Aquaglide Chelan 155
Summary
Price At Time Of Writing | $1349.99
Our Overall Rating | 92 out of 100
Pros - Versatile, stable and tracks well
Cons - Lower inflation pressure than others in this class
Overall - High quality, good features, stable
Technical Specifications
Open Size - 15’ 1” x 36”
Weight - 38lbs
Load Capacity - 600lbs
Packed Size - 30” x 22” x 16”
Our Analysis & Ratings
The Aquaglide Chelan 155 is a versatile and stable 1-2 person inflatable kayak, perfect for recreational paddling, touring, and family outings. It offers high-quality construction, a good range of features, and excellent tracking, making it a great all-round choice.
Performance - The Chelan 155 performs well on smooth and choppy water, providing a smooth and efficient paddling experience. Due to its length and lower sides, we wouldn’t recommend it for specifically rough ocean or whitewater paddling. Its streamlined design and long waterline contribute to its excellent straight-line tracking. However, it is definitely less agile compared to some more specialized kayaks, and we found it slightly less responsive in tighter maneuvers, but that’s a common issue with two-person kayaks given their length (and we wouldn’t want this kayak much shorter, more on that in the Comfort section).
Construction - Constructed from Duratex™ reinforced PVC with a drop-stitch floor, the Chelan 155 is built of durable, rigid materials, ensuring the kayak maintains its shape and performance over time. We were a little surprised by the slightly lower pressure rating (6 psi for the floor, 3 psi for the side tubes) compared to some other high-end inflatable kayaks - for us, it just gives some other kayaks a little edge over it in terms of firmness. The inclusion of universal mounts, webbing tie-downs, and bungee storage areas are all well thought out features, as are the hook and loop strips running down the length of the floor for flexible seat positioning.
Setup/Pack down - Setting up the Chelan 155 is relatively quick and easy, taking about 8-10 minutes with a hand pump. As always, we appreciate that there are three close-together inflation points, all of the same type (Halkey-Roberts), and the hull material is quick-drying for a faster packup. However, for ease of setup, we prefer solid foam rather than inflatable seats as the Chelan has, and the insertion of stiff plastic in the splashguard is also an extra step to note.
Portability - The Chelan 155 comes with a well-designed backpack-style carry bag, complete with padded shoulder straps and a hip belt for comfortable transportation. At 38 lbs, it’s reasonably lightweight for a 2-person inflatable kayak.
Comfort - The Chelan 155 is equipped with adjustable seats, allowing paddlers to customize their seating position for maximum comfort. We don’t love the inflatable bottoms, but that’s our own preference and some prefer the additional padding. We also found that when paddling with two people, the back seat position can feel a little cramped if the front seat is set in the optimal position, and given the taller/heavier paddler should generally sit in the back, this was slightly less comfortable. Having said that, the kayak’s length is good in terms of being reasonably comfortable for two people and still manageable to paddle solo.
Overall - The Aquaglide Chelan 155 is a high-quality, feature-rich inflatable kayak that offers excellent performance and stability.
