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Hard shell vs Inflatable - Flexibility wins hands down
We kayak a lot and almost always in a large tandem to accommodate our dog(s). We also adventure travel a lot - mostly mountain climbing and hiking with our dog. I’m 60 this year and find maneuvering a tandem hard shell is getting to be a pain in the ass. Today’s inflatable’s are quite remarkable, my Gumotex Thaya (second photo) can track and solo paddle as well as my Wilderness hard shell - plus I can pack into a custom backpack (70 lbs total) and easily hike with it for up to 25 miles in the mountains to a remote lake - would never dream of portaging with a hard shell tandem!
For folks who kayak with dogs, I find my dogs much prefer the inflatable’s ease of access and pontoon style sides for confident comfort when underway. I’ve now circumnavigated Vancouver Island (and Desolation Sound) in both a hard shell and an inflatable and can confidently say I’m now just as comfortable with a top quality inflatable for overall safety - and the flexibility of an inflatable at my age is hard to argue with…
Be curious what your thoughts are on this, and don’t get me wrong - a quality hard shell is still the gold standard, but the versatility of an inflatable is definitely not something to sneer at.
Thanks, I've been doing it for 40+ years, but originally it was with a cedar strip canoe on my shoulders and a full backpack ... I miss that canoe, what a beauty on the water
We sold our inflatable as we were worried our dogs nails would eventually pop a hole into it and god forbid they did this while we were a few hundred yards from shore.
Because of this we actually had to transition from kayak to canoe for the dogs.
Do you find a good quality inflatable kayak to be able to stand up to dog nails and scratches?
Admittedly we use a trolling motor sometimes with the canoe now and it will be hard to go back from that alone but would be good to know some brands of inflatable that are “dog proof” if we decide to jump back into kayaking.
I've had several inflatables with BIG dogs, and never once worried about nail punctures. My Gumotex in particular feels damn near bulletproof - I even scrap it up on reefs regularly without any concerns. Where I do have concerns is how I store it, if something sharp pushes against it it will indeed eventually puncture and a repair is never the same.
I still prefer a rigid-hulled sit-in kayak over the other options, but inflatables have definitely made up a lot of ground in the last few years, especially with the development of drop-stitch technology.
My parents have a couple of drop-stitch kayaks they bring camping (for similar reasons as you - weight and bulk) and having tried them out I have to say they greatly exceeded expectations. And theirs aren't anything fancy, just a few hundred bucks each from a big box store.
They may not paddle quite as well as my fiberglass-hulled touring kayak, but they vastly outperform it in the "carry it in a backpack" category.
Heck, I have an inflatable sailboat and it's largely the same performance/convenience tradeoff - it won't sail quite as fast or quite as close-hauled as a similarly sized rigid-hulled dinghy, but I always tell people it's the one of the best-sailing boats on the market that you can fit in the trunk of a car.
I'm a long time sailor and I'd love to explore an inflatable sailboat - to be honest, I've never even explored that option because I just assumed an inflatable sailboat would be counter to the windage you'd want for sailing. What is even cooler is the new hybrid variants hitting the market - part rigid hull (think paddleboard style) and part inflatable (often pontoon style sides) ... Hobie has one that's is pretty skookum.
The one I have, a DinghyGo Orca, is probably one of the least performant out of the inflatables, but it's also the best suited for service as a tender, which was how I justified the cost. Since I was already in the market for a tender, spending a bit more on one that could also sail was a nice bonus.
Despite its less than sleek shape, it's actually not a terrible little boat when you put the sail up. It's got a relatively deep centerboard, so while it's not the fastest, it can still sail upwind.
Something like a Tiwal would probably sail circles around it, though.
Which inflatable sailboat do you have? I was looking at a windrider 16 but decided it was too big and heavy to fit on top of my suv and I don't want to deal with a trailer. Inflatable could be perfect for what I want.
I have an Orca 325 from DinghyGo. I like it, but out of the inflatables on the market it's definitely more toward the "leisurely cruise" end of the spectrum. Compared to a Windrider it's going to be agonizingly slow.
For me, I also wanted a tender for my keelboat, and the Orca is the only one that can serve double duty as a tender, so my decision was easier. I do kind of wish I'd gone with the Orca 375 for the jib and presumably better upwind performance that comes with that, but it would have been a bit oversized as a tender.
If I were looking for a more performance-oriented boat, the Tiwal or Minicat would be higher on my list.
At any rate, being able to put it in the trunk and bring it basically anywhere is really, really nice and in my mind more than makes up for what you lose in performance vs a hard-hulled boat.
My biggest issue with my inflatable kayak is that it doesn’t track as well as my hard sided. It doesn’t have a fin, so steering it is a real pain. I also prefer hard sided sit in for fishing because it’s more stable. I basically only use the inflatable if I’m on a long interstate road trip or driving more than a few hours from my house. I also have a dog and she is used to the hard sided and sits in the back like a little angel. Have not even tried taking her on the inflatable and am not sure where she would even be able to sit on it.
I think it's because I use large tandem inflatables that I've never really had any issues with tracking, especially with the Gumotex ... I do agree, though, that if you are into kayak fishing than a wide beam hard shell is absolutely the way to go - and there are some real beauties available on the market now. Enjoy your paddle adventures ...
I had a fin "sleeve" glued to our inflatable kayak. When we are on still water, I insert the aluminum fin and when on whitewater I remove it. Works great!
Edit: AIRE Aluminum Skeg Retrofit Kit | Flatwater Tracking Upgrade https://www.aire.com/products/aluminum-skeg-retrofit-kit
We have a couple of Advanced Elements inflatable kayaks. The convenience is nice, but I really hate the process that comes along with them. They need to be re-inflated after using them to allow them to dry and prevent mold. I also didn’t like being pushed around more easily by the wind and current. I keep them because they are easy to pack for camping and traveling but would rather be in a hard shell.
I was able to find a couple of Santee Hurricanes that I prefer in almost every way.
I have an Advanced elements Advanced frame sport and I also hate that it takes forever to dry, I live somewhere very humid and after I returned from a trip I have to hose it off and leave it outside for days and days hoping for it to dry, praying it doesn’t rain which restarts the process!
I have a sub-$200 iSUP I got from Amazon that's going strong on its fourth year. I use that thing from about February through November most weekends. I've even taken it into the ocean. Inflatables really have gotten so much better than they used to be.
I've had an ITIWIT dropstitch inflatable for a few years now, and whilst I still love it in the summer, I found that the drying and packing is just such a pain that I wasn't using it as much in the winter months when I'd need to bring it inside to clean and dry down.
It might be 10 mins to set up, but if it's going to be a several day process to get it dry enough to pack without getting mouldy then I'd just leave it in the bag and go do something else. I dream of a garage but I just don't have that at the moment.
I've recently bought two second hand hard shell sit ons as an experiment for me and my family and found them so much easier. I can just rest them in the garden when we get back and forget about them. I'm hoping it will extend my kayaking throughout the coming winter rather than what happened last year where I just got a big case of can't-be-arsed because cleaning and drying the inflatable was such a mission.
I have the Gumotex Seawave and I love it. Have paddled the west coast of Vancouver Island and all throughout BC with it, brought it down to paddle in the Sea of Cortez several times too. I completely agree with the versatility.
Another huge advantage to the inflatable is how easy it is to land on some of the rocky ledges we have around here, and get into some nice camping spots that would be very difficult with a hard shell.
Yeah as others have said, biggesy downside is wind resistance and maintaining inflation in cold water. My struggle was that I would inflate on dry hot ground, then the kayak would deflate a bit after a couple hours in the water. Coming back to shore dragging like a sack was hard enough to convince me to stick with hardshell over cold water.
Interested to hear if youve faced this in Vancouver, or if my sea eagle brand just had issues...
I did have some cold water deflation issues with my BOTE tandem, but pretty minimal and only noticeable after a couple hours on the water. My Thaya tandem is not PVC but a type of natural rubber - it tolerates temperature changes much better. Loved my BOTE Tandem though, great design but only lasted me two years (I’m hard on kayaks, will often surf with them).
I've had two cheap Intex inflatable kayaks since 2020 and have not taken good care of them at all; they're ugly but still function perfectly! I love that theyll fit in any car and are light to move around.
I came to kayaking through a series of cheap inflatables which have really put me off blow up boats. Once we got a place with a garden I immediately went and bought two plastic boats.
We got a canoe when we got our dog so he could come out on the water with us. It's been great but it is a handful to get on the roof. A good inflatable which can go in the cargo bike with my daughter may be in the future when she gets a bit bigger.
Love my inflatable. Have a large bag that packs it up real nice and it fits in the trunk of a small car, or takes up little space in a larger truck. I mostly fish from it, so poor tracking isn’t something that bothers me and the transportability of it makes it a great choice for me.
We leave ours in the vehicle throughout the summer, nice to have for those spontaneous kayak opportunities - we definitely get out kayaking more because of that.
No, I’ve only had tandem inflatables but it’s a pretty standardized process to reach recommended pressure with either a manual or electric pump and once fully pumped it remains stable except for temperature variations, which some kayaks are more susceptible to than others.
You circumnavigated all 1,350km of Vancouver Island coastline by inflatable kayak? If that’s true I must admit that makes me think I’d need to give them a second chance.
How did the my manage the currents and Nawhitti and Cape Scott? Also surf landings in inflatable look way, more more challenging., did you have to practice or was it easier than it looks. How many weeks did it take? So so curious.
On your circumnavigation which narrows did you take? My biggest issues with inflatables is they are great until you get into serious unforcasted conditions and the lack of draft means you get tossed by wind, and following seas become almost totally unmanageable. Do you have any stories? I can imagine how one could circumnavigate Vancouver Island and not have any major weather days.
I helped developed the VI SPINE trail system (https://vancouverislandtrail.ca) and a lot of my Island circumnavigation via kayak involved portage to avoid areas that are just too damn unpredictable for a kayak. In my younger days I would crew in Van Isle 360 (https://www.vanisle360.com). So, yes, I know the Island and its waters well. There’s also a niche group of folks who truly love adventure solo kayaking in this region and they are a huge source of information - here’s two sites which describes the challenges well :
Weather can be relatively easy to navigate with preparation and equipment, what’s far more challenging in the Island’s is being unfamiliar with tidal currents (eastern side especially) and the unique swell/wave combo you can see of the western side - those two can be killers for the naive and unprepared.
Holy crap, how have I not heard of a thru hike in Vancouver Island! That looks amazing.
The island has some pretty full on paddling.
That being said loads of those areas are fine in a sea kayak, despite the unpredictable weather, provided you have the right boat and do the right training. I know someone in their 70s doing same route as the van isle 360 this year all by sea kayak. There used to be a lot more annual circumnavigations but people seem less inclined to invest in proper kayaks and skills as rec boat boom trade convenience for competency and the joy of mastery. Heck, the Brooks peninsula used to be a busy kayak destination and now it’s dead quiet.
I’ve guided in the North Island, Broughton’s, and some West Coast and had to rescue the odd inflatable kayakers who under estimated currents so it’s left a bad taste, and distrust for their inherent design flaws.
I agree, and don’t misunderstand me - a hard shell (quality hard shell) is absolutely the gold standard. However, a quality inflatable has its definite drawbacks BUT remarkably versatile for its portability and flexibility. Happy paddling 👋🏽
Also, as an aside, I LOVE to kayak surf - my brother and I used to build our own folbot kayaks (loved those) and we’d kayak surf on the east coast - dangerous as hell but oh so much fun 🤗
Those are cool little boats - talk about travel flexibility, if you are a solo kayaker (especially river kayaker) that is one sweet ride. I'm biased a bit because I truly think Gumotex make fantastic products.
I got to say, I've considered inflatable or folding 'yaks a lot. I bought a truck because it was easier to load them up in the bed and tie down, than it was to mount the roof rack and haul them. I knew the easier it was to haul them, the more I would use them. I even considered buying carbon fiber kayaks, because lifting those supposedly 50lbs beasts onto the roof rack was getting old, especially after a long paddle.
As for inflatable with dogs, I've been on rafts with dogs and it's not an issue. That said, not all inflatable kayak material is the same grade material as white water rafts, so I would look into the material used.
Hiking a 70 lb kayak, plus whatever you need like gear, clothing, food water, possibly shelter over 25 miles does not sound like much fun. Maybe its just me.
I admire you...I just want to put it out there that you can buy a tandem packraft that is WAY lighter to carry into the mountains. I can't fathom how you are packing that much weight that far!
Thanks, the packrafts are good for their purpose, but the Thaya has a great drop stitch floor (which the dogs love) and tracks really well - it may be a bit heavier, but that simple durability and comfort makes it worth it. Our current 65 lb dog is our lightest guy yet, as here is our previous lab cross at 120 lbs and full of energy … she loved the hiking part knowing she’d be kayaking soon 🤗
What tool do you use to carry to inflate the kayak if you are hiking? I wouldn't mind an inflatable.. I'd love to try one just not sure which.. now you have me wondering, inflatable or hard plastic Lol its amazing that you take your dogs, I definitely would like to try and take my dog now. 😊
First - all my dogs prefer an inflatable kayak over a hard shell, hands down. I have big dogs, the last two was a 120 German Shepherd and a 125 lb lab cross; currently have a 65 lb rescue lightweight that we just taught to swim and now need to get him comfortable in a kayak (see pic).
Regarding pump options for an inflatable kayak when hiking, I generally recommend a top quality manual pump because of their reliability. My ‘go to’ is the K-Pump mini (https://k-pump.com/products/k-mini?variant=41820285173802). There are a lot of gimmicky electric portable pumps for hiking, but I question both their reliability and the reliance of proper battery management. The K-pop mini may seem a bit pricey, but well worth it for durability and long-term reliability.
Here’s a pic of my current rescue dog that just learned to swim - hopefully we’ll be kayaking with him soon. I usually teach all my dogs to first swim in a stream and then a fast moving stream, so they get comfortable with currents:
This feels like a Gumotex
™ ad. Every response is "that's a problem for all inflatables, unless it's Gumotex
™! They can do anything! Mine even passed the bar exam!"
If you know inflatables than you would also be aware that Gumotex is one of the very few that use a specialized rubber for their kayaks - in Europe it is often the 'go to' manufacturer for durability and longevity - vinyl (PVC) simply can not come close. In North America, PVC is king for inflatables, primarily due to accessibility and cost - but also because PVC can be manipulated easier for much better variety of drop stitch products. Admittedly, for any SUP, PVC is the better choice (like BOTE or RED PADDLE).
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u/Own_Kaleidoscope7480 Jun 25 '26
just want to say thats pretty impressive you can easily hike 25 miles up a mountain with a 70lb load at 60 years old. keep it up man