white water
Innanzitutto complimenti per il video...ho appena acquistato l' Intex explorer k2 per 124€ su Amazon..avevo fatto un po' di ricerche e mi era sembrato un buon prodotto in rapporto qualità-prezzo, sempre considerato il prezzo base e lo sconto.. pensavo che fosse giusto un giocattolo con il quale sperare di farlo durare per una vacanza..voi avete mostrato invece che con 124€ ho effettuato l'acquisto del secolo mettendolo a dura prova sulle rapide..ed un giocattolo non resiste a tali sollecitazioni..quindi se già prima ero convinto immaginate adesso..grazie ed un saluto dall' Italia 🇮🇹
Guess I need to get my k2 out of calm waters...this video is awesomely reassuring of this kayak's ability
Nice video. Thanks. BTW... these boats are now (08/2022) $160+ on Amazon! ...Just sayin'.
I've paddled five or six of my local class II-III(IV) whitewater rivers in rafts and inflatable kayaks (IK's) for over 30 years, and have literally owned a score or more of them. They have ranged in price from $50 to over $4,000 each. I currently own six IK's - two inexpensive "department store" vinyl ones that are older but very similar in size, design, construction and materials to the Intex Explorer K2, and I have four, $500 self-bailing, whitewater ones made of thick, fabric-enforced PVC. I picked the latter ones up about 7 years ago for a tremendous discount during a spectacular and rare clearance event. (I also have a couple of hard plastic kayaks, but that is for another video.)
In whitewater I like to paddle the inexpensive vinyl kayaks as well as any. They usually don't self bail, but they do ride high and dry and therefore will usually only need to be dumped a few times on an average trip. I also like the way the vinyl ones handle. They are light, quick to accelerate or spin, and are very forgiving. They rarely ever pitch anybody into the river, even in the teeth of the worst rapids. This isn't as cut and dried with every IK. Even some of the most brutally expensive, purpose-built, Hypalon and PVC whitewater self-bailers I've owned or used over the years weren't nearly as nice and confidence-inspiring to paddle as some of the cheapest ones, and some will ceremoniously hurl you into the drink at the slightest mistake.
The finest single inflatable boat-related accessory I ever purchased was a small, cordless Makita blower, Model DUB182 and a set of cheap, plastic valve nozzles that happen to fit over the rubber tube. It inflates them on the river bank in mere seconds each, and it gets them plenty firm enough to just jump in and shove off (it also clears the driveway of grass clippings and does lots of other things). I have filled six or more boats at a time with it and have never run out of battery. It also completely deflates them for quick, compact and easy packing when you're done. It doesn't like the tiny "mouth-type" valves on cheap pool floats and some kayak seats, but any other type of valve is pure cake. I take a small hand pump on the river in a dry bag just in case, along with a repair kit and duct tape, but have only had to use these things a time or two across 3 decades and well over a thousand individual boat-miles.
With inflatables, you just have to be aware of the fact that it can be punctured, and treat them accordingly. They can take the usual knocks and scrapes on the river, but do try to be careful in the shallows and don't scrape them against things any more than you have to. Don't stand in them when gravel or rocks are under you, whether in the shallows or on the bank. And I NEVER drag my IK's on the ground - anywhere - nor do I allow friends and guests to do so. Always pick your boats up and carry them. This is especially true at put-ins and take-outs where sticks, thorns, sharp rocks, broken glass etc is a possibility. Whether or not I can actually see any of these hazards has nothing at all to do with it. This is a chance you simply don't have to take, so don't. And NEVER EVER over-inflate them. If in doubt about this, err on the side of caution and leave them a little soft. Believe me, you'll still be fine. You might even get used to the feel of it and learn to think nothing of it.
Okay, If you haven't picked up on it yet, I am a bit anal about taking care of my boats. This is why one of my IK's is still going strong after 20 years and hundreds of river miles, though it cost me only $75 at the time of purchase! And every day some careless bonehead is online complaining about getting a hole in the side and blaming the boat! Somehow I just can't sympathize with most of them. In 30 years I've had one cheap boat fail because of a factory defect, and it went straight back to the place of purchase for a cheerful and complete refund.
Anyway, sorry to go on and on. I just got completely into the video. Thanks again, and paddle on!
Ralph, thank you Brother for sharing your wisdom & extensive experience with IKs for all us newbies !
Just got my basic Intex Challenger K1 and hit the lake today for the maiden voyage - very successful !
Q: when in river rapids with rocks are you using it with, or without the Skeg ?
Thank you - David in Texas
@@psalm2forliberty577 Skegs are for straight line speed on lakes and class 1 rivers. They will cause you grief in most any kind of whitewater, where rocks, waves, holes and shallow ledges abound. Here a skeg will catch on things and prevent the quick turns and maximum maneuverability that is needed to avoid such obstacles in moving water.
...skegs will also get "grabbed" by swirling underwater currents in whitewater and abruptly pull you in unexpected directions. This is unnerving at best, and at worst will sometimes even dump you. I'd definitely keep the skeg and use it on flatwater though.
@@ralphcantrell3214
Ok great to know !
Do you think using the Skeg when it could hit rocks (low river level or rapids) poses a danger - like have you seen one get hit & RIP a hole in the boat ?
Or do they just get mangled ?
@@psalm2forliberty577 Yes, in whitewater a skeg will grab on all sorts of things, and this could even damage the boat. You can't beat a skeg in still water though, as long as it isn't too shallow. A skeg makes a boat want to go straight, and gives you the most speed and distance per paddle stroke.
The INTEX EXPLORER 2 ain't no pool toy! It is a very durable and well made craft! I haven't taken mine on rapids like this but I would take my Intex anywhere on the planet (except deep ocean water) in an instant without any fear of gear failure.
0LAF2046 th-cam.com/video/D8RbL7LKc1Q/w-d-xo.html
0LAF2046 th-cam.com/video/kuj-5Kcm3Iw/w-d-xo.html
0LAF2046 best $100 IK I know of, just be careful if you take it on the river
Wow! That WipeOut Video was intense! Thanks for sharing!
0LAF2046 until you hit a sharp object like a rock then you're fucked
Tough thing yeah? I got Explorer K2 and Excursion Pro K1. it seems like a lovely family activity
You've sold me on the Intex... 😁
Just a warning, new model is not as sturdy
I use the INTEX K1 in up to class II rapids and am not at all worried about it. Not the most manuverable kayak (wants to scoot out from under you if you have to turn 90 degrees to a really fast flow), but it's much better made than I ever expected and two of them fit in the very small trunk of my car. This month we're taking them through the Etowah Mine tunnel. It will the first time I'll be able to use some of my caving gear (helment/camera/light) and kayak class two rapids in the dark lol....
Awesome skills!
Nice line fella! 👏
I’m looking to grab one of the new models and will be using it to paddle about my local bay and river on high tide. I take it it should be fine? I’m not looking to drag over rocks or put it through it’s paces or anything mainly chilled use such as lazy paddling and sunny days on the bay.
Hey, excellent .. greetings from Colombia
Completely off topic but damn I love that song. 😎 Ooh and I got the Explorer K2 as well since a few weeks ago, only used it on still water here in my hometown in Lokeren, Belgium
Be gentle with it, the new models are not as sturdy as the old ones I used in my videos
Rolland Deschain Ok, thanks for the warning, shouldn’t be a problem as I only use it in still waters. :)
Howdy - great video thanks !
Q: are you using tge detachable Skeg (bottom fin, newbies) in these rapids ?
I was wondering how sturdy is the Skeg & its attachment point to boat - is there danger to rip it off & create hole in boat ?
Love to hear input from anyone with experience !
@@psalm2forliberty577 don't use the skeg, I'd get a better boat unless it's an area where tubers frequent without pfd and helmet.
@@StoutAdventureCo
100% for sure.
I'm in East Texas where we have mainly lazy rivers like the Neches and freshwater lakes.
Rapids are a distant 💭 thought.
Just nice to know these modest boats aren't a total joke.
I just did my first Lake trip it fud very well - I thought, given my lack of context.
My hands were a bit raw I paddled probably 1.5-2 miles.
Are there better quality collapsible oar with a comfort grip or not ?
Now I'm in Emerald Coast Florida to try it here.
Your time & feedback are much appreciated 👍🙂
Looks really fun
That was really cool. I guess I know what kayak I am getting. At least I know what company. Thanks
Excellent, thanks for sharing
Just a warning, new model is not as sturdy
Now that looks like fun!!!
Спасибо за видео 👍
Awesome video
Class 3 and 4? Holy crap! That's impressive for cheap inflatable kayaks. I generally paddle a 17' handbuilt mahogany and fiberglass greenland style sea kayak, but I wanted to drag my wife out on the water and thinking about a cheap tandem inflatable from Amazon. I was trying to decide between the Explorer K2 or Challenger K2 for mostly calm lakes and maybe class 2 /3. The Challenger is slightly longer and narrower, so probably better for tracking /cruising speed, but the shape of the Explorer looks better for waves and rapids. Do you need the skeg for tracking in calm water?
Phrancis5 explorer is slow on flat water and skeg is recommended in flat water but never in white water, I finally got a real deal white water IK after having so much fun on thia guy but this was great for learning on
and thank you for the comment
I was just trying to find videos on TH-cam because I’m planning a river trip soon. Both myself and my two sons on a K2 each. I’m going to be upgrading to a C eagle soon to tackle some more serious Whitewater but I’ve easily gone over class one and class two rapids in this inflatable kayak. It’s a little bit federally to have to take out an in-flight but it’s a hell of a lot easier than having to put the kayak on a rack and carry it everywhere. I like my inflatable kayak for a lot of reasons. I’ll keep a patch kit and a portable pump And it anytime I go kayaking and I get my kids and myself to practice flipping over and crawling back in out of the water. It’s pretty good because it takes a lot of kit if you want to go camping or fishing etc. I wouldn’t dare take it over class for rapid but my hats go off to you for having balls to do this. Great video. Keep on paddling. :-)
Thank you, best real white water inflatable kayak is the Aire Solo Tomcat Tributary @ $700. Check out my other vids, they have roll handles on the belly so getting back in is not that hard.
th-cam.com/video/8-KMq8ESnc4/w-d-xo.html
Rolland Deschain why would you say that is the best one? I was looking at a sea eagle sport or maybe a 370 or even a 380 they do get a little bit pricey though. I was looking at them because they have been around for such a long time and offer at least a three-year guarantee and also have been rated for a class III in class for Rapids. That being said, I am really damned impressed that you took an InTEXT K2 over class III and four rapids. That took a little bit of craziness and a whole lot of guts. I’ve only been over class one and class two rapids in mine
But I also have been over class one and class two rapids in an innertube made by insects. It’s just made for river floating it was called a river runner. It was purely by accident that we went over rapids in these things. We were caught on the river during a thunderstorm which got nasty. My kids were really freaked out by it. Fortunately I got everybody out at the first available chance and got them to safety. A river in the mountains can swell up and get very angry and very fast very quickly. So tell me why this other one you suggested is the best one. If I’m going to make an investment I’m definitely Open to hearing real life feedback from people who have used them.
I really don't know much about the Sea Eagle but I was under the impression that it is more geared for flat water use. The Aire Tomcat Tributary is specifically designed for use in high class white water and is the cheapest inflatable you will find inside most white water shops. Even though it is cheaper than other inflatable white water kayaks, it can handle pretty much anything the user can until you start getting into tough class V rapids with holes capable of folding any small inflatable in half.
The Aire Tomcat has fetures included that specifically make it suited for high class white water. It has 4 mesh ports which measure to around 12"x 2" each and allows even a full boats worth of water that comes over the top to be drained in seconds.
I love the 20 or so attachment rings on the floor, that allow seat adjustment, foot brace installation and adjustment and leg strap installation and adjustment. All of which will help you customize and control your boat as white water currents attempt the flip you.
If you do flip the handles on the center bottom of the boat can be used to hold on and stay up out of the water if the rapid is fierce. Once you get a moment of calm or even in fierce rapids you can use the handles on the bottom to flip the boat and re enter your inflatable without ever getting to the side to get back in.
Zoom Flume - Arkansas River
th-cam.com/video/8AER0dvz7vo/w-d-xo.html
Upper Mish Run In Aire Tomcat
th-cam.com/video/i4SFFwiqg5g/w-d-xo.html
tumbs up to do such river with such cheap kayak..and this girl alone in kayak ..awesome :)
I've been on the fence about this but I think you just convinced me to buy one.
Just a warning, new model is not as sturdy
@@StoutAdventureCo that's a shame 😠 they changed it so it wasn't black on the seats but made it weaker. Either way it's alright I'll only be using it on a fairly calm lake. Wind will be my biggest issue.
@@StoutAdventureCo I picked it up today and took it out on the water for a few hours. My first time on a kayak and I absolutely LOVED it. Really amazing and totally different than all other inflatable boats I've ever used. I think I'm hooked!
@@StoutAdventureCo one thing I did notice, is if I stopped padlding for a minute or two it would always turn to orient with the wind and waves even when in a super calm water with very little wind, and unless I'm paddling wrong which I probably am, it has pretty huge swings from wide to side as I paddle.
Kayaks, especially inflatables that sit high on the water, are very prone to windvaning.
The wind and waves will turn the lighter end of the kayak away. The solution is to put more weight at the front end, so that the back of the boat stays behind you!
On the other hand, putting more weight in the back of the boat is better when going WITH the wind and waves.
Shifting your seat forward when solo, or putting the heavier paddler in front will keep you pointed into the wind and waves better.
So, shift your weigh and balance your load accordingly.
Hi great video if you get water inside kayak are there drain holes thanks Dave
One drain hole in the back, drains slow and never completely drains but it does drain.
Thanks for the video, I am taking mine out today for its first use, wont be anything this rough, calm lake :p - but it is nice to know it can handle this - awesome job, though i think it would have been cool if we could hear you guys reacting :P
Just a warning, new model is not as sturdy
Sweet, I know what I'll be doing this summer lol with my new k2
I am wanting to get this for a lake. Thanks for posting the video! Do you have a picture of the box you can send me? I am confused on what you mean by newer model vs older model? If you have a picture or can link me to a picture I’d love to see if maybe I can find the older model anywhere
There are no older models in circulation as far as I know, the item you ordered will be the new model.
New model: images.app.goo.gl/m7XDQBXjmCMfMboC6
Old model: images.app.goo.gl/ApSAdY4TPToksy9p6
Very nice video.
The new one doesn’t last three days; the old one lasted two years!
That says it all!
I have two of the new ones and one got a puncture just from transporting it ten miles in the van. I have no idea how it happened but I wouldn’t trust these further than I could swim to land. I always, always carry the air pump and wear my PFD every moment. I am always worried about poking it on a rock or branch.
Does anyone know how to spot the better quality older ones? Might be a good used kayak purchase.
Glad to hear someone else agrees with how I feel about the new models.
Unfortunately the old models are all years old since the manufacturing date now and even if never used before I supsect the material is probably aged to the point of being just as flimsy as the new ones, but hey that is just a guess.
Old model had a totally different pattern printed on them, same color scheme but easy to tell the difference.
Wow. You’re right! The graphics are very different.
The older K2 has black seats; the newer has gray.
The older has
Explorer K2
The newer just has
Explorer
The older has
Solid color graphics
The newer has a
“Broken bricks” design
Buyer Beware! I see some current sellers using the old pictures! Is this truly what they are shipping or are you getting the cheaper newer design? Who knows?
Thank you so much for posting this. I love my explorer for fishing but wasn't sure if it would handle any whitewater. You really put it to the test! I'm assuming you didn't have the skeg on. It looks as though it responded well though. LOVE THIS VID!!!!
No skeg for White Water. Had a few old models that worked great, they tended to stay intact after 2 years of scraping rocks on the river. New models are not as sturdy and rarely make it to day 3 of use in white water.
@@StoutAdventureCo are you saying the older intex explorer was of better quality? I've just ordered an excursion pro and was hoping to be able to do some white water kayaking this summer. It is suppose to be off higher build quality then the explorer but i don't know if that says much if the quality had decreased.
Try putting a bunch of coats of flex seal on the bottom and see how it looks after a run. For more durability, hot glue a piece of canvas to the bottom and flex seal over that.
@@freegee3503 i totalt missed this replay. I was out in a creek before the spring flood and me and a friend(it's a two sitter) pushed our way over lots of rocks in very shallow water and I'm happy to report it held up very well! Haven't really pushed my luck over rocks in the same manner since then. Might try something this weekend.
@@sunesnigel Awesome to hear, enjoy!
Do you install the seat at all? I tried whitewater kayaking with my k2 and put the seat strap in the forward position but use the rear velcro. It's okay but after flipping the seat bounces around...
yeah, great video. seems like this is your thing. any thoughts on the intex excursion pro being better suited for class 4 rapids? i'd imagine doing it only on occasion? thanks.
Get an Aire Tomcat for white water. The old model intex was better, read the video description for more info
Great Kayak For small price, thanks
Just a warning, new model is not as sturdy
did you guys have your rudders in, Im thinking the rocks would knock it off? I just bought the k2 challenger cant wait to do this, i better get a helmet haha
Great video!!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Whats your opinion I bought this kayak for river with small rocks is good choose or I broke it on my first time ?
Eh last version I used was frail, 2 year life with heavy use if lucky.
@@StoutAdventureCoHi I broke my skeg with big hole on rocks maybe you fix your kayak how to fix it could you give me some tips ? Or put it to trash bin
Probably good enough for upper colorado from pumphouse to state bridge, right?
awesome
Would you recommend this for someone out of practice? I want one for both light rapids (mid july and later on the poudre) and lakes.
Tiffany Decker I guess I should start by saying that this is not really a white water inflatable but there are no true white water inflatables even near the price range of the intex explorer
With that being said it is a great kayak, this weekend a guy with 0 white water experience took on some class III rapids for his first river run ever, it was the guy in the intex explorer and another guy in a cheap ducky that stayed in the boat and me and my buddy in $600 aire tomcat tributary white water kayaks both took a swim, so it works pretty good with all things considered
Expect to pull to the side and empty the boat after any big rapids and if not cared for it will get holes after a few seasons
I would recomend it for a cheap option for a few seasons but you will probably want to upgrade down the road
Tiffany Decker th-cam.com/video/psYjWTeTKDE/w-d-xo.html
friends first white water run
th-cam.com/video/DKvx5oFwzc0/w-d-xo.html
my swim the same day
Tiffany Decker th-cam.com/video/N2-d30war_A/w-d-xo.html
my buddies swim
Nice video!! Thank you!
May I ask, are you still using that kayak?
If not, how long did it lasted?
Nope, that was years ago. They only would last 2 years with abuse like this and the new model is not as sturdy.
These boats are virtually unsinkable. They might be more prone to puncturing than others, though.
What did you replace yours with?
Aire Tomcat
Then
Aire Force
Then
Hyside Padillac
Padillac is a beast that will last decades on the river if well taken care of.
Intex explorer is surprisingly stable. I went into some issues with the last manufacturing I tried out years ago in the pinned comment of description or something.
Yeah pinned comment
@@StoutAdventureCo, a totally different class!
Would you say one of those was/is your favourite?
@@StoutAdventureCo, I have read that comment, yes.
Is this kayak more durable than the excursion pro?
I love mine had for two seasons.. need a new one
Why do you need a new one?
@@nickschumacher1254 The Seat wore out, I want a second one for Kids, and new models look a little better.
subscribed.. great videos
Thanks :)
this video just helped me make my decisione on wich kayak to get.thanks and realy great music.
The old model was better, read the video description for more info
What year was the model in the vid?
I don't remember sprry
would this be suitable for exploring sea caves
I can't recommend this boat anymore, they changed the design and the new model is weaker
@@StoutAdventureCo thanks
Did you go over the falls backwards on purpose?
So I saw you mentiomed the new model isnt as sturdy. We just got one for lake and pond use. Think it's still ok for that kind of stuff,m
Should be fine for lake use, I'd estimate a lifespan of 2 years depending on storage.
Was curious if you run the skegg in these conditions? Has it broke off if you are running it
Nvm I know now
Have you add issues with the hand pump coming apart when using? Mine constantly pulls out and can't figure out a fix.
Jack Mantle the inclides pump and all included extras are basically garbage, yes it comes apart all the time and completely breaks after time
Got any cool hacks to keep it attached?
dont pump so hard
@@red88ization gonna go blind.
did the kayak survive ?
Yes
Any issues with with punctures? I was thinking about picking one up. Im and doing a 30 mile paddle trip down a class 2 stream with a friend. I have a Zoik Big Ego. Was going to let me friend use this but I am a little worried about punctures. The section of river we are running is a low runnable level listed by americanwhitewater.org
Todd Wooten I always use to recommend these and all the ones I had lasted 2 years before I had any issues with holes but the last one I ordered had a new paint job and slightly different layout and it appears the new design is not as durable, the new one lasted 1 lake trip and 2 white water trips and by the end of the 2nd white water trip I had a hole in the floor of the boat
I won't be ordering another intex explorer now that they have changed the design but it might get you through the trip
Thanks for the reply. yeh, I dont think I will get one. Im worried we will be scraping down some of the rapids.
Todd Wooten No problem, I use to vouch vigorously for the old model intex explorer but I am pretty disappointed in the redesign
Very good
Hello sir, i had a question. I want to buy an inflatable kayak to ise it on a rapid class 2 for one person what can i buy there are stones And the water is not that deep. But want a good inflatable kayak thats not that expensive
serhat oksuz the intex explorer is the cheapest feasible option I know of
One major downside are that the singular drainage port is not sufficient in draining the boat so any rapids that come over the side of the boat will have to be dumped out on shore
A secondary downside is that the intex is sturdy but not super sturdy, my original 3 intex each lasted 2 years of heavy use and abuse, but they remade the boat recently and it seems to be weaker, the last one got a hole after the combination of 1 lake trip and 2 white water trips, meaning it lasted less then a month
Thanks for the answer !, so what do you prefer me to buy i want to go next week somewhere with friends And what to buy an inflatable kayak budget is between 100-250€
serhat oksuz I always use to recommend the intex explorer but like I said, the last one I got did not last nearly as long and that is a bit of a deal breaker for me, all in all it is the only inflatable in that price range that I have purchased that I would recomend for use in white water, sorry I could not be more help
greath trio!! we Will buy a Explorer K2 from Italy!!
Just a warning, new model is not as sturdy
$600 aire tomcat tributary for white water
This is fine for one season on flat water
Is intex challenger k2 able to do the same job as the explorer in this vid?
Sam Rashidi the challenger does not have drain holes and would be a little less qualified for white water.
They redesigned the explorer and it seems to be made less sturdy then the old design. Old one lasted 10 or more white water trips, new one lasted 2 and because of that I would no longer recommend the explorer for even class III white water.
Sam Rashidi in summary both are under qialified for class III white water
Intex support actually recommends the explorer for the durability if you're worried about collisions so take that however you will.
@@StoutAdventureCo. if you no longer recommended the k2 challenger, is there one you would for around the same price tag?
Ren Santos no sorry
Красивая река .класный сплав.и снято красиво. спасибо.
What model do you have? Number please
I got one for free, it has about 5 holes, what is best to patch it up with? :D
Did you have the skeg in for that trip? Any issues with it coming out?
Perick76 these kayaks perform better on rivers with no skeg
I can understand why. For all the awesome features of this kayak, if you don't have the skeg in on a lazy river or lake the tracking is terrible. In the example videos here I would suggest the kayak is being run more like a single person raft than kayak, with aggressive compensation for direction by the person paddling. The skeg has been the only drag (pun implied) in owning this kayak as far as getting it down shallow rivers and over deadfall/rocks. Thanks for posting these videos!
What is the name of the soundtrack? Love the video btw mate!
Thanks and it an instrumental of the song renegades but I forget the artist
Just realized what the song was, Renegades by Simply Three
any rips or tears? I have the same boat just afraid to take into river rapids.
crosshair never got a hole the first season but the second season the would tear from bad storage
crosshair they got weak and old over time
Rolla Stout bad storage means keeping them out under sunlight? what's good way to store partially inflated?
I am not well versed on "good storage" but from what I understand partially inflated, out of sunlight and around room temperature with little flux in the temp and dry over humid are aome of the more important things for "best" storage
mine were kept either rolled up in my car or car toper or rolled up at home. They experienced extremes in temperatures and being tossed around roughly. still they lasted a whole season every time but by the second season they were full of tiny holes, not on the bottom where impacts are taken but on the sides where a tip in the role had been worn through
I got some nicer inflatables now, I do roll them but they are stored indoors at a pretty consistent temp and moved around gently, after use wash them off before storage and at end of season it is wise to use a raft cleaning spray (local shops use 303) and when I take them out for adventures I try to never have them in the sun unless I am using them on the water and try to keep my car cool when they are packed in there.
sorry I cant be more help but that's abiut all thw knowledge I have gatgeres of inflatable kayak cleaning
crosshair id say sunlight, being rough on them while they are rolled up and extreme temps are most dangerous
Hello, maybe you can help me in a question. I've bought an Explorer K2, and the internal valve of the chamber of the floor is leaking. The superior cover stops the leaking, but I feel this is not right, is it?
Sounds detective to me, unfortunately the Intex Eplorer has fone down in quality over the years. They changed the design and the new model is not nearly as sturdy.
This is class 4??
Awesome video! Did you use the 96 inch or 84 inch paddle for the rapids in this kayak?
Ryan Tyler I like the 96" personally, I purchased a cheap seasense paddle off of amazon
No,no,no. You must bought a kayak for 15K dollars. With a red diamond button and catapult, for the sending a help sygnal by satellite transmitter and for rapid rescue.
Lol, well this use to be enough kayak to get you through easier class IV rapids. Their remake is far less sturdy and I do not suggest it for white water.
I like the music but I prefer these videos with the raw audio; It take the viewer to a real journey....
cheranguista trust me, you wouldn't want to hear my voice playing through the whole video
cheranguista th-cam.com/video/OLH7DQUBMfY/w-d-xo.html
but do you recommend the intex?
cheranguista old design was stury and would last a few seasons of abuse on white water and lake, making between 10-20 river trips and 10-20 lake trips and was great for up to class III, it would not port well so some big rapids would fill it up and would required docking to drain them
New design is not sturdy and lasted 1 lake trip and 1 river trip and then got a hole on the 3rd river trip, so it lasted less then a month which is not long enough to make it worth it to me, not to mention the pain of dealing with a flat boat in the mountains, they messed up the cheapest river inflatbale on the market
Rolla Stout Did they stop selling the old design by replacing it with with the same model name, or is it possible to find the old one online still? I was about to purchase one, but not if it’s poor quality now.
👍💯👍💯👍👏😜
How were they stored poorly to cause leaks? I have one ordered coming soon and just figure you fold it up and store it away...
Mike Mower left in car all year round, rough on it when rolled up, let it get over inflated and let it sit in sun a lot
Was a bad parent
I had one of these things and it wouldn’t even stay up right with me in it granted I weigh 230ibs but gave it to a kid and it barely worked for him guess I got a bad one
keel installed?
Keel should never be installed in white water.
Keel should never be attached in white water
I could use something tough like this
I feel I should warn you that their new model is not as sturdy as the old Intex Explorer I used for these videos.
Life span dropped from 2 years to 2 months with river use when the design changed over, but price did drop to 50% what I payed for the old model as well.
Would you recommend the K2?
Bob Builder
i have the k2 get a couple for you and a friend and go exploring. i just used my n they are simple n great to use. plus very fun.
Bob Builder I love it, porting is the biggest issue as it fills with water and does not deal. fast enough so you have to get out and dump it if you dare go down class 3 or 4 in it, it is slow and has little maneuverability in the morr hectic waters and you have to store it gently, but I never put a single hole in one from the river, lots of holes from bad storage though so watch out! patches hold great if you use stabond and pvc, good one lakes but very slow
uploaded a video of me doing pineview rapid (class 4), of the poudre canyon, in my new ducky but my buddy is right behind me in the Yellow Intex Explorer he bought for $70, I told him he would exit the rapid swimming but he didn't
Extremely impressed. Wife and I want something to tow behind our sailboat, not for emergencies but just to explore islands and calm riivers. Think this will do. Thanks for the video.
You do not put anything on the floor of the kayak. You put your back pack across the front. then when you are over rocks you bridge your body on the sides with your two legs and arms. All your gear in garbage bags and tied to the kayak in case you capsize. Get out and swim with the kayak. Protect it because it can be your lifeline to survival.
Iguana