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Inflatable kayaks are the perfect solution for those who want to enjoy the thrill of kayaking in the sea or ocean, but don’t have the storage space for a traditional hard-shell kayak.
To help you out, we’ve put together a list of the best inflatable kayaks for the sea and ocean, taking into consideration factors such as stability, durability, and ease of use
Too busy to check out the full list? The best one is the Sea Eagle Razorlite 393. It’s fast, spacious and features all-drop-stitch construction for maximum stability and rigidity.
Top 9 Best Inflatable Kayaks For The Ocean Reviewed
1: Sea Eagle Razorlite 393RL (best overall)
- Length: 12 foot 10 inches
- Width: 28 inches
- Weight: 33.5 inches
- Weight capacity: 500 pounds
The Sea Eagle Razorlite 393 is one of the best inflatable kayaks on the market. It can excel on the ocean as it’s designed for performance on open water. This is the first inflatable kayak in the world to be made entirely from drop-stitch technology.
The drop-stitch construction helps to optimize speed and tracking, as well as helping to maximize the amount of space on deck.
An excellent feature of this kayak is that it is NMMA certified. This means it meets the safety and quality standards set by the National Marine Manufacturers Association for use in the ocean.
Another great feature of this inflatable sea kayak is the narrow and straight hull with rigid bow and stern molds. This helps to cut through wind and waves, meaning it is more efficient to paddle in open water. The large rear skeg also helps with tracking.
This is a durable kayak that can be ideal for touring and kayak camping, with plenty of space to store gear on the deck. There’s a comfortable seat with a high backrest for support. The seat also has added storage.
You’ll find FlexBrace footrests that can be adjusted easily on a track. However, these can be tricky to install.
This is a fast kayak that can reach speeds of up to 6 mph. But it’s not for beginners. While being stable in the ocean, it might feel a little unstable if you’re new to kayaking. It’s aimed at intermediate and higher level paddlers looking for a high-performance inflatable kayak.
> Our full Sea Eagle 393RL review
Pros
- All drop-stitch construction
- Speedy
- High capacity
- NMMA certified
Cons
- Not the best for beginners
- Footrests can be difficult to install
2: Advanced Elements AirFusion Evo Inflatable Kayak (runner-up)
- Length: 13 foot
- Width: 24 inches
- Weight: 32 pounds
- Weight capacity: 235 pounds
The Advanced Elements AirFusion Evo is a high-quality inflatable kayak with a sit-inside hull. This is designed to provide additional protection from the elements when you’re sea kayaking.
A great feature of this kayak is the coaming on the cockpit rim. This lets you attach a spray skirt (sold separately) to keep water out of your cockpit.
It also benefits from having a V-shaped hull and an aluminum rib frame with drop-stitch technology. These features are designed to improve performance on open water, making the hull more efficient at cutting through waves and tracking in a straight line.
This is a narrow and relatively long kayak, so it’s quick to paddle. But the design of this kayak makes it better suited to more advanced paddlers. If you’re a beginner, you might find the AirFusion Evo a little unstable on flatwater because of the V-shaped hull.
You’ll find some storage space, including a small roll-top hatch at the stern and some bungee rigging at the bow. But it’s probably not the best kayak if you plan to take a lot of gear with you.
The cockpit is not the largest, so it’s not the best choice if you’re particularly tall. In fact, it has a maximum recommended paddler height of 6-foot, 2-inches. But it can be ideal for small to medium paddlers.
Pros
- Compatible with spray skirts
- Aluminum rib frame
- Drop-stitch construction
- V-shaped hull
Cons
- Limited storage space
- Not for large or tall paddlers
3: Sea Eagle 385 FastTrack Angler (best for fishing)
- Length: 12 foot 6 inches
- Width: 36 inches
- Weight: 44 pounds
- Weight capacity: 635 pounds
The Sea Eagle 385 FastTrack Angler is an inflatable fishing kayak that is built to be tough and durable. It features a high-pressure drop-stitch floor for increased rigidity and performance. This is an incredibly stable vessel that can handle both calm and rough water – it’s rated to handle up to Class II whitewater.
This is a NMMA-certified inflatable kayak so it is ideal for fishing in ocean conditions. It can also be a good choice for kayak camping as it has a very high load capacity, along with a spacious deck for storing gear.
However, this is a heavy boat for an inflatable, so it might not be the best option if you’re looking for something that’s easy to carry into backcountry spots. On the other hand, this is obviously going to be lighter to carry than most hardshell fishing kayaks – especially ones that are a similar length.
This has a non-slip EVA foam deck for traction when standing. This padded deck is also suitable if you want to bring your dog along for the ride.
The patented NeedleKnife keel is designed to cut through waves and currents. The narrow, tapered bow also helps to improve speed and tracking performance on open water.
A useful advantage of this inflatable sea kayak is that it’s compatible with an electric trolling motor (motor and mount are included with the Pro Motor Fishing Rig package). It also benefits from having bow and stern spray covers that have built-in rod and tackle holders.
Pros
- Generous capacity
- Very stable
- Good performance in open water
- Fishing features
Cons
- Heavy
- Not the easiest to carry when deflated
4: Sea Eagle 420X Explorer (best tandem)
- Length: 14 foot
- Width: 39 inches
- Weight: 44 pounds
- Weight capacity: 855 pounds
The Sea Eagle 420X Explorer is an inflatable tandem kayak that has room for a third person. This is designed to handle almost any type of water, from calm lakes and rivers to open oceans. It can even handle whitewater running on up to Class IV rapids. So it can be a versatile inflatable kayak for two people.
With a rigid drop-stitch floor, this is a stable and durable kayak with improved glide for efficient paddling. It features 16 self-bailing drain valves that can be ideal for paddling in ocean conditions (or whitewater rivers).
The large removable skeg helps to deliver improved tracking on oceans and large lakes.
It has three air chambers for added safety. It is made from tough 1100 Decitex Reinforced fabric and features glued quadruple overlapped seams for durability.
This can be an ideal craft for kayak camping, with a huge load capacity and plenty of space on deck to store camping equipment. You’ll find 26 D-rings to tie gear down. These D-rings are also used to secure the seats.
The front and rear spray skirts have bungee rigging to secure gear. This can also be paddled solo if you want to head off on a multi-day expedition. However, it’s not particularly fast to paddle. It’s also not the lightest inflatable kayak if you plan to carry it any distance on your own.
Pros
- Removable tracking skeg
- Self-bailing
- Can handle rough waters
- High maximum capacity
Cons
- Not built for speed
- Pretty heavy
5: Aquaglide Deschutes 130 (best budget)
- Length: 13 foot
- Width: 37.5 inches
- Depth: 10.5 inches
- Weight: 22 pounds
- Weight capacity: 400 pounds
The Aquaglide Deschutes 130 is a lightweight inflatable kayak that offers excellent features at a more affordable price tag. This is a durable kayak that is designed for day-touring.
It has a long and narrow tube design which helps to improve glide and tracking performance in open water conditions.
Another great feature is the Feather Frame Inflatable Crossbeam. This provides rigidity to the hull while keeping weight to a minimum. The floor features a solid EVA covering for added durability.
This can be an ideal kayak for beginners and intermediate paddlers. It is stable, with a relatively wide hull. It’s