The Intex Explorer K2 Kayak is the big brother of the Intex Challenger K1 Kayak (read the K1 review here), and just like it’s little brother, the Intex Explorer K2 Kayak is becoming increasingly popular.

The Intex Explorer K2 Kayak is a family friendly, two person inflatable kayak.

Make up of the Intex Explorer K2 Kayak

The Intex Explorer K2 Kayak is a large inflatable, two seater kayak that is made up of rugged 30 gauge vinyl.

The Intex Explorer K2 Kayak is a bigger boat. The kayak sits at a length of 123 inches (or just over 3 metres), at a width of 36 inches (or just under 1 metre), and at a height of 20 inches (or just over half a metre). The kayak weighs about 32 pounds (or about 14 and a half kilograms) and has an impressive weight capacity of 350 pounds (or just under 159 kilograms).

This kayak is also fitted with grip lines on either side of it.

Pros of the Intex Explorer K2 Kayak

The Intex Explorer K2 Kayak is certainly being looked at as a great family oriented inflatable kayak, perfect for days on the lake. Let’s look at a few of the pros of this tandem kayak.

It’s Safe

The Intex Explorer K2 Kayak is colored brightly yellow, some people may think that this makes the kayak kind of an eye sore, but the bright yellow rugged 30 gauge vinyl that the kayak is made of is actually a safety feature. When you are out on the water, you will be highly visible to other kayakers out on the water.

Another safety aspect of this kayak, is that it is quite difficult to flip, even when entering and exiting the kayak. The kayak is made up of two separate air chambers, meaning that if you do happen to get puncture or a tear in your kayak, only one chamber will deflate, making it possible for you to still safely reach the shore where you can oatch the kayak’s rugges 30 gauge vinyl exterior.

The Buoyancy Is Great

Of course with any inflatable kayak, you would hope that the buoyancy would be good! But the buoyancy of the Intex Explorer K2 Kayak is exceptional for a tandem, inflatable kayak that can hold as much weight as it can.

The kayak is fitted with an inflatable I-beam floor which just adds to the buoyancy factor.

It Come With A Lot Of Accessories

When you purchase the Intex Explorer K2 Kayak, you are purchasing more than just a tandem inflatable kayak. This kayak is sold with two 86 inch aluminum oars, a very informational owner’s manual, a repair patch kit for when you need an emergency fix, a U.S. Coast Guard ID, a hand manual pump for inflating your kayak, and grab lines that are attached to each side of the boat for easy grip and transportation of the kayak.

The accessories are all included in the already very reasonable price of the kayak.

It’s Incredibly Spacious And Can Carry A Lot Of Weight

As we mentioned above, the Intex Explorer K2 Kayak can handle 350 pounds, which is absolutely perfect and even impressive for an inflatable two person kayak. This kayak is also incredibly spacious, meaning that you have more than enough surface area of the kayak floor to fill up with yourself, a friend and gear to test out that weight capacity!

The Value For Money Is Great

The retail price for the Intex Explorer K2 Kayak is just under $120 US. That’s right, this comfortable, spacious, two person seater, easy to transport as well as inflate and deflate, highly rated kayak that comes with oars, a pump and grip lines will cost you just less than $120.

It Is Really Comfortable

Comfort is probably one of the biggest draws of the Intex Explorer K2 Kayak! Unlike most inflatable tandem kayaks which concentrate much more on trying to fit two people and some gear into it, this kayak is comfort centred, and has therefore been constructed in a way that is super spacious. There is more than enough space for gear and a lot of leg room.

The seats that are fitted (but removable) into the inflatable tandem kayak, are inflatable as well, and are fitted with backrests. The level of comfort of the Intex Explorer K2 Kayak is so high that you will find yourself spending hours and hours out on the water without even thinking about discomfort.

It Is Lightweight And Easy To Transport

The Intex Explorer K2 Kayak is lightweight both when it is deflated and inflated. Being so lightweight means that paddling the tandem kayak, even by yourself, is not very strenuous. This is perfect for when you’re out on the lake with someone who tires easily.

Weighing only 32 pounds (or about 14 and a half kilograms) when deflated, makes loading this kayak into the back of your car (yes, a car, no need for a large vehicle to transport this kayak) really easy! The Intex Explorer K2 Kayak is fitted with Boston valves on each side of the kayak, meaning that inflation and deflation is quick and easy.

It Is Rigid And Sturdy

If you think that sturdy and rigid are not words usually associated with an inflatable kayak, you have never heard of the Intex Explorer K2 Kayak! The inflatable I-beam flooring of the kayak is not only good for buoyancy, but it lends itself to the rigidity and sturdiness of the kayak. The sturdiness of this kayak is also due to the rugged 30 gauge vinyl it is made up of. This 30 gauge vinyl has gotten some rave reviews as the boat can be dragged over rock beds without any tears occurring.

It Has A Removable Skeg

The removable skeg of the Intex Explorer K2 Kayak (along with the streamlined design of the kayak) makes this boat a very easy steer. The removable skeg makes this kayak a dream of directional stability.

The Seats Are Removable And Adjustable

So we know that the seats are inflatable and really comfortable, but that’s not all! The seats of the Intex Explorer K2 Kayak are not only adjustable, but they are altogether removable. The seats are attached to the bottom of the kayak by some heavy duty velcro, so removing or adjusting them is a breeze. So, why has this aspect of the kayak made it onto the pros list? If you are going to be using your kayak for lake fishing or you want to use it as a solo instead of a tandem, you can remove one of the seats which will give a lot of extra space.

Cons of the Intex Explorer K2 Kayak

While the Intex Explorer K2 Kayak has been receiving a lot of positive reviews, it’s shortcomings have also been reported, and before you purchase a kayak, you should always look at the cons of the boat, too. Let’s get right into the cons of the Intex Explorer K2 Kayak.

This Kayak Is Not Made For Rough Water

This may not be too much of a drawback for you if you are planning on using this kayak to spend time with your family, especially if you have younger friends, but it is definitely worth mentioning. While this kayak is definitely sturdy, it will not fare well on bigger waves and strong currents.

The Oars Included Are Not Adjustable

So as we have mentioned above in the pros list, Intex Explorer K2 Kayak comes with two 86 inch aluminum oars, which is awesome because, free stuff, right? The problem with these oars is that they are not adjustable. Being a family oriented, tandem inflatable kayak, this is a bit of a let down as some people are going to want to get out onto the water with their kids, and the 86 inch oars may be too large and uncomfortable for kids to paddle with.

The Kayak Could Overinflate On Sunny Days

The Intex Explorer K2 Kayak has a boat bottom that is black in color, and as we know, black tends to attract and absorb sunlight much more than any other color. If you are out paddling on a really sunny day (which let’s face it, is the best time to get the whole family out onto the water), your kayak may absorb a lot of the sun, and will begin to expand, because that’s what heat does to inflatable kayaks! The reason that overinflation of this kayak is on the cons list, is that when it does overinflate, the chances of your kayak’s exterior tearing goes up.

Our Final Thoughts

The Intex Explorer K2 Kayak is affordable and functional. When you look at the safety aspects, as well as how sturdy and reliable this tandem kayak is, the small list of cons don’t seem to be anything to be swayed by.

This is a really good kayak for anyone who is wanted to really get started in the world of tandem kayaking, or if you have friends and family that enjoy spending some relaxing time out on the lake together!