Intex Challenger K2 Review

The Intex Challenger K2 is a two-person inflatable tandem with a 400-pound capacity. It weighs 27.5 pounds and is made of 30-gauge PVC vinyl. It comes with paddles, a pump, and a repair kit.

Performance Comparison

Gliding and Tracking

For how much this kayak resembles an oversized pool floatie, it handles okay. It rides low in the water, which helps it not catch the wind so much. It has a long skeg, which helps it track better as well. Remembering to attach this skeg is key, as a troop of Girl Scouts found out by repeatedly capsizing without it. As an 11'5" long boat, it has an adequate amount of space to fit two people and paddle in unison. When used as it's designed, the Challenger tracks decently. Its plastic exterior glides through the water fine, but we easily sink deep into this craft, adding drag on the bottom of the boat.

Maneuverability

With so much of the boat under the surface of the water, the Challenger takes a little more effort to turn and maneuver. It has no scupper hole, so any water that comes into your craft is going to continue along with you. While we appreciate that the paddles are included, we found that they are rather flimsy and not of much help in pushing off objects like the shore or an encroaching branch. They are also quite lightweight and have slightly squishy grips, which makes them a bit more comfortable — and different than most other paddles on the market. This is one of the thinnest-walled boats we tested, and we have no confidence in its ability to withstand riding over underwater sticks or particularly pokey rocks.

Stability

The Challenger rides low, making it more stable to paddle and easier to get in and out of — especially if you're hauling yourself back in after taking a refreshing dunk in the middle of the lake. It doesn't feel as stable to paddle though, as the inflated sides are smaller and thinner than many, allowing plenty of side-to-side rocking in waves or with excitable children. More than once, a group of teens accidentally fell out of this craft while paddling. Fortunately, the low sides facilitated an easier reentry from the water.

Ease of Transport and Set Up

As far as inflatable kayaks go, the Challenger is pretty easy to set up. It only has two compartments (the floor and the hull/sides) and the seats that require inflating. It also comes with a handy measuring gauge to help you tell when the kayak is properly inflated. This boat is made of a single layer of waterproof fabric, which dries quickly. As much as we appreciate having a complete setup from the get-go with the Challenger, we quickly discovered how much of a pain the included pump is. It's very small and takes an exceedingly long time to fill the boat. The whole kayak easily fits back into its oversized stuff sack as well, including all its components, like the paddles and pump.

The Challenger weighs in at 33 pounds 3 ounces total, making it one of the lightest tandem boats we tested. If you're carrying just the boat itself (without paddles or a pump), you're only responsible for just over 27 pounds of watercraft. Additionally, if you decide to inflate the boat at your car and walk it down to the water fully set up, it comes with ropes along the bow and stern to quickly pick it up and go.

Comfort

Though this kayak isn't our first choice for an eight-hour paddle upriver, it's fine for short excursions. The seats are inflatable and attach via velcro and buckles, allowing you to find a more comfortable position specific to your needs. There's some handy mesh covering on the bow of the boat to store some extra items you may want to bring — just don't plan on them staying dry!

While we appreciate that the seats attach securely, we felt that the backs were a tad short. This may not be an issue if you're leaning forward to paddle and make good headway, but if you'd rather recline and kick your feet up, these seats make that more challenging. We also found that as the K2 slowly started to deteriorate (more info below), the ever-bulging sides continued to grow and became a bit of a paddling hindrance.

Construction Quality

The durability of the Challenger K2 is the least impressive thing about it. It survived having a very small, mellow dog riding on the bow, but we're not confident it would have done so well with a more excitable canine. Probably the least inspiring part of this kayak is how, on our first inflation of the hull, a large bulge appeared along one side in the middle, despite our testers carefully using the included gauge to get the proper amount of air. This bulge not only continued to grow through successive uses but also spread to the other side of the kayak, making the entire craft wider.

Constructed of only a 30-gauge PVC vinyl, this tandem feels like a short step from your average pool floaties. It does come with repair patches, though these patches are small and self-adhesive (like a sticker) rather than having a separate, stronger glue to hold them on. The shockingly low durability of the Challenger K2 is what keeps it from being a good combo of performance and price. But if you're just looking for something for a weekend or a season, this still might be in your wheelhouse — just don't expect anything miraculous from it.

Should You Buy the Intex Challenger K2?

The Challenger K2 comes at a low cost for a complete package, making it an appealing purchase. It's a solid choice for just goofing around on the water without any serious paddle plans. However, you may find yourself needing to purchase a new one each summer or cutting the season short after a close encounter with a sharp boulder or enthusiastic dog.

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