Rating

Performance: 4

Size/Weight: 4

Durability: 3

Setup: 4

Value: 4

OVERALL: 3.8

The V-shaped hull is the redeeming feature for this low-cost kayak.

It’d be pretty easy to rate the Laxo 285 neck and neck with the Itiwit Cruising Kayak. On paper, they’re pretty similar - both fabric-covered wide little things with similar dimensions, carrying capacity and prices. But the Laxo has one thing that makes all the difference to its performance in the water - a V-shaped hull composed of inflatable tubes.

Comparison

Rank: #8

Open Size: Short and wide

Packed Size: Bulky

Weight: Average

Capacity: Very low

Best For: Recreational paddling, calm water.

Pros: Stable, good fin system, easy setup.

Cons: Fabric cover, lack of firmness, expensive for what it is.

Verdict: A good middle of the range pick for getting on the water.

Skip ahead to First Impressions, Setup/Packdown, Paddling Experience, or the Final Verdict, check out how the Aqua Marina Laxo 285 compares to others in our list of the Best Inflatable Kayaks, or see how we choose the best inflatable kayak.

Specs:

Open Size: 285cm x 95cm

Packed Size: 71cm x 53cm x 31cm

Weight: 12kg

Capacity: 95kg

Approx Price: $499

The Laxo comes with everything you’d need to get on the water in one box (except a life jacket). The included paddle is ok, but the foot pump it comes with is rubbish, and unless you enjoy tearing your hair out, we’d recommend purchasing your own double- or triple-action hand pump with a pressure gauge on it. Note that the floor should only be inflated to 1 psi, so a pressure gauge is useful to avoid popping the thing.

There are also TWO fins, which we haven’t seen before - one goes at the bow and the other at the stern.

The included bag conveniently zips all the way around the edge to open, which makes it easier to get the kayak in and out, so that’s a plus.

It’s got three matching valves, hallelujah. The valves are Boston valves, so slightly more annoying to screw open and closed than Halkey-Roberts valves, but that’s a minor point. You start by inflating the floor to 1 psi (check the pressure gauge!), and then the side tubes. There is a note to check that the floor is sitting under the side tubes before inflating them, but we did it without taking any particular notice of that and it seemed to work out fine.

The seat doesn’t need any inflation - yes! - and the velcro on the bottom lines up with a velcro strip on the floor before you clip it on. It’s one of the few kayaks of this price with plastic clips which we’re skeptical about the durability of. The fins slide and clip in easily, but the pin is a bit painful to take out.

THERE IS NO FOOTREST. At this price point, I think it’s pretty reasonable to expect one - it makes a huge difference to paddling performance and ease.

And then there’s the pack down, which is hampered by the fabric covering. The WHOLE THING is covered in fabric - not a centimetre of PVC or tarpaulin in sight - and takes quite a while to dry. I kept it out for about two days before packing it away, and I still wasn’t convinced it wouldn’t get mouldy in my garage.

The Laxo is a far cry from a high performance paddling machine, but it does have relatively good straight-line tracking going for it. This is assisted by its V-shaped arrangement of the long inner tubes down the length of its hull, which provides the underside of the kayak with a natural propensity to head in a straight line. It’s also pretty stable for a V-shaped kayak with wide side tubes.

However, as with the Itiwit Cruising Kayak, the wide side tubes do require some reaching over to get the paddle into the water, which makes it a little more strenuous to paddle.

The seat, being of fairly sturdy foam, is comfortable and supportive, but I’ll say it again - NO FOOTREST. Having something to push against with your feet really aids in the biomechanics of paddling. Without it, combined with the softer feel of an inflatable floor, don’t expect to go very far in this thing.

Aqua Marina’s Laxo 285 makes a decent stab at a straight-line tracking kayak for a lower cost, without sacrificing quality. Is it worth the extra $100 over the Itiwit Cruising Kayak, to which it’s pretty similar? Yes, because its V-shaped hull makes for a much straighter paddling experience. It’s lacking some key things like a footrest, the included foot pump isn’t worth using and the fabric covering is annoying when it comes to packing and storing it, but it’s a reasonably solid option for this price point.

Interested to see how the Aqua Marina Laxo 285 compares? Visit our list of the Best Inflatable Kayaks for a full comparison of our top ten.

Water & Outdoors reviews are written by our staff writers, who combined have over fifty years of experience on the water and outdoors. We may earn commissions if you choose to buy through a link you’ve clicked on our website, however this does not influence our reviews. For more information, please see our Editorial Policies.