How to Choose the Best Inflatable Kayaks for Whitewater River Trips

Looking for the best inflatable kayak for river trips? Intended for beginner through advanced paddlers, this guide walks through how to choose the best inflatable kayak for any kind of whitewater, from mellow floats to Class IV rapids, on day trips or multi-day trips. (Also check out our guide to essential accessories for inflatable kayaks.)

When inflatable kayaks first came on the whitewater river-running scene, they were often derided by hard-core paddlers as toy boats or duckies (but not play boats, which are cool) for beginners who couldn’t hit a roll.

But those days are now gone. Inflatable kayaks (IKs) have proven exceptionally useful and versatile for paddling nearly all levels of whitewater. Current designs excel on advanced whitewater and, with thigh straps, can even be rolled.

Inflatable kayaks: Versatile fun for river-running

Inflatable kayaks are hands-down my favorite whitewater craft. They are versatile, forgiving for beginner/intermediate paddlers, accommodate some gear, handle whitewater well, and take up relatively little space.

Although inflatable kayaks are available for a variety of paddling scenarios (for example, fishing on a lake or using it as a diving platform), a whitewater IK—like its hardshell predecessor—is designed to navigate a flowing river. 

Unlike a boat meant for lake paddling, the river current provides much of the forward movement for whitewater kayaks. The longer the kayak, the better it tracks in calm water. The shorter the kayak, the better maneuverability through whitewater and rock gardens.

Hardshell kayaks got dramatically shorter a couple of decades ago with the introduction of playboats (for doing tricks in waves) and creek boats (which have rounded ends to reduce the likelihood of pinning the boat under rocks when navigating steep drops).

In the early days, inflatable kayaks tended to be longer and stabler than hard kayaks—but less maneuverable. But current IKs offer nearly as many combinations of maneuverability, stability, and good tracking as hardshell kayaks. 

Inflatable kayaks designed for whitewater keep getting better, as manufacturers are improving the materials, the construction, and the designs to accommodate a range of paddling scenarios. Here’s what to look for when you’re evaluating IKs.

Inflatable kayaks for different levels of whitewater

Are you more likely to paddle your inflatable kayak on multi-day trips with plenty of flat stretches interspersed with a few fun haystack waves? Or will you primarily be doing day trips on Class-IV whitewater? It’s not necessarily an either-or question.

You can find an IK that works well for multi-day trips, holds a decent amount of gear, and navigates Class III-IV rapids just fine. For example, I paddled an Aire Tributary Tomcat on the Middle Fork of the Salmon at low water (about 2.4 feet) and it took the rapids like a champ.

But my primary scenario is paddling multi-day trips on western rivers, which have plenty of slow miles, so I prioritized that use case when I went shopping for my IK. If you want an IK that performs well in Class III-IV whitewater and you can roll, choose a boat like the Star Viper.

Gear capacity of inflatable kayaks

Even if you paddle a lot of multi-day trips, you don’t necessarily need to carry a bunch of gear in your boat. (That’s what the rafts are for, right?) If you need room for just a small dry bag and a water bottle, the amount of room behind the rear seat doesn’t matter much, which expands your options.

But if you have some self-supported IK trips in mind, room for gear becomes a priority. (Check out our tips for choosing dry bags for river trips, which includes recommendations for kayakers.)

Choosing between solo or tandem inflatable kayaks

Choosing a tandem over a single IK is a tough choice: Tandem IKs are versatile (most tandem IKs can be rigged for one person), handy for accommodating more people in fewer boats, and super fun for beginning paddling teams, especially kids. If you plan to paddle mostly multi-day trips on calmer water, you’ll likely get more use out of a tandem boat in the long run.

I find that a tandem IK quickly becomes the most popular boat on many multi-day trips as they give raft passengers something different to do and they are kid magnets. If you find a paddling buddy who you truly click with on the water, you’re in for some unmatched whitewater thrills and camaraderie.

However, paddling solo is also exhilarating, especially if you like to control your own destiny. A solo boat is also the most maneuverable and portable option. Here’s a brief snippet of Audrey (RiverBent co-founder) and me paddling Westwater Canyon on the Colorado River in a tandem Aire Tributary Tomcat:

Paddling a tandem Aire Tributary Tomcat on the Colorado River through Westwater Canyon

Good construction for inflatable kayaks

Here’s what to look for in an inflatable kayak that will last for years with reasonable maintenance and repairs as needed.

Durable material

Inflatable kayaks are typically made of PVC or a variant of Hypalon, DuPont’s name for chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CP), which is now discontinued. PVC is less expensive than Hypalon variants and easy to patch, but more susceptible to UV damage. Hypalon is more expensive but more durable—my family’s Avon raft (made of Hypalon) has been going strong for several multi-day trips a year since 1984. But since Hypalon is no longer available, raft and IK manufacturers have turned to newer forms of CP that have similar qualities.

As an example, NRS now uses a version of CP called NRS Pennel Orca. The difference in durability between PVC and CP is negligible for recreational whitewater kayakers. As long as you follow common-sense maintenance guidelines (store it out of the sun, patch abrasions promptly), a PVC inflatable kayak will last for years. 

Welded seams

Although not a deal-breaker, if it comes down to a boat with glued seams and one with welded seams, go with welded seams as they hold up better over time to general river trip abuse, including being dragged on concrete, encounters with rocks, periods of overheating (which leads to over-inflation), and other travesties. 

Laced-in floor with separate valve

Most IKs you evaluate these days will have laced-in floors with a separate valve so you can adjust the level of inflation to accommodate the type of whitewater you’ll be doing that day. For more intense whitewater, inflate the floor more so it will ride higher. For slow-water days, you can use less air to improve tracking. 

Rigging for thigh straps

Thigh straps for inflatable kayaks are a game-changer, allowing you to paddle much more aggressively by holding you firmly in the boat as you lean into a wave. You can buy thigh steps from NRS or Aire, or you’ll find them part of the rigging in some boats, such as the NRS Star Viper. Your IK should have loops in the floor lacing at regular intervals so you can thread the thigh straps in at the perfect position for your legs.

Be sure to experiment with thigh straps in any IK you’re evaluating to make sure it will accommodate setting the straps at the right position for you. Getting your thigh strap placement right is essential for comfortable, assertive, and safe inflatable kayak paddling. My obsession with thigh straps for inflatable kayaks led me to create this little snippet about how to rig them so they can easily slide off your legs if the IK flips:

Common valves

Nothing is more irritating than having an inflatable with weird valves, for which you need a special pump. Inevitably, that special pump won’t be around when you need it most. Get an IK with C7 valves (also called military valves or raft valves) that accommodate a typical raft pump, as you’ll find many of those pumps among your river trip crew.

Nearly every whitewater inflatable boat now uses these one-way valves, so if you’re contemplating an IK that doesn’t have them, you’re on the wrong track. As a side note, my hands-down favorite pump for inflatable kayaks (and for topping off rafts) is the K-Pump. The K-100 pump can be strapped lengthwise into many IKs, so you’ll always have it handy. 

Comfort and usability factors for inflatable kayaks

Comfortable, sturdy handle

The positioning and style of the handles at the bow and stern of an IK are surprisingly important. For anyone who has had to lug a rigged tandem IK over rocks at a portage, poorly placed handles that don’t have a comfortable grip are annoying. Pro tip: Don’t use the handle to tie off the IK in camp, as strong wind or rising water will put too much pressure on the handle, which wasn’t made for that use, and you’ll end up with no handle at all.

Loop or ring for the bowline

Make sure the IK has either a loop, or preferably a welded D-ring for your bowline.

Comfortable seat or backrest

Most whitewater IKs don’t have seats but instead have an inflatable thwart that also serves as a backrest. The thwart approach gives you additional flotation and provides side-to-side stability for the boat. The shape of these thwarts/backrests can make a big difference in how upright you sit, which influences how aggressively you can paddle.

For example, the Tributary Tomcat has a very round backrest, which I seem to naturally lean back on. The Star Viper, an IK intended for serious whitewater paddling, has a flat front side to the inflated backrest, which held me in a more aggressive (but still comfortable) posture.

If you decide that you’ll primarily be paddling on calm water, you’ll have IK options with more traditional seats. For example, the Star Raven, intended for calm-water paddling, has padded folding seats. Experiment with a few different seat styles before you commit.

Anchor points to strap in gear

Especially for multi-day trips, having various anchor points to strap in gear such as a dry bag, pump, throw ropes, water bottle, etc. is handy. Small, whitewater-oriented IKs might not have much room at all, which is the tradeoff you make when prioritizing high performance over multi-use. 

Choosing the right paddle for IKs

Using a paddle that’s the right length for you will make a huge difference in your efficiency and confidence on the water. The more whitewater you paddle, the shorter your paddle should be. A shorter paddle facilitates a higher stroke rate, whereas a longer paddle accommodates the more relaxed paddling that you would do on calm river stretches.

In general, IK paddles are quite a bit longer than hardshell kayak paddles—about 230cm is a good average length to try. Paddles are usually inexpensive to rent, so experiment with various lengths on some local water before you buy. 

For more recommendations, check out our guide to essential accessories for inflatable kayaks.

Inflatable kayaks are sheer joy in whitewater

In my experience, nothing (except maybe being part of a crack paddle raft crew) brings as much joy as paddling an inflatable kayak in some lively whitewater—with or without a buddy. The available options for whitewater inflatable kayaks are now nearly limitless. Plus, they’re easy to evaluate because you can try boats at demo days or rent a model you’re considering.

Don’t overlook opportunities to buy IKs used: I bought one of my Tomcats used at a terrific price, and it had barely been on the water. Always check GearTrade (affiliate link) before buying any gear new, as you might find exactly what you seek at a huge discount.

Whichever IK you choose, you might find that this boat sees more river-running action than any of your others.