Inflatable Kayak Blog

By Sabrina Marx

Yes my friends, I’m back with yet another summary review for an interesting inflatable kayak called the Innova Sunny. With summer well under way, I can imagine you are thinking about that next long holiday weekend kayaking trip. Looking for a new inflatable kayak that will go the distance? From what I have read about the Innova Sunny, it may be just the ticket.

The Sunny is the most popular of the inflatable kayaks offered by Innova. This boat is designed for two paddlers, but can easily be converted for someone paddling solo.

Of the reviews I read, consumers seemed to prefer this kayak for Class 1 rivers or flat water areas. Since the Innova Sunny has a load capacity of 396 pounds, it’s perfect for a short camping trip. A few reviewers stated the Innova Sunny performed well during day trips when they wanted to take in some sites or get in some fishing time. Below you will find my compilation list of consumer reviews for the Innova Sunny, both the good and the bad.

Innova Sunny Inflatable Kayak “Plus List”:
Light weight (29lbs)
Weight capacity of 396 lbs
Easy to lift
Easy to get in and out of
Quick on the water
Durable and stable
Maneuvers very well
Has a great deal of storage room
High back seats

Innova Sunny Inflatable Kayak “Minus” List:
Needs tracking fin to make paddling easier
Only good for class 1 rivers

Inflatable Kayak Review Summary:
The Innova Sunny was reported by many to be light weight, very comfortable and fast on the water. While it is best suited for flatwater and Class 1 rivers, consumers raved about it being one of the best inflatable boats they’d owned. Ideal for day trips as well as camping trips, the flexibility of the Innova Sunny allows consumers to get the most out of their kayaking trip.

This popular inflatable boat works well for either one or two paddlers, while still leaving plenty of storage room for gear. Many reviewers commented that the seats had high backs and made their trip on the water more comfortable.

Reviews for the Innova Sunny inflatable kayak were mainly positive, with little to no complaints. I’d say that seems to place the Innova Sunny as truly one of the best inflatable kayaks on the market today.

That’s about all your roving inflatable kayak reviewer has to say about this week’s compilation review. Until next time, my friends … keep your paddle in the water and your butt in the boat!

The two most recent inflatable kayak reviews that were posted here on the inflatable kayak blog featured Sea Eagle’s two “Sport” kayaks, the 330 and 370. Both kayaks are capable of carrying two paddlers, however the 370 is a foot longer and offers more leg room.

These “Sport” kayaks feature a tough polykrylar material that will last for years, if taken care of. And even though this material isn’t as strong as the 1000 denier weave that Sea Eagle puts on their Explorer and Fast Track kayaks, the 330 and 370 are still rugged enough to withstand the occasional collision with rocks, creek bottoms and docks.

The biggest advantage to owning an inflatable kayak is the portability and ease of storage. You can transport your kayak in your trunk and store it in your closet at home. Of course, that means you have to inflate it when you use it. It only takes a few minutes to become “water ready”. Generally from the time my wife and I park the car, we can get in the water in our Sea Eagle 330 within about 15 to 20 minutes, at a leisurely pace.

This video shows the proper technique for unpacking and inflating either the 330 or 370 as well as how to deflate it and pack it up for storage.

By Sabrina Marx

Hello my paddling friends and welcome back for part two of my Sea Eagle sport kayak summary reviews. There are 2 inflatable kayaks that are labeled “sport” kayaks by Sea Eagle. They are essentially the same design, but come in 2 different sizes. In this installment, we will explore the Sea Eagle 370 Inflatable Kayak.

The Sea Eagle 370 inflatable kayak is slightly larger than the Sea Eagle 330 that I reviewed last week. The 370 is 12 foot 2 inches long, compared to the 330, which is 11 feet 2 inches long. That extra foot of length results in the paddlers having more leg room. Just like the Sea Eagle 330, this kayak also comes in a deluxe and pro package version. The difference between the two packages is the seats. The seats in the pro package are taller than those in the deluxe package, much better for back support.

Both the deluxe and pro packages received rave reviews consistently on Amazon.com. Here is my “plus” and “minus” lists …

Sea Eagle 370 Inflatable Kayak “Plus” List:
Holds up to 650 lbs
Easy to inflate with foot pump, electric pumps aren’t necessary.
7 one way valves to allow for quicker inflation
Comes with carrying case, pressure gauge and repair kit
Very stable, nearly impossible to tip
Good value for the money, complete package, no additional accessories to buy

Sea Eagle 370 Inflatable Kayak “Minus” List:
A bit difficult to get back into the carry bag (need to roll kayak very tight to get back in properly)
Better suited for slower waters as it can be difficult to handle in windy weather
Paddles may bend a bit if trying to go to fast through a current
Tracking leaves a little to be desired

Inflatable Kayak Review Summary:
All in all, consumers loved this inflatable boat. Many reported that it seemed as though the Sea Eagle 370 is practically impossible to tip, but if you are new to using inflatable kayaks then you may want to take it slow when starting out. A few reviewers recommended that if you are a beginner or kayaking alone in the Sea Eagle 370 and you run into windy weather, you should sit in the center of the boat. They further explained that doing so would help you handle the boat with ease.

Those who rated the Sea Eagle 370 felt it was a great boat for families, as it can hold all body types and carry a total of 650lbs. As far as inflatable kayaks go, this appears by the reviews to be a sturdy and stable choice.

It’s quite rare that I find a product so widely recommended. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the information and comments on the Sea Eagle 370 because they were positive and upbeat with minimal to no complaints.

That about does it for me and my summary review of the Sea Eagle 370 inflatable kayak. Don’t forget to bookmark this site and visit us next week when I will be reviewing the Innova Sunny.

Until then…. keep your paddle in the water and your butt in the boat!

By Sabrina Marx

Hello again my water loving friends! I am very excited about this week’s review as it is the first in a two-part series. Why is that, you ask? When I started sifting through the reviews for the Sea Eagle 330 I just couldn’t stop there, so this summary will continue on next week with a review of the Sea Eagle 370. The Sea Eagle 330 and 370 are very similar inflatable kayak products. Sea Eagle calls them their “sport kayaks”. This week I’ll review the 330 and next week, the larger 370.

Onward ho with my summary review of the Sea Eagle 330. This inflatable boat comes in both a deluxe and a pro package. The seats in the pro package are slightly taller than those in the deluxe package. Seat height can make a huge difference to those of us with back problems. So if you want more comfort on your adventure, spend a little more and upgrade to the pro version.

I found several reviews on Amazon.com that covered both of the packages that are offered. Below is my breakdown of what everyone had to say about the Sea Eagle 330 in general.

The Sea Eagle 330 Inflatable Kayak “Plus List”:
Light weight (26 lbs)
Weight capacity of 500 lbs
Easy to inflate with foot pump, electric pumps aren’t necessary.
Easy to deflate for quick clean up
Comes with a repair kit, inflatable rear and front seats as well as two paddles
Durable Carrying Case
Good value for the money, complete package, no additional accessories to buy

Sea Eagle 330 Inflatable Kayak “Minus” List:
Seats on deluxe version had valves similar to toy floats which made it difficult to inflate them properly (NOTE: This has been corrected and the seats in the deluxe package that are sold now have Boston valves, just like the pro seats do.)
Pro package has better seats, but will cost just a tad more
Little to no back support with the seats in the deluxe package.
Better for calmer waters
Can be a tight squeeze for 2 adults
Tracking leaves a little to be desired
Paddling in a strong wind can twist the Sea Eagle 330 kayak off course

Inflatable Kayak Review Summary:

Overall, the majority of reviews for both the deluxe and the pro packages were consistently hitting 4 and 5 stars. The main complaint between the two was the difference in the seats and many reviewers preferred the Pro package for its seats with the higher back. Some consumers found it was a bit of a tight fit if you had two “healthy” adults in the inflatable boat, but it seems to be a great option for an adult with a child, a couple of teenagers, or two adults with athletic builds.

Either model of the Sea Eagle 330 Inflatable Kayak is a perfect starter boat for individuals who want to learn about kayaking or just knock around the water on the occasional weekend or vacation. If you need extra back support, do yourself a favor and go with the Pro Package rather than the Deluxe.

Don’t forget to stop by next week to read up on what I found out about the Sea Eagle 370 inflatable kayak! Until next time…. keep your paddle in the water and your butt in the boat!

By Sabrina Marx

Welcome back my adventurous kayaking friends! Sabrina Marx here, bringing you another exciting summary review from the Advanced elements inflatable kayak line. Today I will be compiling reviews written about the Advanced Elements FireFly™. Now, don’t worry your pretty little heads; I won’t make you read all of the reviews of the Advanced Elements FireFly™. I have done all the dirty work for you! Tightly written below is a carefully researched summary of what consumers had to say about their experiences with this particular inflatable kayak.

Out of all of the reviews I gathered, the Advanced Elements FireFly™ inflatable boat rated consistently with 5 stars on sites such as Amazon. The volunteer reviewers said the Advanced Elements FireFly™ is extremely portable and can go anywhere you go, including on a plane right in the overhead compartment! The Advanced Elements FireFly™ inflatable boat weighs in at a mere 16 lbs, making it just the right size to be considered carry on luggage!

For your convenience, I have listed my infamous “plus” and “minus” points of the Advanced Elements FireFly™, so you can see all that this nifty little inflatable kayak has to offer in a quick glance.

Advanced Elements FireFly™ “Plus” List:
Lightweight (16lbs)
Very compact
Great for lakes and streams
Perfect for beginners
Comes with its own carrying case, tracking fin and repair kit
Very affordable

Advanced Elements FireFly™ “Minus” List:
Can get pulled around by the wind very easily due to the small size and light weight
Seat is on the small side
Not good on anything other than flat-water

Float Tube Review Summary:
According to my review calculations, it seems that the Advanced Elements FireFly™ has more “plus” factors then “minus” factors. Most past purchasers falling into the kayaking “starter” category found the Advanced Elements FireFly™ to be the perfect inflatable boat for them. It’s light weight and compact size allow the Advanced Elements FireFly™ to fit neatly into its own duffle bag. The Advanced Elements FireFly™ also comes equipped with bungee deck lacing and rubber molded handles. Consumers posting reviews on major reviewing sites also took time to comment that they enjoyed the built in mesh pocket on the Advanced Elements FireFly™ for storing small personal items such as keys, wallet, ID, etc…

This particular inflatable kayak rated well with those reviewers who had children, as the Advanced Elements FireFly™ was light and easy to inflate. They further commented that the Advanced Elements FireFly works well for beginners with its good tracking and great stability.

One thing to keep in mind is that the Advanced Elements FireFly™ is best suited for flat water areas. This particular inflatable boat can handle small wakes, but it is definitely not suitable for rough waters. But all in all, the FireFly™ is an interesting find in the Advanced Elements inflatable kayak line and worth checking out.

As Forrest Gump so aptly put it, “That’s all I’ve got to say about that.” So, until next time my paddling friends, keep your paddle in the water and your butt in the boat!