Inflatable Kayaks Test Report

Hi, I’m Matthes! Through my partnership with Kanu-Online, I’ve had the opportunity to thoroughly test several inflatable kayaks. In this article, I’ll share my experiences with some Gumotex and Zelgear boats:

10 Inflatable Kayaks Tested

Gumotex Seawave

The Gumotex Seawave is far from outdated. With a skeg or better yet, a rudder, it still has good handling characteristics. Yes, the updated Seashine performs even better, but it comes at a higher price. If you’re not always paddling on very calm waters, the Seawave offers a good price-performance ratio. Besides the rudder, there's also the optional deck as an accessory. The boat is stable and beginner-friendly, making it suitable for children as well. Additionally, the Seawave has ample storage space for water touring. I own two Seawaves, and we regularly take them on multi-day family tours.

Gumotex Thaya

If you're looking for an absolutely stable inflatable kayak, the Gumotex Thaya is a great choice. Thanks to its voluminous side tubes combined with the drop-stitch floor, the Thaya is extremely stable. This boat is practically impossible to capsize unintentionally, making it very popular with beginners and families. Even heavier paddlers should be happy with this kayak. It's not the fastest boat, but it reaches a decent speed, faster than I initially expected. The Thaya is an open boat with no deck. Although the Gumotex rudder system is not officially compatible, you can still easily install the original rudder on the Thaya. In the single-person configuration, there’s plenty of space for gear. If you’re paddling with two or even three people, the cargo space is likely only suitable for day trips.

Gumotex Seashine

The Gumotex Seashine is essentially an evolution of the Gumotex Seawave. The innovation is the V-shaped drop-stitch floor that flattens at the stern. This gives the Seashine excellent handling characteristics while maintaining high stability. The kayak performs well up to Class 2 whitewater. The calmer the water, the better the Seashine’s performance. The drop-stitch floor also makes it suitable for heavier paddlers. Being 15 cm longer than the Seawave, you don’t need to worry about storage space, even in the two-person configuration. Optional accessories include a one- or two-person deck and the Gumotex rudder system. The Seashine is a versatile and beginner-friendly kayak that also provides plenty of fun for advanced paddlers.

Gumotex Rush 2

Drop-stitch floor, flat side tubes, black color: the Gumotex Rush 2. This boat is designed as a touring kayak. For solo paddlers, there’s enough storage for longer trips. When used as a tandem, some gear needs to be carried on the deck. Speaking of the deck: an optional one- or two-person deck is available, which is typically reinforced and attaches via a perimeter Velcro strip. However, due to the flat side tubes, the foot space under the deck is quite limited; with size 43 shoes, it felt too tight for me. Therefore, I think the Rush 2 is best used as an open boat. In this configuration, you get a very stable and forgiving boat with good handling characteristics, especially when using the skeg or the optional rudder system. It’s a good boat for beginners.

Gumotex Swing 1

The Gumotex Swing 1 is a closed, short boat for one person. It’s excellent for small rivers and even light whitewater. The Swing is very agile, especially without the skeg. With the skeg installed, it tracks well while paddling, but it quickly turns when you stop. Its wide shape makes it very stable and suitable for beginners. Even children can handle the Swing 1 well; my 10-year-old daughter has already taken several guided tours in the Swing. It’s certainly not the fastest boat, but it reaches a reasonable speed in calm water. I also own this kayak. For me, it’s the perfect complement to the Gumotex Seawave, as it covers areas where the larger boat struggles. With minimalist gear, multi-day trips in the Swing 1 are possible. However, I don’t like the installed seat; it’s uncomfortable. So, I use the Seashine seat, which I find very comfortable and easy to inflate. To use a different seat in the Swing 1, you’ll need to glue in an attachment.

Gumotex Framura

A slim single-seater with a fixed deck, the Gumotex Framura is designed for calm waters or quiet rivers. Under the deck, it offers plenty of storage space with easy access via zippers, making it perfect for water touring. Its narrow design gives the kayak good speed, making it the fastest kayak from Gumotex. However, this comes at the cost of stability. This is why the boat didn’t convince me. I always felt uncertain about its tipping point and didn’t feel comfortable in it. For those looking for a faster and more stable boat, I recommend the Zelgear Igla 410.

Gumotex Safari

The Gumotex Safari is a self-bailing whitewater boat. In slightly less wild waters, the highly agile and maneuverable boat can also be paddled with a skeg. This greatly improves its tracking. However, I wouldn’t recommend it for calm waters as it remains too agile, even with the skeg, requiring constant correction. The self-bailing floor effectively drains incoming water, but when loaded beyond a certain weight, water can flow back into the interior through the drain holes. This weight limit is around 100 kilograms, at which point a small amount of water remains in the boat. There’s enough storage space at the bow and stern for multi-day tours in the Safari.

Zelgear Igla 410

The Spark and Igla series from Zelgear are quite similar, differing mainly in length and width. The Igla is the narrower boat. The Zelgear Igla 410 isn’t as stable as a Spark, but I still felt in control and didn’t feel unsafe. The Igla’s main strength is its speed, comparable to a hard-shell boat. With its pronounced keel line at the bow and stern, the boat tracks superbly with a skeg, and I was thoroughly impressed with its handling when using the rudder system. The drop-stitch floor is removable, offering several advantages. Water accumulating in the boat drains underneath the floor, keeping you dry. And if the floor gets damaged, it can be replaced separately. The sides consist of two smaller air tubes stacked on top of each other, making them narrower and providing a surprisingly spacious interior with high cargo capacity. Solo paddlers can carry enough gear for longer trips. For tandem paddling with gear, the longer Igla 490 is an option. The current deck is simple and functional, but an upgraded version with support for deck bags, eyelets, nets, etc., is in development. The current deck will remain available, giving customers a choice.

Zelgear Spark 370

The Zelgear Spark 370 is the shortest boat in the Spark series. With a skeg, it tracks excellently, and with the rudder, it becomes very agile. The boat is fairly stable but also great for edging. The thigh straps provide excellent contact with the boat. One person can pack everything needed for a multi-day trip into the Spark 370. It can also be paddled tandem, but the front paddler should be small, or it gets too cramped. For two adults, the longer Spark 450 is probably a better choice. I was impressed by the durability of the material. Even when I dragged the boat over the ground, it showed no signs of wear. Another great feature is the overpressure valves on the side tubes. The drop-stitch floor has enough reserve for heating from the sun, while the side chambers release air through the valves. This prevents over-inflation issues. When the air cools and pressure drops, the valve positions on top of the side chambers make re-inflating easy, even when fully loaded. Like the Igla 410, the Spark 370 has a one- and two-person deck option, and an improved deck is in the works.

Zelgear Spark 450

The Zelgear Spark 450 is not only similar in length to the Gumotex Seawave but also a serious competitor. The flat, hard drop-stitch floor is comfortable, and its excellent handling characteristics are comparable to the Seawave. The double, narrower side tubes provide much more interior space compared to the Seawave. You can easily pack enough gear for multi-day trips with two people. For even more space, the longer Spark 520 is available. The Spark 450 has a simple one- and two-person deck option, with an improved deck in development. The rudder system can also be installed, enhancing its handling further. This inflatable boat will satisfy both beginners and advanced paddlers alike.

Conclusion on the Inflatable Kayak Test

As you can see, the boats have quite different characteristics. Therefore, I won’t declare an ultimate winner. The boats cover different needs, sometimes more, sometimes less effectively. I hope these short reviews help you find the best inflatable kayak for you. I wish you many beautiful and safe hours on the water!

Matthes