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Articles - Inflatable Kayaks & Inflatable Canoes - Bags-full Of Adventure
Sevylor Hudson Inflatabale Kayaks in action
Let’s face it canoes and kayaks are not always the easiest of things to store or transport, and unless you live 
literally on the riverbank or beach front then you’re going to need a vehicle, and a roof rack, or a trailer, to get your boat to the water, so difficult if you don’t drive or have access to a car. And not everyone lives in a location with an outdoor, or garage storage space. If, for instance, you live in a one bedroom, sixth floor flat then owning a sea kayak or an open canoe, is going to prove jut a little more than problematical! But all is not lost if you long to get paddling and head off in search of adventure, what you need to unlock your paddling potential is a boat-in-a-bag, an inflatable canoe or inflatable kayak!
When they first appeared on the market early inflatable canoes & kayaks weren’t exactly sophisticated, bearing more in common with a sea-side blow up dingy that a canoe or a kayak. But that’s all changed. Most modern inflatable designs now offer the versatility of a boat-in-a-bag, but marry it to well-thought out design and on the water performance and quality construction and materials.
Fresh Air, Adventure & Fun
There is a slight hangover from those early designs and they are still sometimes viewed as simply beginner boats. But while it is certainly true that the stability and friendly handing of most inflatable canoes & kayaks do indeed make them excellent craft to give a great time on the water to those with little, or no, paddling experience. They’re also brilliant boats for getting the whole family afloat too for the same reasons. But thinking of them only in those terms is doing them a disservice. Keep your mind open to the potential that inflatable canoes and inflatable kayaks open up in terms of a real ‘access-all-areas’ approach to exploring and enjoying the outdoors, especially when combined with other outdoor pursuits such as waking and cycling, and you’ll soon be pawing over maps and planning adventures. They are also ideal for those that love nothing more than loading up the camper van, motor home, or hitching up the caravan, and heading off with a car full of bikes, boots & boats in search of some outdoor fun.
Choosing an Inflatable Canoe or Inflatable Kayak
Inflatables come in many different shapes and sizes, from short fun boats designed to play in the surf or take on the challenges of moving water, to longer, sleeker craft with rigid bottoms, designed for touring over longer distances.
Inflatable boats are usually constructed from tough fabric skin with a series on inflatable chambers, or baffles. Once these are inflated using a pump they form the structure of the boat. Some designs have rigid sections of foam that fit in to stiffen the hull and further increase performance. The absence of any internal frame means that the inflatable option comes in much lower on the scales than its folding counterpart and they tend to be a lot cheaper too. But beware you do get what you pay for with inflatable canoes & kayaks and those bargain-bucket blow up boats are still lurking out there, and our advice would be to steer clear and invest a little bit more in a descent make and model for a much more enjoyable time on the water.
Top Tip
Many inflatable kayaks come complete with paddles. Some are OK, but most, in our experience are fairly poor in both design and construction. Invest a little more in a decent set of paddles and we guarantee it’ll increase your enjoyment on the water
Looking for some inspiration? Check out this great article on an inflatable kayak adventure in the Scottish Highlands HERE
Check out our Places to Paddle section for ideas on where to paddle your inflatable canoe or kayak
Read a guide on how to care for your inflatable canoe or kayak HERE
Useful article on repairing inflatable canoes or inflatable kayaks HERE
Check out the Canoe & Kayak UK Marketplace HERE for the latest deals on inflatable canoes & inflatable kayaks
literally on the riverbank or beach front then you’re going to need a vehicle, and a roof rack, or a trailer, to get your boat to the water, so difficult if you don’t drive or have access to a car. And not everyone lives in a location with an outdoor, or garage storage space. If, for instance, you live in a one bedroom, sixth floor flat then owning a sea kayak or an open canoe, is going to prove jut a little more than problematical! But all is not lost if you long to get paddling and head off in search of adventure, what you need to unlock your paddling potential is a boat-in-a-bag, an inflatable canoe or inflatable kayak!When they first appeared on the market early inflatable canoes & kayaks weren’t exactly sophisticated, bearing more in common with a sea-side blow up dingy that a canoe or a kayak. But that’s all changed. Most modern inflatable designs now offer the versatility of a boat-in-a-bag, but marry it to well-thought out design and on the water performance and quality construction and materials.
Fresh Air, Adventure & Fun
There is a slight hangover from those early designs and they are still sometimes viewed as simply beginner boats. But while it is certainly true that the stability and friendly handing of most inflatable canoes & kayaks do indeed make them excellent craft to give a great time on the water to those with little, or no, paddling experience. They’re also brilliant boats for getting the whole family afloat too for the same reasons. But thinking of them only in those terms is doing them a disservice. Keep your mind open to the potential that inflatable canoes and inflatable kayaks open up in terms of a real ‘access-all-areas’ approach to exploring and enjoying the outdoors, especially when combined with other outdoor pursuits such as waking and cycling, and you’ll soon be pawing over maps and planning adventures. They are also ideal for those that love nothing more than loading up the camper van, motor home, or hitching up the caravan, and heading off with a car full of bikes, boots & boats in search of some outdoor fun.
Choosing an Inflatable Canoe or Inflatable Kayak
Inflatables come in many different shapes and sizes, from short fun boats designed to play in the surf or take on the challenges of moving water, to longer, sleeker craft with rigid bottoms, designed for touring over longer distances.
Inflatable boats are usually constructed from tough fabric skin with a series on inflatable chambers, or baffles. Once these are inflated using a pump they form the structure of the boat. Some designs have rigid sections of foam that fit in to stiffen the hull and further increase performance. The absence of any internal frame means that the inflatable option comes in much lower on the scales than its folding counterpart and they tend to be a lot cheaper too. But beware you do get what you pay for with inflatable canoes & kayaks and those bargain-bucket blow up boats are still lurking out there, and our advice would be to steer clear and invest a little bit more in a descent make and model for a much more enjoyable time on the water.
Top Tip
Many inflatable kayaks come complete with paddles. Some are OK, but most, in our experience are fairly poor in both design and construction. Invest a little more in a decent set of paddles and we guarantee it’ll increase your enjoyment on the water
Looking for some inspiration? Check out this great article on an inflatable kayak adventure in the Scottish Highlands HERE
Check out our Places to Paddle section for ideas on where to paddle your inflatable canoe or kayak
Read a guide on how to care for your inflatable canoe or kayak HERE
Useful article on repairing inflatable canoes or inflatable kayaks HERE
Check out the Canoe & Kayak UK Marketplace HERE for the latest deals on inflatable canoes & inflatable kayaks
