Intex Challenger K1 Review
Rating
Performance: 3
Size/Weight: 3
Durability: 2
Setup: 5
Value: 5
OVERALL: 3.6
A spongy little pocket rocket that handles surprisingly well.
There are really two levels of inflatable kayak - cheap, and expensive. Inevitably, you’ll get what you pay for, and the cheap ones will never provide the close-to-hard-shell experience that top-end inflatables can provide. The Intex Challenger K1 is in the cheap category, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good, affordable way to get out on the water.
Comparison
Rank: #9
Open Size: Short and small
Packed Size: Small and light
Weight: Heavy
Capacity: Low
Best For: Calm, slow-moving water, recreation.
Pros: Removable skeg means it’s surprisingly manoeuvrable, easy to set up and pack down, and very cheap!
Cons: Vinyl materials used feel a little flimsy and we do worry about the kayak’s longevity, feel is a bit softer than we’d like.
Verdict: A great entry-level kayak for those who want to dabble.
Skip ahead to First Impressions, Setup/Packdown, Paddling Experience, or the Final Verdict, check out how the Intex Challenger K1 compares to others in our Best Inflatable Kayak Reviews, or see how we choose the best inflatable kayak.
Specs:
Open Size: 274cm x 76cm
Packed Size: 59cm x 41cm x 22cm
Weight: 13kg
Capacity: 100kg
Approx Price: $159
First Impressions
The Intex Challenger K1 packs down to a reasonably small and light package. We had no problem getting it into the car and down a steep path to the water, although we would’ve loved a shoulder strap on the bag. The first thing we noticed upon unboxing was that the feel of the kayak is definitely reminiscent of a pool toy - it’s that same kind of vinyl, and a little flimsier than we’d like in an inflatable kayak.
When unfolded - before inflation - we noticed it’s quite a bit shorter and smaller than many of the other one-person kayaks we tested. There also looked to be very little to provide rigidity to the structure of the kayak once inflated.
There’s a cargo net for storage over the bow (front) - this is convenient for putting lighter/smaller articles in like a dry bag with your phone in it, but the netting elastic felt quite loose and I’m not sure how much I’d trust it with my valuables. We’d also advise against putting anything weighty in there - the last thing this kayak needs is any more bow weight on it!
Setup/Packdown
The Intex Challenger K1’s two main inflation points are positioned logically close together, and in theory, inflation should have been easy. However - and there’s no way to politely say this - the included pump is rubbish, coming apart on us multiple times and barely providing any inflation as it did so. In the end, we used our own pump, and strongly suggest BYO pump for this one - just make sure your pump attachment matches the valves, which are fairly standard.
You also need to inflate the seat and optional footrest, which are mouthpieces, not pumps. My testing buddy was a big man with big lungs, so only took a few puffs to blow up the seat and opted to forego the footrest - he needed the extra legspace. Me - I don’t have quite the lung capacity, so inflating the seat and footrest took me longer, about 5 minutes. Adding the footrest does improve the bow shape, but because it’s a solid inflatable triangle that you wedge in has no option for adjustment - either use it, or don’t. I’m 5’7”, and I found the footrest just too short to really get a good leg position - but without it, I had nothing to push against.
Our fears about the cargo net at the front were well-founded - even with the kayak inflated, it sat loose. Fully inflated, you could really see that rough, pool-toy-like finish around the seam edges. However, we liked that it came included with a soft plastic ‘ruler’ corresponding to markings on the kayak so you could visually check that it’s inflated to the right pressure - handy until you get the hang of it.
Paddling Experience
We used the included 4-piece paddle and found it reasonably solid and easy to put together. We also chose to use the removable skeg (bottom fin) and were glad we did - this really went a long way towards improving the handling of the kayak (we later tried it without the skeg… near impossible to steer).
Being entirely inflatable, including the seat and footrest, and having the absence of any firm surfaces provided by a technology like drop-stitch, meant that the general feel of the kayak was spongy to say the least. It felt a little like trying to paddle a marshmallow down a river. There also wasn’t a whole lot of room, not for me and certainly not for my 6’4” testing buddy. Tracking along in a straight line wasn’t that achievable, and if it’s speed you’re looking for - forget it.
What we were happy with though was its stability. If you’re in the market for a cheaper inflatable kayak then chances are you’re an occasional/recreational kayaker, and stability is more important than speed. Being relatively wider and shorter, the Intex Challenger K1 was pleasingly stable, especially given its lack of hard surfaces.
We also thought it was surprisingly manoeuvrable and turned pretty well - so although keeping it in a straight line wasn’t always easy, being able to turn and go in closer to see something or just play around was fine.
Final Verdict
The Intex Challenger K1 lacks hard surfaces and isn’t the most pleasant kayak to paddle. If you’re a serious kayaker and want a kayak you’re going to really enjoy taking out, we’d suggest looking elsewhere.
However, if the ridiculously low price point of the K1 is going to get you out on the water, get it - at the end of the day, being able to get out and explore is better than not being able to do it at all.
At this price point, the K1 delivers the best option we’ve found, and that’s why it’s made our Best Inflatable Kayaks of 2024.
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