INTEX 68305EP Challenger K1 Inflatable Kayak Set: Includes Deluxe 86in Kayak Paddles and High-Output Pump – Adjustable Seat with Backrest – Removable Skeg – 1-Person – 220lb Weight Capacity

Why it's worth it

The Challenger K1 is a one-person kayak that inflates to usable firmness in under eight minutes and comes with a paddle, pump and seat. It's slow and it wanders, but it floats you on a calm lake for a fraction of what anything else here costs.

If you don't yet know whether you like kayaking, buy this one and find out. Wirecutter's testing clocked it inflating to usable firmness in under eight minutes with the included hand pump, which makes it one of the quickest budget boats to deploy. Everything packs back into the carry bag. Owners who bought one to test the hobby routinely report still using it years later, which is more than the price would suggest.

The 30-inch beam and low-profile hull make it hard to flip on flat water. You sit down in a cockpit with a padded backrest rather than perching on top, and the seat is adjustable enough to fit most adults comfortably. Owner feedback leans heavily toward comfort here — people who find hard-shell seats punishing tend to like this one a lot.

From our review of 7 inflatable kayaks and paddleboards for beginners, by Genevieve Dubois, Home & Living Expert

What we like

• +If you don't yet know whether you like kayaking, buy this one and find out
• +The 30-inch beam and low-profile hull make it hard to flip on flat water
• +The durability surprises people
• +The 220-pound capacity is the real ceiling

What to know

• –The removable skeg is the weak link
• –It's slow. The wide, soft hull pushes a lot of water, so you won't keep up with anyone in a rigid kayak, and a headwind will…
• –One chamber design means a serious puncture leaves you with very little reserve buoyancy