Intex Challenger K1 Kayak
Summary
Price At Time Of Writing | $128.99
Our Overall Rating | 65 out of 100
Pros - Handles ok, easy to dry, price
Cons - Small cockpit, slow, poor tracking, thin materials
Overall - Feels more like a pool toy than a kayak
Technical Specifications
Open Size - 108x30in
Weight - 27lbs
Load Capacity - 220lbs
Packed Size - 23x16x9in
Our Analysis & Ratings
The cheapest among the kayaks we tested, this comes off feeling more like a pool toy than a kayak. The Challenger K1 has a few disadvantages: a narrow cockpit, thin materials that make it susceptible to puncture, and its inability to constantly move in a fast and straight line chief among them. Our takeaway is that if you can invest in a better-quality kayak, then we really recommend you do — but if your budget is limited, this is still a good pick around this price range.
Performance - The kayak definitely has some tracking issues. We struggled to keep it in a straight line on the calmest of waters, and it’s not suitable for rough conditions as it takes a lot of effort to paddle when waves are pushing against you. Maneuvering around corners wasn’t too bad, but it just doesn’t stay in constant forward movement, and its lack of a hard surface on the bottom means it doesn’t go particularly fast either.
Construction - The Intex Challenger K1 uses vinyl material that is susceptible to puncture when snagged or rubbed against rocks. Generally, it isn’t built with solid materials.
Setup/Pack Down - We suggest that you BYO pump since it is hard to work with the supplied pump, but it is fairly easy to inflate once attached. A plus to the pack down process is that it’s easy to dry, just like the Excursion Pro.
Portability - Though this weighs only 27lbs, we marked down portability since the thin, light materials that make it a good compact easy-carry also compromise on its quality and increase the risk of puncture.
Comfort - The inflatable seats do not make a good surface to sit comfortably on when paddling. Coupled with its tiny cockpit space, the comfort of this kayak scores low for us — like paddling along in a marshmallow.
Overall - Manageable when handling and has average stability, but poor in construction and goes slowly in the water.
