INTEX Challenger Inflatable Kayak Series: Includes Deluxe 86in Kayak Paddles and High-Output Pump – SuperStrong PVC – Adjustable Seat with Backrest – Removable Skeg – Cargo Storage Net

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1. Birgit Hildebrandt Verified Buyer – 27 April 2024

   Toller Preis, gute Ware, schnell aufzupumpen. Pumpe ist dabei ! Gutes Material ! Vorne und hinten ein Fach zum verstauen der Tasche. Topp. Das war bisher das Beste das ich gekauft habe. Aber Vorsicht bei Gewässern wo Äste im Wasser liegen könnten. Es geht dann nicht gleich unter, ist dann aber defekt.
   

2. Music Fan Verified Buyer – 13 May 2024

   We just got back from our 4th kayak outing this Summer with the Intex Challenger: Pro’s: 1) The price (we got them on black Friday at a substantial discount) for what you get is really superb. Don’t be put off by a low price on these – they’re not cheap in any way. 2) Easy to transport and store. This was the primary reason we went with inflatables. I can toss them in the trunk of my car – no need for a roof rack. Also – they fold up and easily store in the supplied bag – allowing us to store them in a corner in the basement. A hardshell kayak will weigh 50+ lb’s making them harder to transport and store. 3) Setup is easy. I haven’t timed it but I suspect they inflate in less than 10 minutes. It’s really quick and easy to pull it out of the bag and have it ready to go in the water. 4) Very stable on the water. They’re easy to get in and out of (as easy as it can be anyways) – I’ve not come close to capsizing one. They feel stable and inspire confidence on the water. 5) Storage is adequate. You can store items behind the seat – I take my pump along on every trip just in case. It easily stows away behind the seat. The cargo net in the front of the kayak is sturdy and allows for ample storage for a dry bag and towels etc. 6) Light and easy to carry. Both my wife and I can carry them with ease. This allows us to setup on the shore then carry to a launch site with no trouble. A little awkward to carry – yes – but we have no real problems. 7) They feel very sturdy and well constructed. We’re careful not to overinflate them and avoid running into anything or grounding them. No concerns about leaks thus far. Con’s: 1) Comfort is just okay. I’m 5”9’ with pretty standard sized feet and I have a hard time getting super comfy in it. My feet feel a little cramped in the front compartment after a bit. It’s possible I need to experiment with the air pillow a bit more. That said – it’s not bad – I just wish it was a tad more comfortable. If you’re over 6” or have giant feet you may struggle with it. 2) Setup and tear down is easy – but it is a job you have to do every trip. They deflate pretty quickly – then you have to wipe them dry (lest you risk mold later on) then fold them up and store them back in the bag. Easy enough to do – but it adds probably 30 minutes (setup and teardown) to each trip. Not a big deal for us but a con nonetheless. 3) The valves are a real bear if you over-tighten. Now – the solution is to not over tighten them, but it’s a judgment call and I tend to err on the side of caution which leads to twisting a bit too much. If you do this it’s virtually impossible to loosen the valve to deflate without the aid of a tool (I keep a pair of Channellock’s in the trunk now just in case!!) which can be a problem getting them back home. I don’t blame this on the product but it’s something to be aware of. Just Okay: 1) The seat is comfy enough – but it’s not great. 2) I see some people in the reviews ding the supplied paddle as a negative. I find it to be fine and more than adequate for the inflatable. It’s light enough and moves the boat just fine. You’re not going to use it for an Olympic time trial but that’s not the purpose of this kayak! 3) Maneuverability. With the supplied skeg (the little plastic rudder like device you attach to the bottom of the boat) the kayak tracks straight and is easy to keep on course. If you forget the skeg or lose it you’re doomed! Overall the boat performs just fine – but understand it’s not going to perform like a hardshell kayak. Things to get along with your kayak: 1) You’ll likely want a PFD – get one designed specially for kayaking. You need to be able to move your arms and shoulders freely. Search for a kayak PFD and you’ll be fine. 2) A Dry bag. You’ll want a place to store items to keep them dry should the worst happen. In my dry bag I carry: a. Some rope and carabiners. Just in case. b. A loud Whistle. Recommended for emergencies. c. A waterproof carrying case for my phone. d. Bottled water. e. Granola bar. Final Thoughts: We’re supremely happy with the kayaks! For our wants/needs (we’re 60 years old and like puttering about on calm lakes and rivers) they’re awesome. Realizing they’re not perfect we are very happy with our purchases. A superb bang for the buck purchase and lots of fun.

   

3. Ezzo Musa Verified Buyer – 14 June 2024

   Well built. Good material. But border police stopped me from using on open sea.
   

4. Brittany L Verified Buyer – 20 July 2024

   Got this on primeday and it was wort it for sure. I live near a lake and it cost $20 an hour to rent a kayak. This cost us a few trips and it’s done just as good as we need it to! My dog comes with us (15lb). I would not trust it anywhere I can’t swim back if it broke but then again I might invest in a decent life jacket and venture a little further considering how well it’s held up!
   

5. Séverine Verified Buyer – 14 November 2024

   Très vite commandé,reçu dans les délais bonne qualité super article
   

6. Melissa M Verified Buyer – 19 March 2025

   We own three of these Intex Challenger 1-Person kayaks, and two of the Intex Explorer K2 2-Person Inflatable Kayaks. We love these kayaks and recommend them to anyone looking for the fun and flexibility of a kayak without the typical hassles of transportation and storage. If you’re looking for a fast ride down a waterway, this isn’t it. They move well but you won’t be able to race a hard shell kayak. The single ones are fantastic for teens and adults. The 2-person ones are great for two younger people, one adult and child, or a single person that really wants a lot of room to stretch out. You can but don’t have to put both seats in if you only need one. I prefer the green 1-person kayak myself. It’s a little narrower and possibly moves a little faster, which I like, but my husband usually chooses the 2 person even if he’s riding solo. Want to do a solo one-way trip? Go farther than you planned? UBER. INFLATABLE KAYAK PROS – Easy to store and transport – More stable than standard kayaks. We haven’t gotten close to tipping; I can’t imagine it happening. – Durable plastic – on our many trips, with various kids and adults, we haven’t had one leak – Much higher weight limit than hard shell kayaks – Comes with everything you need – kayak, seat, storage bag, paddle, skeg (snaps on underneath for stability), patch kit and air pump (the 2-person version comes with all the same stuff, except it has 2 paddles and 2 seats) – Storage – there’s enough room in the front and back sections of the kayak for your all your gear leftovers, and a drybag with your extras – Pumps up quickly – takes me about 9 minutes for the 2 person K2, and about 6 minutes to hand inflate a K1 (the first few times it’ll take you a bit longer than that) – Have electricity where you’re going? You can use a standard air mattress pump to inflate. – VERY easy to figure out right out of the box – just READ THE DIRECTIONS the first time! – If you did get a leak (which we have not, even with teens butt-scooting the kayaks from shore to deeper water — sigh), your kayak will be more difficult to paddle, but probably still won’t sink. The kayaks have more than one chamber to inflate, so at most you’d eventually lose half of your air. INFLATABLE KAYAK CONS – You won’t win any races in these – they’re not as fast as hard shell kayaks – The manual air pumps work great, and once you get into a rhythm most people won’t have an issue, but they aren’t made for tall people and you will get a bit of a cardio workout when pumping. I love it, but some don’t. Electric air mattress pumps do work, if you have electricity access. – Rinsing off and drying once you’re home can be a pain – Getting the skeg off after it’s been gunked up a bit can take a moment. But seriously use the skeg; without it you’re basically paddling on an air mattress down the river. OTHER GEAR WE’VE FOUND USEFUL – SeaSense 8690 X-1 Marine Kayak Paddle, 96-Inch – little longer, little nicer of a grip, but will not fit in your storage bag – 8′ X 10′ Blue Waterproof Tarp – any cheap tarp will do. For inflating on a non-sharp surface, deflating on a clean-ish surface, and for your vehicle, as they will probably be wet on your trip home – Airhead Folding Grapnel Anchor System – great if you want to hang out in one spot. You can also make your own with an old 5 lb hand weight, marine rope and a carabiner clip (we have 2 like this that work fine.) – Earth Pak Dry Bag and Waterproof Phone Case – 10L / 20L – or any such dry bag and waterproof phone case, for your keys, phone, towel, etc. There’s enough room in the front or back of the kayak to store your gear – Crocs Unisex Classic Clog – better than aqua socks and fancy sandals. You can walk on sharp, rocky surfaces, kick them off and shake pebbles out, AND they float! – Shock Cord – 1/8″ x 100 ft. Spool Marine Grade – this cord and some extra carabiners will let you make any kayak-type leashes you may need. Great for connecting kayaks together when needed, tether to a pier, paddle leashes, etc. – Sportneer 6.25′ Portable Pop Up Changing Dressing Room Tent – a couple times we’ve kayaked in spots where exiting the water has been in less than pristine conditions…having some wet wipes, dry clean clothes and a moment of privacy can be helpful – Ikea 901.491.48 Frakta Storage Bag – the bag the kayak comes in is ok, but this one is better. Everything you get with the Intex Kayak fits in this bag (even the 2-person yellow kayak fits in it), and you can actually wear the bag as an uncomfortable backpack if you want. They’re only about five bucks at the actual store, though, so if you live near one, get it there. The longer oar I suggest above won’t fit in this. – Etekcity Quick-Fill Air Mattress Pump, 110-120V – when we do use an electric pump, we use one that came with an old air mattress like this one. Definitely nice for those that don’t want the cardio workout. Also nice when pumping in extreme temperatures.

   

7. Zenzinin Verified Buyer – 3 June 2025

   This listing includes: – 1 Inflatable kayak – 1 Skeg (to keep your kayak straight in the water) – 1 Set of collapsible oars – 1 Inflatable seat – 1 Inflatable green thing for the front of your kayak – 1 Repair kit – 1 Instruction manual – 1 Carry bag – 1 Pump with hose attachment – this pump is a really fast pump, by the way. – 1 Clear, plastic measuring tape which you won’t use after your first time. What else you’ll need: – PFD (Life Jacket) – Large, preferably absorbent towel for when you need to dry and wipe your kayak before you put it away. – Zip lock bag or water-proof case for your phone and other items. – Sun screen – Something to drink – Body of water with a wind speed factor of less than 12mph, to take the kayak out to. OVERVIEW: We bought two Intex Challenger K1 Kayaks and took them out for a spin the very weekend we received it. It turned into a 3-hour kayaking session because we had so much fun with it! They were $49.99 each when it was on sale, and I couldn’t help but to buy it after reading the reviews, both positive and negative. What I took away from this entire purchase was how glad I am that I took a chance on it. This is one of the best purchases I’ve made. PROS – REVIEW – Here’s the good stuff first (Pros): The QUALITY was better than I expected. Repair is also super simple, according to Youtube, but I haven’t had to do this as there were no defects in my kayaks… yet. Anyways, they are so sturdy and the material is so thick that I have no problem with my dogs jumping in and out of it, but I would still yell at them to be careful… The COLLAPSIBLE OARS are actually more than good enough for me. They were easy to assemble and didn’t clip my hands or felt loose. They actually felt perfect in the water as well. I suppose the other reviews had me worried that the oars would be terrible, and I’d have to go buy another one at Walmart, but really, they work completely fine and a lot better than anticipated. I do think that better paddles would get you places faster though. The WEIGHT was maybe 20 lbs and fits in a bag! I wouldn’t throw it over my back and bike it to the lake, but it’s so compact! I love being able to just throw it into the trunk and take the inflatable kayak to the water whenever we feel like it. PUMPING and ASSEMBLING the kayak was sooooo easy and fast AFTER the first time. Yes, it took some time to figure stuff out the first time and I even got angry at the vague instructions, BUT after that, I was literally able to pump up the main kayak in less than 2 minutes and have it out in the water in less than 5 – all with just the pump that was supplied. I thought I’d have to use an electric pump, but no need! The manual pump that it came with worked so well and so fast that I am thinking of using it for my inflatable bed for camping as well (or should I say “glamping”?). The BOSTON CAP made it convenient to pump as well, because air only goes in one way when you’re pumping, so you don’t have to rush to close the cap for fear of air escaping. With the pumping of the kayak, there are two main compartments – one for the base and the other one for the top. I actually counted the number of pumps that worked for us: 63 pumps for the base and 44 pumps for the top. It’s silly to think that it will always remain the same number though, but knowing this number helps me keep track of the rubber’s condition of my kayak. The SKEG stayed in place real well. I did have to check on it once in a while just to make sure it was still there. So far, it’s lasted. I have no problems with it at all. The INFLATABLE SEAT, like many people have said, sits quite high if you inflate the bottom as well. So we took other people’s advice and only inflated the back portion of the seat. It’s nice and comfy. The SPACE FOR THE LEGS are not bad. We’re 5’1” and 5’5”. That being said, there’s this inflatable green triangle/oblong-like thing that everyone keeps wondering about. It actually slides into the front of your kayak. At first, we thought it’s so it’s easier for short people’s legs, then I realize that 1. it lifts the front-top portion of the kayak a little bit so it kind of helps with keeping water out of front of the kayak, 2. it helps with lifting the front top so your legs don’t get squished or feels too restricted in the kayak, and 3. it actually helped a whole bunch with using it to reach the ends with my towel when I needed to completely dry the inside (not necessary, but more on this later). This inflatable kayak is awesome for CRUISING speeds. Once you get going, you really pick up that speed and get going. TRACKING was quite excellent. It always went in the direction I wanted it to go, never went off-track, and made turns effortlessly. It felt like I wore it like my own skin. We also had WINDS at a constant of about 9 or 10mph, with an occasional gust of 12-15mph. There was significant waves once in a while when boats are close by with their motors on. Our kayaks stayed on course really well through it all, with a little bit of resistance when going against the wind. At one point, we did feel like the kayak was going to flip over with the significance of some of the waves, but we didn’t stick around to find out. CONS – REVIEW – Cons and Suggestions: The supplied CARRYING BAG is actually not that great. It reminds me of the recycled tote people use as grocery bags. In fact, those recycled grocery totes are probably better quality. However, with that said, the bag is still big enough and decent enough. I wouldn’t waste any money to buy a replacement bag. These inflatable kayaks do LEAN TO THE RIGHT! My goodness, I thought this was going to be a problem, but guess what? It only took 2 minutes in the water for BOTH our bodies to completely adjust itself to the slight skew of the kayak. You may notice you’ll naturally lean more to one direction. Or more likely, you’ll notice yourself holding your oars more towards one direction. For us, we both held the oars lower to the right to adjust for the balance of the kayak. It’s just so natural that there’s absolutely nothing to worry about. You’ll forget about it as soon as you start paddling. Someone also suggested letting out a little air and/or getting out and adjusting the bottom a little. I haven’t tried it yet, but worth looking into. Well, for our kayaks, it just tilts very little and doesn’t matter how much we inflate or deflate it or move it around, but we never really did too much to fix it; we just sort of accepted it the way it is lol. Then again, like I said, you won’t notice it soon after you paddle off. We didn’t flip over in the middle of the lake, but my wife did FLIP over was when she climbed into her kayak in the very first time. I wasn’t watching, so I don’t even know how she managed to do that. She might have sat too close to the edge as she tried to get on?? I don’t know… She seemed just as stunned by it, so she couldn’t really describe how it flipped over. The kayak was light enough to flip back over effortlessly. I honestly don’t know if this should be a con or pro though, because imagine if you did flip over in the middle of kayaking. If you know nothing about flipping a regular kayak back over and climbing back in, you’ll have to be wait to be saved by other people. Now imagine your inflatable kayak flipping over… If it’s anything like a regular float at water parks, it may prove to be easy to get back on – or not, hopefully without completely filling the kayak with water… I’ve never really tried it and never came across the problem, but will amend the review if it happens. It was actually quite confusing to FOLD the kayak back up. If you’re like my wife, you’ll just do whatever works for you and get on with it. I’m more of a pain-in-the-a about it, so I had to do it exactly how it was unfolded. I can already tell you the difference between my kayak and my wife’s kayak is that mine will last far better than hers. I took someone else’s advice and took pictures of how it was unfolded so that I can fold it back up exactly like so. After a few tries, you won’t need the pictures anymore. The reason for folding it back the way it was folded is to 1. protect the skeg area, 2. keep the kayak compact enough to fit back into the bag that it came with, and 3. possibly to keep from creating new edges to fold which may be sharp and cause punctures along the new sharp edges/corners. If you don’t really care about all that kind of stuff, just fold it into thirds and throw it in the trunk. That works for my wife too. Lol. Now that I think about it though, I may just do what my wife does and fold it into thirds the long way and place it in the back seat/trunk. The less folding, the better it may last. PUMPING with the supplied pump is so incredibly easy and awesome, but it’s pretty embarrassing pumping with a tiny little thing and having your feet on the teeny-tiny little bases. You’ll be tempted not to place both feet on the base at first or just use your hands to pump instead because you’re so MUCH cooler than that, but you’ll quickly realize the you just want to get it over with and in the water as quickly as possible. Sooo, you’ll eventually pump the kayak with both feet on the base, hunched over with your butt all the way in the air, and pumping away frantically. I’ve seen others do it and it looks just as embarrassing as it feels. Honestly two embarrassing minutes. Every. Single. Time. If you can get past the embarrassment though, the pump is actually so damn fine, you’ll love it and want to keep it with you wherever you go. Okay, let me walk back on that pump… I meant that the pump is fast and has all the attachments you’ll ever need for you kayak. So, it’s also great for floats! The quality of the pump’s plastic, on the other hand, is really cheap-feeling and light-weight. Edited: DRYING THE KAYAKS were no easy feat the first time around. However, I figured out the fastest and the best way to do this. It will require an absorbent, large towel per kayak, the sun, and about 10-30 minutes. 1. KEEP the kayak INFLATED. Take the skeg off the kayak. 2. Have the inflated kayak at a slope the long way (doesn’t have to be a big slope at all) so the water inside the kayak rolls down the opposite end. If you don’t have a slope, lean it against the cool side of your car (so the metal doesn’t get so hot that it’d melt the rubber off your kayak) or a wall – the long-way. Or prop it up on one end with a duffel or something. 3. Stick the towel inside the end that the water rolls down to. If your arms are not long enough, you’ll need the green thing to help you, but otherwise, stuff it gently all the way to absorb the water. 4. Keep it in the sun for about 5-10 minutes (release some air if your kayak starts to inflate in the heat so it doesn’t over-inflate on its own). 5. Check on it – you may have to use your towel to wipe some water off. 6. Take the towel out, wipe off excess water that you still see, and squeeze the towel dry. 7. Flip the kayak over the long-way and do the same for the other end (repeat steps 2 to 6) for another 5-10 minutes. Make sure to stick your towel in there to catch the water BEFORE you flip it. This sounds unnecessary, but believe me, if there’s water, you’ll want to get it all out or as much as you can. 8. The front side of your kayak should be dry by now, but if there’s still water, just wipe it off with the towel. 9. Flip the kayak onto the back (where the skeg goes) onto a flat surface (or leaning is fine, it doesn’t matter) and dry off for another 5 or 10 minutes. 10. Wipe off excess water where necessary. Use additional time if you have to, but don’t leave the kayaks out in the direct sun for too long if you don’t have to. Release some air if the kayak inflates too much in the heat. All this sounds like a lot of steps, but that’s just because I broke it down into steps. It literally takes less than 30 minutes while you’re not even paying attention and just sitting and enjoying a beer or something. It matters if you have sun or not as well. Arizona is so hot and so dry that this really completely dried off everything in about 10-20 minutes total. OTHER SUGGESTIONS: – Take pictures/a video on how the kayak is unfolded so you can fold it back up the way it was folded, if you prefer. – Practice opening and assembling this kayak just once (or more times if you have to) while you’re at home. This will make it easier when you take it out to the water and not have to figure out what goes where, so you can get a feel for what over-inflation/under-inflation/just-right-inflation feels like, and know how to fold it back up. – Keep the new kayak inflated overnight in your home when you first get it so that you can know if there’s any major leaks or a leak at all. – It goes without saying, but keep the inflatable kayak from sharp things/jagged surfaces. – Youtube how to repair a leak in your kayak. It’s super easy and takes 2 minutes to watch, and possibly 2 minutes to repair. – Bring the repair kit with you just in case. – Use the supplied air pump – really fast and really easy. No batteries! INSTRUCTION MANUAL: Initially, I thought the instructions were very vague. I was quite frustrated at first, but after I read it, identified what was what, knew where everything went, and got it inflated and deflated the first time, I realized the manual couldn’t have been any more detailed than it had to be. So, don’t give up. The instructions are ALL there. True, you may feel like you’ll want a ctrl+find though… Willow Beach, Arizona – Review: We went to Arizona’s Willow Beach Marina. If you do go there, there’s certain things you should be aware of. First of all, there’s a $20 entrance fee per vehicle (there’s an option for annual passes, $40/year). Second of all, if you don’t want to compete in the water with motorized vehicles, Sundays and Mondays are the days that are designated for non-motorized paddle boats only (which means kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards only, or whatever non-motorized water sports you bring). Third of all, check the weather, specifically for the wind factor. Anything under 12mph, you’ll be alright at the lake at Willow Beach Marina. Finally, the area is monitored, so please go to Walmart and buy yourself a $15 life jacket or they WILL cite you if they have to warn you more than once about keeping your life jacket on in the middle of the lake.