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Australia has some spectacular places to paddle but finding the right kayak in this neck of the woods is not always easy. With an inflatable kayak you can explore local waters or pack it into your car when you head off on holiday.
To help you plan for your next Aussie adventure, we’ve made a list of some of the best inflatable kayaks in Australia.
Don’t want to read to the end? The best kayak is the Advanced Elements Lagoon 1.
Why? It’s budget-friendly, easy to use and can be a great choice if you’re new to kayaking.
Top 11 Best Inflatable Kayaks In Australia Reviewed
1: Advanced Elements Lagoon 1 Inflatable Kayak (best overall)
- Length: 255 cm
- Width: 87 cm
- Depth: 25 cm
- Weight: 10.4 kg
- Weight capacity: 113 kg
The Advanced Elements Lagoon 1 is a compact inflatable kayak designed for solo paddlers. Despite being our top pick, this is also a pretty affordable kayak that is extremely lightweight and easy to transport. But you’ll need to buy a pump separately, as you don’t get one included.
Being just over 2.5 metres, this is a short kayak. This means it should be easier to turn in small spaces. And can be a good choice for beginners developing their paddling skills. It has a rigid bow and stern for improved tracking, helping you to cut through waves.
It’s quite wide for such a short kayak, so it can offer good stability. It can also handle a good variety of waters, including coastal bays, lagoons, and mild rivers. It has a sit-inside cockpit, with a rim that’s compatible with a spray skirt for added protection from the elements (sold separately).
It doesn’t have a lot of space for gear but there is some cargo space on the front deck to strap down a small dry bag or a waterproof jacket.
For comfort on the water, there’s an inflatable seat with a backrest for support.
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Easy to manoeuvre
- Affordable
Cons
- Not much cargo space
- Pump not included
2: Advanced Elements Advanced Frame Sport Kayak (best runner-up)
- Length: 317.5 cm
- Width: 81 cm
- Weight: 12 kg
- Weight capacity: 113 kg
The Advanced Elements Advanced Frame Sport Kayak is a fantastic option if you’re looking for increased performance and a little more space compared to our top pick. However, this one is not as budget-friendly as the Lagoon.
This benefits from having an aluminium-rib frame for rigidity, meaning it has a similar level of performance as a hard-shell kayak. It’s a little faster than the Lagoon thanks to its longer, narrower hull. But it might not be as quick to turn in tight spaces.
It’s a stable kayak. But if you’re a beginner, you might find it less stable than some of the others on the list, as it’s not as wide.
A great feature of this sit-inside inflatable kayak is that it can be upgraded if you want even better performance. It’s compatible with a drop-stitch floor (sold separately) so you could increase the rigidity of the hull for improved glide and faster speeds.
This has four chambers for safety and there are deck bungees to store gear. There are also D-rings for tying additional gear to the deck.
The Advanced Frame Sport is rated for up to Class II rivers, so it can handle moderately choppy conditions as well as flatwater lakes and bays.
> The full AdvancedFrame Sport review
Pros
- Aluminium frame
- Quick for an inflatable
- Compatible with drop-stitch floor (not included)
Cons
- Pump not included
- Not ideal for beginners
3: Aquaglide Deschutes 145 Kayak (best tandem)
- Length: 446 cm
- Width: 96.5 cm
- Depth: 26.7 cm
- Weight: 11.5 kg
- Weight capacity: 272 kg
The Aquaglide Deschutes 145 is a quality inflatable tandem kayak. This is extremely spacious, with a high capacity and it can be a great option for a camping trip. There’s room for two paddlers with space for gear. There’s even room for your dog if they’re up for the adventure.
This is a long kayak that can be brilliant for touring. It can offer increased speeds and decent tracking for more efficient paddling over long distances. It’s also pretty comfortable, with two high-back seats and integrated foot rests for support.
A nice feature of this inflatable kayak is the rigidity from the solid EVA floor and the Feather Frame inflatable crossbeam. This helps to improve performance, which can make for more efficient paddling over longer distances.
One of the best features is the lightweight design. Weighing 11.5 kg this can be easy to carry on your own. It even comes with a backpack-style bag so you can take it to remote spots.
It’s made from Duratex material and features a Halkey-Roberts valve adaptor. It also comes with a repair kit. But it doesn’t include paddles.
Pros
- Quick and easy to paddle
- Great for camping
- Spacious
- Rigid feel
Cons
- Paddles not included
- Pump not included
4: Driftsun Voyager 2 Person Inflatable Kayak (best value)
- Length: 305 cm
- Width: 89 cm
- Depth: 40.6 cm
- Weight: 12.2 kg
- Weight capacity: 204.1 kg
The Driftsun Voyager is a two-person inflatable kayak that comes with everything you need to get on the water (except PFDs, of course – you’ll need to buy those separately).
While it’s not the cheapest kayak on our list, it does offer good value for money with all the extras that come with it. It comes with two padded seats with adjustable backrests for comfort and support.
It also comes with two adjustable aluminium paddles.
This is a durable kayak that’s made from 840 denier nylon Oxford fabric with a PVC tarpaulin hull. It has three air chambers for safety and buoyancy, plus a huge capacity.
However, it’s not the most spacious kayak if you’re looking to bring along a lot of gear plus two paddlers. So it might be better for short trips rather than long ones.
The V-shaped hull has added rocker to let you take on waves and moving water easily. And the splash guards (with carry handles) at the bow and stern help to keep water out.
There are bungee tie-downs at the bow and stern, plus paddle holders in case you want to jump off for a swim or go fishing.
Pros
- Great value
- Durable construction
- Two paddles and seats included
Cons
- Not very spacious for two people plus gear
5: Adahub Inflatable SUP/Kayak (best hybrid)
- Length: 320 cm
- Width: 86 cm
- Depth: 15 cm
- Weight: 11 kg
- Weight capacity: 170 kg
The Adahub Inflatable SUP comes with a kayak seat included so you can easily transform it into a kayak for the ultimate in versatility. This hybrid kayak comes with a convertible 4-piece carbon paddle, so you can use it as a SUP paddle or a kayak paddle.
With a decent capacity, this can be ideal for larger paddlers. It’s equally great for bringing your dog along, with durable drop-stitch technology for rigidity. The non-slip deck pads provide grip for both paws and feet. Being a stand-up paddleboard, you can also stand up for fishing or a better view.
This is super-lightweight so it can be easy to carry around. And when it’s deflated it can easily fit in the back of a small car.
There’s bungee rigging at both the front and the back, so you can secure your dry bags and other accessories to the deck.
A downside is that it’s not the most comfortable to paddle for long durations, as there are no foot braces and the seat is flat on the deck.
Pros
- Carbon paddle included
- Lightweight
- Versatile – SUP and kayak in one
- Drop-stitch construction
Cons
- Not very comfortable