4 Quality Kayaks for Less Than $300
Kayaking is a great sport. It strengthens your upper body and core muscles, plus tones your legs. It’s also a good leisure activity if you want to clear your head off.
Best Kayaks Under $300
If you’re beginning to love this recreation, then getting the best kayak under $300 may suit you.
Fortunately, we’ve come up with a list of options. So, you need not look anywhere else. Keep reading!
1. Intex Challenger K1 Inflatable Kayak
Best Overall 1-Seater
The Intex Challenger K2 Inflatable Kayak is the perfect way to explore lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water with ease. With a low-profile design that's streamlined for easy paddling, even longer trips will seem to fly by in this one- or two-person kayak.
- Relatively light to carry
- Fast to inflate and deflate
- Very steady for a dog to hang out and lay down
- Plenty of space for you, your dog, and some supplies
- Easy to control on calm waters
- It can get difficult to put in a bag when it's wet and sandy
- Not easy to clean when it gets covered in sand and dirt
The Intex Challenger is our pick for the best overall 1-seater kayak with a maximum capacity of 220 lbs.
It’s a perfect choice for beginners and casual kayaking. To enjoy it best, use it in tame waters, like small rivers and lakes.
You can bring it to places easily with its compact and lightweight features. Plus, assembly and tear-down are a breeze.
2. Intex Explorer K2 2-Person Inflatable Kayak
Best Overall 2-Seater
Take your kayaking to the next level with the Explorer K2 inflatable kayak! Effortlessly two-person assemble, the lightweight materials and compact design make this kayak easy to transport and store.
- Easy to inflate
- Plenty of room
- It’s safely packed when you aren't using it
- Low seats
- Average maneuverability
The Intex Explorer K2 is another kayak from Intex that stands out in its price range. Its design is optimized and an improvement to the Challenger series.
The inflatable seats and I-beam floor are retained for comfortable seating. However, the bow is curved and performs better against slightly rougher waters.
The drawback to this, though, is the length. While it can hold two people with a maximum weight of 400 pounds, it doesn’t have much leg room. This makes it tiresome for longer rides and long-legged individuals.
Nevertheless, you can use this kayak alone. It packs nicely and, with its 30.60-lb weight can be transported easily.
3. Sea Eagle SE 370 Inflatable Kayak
Best for Budget 3-Seater
- Lightweight and easy to set up
- Tough to row, especially for a single person
- Included bag is too thin
- Oars feel weak
The Sea Eagle SE 370 is a more durable version of the SE 330. The length of the kayak makes it an excellent choice for your family or friends.
Although this boat can seat three people, going with two gives you more legroom and space. It can hold more cargo, as well. Just take note of its 650-lb capacity.
Even with the 35-lb weight, it’s still portable and easy to pack and assemble. During use, the size can make maneuvering the kayak a little more difficult than tinier boats.
Overall, the cons are a small trade-off for the functionality that the SE 370 offers.
The purchase package includes two movable seats, a foot pump, two paddles, and a carry bag.
Other Features
- Twin skegs at the bottom for better tracking and speed
- Five deluxe valves with a one-way inflation/deflation mechanism
- With an open/close drain valve
4. Intex Excursion Pro Kayak
Innovative 2-Seater
The Intex Excursion Pro Kayak is the perfect vessel for explorations ranging from calm lake paddling to mild river rapids. The kayak also features high-pressure inflatable air chambers for extra rigidity and stability, with easy-to-use spring loaded valves for fast inflation.
- Easy to inflate
- Plenty of legroom
- Foot rests
- Takes effort to unpack and deflate
- Parts are not under warranty if something breaks quickly
If you’re looking for more advanced features from a kayak, then the Intex Excursion Pro may be what you need. This innovative equipment comes at a reasonable price.
The construction uses high-quality, durable PVC in triple layers, with a polyester core. As a result, you get reduced impact from external forces and sunlight and minimized abrasion.
Just like the other kayaks, the Excursion Pro comes with complete gear. Additionally, you get a removable and adjustable bracket for mounting accessories, like GPS systems and fishing rod holders. Plus, it comes with a pressure gauge to ensure chambers are sufficiently filled with air.
For more information on kayaking and hiking, here are some articles for you to check out:
