Challenger K1

My experience with the K1 Challenger has been good I paid $55 for it and it handled it extremely well on a shallow Creek I did last weekend rubbing over a lot of rocks and gravel no sign of wear or tear at all 😄 I think it's a perfect kayak for a beginner to decide if they want to pursue the sport.

I have a old town canoe and 2 man kayak, I was looking for a single kayak to use on a lake and not take up any room in the garage. First it takes about 15 minutes to inflate and setup. Getting in at a beach would be OK but getting in and out from a dock is very hard, due to the flexible floor which makes it hard to balance. The seat is a bit high so I found only half inflating the bottom part of the seat gave a better height but I am 6 ft. tall, 180 lb. Paddling is better than expected, directional stability is not bad with the plastic fin attached. Due to the height if there is a cross wind it is harder as one would expect. It is not a fast kayak due to its shape but if you just want a leisurely paddle it is fine. I have only used it on lakes and it meets my requirements. It appears to be fairly tough, I have had it for 6 months with no punctures despite finding submerged branches and rocks. The paddle has worked well despite my initial apprehension about its strength. The blade angles can be set for in line or at 90 deg. The weight is an advantage (under 28 lb.) takes about the same time to deflate and pack up. I would recommend this kayak to beginners and intermediate who want a gentle paddle on sheltered water at a low price and easy storage. Not recommended for serious Kayakers, no comparison with a ridged plastic kayak.

The quality of the inflatable plastic material is high because it is thick. Only problem for me is that it is also heavy to carry. However, I would recommend this product to anyone who wants an easy-to-transport kayak that works well for lakes in particular because of the calmer waters. The green and blue color scheme is attractive.

Since my wife and I have never kyaked before, we thought these would be inexpensive introductory way to go. They blow up quickly and are very stable in the water. We've both have bounced off of submerged branches with no punctures yet.