The Intex Challenger K1 Kayak is a perfect example of how kayaks can be top quality and robust even when not made out of harder materials.

The Intex Challenger K1 Kayak is a bright, inflatable single person kayak that is best suited to lakes, ponds and calmer rivers. With a more than reasonable retail price and being a comfortable ride, this kayak is becoming quite popular. But is it the right kayak for you, let’s take a closer look and find out.

Design and Makeup of the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak

The Intex Challenger K1 Kayak is designed to be streamlined, a lot easier to paddle, and effective on the water.

The Intex Challenger K1 Kayak is 9 feet in length, and 2 feet and 6 inches in width, and sits at a height of fifteen inches. The inflatable kayak is constructed of welded 30 gauge PVC vinyl.

This inflatable kayak can hold up to 220 pounds (or 100 kgs), and can very comfortable seat and support one adult person.

Pros of the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak

The Intex Challenger K1 Kayak has been receiving a wave of positive reviews, but is it all that it is chalked up to be? Let’s take a close look at the positive points of this inflatable kayak.

It’s Comfortable

Being in a comfortable kayak means that you can be on the water for much longer, and that the time that you spend out on the water is enjoyable, and this inflatable kayak is nothing if not comfortable! The floor of the kayak is a comfortable, inflatable I-beam floor. The cockpit of the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak is spacious and specifically designed for comfort during longer journeys.

The Intex Challenger K1 Kayak also comes with an inflatable seat, with a backrest, for that extra added comfort. The inflatable seat is also adjustable.

It’s Incredibly Lightweight And Easily Portable

This one may seem obvious to you, but the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak is beyond easy to transport. When it is not inflated, the complete weight of this kayak is just under 28 pounds (or about 12 kilograms). You can pretty much throw this kayak into the back of your car, no matter how small your car is, and be on your way. Just don’t forget your pump!

If you do choose to inflate it before heading out, it can be easily secured to the roof of your car as it really is quite easy to hoist up.

Once your day on the water is done, you can just use the kayak’s Boston valve to deflate it (it deflates in minutes), and then use the kayak’s all-around grab line to tow it out of the water. Easy as that!

It Has A Removable Skeg

The skeg of the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak is very easily removable by a single kayaker. The reason that this aspect of the kayak lands in the pro list, is that removing the skeg results in much better directional movement as well as directional stability, when out on the water.

It’s Stable

The Intex Challenger K1 Kayak is built to be stable. You are able to sit in whatever position suits you and you are able to stand up in the kayak without any trouble. The inflatable I-beam floor of this kayak is comfortable but also rigid, lending itself to the stability of the kayak.

It’s Incredibly Buoyant

So being an inflatable kayak, you may think this is totally obvious and not really worth even mentioning because that is totally a given with inflatable kayaks, but the buoyancy of the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak is really quite remarkable. Once again it is the I-beam inflatable floor of the kayak that not only makes it stable, but boosts buoyancy.

It’s Safe

When you buy the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak, you get a lot of gear with it, and one of the accessories you will receive is a repair patch kit. Having this kit, that is specifically sold with your kayak so you know it’ll do the job, is perfect for any emergency repairs that need to be done.

Another safety aspect of this kayak is that the graphics printed on the vinyl it is made up of are bright and definitely eye catching! The reason that the aesthetic appearance of the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak is a pro in terms of safety, is that when you are in this kayak, you will be easy to spot which means that other kayakers will see you coming from a mile away, and you will be very unlikely to be in any kind of collision.

It’s Seriously Affordable

The Intex Challenger K1 Kayak runs for around just under $70 US. No, you didn’t read that wrong, yes, it’s available for just under $70. The price is one of the biggest reasons that this kayak is so popular, but the price is actually just the cherry on top. This is a seriously well rounded kayak, so much so that the price seems a little hard to believe.

It’s Durable

So the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak is made of 30 gauge PVC vinyl. The fact that it’s an affordable, inflatable kayak and that it’s constructed of vinyl may not inspire confidence in it durability, but don’t get it twisted, this kayak is solid. Customers have reported that even after the kayak has been dragged over rocks on multiple occasions, they have not had any troubles with ripping or tearing.

It Comes With A Lot Of Add Ons

The Intex Challenger K1 Kayak, great enough by itself, but as we have mentioned above, it comes with so many add ons! When you purchase this kayak you will also receive an Intex Double Quick II High-Output Hand Air manual pump for inflating the kayak, a kayak repair patch kit in case of punctures to the vinyl, a cargo net, a storage bag, a U.S. Coast Guard ID and last but not least, a collapsible (space saver, anyone?) 83 inch aluminum oar with rubberized hand grips, grab lines that are attached to either side of the kayak and make carrying the kayak easy, and a Boston valve which is located on the main hull chamber, making inflating and deflating the kayak a piece of pie.

The cargo net that comes with this kayak is perfect for storing gear. This will keep your cock pit from becoming too cluttered. We think that whenever you get extra accessories when purchasing a kayak, it’s a win and should definitely go into the pros list!

Cons of the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak

No kayak is perfect! Let’s turn our attention to the more negative side of the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak.

The Paddles Included Are Not High Quality

As we have mentioned above, when you purchase the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak you get a few add ons, like a kayak repair patch kit and an 83 inch aluminum oar. The oar has been getting a bit of negative feedback from customers and here’s why; more than a few owners of this kayak have found that the quality of the oar is quite low, and some of them have even had the oar break on their first outing. Ouch. We recommend investing in a different, stronger oar before setting out on this kayak!

It Cannot Be Used On All Water Conditions

The Intex Challenger K1 Kayak is not really an any conditions kind of kayak. It is an inflatable and it is very lightweight. While it is definitely durable and well made, it does not fare very well on the choppy water of the ocean, or in rivers that contain rapids. This low profile of this kayak means that it is best suited to waters that are much more still.

The Kayak Comes With A Manual Pump, Not An Electric Pump

Can you tell that we’re really nitpicking here? The Intex Challenger K1 Kayak comes with a manual pump that you are able to inflate your kayak with. If you do not want to spend the time or energy on inflating the kayak, you will need to spend a little more money on an electric pump, something that won’t burn too much of a hole in your wallet and that we think is definitely worth it, seeing as the kayak itself is relatively inexpensive.

Our Final Thoughts

The Intex Challenger K1 Kayak is really setting the bar very high in the category of inflatable kayak. When looking at this kayak from an impartial perspective, we think that the huge gap in the numbers of pros and cons really speak for themselves, basically, you have so many reasons to get out and try this sporty inflatable kayak, and three reasons not to.

If you are a beginner, and are just starting out into the exciting and adventurous world of kayaking, you will probably find that the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak is the perfect kayak for you!