Have you ever wanted to take a kayak out on the water but didn’t have the space to haul one? Maybe you’ve looked for something that could fit neatly in the bed of a pickup truck without hanging several feet off the tailgate. For anglers and paddlers facing that problem, there’s a new option worth looking at: the Airship from Feelfree Kayaks, a compact and highly portable platform that still delivers serious performance on the water.
The Origin of Inflatable Kayaks
Although the modern kayak was said to be invented by John MacGregor in 1865, the first inflatable boat was credited to Lt. Peter Halkett in 1845. By the 1950’s, there were more modern inflatable kayak designs that look more like today’s style kayak. Around 1970, the technology advanced with better and more durable materials to look more like what we have today for inflatable kayaks and rafts.
With such deep rooted history in marine vessels, why aren’t more companies producing high end inflatable kayaks? Manufacturing abilities, costs of materials, and market demand are all factors in which companies have held back from this product category for many years. Just recently a few larger brands in the kayak manufacturing space have been marketing higher end inflatable kayaks with high end features and even featuring pedal drives. The newest addition to this market is the Airship from Feelfree Kayaks.
What makes this different?
There are a few inflatable kayaks on the market and some great options for those eager to explore with a vessel that can fit in small spaces when deflated. What separates the Airship from other models is its ability to accomplish something that a standard roto-molded kayak can accomplish mixed with the portability of an inflatable design. I like to call the airship a modular inflatable kayak. The reason why is its three piece design.
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The hull is a solid, well constructed, molded section that comes in two pieces. Once the separate halves are pushed together and the inflatable outer form is attached, then you have a solid, rigid, and extremely stable kayak that boasts stability rivaled by larger boats and freedom of maneuverability more like a paddle board.
Which brings me to my next point. This platform is very similar to a paddle board as far as speed and agility. So much so that if you remove the seat and rudder system, you can stand and use this model as an actual paddle board very effortlessly. Weighing in at just under 100lbs, this is not the lightest option out there, but you can trade the weight for stability, solid construction and durability, and of course, the quality that you would expect from Feelfree kayaks. All in all, this kayak comes in a 6’ case with built-in wheels similar to a piece of luggage and can be assembled with its supplied air pump in about 15 minutes with very little practice.
My Review of the Inflatable Kayak
This kayak is fast and stable. To be honest, I was very surprised by how stable it really is. From standing to walking around this platform was very easy to feel comfortable on. It does feel a bit strange to be so high up on the water and have no walls around you, but you quickly forget that with just a few swift moves on the water. It’s fast and agile to say the least. Fishing from this kayak was very simple too. There is room for a crate in the back or cooler hold gear and mounting options for accessories.
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Overall, this is a great option for most adventures but it has its limitations. I would be careful using this in heavy winds since it does have an extremely high buoyancy and drifts quickly. If you plan on being slammed into sharp rocks I would advise to steer away from inflatables for those trips as well. It would take a pretty solid impact to actually rupture an inflatable kayak like this, but sharp rocks could do the trick if hit hard enough.
Do your research and try one of these out and see if it works for your needs. After using this kayak for a few months, I will add that it is one of my favorite options when hitting the water and definitely turns a few heads at the ramp too.
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