Side by Side Comparison of: Intex vs Sea Eagle

We took this to the lake this weekend with our entire extended family and the kayak was a total hit. The inflation was quick and easy with the included pump. The kids we were with loved using it and the entire inflation took about 6 minutes. The kayak was great with all ages and we were super impressed with the quality.

This kayak is fantastic. It's easy to set up and take down (about ten minutes) and my whole family can enjoy it. The seat placement is adjustable and it's easy to maneuver. We're beginners and we're really enjoying learning exploring the coastlines near our house. We've gotten to see all kinds of marine wildlife up close (dolphins, manatees, sting rays) and people ask me all the time where I got the kayak and how much I love it.

I recently bought 2 of these K2 Kayaks and got to use them on the Russian River last weekend in an easy area where people mostly were floating around in inner tubes and canoes. I can say they seemed to be pretty durable even going over a bunch of gravel. We had a lot of fun taking our kids up and down the river, it sure beat just sitting around on the beach. As for the kayaks I received, one was a 2015 and one a 2016. The biggest difference is the skeg was redesigned. The 2016 is a little bigger, better shape and actually clicks into place because it has a plastic mount now vs rubber on the 2015 and prior. I can see how the previous models can have the skeg slip out, it just doesn't have that positive engagement. I would really prefer to have both be 2016 so I don't have to be concerned and would make sharing parts easier if needed as they're not interchangeable. The other minor difference is the seat buckles are a different manufacture so I need to keep the seats with each kayak, not a big deal. Overall they were fun to use, but do require quite a bit of work as you want to make sure to empty the water, then try to dry them out and then get the gravel out if you've been in the river. I ended up laying them out on my lawn for a few hours after we got home, wiped them down and finally vacuumed them out before folding them up and storing them in the provided bag which is nice to have and fits them easily. You can see the difference between the new 2016 (Left) and the previous design 2015 (Right).

This kayak meets and exceeds expectations. I am not a regular kayaker, bought it for my kids and some personal adventuring. The seating position in most kayaks is uncomfortable for me but this one is great and my young kids used it "right out of the box!". Inflates quickly, oars are well constructed and so far its sturdy enough to be toted and packed. Thanks to other reviewers for supporting this product. My purchase weighed heavily on comments.

After reading some of these reviews my friend I were skeptical...
We were wrong to be so.
This kayak is amazing. I've taken it out about 3 times now for extended periods of time (8+ hours).
-No skid problems (like some reviews mention)
-no control problems
-durability is quite amazing.

I even use this 2 person one when I go out on my own. Taking out the 2nd seat gives me tons of storage space!!

Packing up/taking out have a learning curve but it's easy to get into the swing of it. Just read the instructions and you'll be fine :)

Taking it out on rougher waters tomorrow. Will update.

We've used this last summer roughly 5-7 times and couldn't be happier. It's extremely well built and very durable. we used it in open ocean as well as river and lake use, never had any issues with it and he seats are probably the most comfortable you'll get in the inflatable kayak "realm". I think that's the best part...you can sit in the kayak for extended periods of time and you'll still be comfortable. If using it for 2 people, (my wife and I are both 5'7 and I weigh 180lbs) and we fit comfortably with a little extra room for a back pack squished in between the seats or behind the rear seat. The larger model is great for 2 people and a "normal" sized backpack, would not fit 3 adults.

I waited a while to review this because I wanted to make sure I had enough information. But I love it!!!We've used it several times now and at first it was a little frustrating getting it together, but now we love it. Never habe issues with it deflating.Do make sure you fill both sides evenly otherwise it can be a little more difficult to steer.It is heavier than the traditional kyak so keep that in mind. Also doesn't slide into the water as easily but still not bad.I took ours into the puget sound which can get some good currents in it. We are beginners when it comes to kayaking or water sports of any kind. We have never flipped this kayak or anything.Very sturdy in the roughER waters of puget sound even with the other boats and ferries going by.This was a great purchase!!!!

Enjoyable and rugged whatever your limitations, capabilities and risk tolerance.Paddled the Sea Eagle 370 to the Boston Harbor Outer Islands a few times, Buzzards bay a few times, Ninigrit National Wildlife Refuge, Slocum River, Contotook River, and the Hudson River. Caught black sea bass, fluke, stripers, and blues. Each trip was 5-10 miles and fun as heck.Bobbed over 3 ft swells, ferry wakes, and chaotic chop. Have not yet felt at risk of capsizing. Almost fell out playing around in the bow with a fish finder transducer bracket. [lesson: keep a line tied to you and the sea eagle on open water.] If you do capsize (unlikely) or fall out (more likely), it is easier to get back into the Sea Eagle than a kayak. Practice before going offshore. It's fun and will build your confidence/competence.Dragged the Sea Eagle over coastlines strewn with shells and pebbles. Hit submerged river rocks and bounced around/over them. The closet I've come to puncturing it is (a) hooks (b) knives. [lesson: (a) No knives are on board (b) all hooks must be grounded in a (wine) corks. Be really careful casting, and even more careful landing fish].Make sure the inflation caps are on securely. The bottom seat bag twice deflated after the cap rubbed against something and somehow worked itself loose. [lesson: like a boat propeller or sailboat boom - keep the inflation caps clear]Aside: When the water temp gets cold, I will try towing an inexpensive, one person, inflatable as back-up.Takes more work to get from point A to point B compared to the hard shell kayaks. For reference If you can propel a hard shell 3 mph for 5 miles, plan on 2.5 mph in the Sea Eagle. The good news is that the Sea Eagle will melt away more extra calories and in increase your upper body strength :).Tracks into 10 mph gusting 14 mph breezes 200+ lbs on board without much more effort than a hard shell kayak. Like most vessels, yaws when running with swells. Adding a keg might help, but I drag it up on the shore and portage over sand/rock bars frequently and don't want to bother removing it each time. The 2 skegs already on the Sea Eagle haven't broken yet.Get the best seat they offer. If you plan on taking gear or two adults without much gear, get the bigger version. Probably not much difference in performance. One is heavier to carry.Why a sea eagle and not a sea kayak?- Lower cost- Transport solo and without car racks- Requires much smaller storage space after use- greater capacity for fishing gear, picnic stuff, camping stuff- More stability if you move around. Less likely to capsize- easier to get back in if you swamp or fall out (see below)- friends and family without car racks can borrow it.- if it gets damaged, lost, or stolen, unpleasant but replaceable and not a huge loss of money..Why a kayak and not a Sea Eagle? - Faster and easier to cover distances- more convenient if you can store it at the water and use if frequently from the same place- Tougher construction, hard to puncture unless you really hit something hard- Novices can rent and get lessonsWhy either?- I paddled about a mile out on Buzzards Bay to fish a ledge. The only other boat around was a huge, beautiful, 100+ foot yacht at anchor. When I got closer to it, I saw couple kayaks tied off the stern. Ask them.- Paddle to an island or light house and experience the warm and special reception reserved for paddlers- Feel ten feet tall when captains hail hello and make you feel part of their world.- Tell fish stories to prove you are no longer New England's worst fisherman.- Scoff at novice boaters and yahoos on the water.- Let your sweetheart see and feel your new body.- Watch family and friends laugh and play.Set-up/break down: Takes about 15 minutes to set up and same amount of time to dry and roll up, no biggie. Foot pump is fine. Make sure the inflation hole caps are on securely.Maintenance - After deflating, dry it with a towel or you'll get mildew. I bring a big sponge on board to soak up what little water that might get in and wipe the kayak off after use. Drying towels in the car trunk are handy when you get back ashore.A fun and creative project is to add a PVC bracket to mount a Signtek-type portable fish finder with holders for the display, a fishing rod, and a flag (or light).Heavy duty carry bag, but wish it bag had 2 back pack style straps. It's awkward and uncomfortable to carry.Final note: It's not if, but when you will have an unplanned event. Fun can quickly turn ugly if you don't plan for emergencies, don't file a float plan, or don't pay attention to the weather and water conditions. It can turn tragic if you don't wear a PFD. Respect your capabilities and limitations.

My wife and I live 6 months a year in a lake town and wanted to try kayaking as another way for added exercise while enjoying the lake. But we didn't want to spend an arm and a leg starting out (in case we didn't like it) and also needed something practical to store in our condo. My wife was a little apprehensive when I first showed her the YouTube videos and reviews for this inflatable kayak. She was especially concerned with the time and hassle of inflating and deflating a kayak each time it is used, but finally agreed to try this boat because of condo storage issues. So far we have had the Sea Eagle for a month and have had it out four times and it has certainly met our diverse requirements in providing a convenient and inexpensive way of enjoying simple kayaking on a regular basis. With experience, we estimate it now takes us about 10 minutes from pulling into a parking spot at the lake until we are ready to paddle away. One thing I found helpful is using a Coleman high volume/low pressure rechearchable inflator that I picked up last year in a second hand store. My current method is to use the electric inflator to get the three main chambers about 95% inflated (roughly a minute for each) and then top them off with a couple steps using the Sea Eagle provided foot pump. Being rechearchable, we can take the electric pump to wherever we want to inflacte the boat. Deflation is easy and really fast once the valves are open. We normally take two old bath towels with us and wipe the kayak dry before and as we roll the kayak up and put in the provided storage/carrying bag that is about the size of a traditional military sea bag. Normally I just set the bag upright in the back seat of car. Other than the convenience of having an electric inflator (which just make inflation esier) the kit does comes with everything you need to get going except PFDs The pro kit came in one medium size box and included two of the nicer inflatable seats, two paddles, foot pump, repair kit,carrying bag, and nine of the valves that have to be installed the first time the boat is used. We purchased two of trhe Onyx Move Vest Torsion Paddle PFDs and they work well with the seats. Overall we are really pleased with our new lake toy.

We've taken ours out at least a dozen times this summer. No issues at all. I like to brag that I even took it out on Lake Erie lol. That was at East Harbor though and very calm waves. I made a home made anchor out of a coffee can and some concrete, anchor it and fish from it on the local lakes. I bought some para cord and made a anchor trolly using the ropes on the front and back. Perfect answer for limited storage space and travel issues. We camp with a fifth wheel camper and just pack it up inside when we travel. Tacks fine and has been very durable so far, however I do have a rip starting in the carrying bag, but admit I grabbed it at the seam wrong. We are very happy with ours.

I'll start by saying I am a woman of 50 is the new forty generation. I have a sit on top fiberglass kayak but it's a pain to take in and out and then put in the car. I researched various sites and decided on this Sea Eagle SE370. It's great for two and I had no problem taking it out on my own.First let me say the instruction video on Sea Eagle site shows how to inflate and deflate your kayak. They make putting on the rings around the valves easy. IT IS NOT. I lost three nails before I decided to call. The woman was wonderful and said I only needed to place them in hot water for 5-10 minutes, then stretch them over the valves to have a nice tight fit. Thankfully you need to do this only once per valve but for goodness sake, shouldn't they share this little tidbit with the class?The kayak and seats blow up quickly in about 12 minutes. Make sure you tighten the valve caps one last time before putting it into the water. I found if i deflate the bottom seat a bit it's more comfortable and make sure you have the top portions of the seat fully inflated to give you a strong back support. Also, get the upgraded seats as the others look to be what one would use lying against in a bathtub.The kayak is easy to maneuver. I have taken it out three times now; once with another and twice alone. It tracks well for an inflatable and feels very sturdy. I purchased some loop cable and S rings to attach from end to end as this kayak has no anchoring places to attach my paddle, lunchbox or water. This is very odd from a company that is known for it's innovation. Having said this, it's easy to rig up and the loops keep your things at hands reach and tight against the kayak.I was hesitant to take this out the first time before doing some testing to make sure it didn't have any leaks. The included foot pump is simple, idiot proof and works quickly. The kayak is about 12 feet long so it sat in my basement inflated for two days to see if any air escaped. The Sea Eagle passed and I was ready to set her in the lake.Overall I truly love the experience and convenience. I remove it from the enclosed case, blew it up with the pump and was in the water in under 10 minutes. It tracked well, was easy to adjust to and with winds about 10mph, I felt a little pull but it stayed the course. It was simple to deflate, taking about 3 minutes. I recommend you dry it off before placing it back into the bag.The bag doesn't hold everything as stated. You don't want to stuff everything into it so tightly that it will cause the skegs to bend. I found if they do bend because of the bag being on it's side, a hair dryer for a few minutes will do the trick. As for this bag, it's very heavy. In a perfect world they would have more handles for it. It only has one and it digs into the shoulder getting it from place to place. Still much easier then the hard kayaks.Bottom line: Great exercise. Easy to inflate and deflate. Can go anywhere your feet will take you but get a rolling cart if you have to go a distance. A wonderful way to enjoy outside on the water with confidence, ease and spur of the moment decision. Well done Sea Eagle!

A good cheap way to get out on the water.

Pros:
- Price
- Fits easily in a car trunk, including paddles
- Pretty fast to set up and break down (doesn't take much longer than dealing with a hard shell kayak secured to a roof rack)
- Since it's flexible, it rolls more gently over waves than a hard shell

Cons:
- Hull flexibility makes it a bit sluggish
- Inflatable seats not great for lower back support (pretty fatiguing if using for more than and hour or two)
- Included paddles are fairly wobbly.
- Doesn't track great, especially with two people (but, it's a bit big to paddle solo)
- It's a bit of a pain to get it properly dried out for storage.

We bought two Intex two person kayaks, the Challenger and the Explorer. The Challenger looks and feels sleeker, but is more difficult to dry out. The Explorer is roomier and feels more like a canoe with seats.

Took this out on the River this weekend. It sets up easy, I had a problem with the seats but that was my fault. The kayak does take on some water, but nothing drastic. I bought this to be able to take my grandson with me. I like it better than my hard shell Kayak because I don't have to put it up on my roof and then carry it down to the river. This is a little heavier than I would like, but I just put it in my wagon. The pump that they give you works great. I tried an electric pump and it actually took more time using that than the hand pump. I like that on each end there is storage room. Only draw back for me is I wish it was lighter. I may by the single just to use daily for myself. I would definitely buy another one.

This kayak was super easy to inflate and only took 5-10 minutes to set up (you will need one person to hold the pump to the valve and one to pump). It fit nicely in the back of my Nissan Versa Note, which is a smaller hatchback. My friend and I took it on a local mild river and we never felt tippy or like the water was going to flood the kayak at all. The only downfall is it's very difficult to steer and the two people kayaking have to be of similar weights or else the other sinks down quite a bit. For the price, is was a great purchase!

Okay, expect what you are paying for. put on the keel and the guide is great. Paddles are short and weak, buy new ones. Durability? how long do you plan on gliding the rocks? I'n my experience my friends don't like to step in the water, so it can put up with a pretty unforgiving scratch incident for a plastic kayak with no tears.

This is a great inflatable kayak and I give it a 4.5/5 stars.

This kayak is a great option for someone who needs the portability of it or lacks the space to store a hard kayak. This kayak was a savior in college being able to throw it into the trunk of my car and collapsing it into a bag that could fit into a closet. You can throw it in the trunk, drive to the lake, and in 20 min be into the water enjoying yourself. This is the same when breaking it down. You can have it packed back up in roughly 20 min again and have it in your trunk. I just make sure to wipe it down with a towel before folding it up.

I used this kayak mainly for fishing (I know an inflatable for fishing?). But this kayak is made of tougher material than you would think and could take a hook grazing along it or bumping into sticks or going over some occasional rocks. If this does get a puncture, it is actually relatively easy to glue and patch with the right resources. I had this happen with my past kayak and after sealing it, I had no problems with future leaks. I have gone into the trees along the edge of the lake when getting snagged and accidentally gone over shallow water and bottomed out without any issues.

The kayak can accommodate 2 people although somewhat snugly. You can definitely have 2 people in here but based on weight/size you might not have much more room for other supplies. It is manageable but I much prefer using one seat at a time and using the extra storage space for my backpack, fishing pole, anchor, tackle box, etc. The seats clip in and are pretty comfortable and you can actually sit the seat in 1/2 Velcro spots along the bottom of the inside. I basically move my back seat up as far as I can on the back Velcro spot and then I am set to use it as a one-seater.

The mesh part in the front is nice for some extra on-top storage. It stays relatively dry and holds my flip flops, life jacket, and other items pretty well. You can also use the rope around the edges of it for grabbing/carrying the kayak. There is also a bit of room under the front and back of the kayak as well for your flatter items. I can usually throw my flip flops, fish net, tarp, and life jacket under the front. In the back, I can usually throw my bag and pump and extra seat under the back edge.

The kayak actually navigates pretty true. With the skeg on, it tracks pretty well and can actually go decently fast. It probably can't compete with a hard kayak but it definitely isn't a "toy". I have had absolutely no issues with the skeg coming off either as others have stated. It has NEVER gotten loose and actually can take a little muscle at times to get out. The skeg just slides into the plastic cut-out on the bottom. If you're going forward and it gets hit on the bottom, it can only go inward so it shouldn't really come loose from that either. Just make sure it clicks fully into place - that's my best advice. Maybe others aren't fully engaging it.

Overall, this is a very nice starter kayak or kayak for those that cannot afford or don't have the storage for a hard one. I have had a very positive experience with it and would recommend it to anyone. I get compliments on it all the time and people walk over to see what it is. If you have any questions just comment and I will try to answer them for you.

We have used the Kayak 5 times. So far I've really enjoyed it... It may not be as maneuverable as regular kayak but for light recreation it is perfect. There is also enough room to tote along a small cooler and personal items. But I will say my FAVORITE thing about it is I can jump out of it in the lake and then get back in again with out it tipping over. The one down side is the foot pump. It is a bit taxing to blow up.. We purchased a battery operated pump that takes under 10 minutes from start to finish to fully inflate and be ready to go. The foot pump would be at least 25 30 minutes and then you are burned out from the effort. But my favorite aspect is being able to put it in the trunk!!! We can take it everywhere in a small car.

I love this kayak...once I'm out on the water. However, it is way too heavy for me to carry all by myself. I haven't weighed it......but I can't even lift the bag once I have everything in it. I've rigged up a temporary cart, just so I can get it down to the water from my house.....I have to walk down a rather steep access road, and a short rocky trail. The cart system works well, and will work much better once I build a more permanent one. Although I have it bagged up and in the house this week (its supposed to rain most of the week)...I plan on rigging up some kind of tarp to store it under all summer long, inflated. I have the summer off of work, and I want to kayak every single day....so I think the only way that will happen is if I leave it inflated. I have one bad shoulder, so fighting with the kayak is not fun. Dragging it out of the water and onto a cart is tough too, as well as pushing it back up the steep hill....but it is manageable (and good exercise). I am only giving 4 stars because it is not as portable as it seems from their description. They tell you it weighs 32 pounds....but with the oars and the seats, its considerably more than that. Still, it is a great value for the money....and perfect for a novice like me! (as long as I have a strong man that can carry it for me when I need it)

I am a mid-50s woman and this is my first kayak. I didn't have any trouble inflating it, but the plugs are very difficult to place - I broke 4 nails. I will try the hair dryer trick. I took it out to the Laguna Madre and thought the winds were only 10 mph so launched off a boat launch. I had a crash course in learning how to paddle - was pushed by a strong wind and current into some old barnacle-covered pier posts sticking out of the water where I battled to get out for almost an hour. Turns out the wind was 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph that morning. I would not be confident as a beginner to take this kayak out to into this same situation or the Gulf of Mexico with waves and wind. I am excitedly awaiting calm water on a sunny, warm morning to take this out into protected marina waters to practice paddling and build my confidence and experience. An experienced kayaker with more upper body strength might be able to handle this kayak in wind, but I had a hard time. I felt safe in it, but didn't feel that I had the skill to handle it in high winds.

Got this Kayak for a few reasons: It is inflatable (I live in an apartment and a hard kayak is not an option), and it was in my price range, and I liked what the reviews had to say. Got a chance to try it out today... I might have rated it with five stars, but I only tested it in smooth water and I'm not an experienced kayaker, so hesitated to give it all the stars without actually knowing how to put it thorough all it's paces. However, I can say I'm very happy with it so far!!Stability - It was very stable, even getting and getting out, and bear in mind that I am neither graceful, or in shape, or (ahem) remotely slim.Handling - It handled really well. Bear in mind, we were in a lake, on relatively smooth water but we could easily manuver it with either one or two people paddling, and could do intricate turns (even with two inexperienced paddlers) around buoys and the like.Wind: We had some wind, but not a lot... however, I can see that if it was windy, the handling might become more of a challenge.Ease of inflation - Cannot be easier. The foot pump works great; the hardest part was installing the one-way valves to start with.Ease of deflation: Could not be easier. Unscrew the valve tops, and it pretty much does most of the work. Very fast.Ease of getting back in the bag - at this moment, unknown. I have the kayak drying in my tub, and need to clean it off (got some sand and crud in it) before repacking it. However, I don't think it's going to be a problem.Paddles - again, I'm not an experienced kayaker, so someone with a lot of expertise might have a different opinion, but I like the paddles better than the one-piece ones I learned on. The nice part is that you can sort of rotate the angles of the blades merely by adjusting which hole the locking mechanism in the middle of the paddle is in - so you can adjust the angles to be straight (middle hole) or 45 degrees either way by moving to one of the other two holes. (They are a four-part paddle, so there's two paddle ends, and two bits that make up the length of the paddle, the adjustment is where those two pieces snap together).All in all, am thrilled so far. Stable, easy to handle, easy to paddle, easy to inflate, easy to deflate, and FUN. Good bang for my buck.The whole goal here for me was to get something I could use by myself or with someone else to cruise around lakes... most specifically some Montana lakes in a couple years when I get to go back "home" for a celebration. This kayak will make that dream happen.

This is great for those just getting into paddling who want to see how they like it before they spend a lot of money. At this price point there isn't a better kayak on the market.Pros:Tracks very well, and while it's not going to set any speed records, isn't as slow as you might think unless you are paddling into a headwind.Inflates quickly, and is very easy to break down too.Tons of room. Easily fits 2 adults and a moderate amount of gear. For camping trips on slow or calm water this is still my go-to kayak.Cons:No high pressure floor means moderate sagging, and I definitely never felt comfortable trying to stand up, even in calm water.Not very suitable for fast water/class 3+ rapids. Spray skirts are fairly ineffective, and there's no ports for drainage, so you will take on a lot of water in any decent rapids, and while I never had any damage to the hull, I wouldn't trust it to take a big hit, although the occasional scrape or bump is fine.Paddles are not very high quality, even on the pro package. The material used for the handles isn't very nice on your palms, and the locks are prone to jamming/rusting.Overall:This is a great boat, if you know what you're buying. It's not for serious whitewater or surfing, but it handles lakes and slow rivers very well. If you're curious about paddling, but don't want to spend a ton, this is great and I would strongly recommend it. It's not the best kayak ever, but it's probably the best kayak at this price. It won't do everything, but it does what it does well.

I've had this boat for a bit over one month and been out three times with my wife. Overall, I love this boat, but would not get rid of my hard-shell kayak for it.I've had a hard shell 10.5 foot "fishing" kayak for several years now, plus paddled on several types of rented yaks, and was looking to buy a tandem seat kayak to get my wife out with me. Storage was a concern as my hard shell already takes up a lot of garage space, and I didn't want to get a boat that we would only use a couple of time a year. Loading a 12 foot+ tandem kayak on top of my SUV and getting it the ten+ miles to/from the water was also a concern. An inflatable seemed like the perfect solution, especially one that allowed me to reconfigure the seats to use as both a single-person and tandem boat.First up; this is a solid and well-made boat, easily comparing to any commercial-grade inflatable boat I've been around. Having an inflation gauge to get proper pressure on the side tubes takes a lot of worry out of properly inflating this boat. After three tries, my wife and I can set it up in about 30 minutes. Take down is a little faster only because I just throw everything into the back of our SUV loose, knowing I'm going to be cleaning everything once I get home anyway. The foot pump is excellent, and I see no reason to use an electric pump. I did try inflating the boat with a little Coleman pump that I have for an inflatable mattress and water toys, but the pump doesn't have the "omph" to blow up something with as much volume as this boat. Having a drain plug at the stern and a tow point on the bow are nice touches, and show that this boat is well thought out.For handling, I'm comparing the Sea Eagle to a hard shell sit-inside kayak. Between the inflatable floor and thick inflatable seat cushions, the Sea Eagle feels more like a canoe than a kayak because of the higher center-of-gravity. In waves, the body flexes as opposed to the waves breaking over the kayak, and the flexing takes a bit of getting used to. The dual skegs do help the boat track, but the boat still feels "skittish" and tends to slide sideways with winds much easier than the hard shells I've paddled. I can see that any inflatable without the skegs would have extremely poor performance. It's possible that the shorter 330 might handle a little better.The storage bag is plenty large for all the parts and accessories This boat in the storage bag is a bit too heavy and too awkward in size to reasonably pack as air travel luggage, but is small enough to pack into just about any sized car (even one of the so-called "Smart Cars"). I also don't see anyone packing it on their back up the side of a mountain to get to that hidden lake, but I suppose it could be done. The smaller, lighter, 330 might be more suitable for airline and backpack travel.The paddles are long, but they do tend to brush against the sides of the boat and I have to use more of an angle to get them into the water than with hard shells. The paddles come apart in four pieces which makes storage easy, but the paddle ends tend to "rattle" a bit in the rod while paddling, which is a little disconcerting to me.The seats (Pro Package) are reasonably comfortable, but I've only used this boat for short trips of a bit over one hour at a time so don't know how I'd feel after several hours paddling. I do miss not have foot pedals to rest my feet against while paddling, and my (middle) seat seems to move backwards slightly while paddling. The rear seat is pushed all the way against the back of the tubes, so seat movement is not a problem. I do like being able to reconfigure the seats. I've used this boat for two people, taken out one seat and positioned the other seat for one-person paddling, and even pulled the kayak up on a secluded beach, taken out our gear and both seats then used the boat for a two-person air mattress and nap.I was really concerned about having a boat comfortably large enough for two people, and spent a lot of time posting questions on these review pages. I ended up with the 370 vice 330 so I;d have the extra room and honestly, the 370 is almost too large for us. I'm 5'10", and wife is 4'11-1/2", and this boat is very roomy for us. We probably would have been better off with the 330, but as one person posted; If I used this boat solo I'd have a lot more room to hold my gear. Larger people would probably want this larger size boat for tandem use.A few small quibbles with this boat:- The manufacturer provides an inflation gauge for the side tubes, but not one for the floor. Having an inflation gauge for the floor would be nice.- The blue dye from the webbing on the seats bleeds onto the PVC when the webbing gets wet. I now have a couple of blue dye marks on the nice white hull, which annoys me. I'm hoping the bleed-over problem goes away once the webbing gets wet a few times.- The pockets on the back of the seats could have been a little larger, given that this is the only storage built into the boat. It would also be nice to have a side pocket provided in the storage bag for small items.A couple of tips for people who have read my review this far:- Get some silicon grease and put a light coat on the rubber seals of the inflation valves. This will make it much easier to screw the valves tightly closed. You don't need much lube; a two ounce container should last a long time. (Don't use Vaseline as it might damage the rubber).- Don't trust the paddle floats that come with the Pro Package. If you drop a paddle in the water it will float, but may float away and get out of your reach. Use proper paddle lanyards hooked to your PFD.

Good alternative to a regular kayak if you don't have storage space for it. A bit too large and heavy for being portable. A bit of a pain to dry completely to put back into bag.

Great product for what we needed. We had a trip to the San Juan Islands in Washington State and wanted something to tool around in-i.e. not for big water, just to get out into our little bay and do some close-to-shore exploring. It worked pretty well and came with a pump, which is cool. We had it shipped from Amazon to the place we were staying. It ended up being cheaper to buy this kayak than rent kayaks for the week.
One caveat-when we deflated it to bring it home and tried to put it into the bag that it came with, the bag completely fell apart and the zipper ripped out, so we had to leave it behind.

Kayak is a good deal for the price but the pump is cheaply made and broke the first time my family and I used it. Called customer service who suggested I return the entire kayak and pump. I just wanted a new pump because the kayak works great. Amazon customer service credited me for the pump because I complained it would be way too difficult to return the kayak now that is was out of the box.

I like the simplicity of construction and the durability, however after using it for 20 minutes the skeg fell off into the lake, never to be found. In going to the webpage, the way of contacting Intex does not really allow this boat to be found in the "pull-down" menu portion of the online form. If anyone can get me a simple email address for the company customer service, I would really appreciate it. I will certainly keep using the boat, however controlling it without the skeg is difficult

.http://www.amazon.com/Intex-Challenger-2-Person-Inflatable-Aluminum/dp/B00177FIJ8

Fun part is that the boat was a blast to take out on Lake Tahoe - smooth waters with mild boat wake. I thought it handled well, especially with two people. With just me, I sat in the rear to get better back support and felt I lost a little tracking because of that. The inflatable seats give only low back support where the strap holds the seat up -- they are not that sturdy.
Now for the defective parts...
The carrying bag came with a torn handle, but this product was not advertised as having a carrying bag.
The vinyl on the bottom has an indentation like it got poked when it was manufactured. It still holds air. I discussed with Intex customer support who say they believe it will continue to hold air.
The instruction manual says I should call them directly for support but the phone support said I should contact Amazon for a return if I am not satisfied. Am debating whether I want to go through the effort to pack it back in the little box to return or take my changes with the potentially weakened vinyl.

Did not Track well however Seller was great!

Easy to transport, but it sits high in the water and rocks more than I like.

for the price, and for being inflatable its cool..sturdy..i know its advertised as rough waters, but honestly, i would not feel safe...we took it out on a lake with no currant..it held up ok, but the seats were uncomfortable (i even have the upgraded seats) and not enough leg room for two adults

Doesn't track as well as we would like.

It's pretty heavy but still easier to carry around than our two hardshell kayaks. However,it's not as good a ride and feels like it would be much easier to tip. It is easy to inflate and deflate.We found ourselves whapping each other's paddles fairly often and splashing each other. For the ride, we prefer our two kayaks.

It if a good Kayak; however mine now doesn't keep the air and I can't find the hole. I should have bough a hard-shell Kayak.

Bought this for husband as a Christmas present. He went to a lake for its maiden voyage with our 12 year old son. The water was calm. The paddle my son was using broke within 30 mins of use, right down the middle.... The kayak itself was okay, looks pretty sturdy, but would have to wait to see how well it holds up. Have to look for a new paddle before we use again.

The kayak was deformed. One of the plastic buckles to steady the back of the seat was mishapen, a big problem. The seat would not buckle in to the floor of the kayak, and as a result one seat has no back support.

Seam split on the side as soon as we sat in it. Inflated per the instructions. On first inspection, I thought it would be of reasonable quality for the price we paid. Knew it wasn't going to last forever, but for light occasional use, thought it would do the trick. The paddles are solid, good quality. Pump worked rather well. The inflatable seats could definitely use some additional rigidity to provide enough back support. Valves worked really well for inflating, and held the air. So, I don't know if we got a lemon that had a poorly fused seam, or if this is a design/manufacturer issue. I think if you are willing to take a chance, but for the price, may be worth the gamble. Might be better suited for kids, less weight.

I would give this product 5 stars easily if it wasn't for the detachable ruder thats located on the underneath of the kayak and the seats. It is a grate concept the plastic is super heavy duty, you will not have any problems with punctures. We took it to Croatia and some of the beacher were sharp rocks, no problems at all. The only two issues we had is that the seats were worthless literally did not support you at all whatsoever, so if you are ok paddling without back support and you want to work out your abdominal muscles then go for it. The other issue the ruder that's detachable, actually detached at some point while we were out at sea and after that happened without a ruder and no back support it was nearly impossible to paddle and stay on course. Over all it's an excellent flotation device if you want to stay dry and float around but its nowhere close to an actual kayak that you can use more than once.

holy moly!! the frist trip was fun.. it was funny! everytime we started in a direction the kayak would quickly spin around and go in a different direction. the sencond, third, etc.. not so funny!! u have nooooo control!! u work so hard to get nowhere. i am going to try the idea a man had with the balsa wood!! hope it works!!

Does not track well and is not very comfortable. Should have spent more $

It does not track in moving water, and it is heavier by far. The material is studry though and more suited for kayakers with experience.

Floating mattress with sides and paddles. It is not what I would call a real kayak, but it also doesn't cost as much. When the "kayak" is inflated to the recommended setting, the kayak has the consistency of a cooked campfire marshmallow. I had to over inflate the kayak to get it to the stiffness of a fresh marshmallow. I din't want to risk inflating it further. There is only one water drain on the end. The retention rings to hold the caps are loose. There are too many flaws to mention, but it was cheap and it does serve our purpose of going short distances to shore from the boat we live on. Beyond that I would look for something else and I would not buy this product again. I would look for something that costs three times as much.

Absolutely terrible fit for the plugs. Took us 45 mins to install everything and air it up. When we took it out on the lagoon, one side started deflating and we spun around in circles. The Customer Support guy (same guy from the YouTube videos) gave us a tip and told us to use a hair dryer to expand the plugs so that it would fit exactly on the base. He also offered to send us replacement plugs if we ever needed it. Will update this review if the hairdryer trick works.

Given a second chance I would never have bought this. The kayak itself is well made and as described. However it is very cumbersome to blow up and deflate this everytime. Not to mention it is almost too heavy/long for one person to carry when inflated because it bends a lot. I wish I would have spent the extra money for a hardshell instead but I don't have a rack/truck to transport it.

Loved this kayak when I first received it, it's comfortable and easy to inflate and deflate. My husband and I take very good care of the kayak...stay from shores, rocks, underwater trees, we are always on the lookout! We carefully wipe it down after each use and store it carefully...and still we got holes! This kayak is highly touted in camping magazines as an easy solution for taking a kayak along when camping. That's true, but for the price we paid, I would expect it to last more than one season of casual kayaking in lakes! I love the premise of this kayak...lightweight, easy to store and stable, but I need to know that I'll make it back to shore without the kayak deflating!

The first time we took the kayak out it had a hole. No problem, I thought, I can just patch it up with a bit of silicone and one of the included patches. The second time we took it out there were two holes. Oh, and the skeg was broken when it arrived. The material the kayak is made from is thick and heavy, but suprisingly fragile. The carry bag is poorly made and the zip detached after only a couple of uses.

The kayak works OK for one person but it tends to take on a lot of water. It's pretty hopeless with two people. The front seat has zero back support so you end up either with a sore back, or you lie back on the other person's legs and still get a sore back but with the added bonus that the other person also has sore legs. The seats are closer together than in a normal 2-person kayak so it's important to stay in sync with the other person. It's very easy to end up with your paddles colliding.

I wouldn't recommend this kayak. It's not really suitable for two people and it damages easily.

The kayak deflated on its first use. We were very careful to keep it away from sharp objects and did not drag it at all. Very disappointed.

I opened the box this morning ,inflated and and launched and a leak appeared almost immediately. We were only able to keep afloat while paddling back to shore by keeping a finger on each of the two holes that appeared. I see their warranty policy allows you to return in 30 days at your own expense! Apparently quality control is not high on the list.

Purchased a Challenger last September. I was hesitant to get an inflatable Kayak, but as a city apartment dweller, I took a chance for the sake of convenience. I took it on one test run to make sure it was functional before it got too cold out. I was hooked immediately. In fact, I was so impressed by the apparent durability and ease of use that I went out and bought a single person inflatable kayak for solo trips. Fast forward to June, and I start inflating the Challenger for the second time ever. I got the second chamber about 75% full, and it starts deflating, and I realize that the seams along the upper middle side of the outer chamber had started to split. I literally took it out of the box, inflated it, took it out on a lake, packed it away, inflated it a second time, and it died. How disappointing. It was pretty good for the 75 minutes of use I got out of it... I guess that's something.

Like many others have reported, the poorly designed skeg fell off after second time of gentle use - now it is not maneuverable anymore.

We bought this kayak as a replacement for our cheap and cheerful Sevlor model that had served well until sustaining irreparable puncture. Its maiden voyage was lake Canandaigua in NY, a weekend trip to try it out. We inflated carefully, followed the instructions and took to the water, not a smooth lake but not excessively choppy either. Our initial impression was that the kayak didn’t feel stable, and the rocking in the relatively small lake waves was disconcerting. Just a few minutes into the trip one of these small lake waves hit the boat on the side and capsized the kayak. We swam to shore carrying what we could, the nearby sheriff’s boat rescued a few items that we couldn’t swim with, lost one iPhone. This lack of stability was striking compared with the old Sevlor model that we had used in much rougher conditions and was impossible to capsize (even when climbing in and out of it in sea waves). Maybe we didn’t set it up correctly but we followed the instructions as closely as we could. Not overloaded, 3 persons (two adults and teenager), well within weight limits. Perhaps a defective model? Anyway, I would not take this anywhere near white water and we returned it straight away.

Not worth the money

leaked before we even got it in the water. hopefully we will get our money back.leaked right out of the box.

Ready to launch our brand new Sea Eagle 370, notice that one side wall isn't holding pressure. Found a puncture. Never even made into the water. Not trying this brand again.

Easy to setup, very portable however the tracking on mine was horrible, sent it back.

What a extreme disappointment this kayak is. I ended getting a hole right in the seam of the haul right underneath where I was sitting. This occurred after my third time taking it out. I was a couple miles down river from my car and was left stranded with a sinking boat beyond repair. The repair kit would not hold at the seam and I had zero chance of making a safe return.I emailed Sea Eagle about my issue and had sent them a picture of the hole to which they replied the hole would not be covered under the warranty and there was nothing they would do. So basically I'm left with a useless boat and I just threw it away.Even though this craft maker claims there is a warranty be very careful you don't damage it because you may be stuck with a whole lot of uninflatable rubber like me.Also, the foot pump busted after the first use and I just bought a hand pump to use. The boat itself would constantly pull and never tread in a staight line.I thought about upgrading to the tougher 380x, but after further consideration of their warranty, or lack there of, I decided against spending that much on something that may leave me in the same predicament.