We are big proponents of getting folks on the water by any means available, and fishing kayaks have opened up a great way for anglers to access a lot more water without breaking the bank. One great of option available to anglers and paddlers alike are inflatable kayaks and paddle boards as well as foldable and packable kayaks. With an inflatable, foldable or packable boat, you can take it with you in any vehicle and explore more of the waters around you. So we thought we’d share some of our thoughts and experiences with what we consider the best inflatable kayak and pacakable boat options out there. While we’ll focus mainly on inflatables as those are the most widely available, there are some good folding options now as well.
Our Picks for the Best Inflatable Fishing Kayaks/Paddleboards
- Best Overall – BOTE Rackham Aero
- Best Hybrid Paddleboard/Kayak – BOTE LowRider Aero
- Best Value for Inflatable Kayaks – NRS Pike 12.6 Pro
- Best Folding Kayak – Oru Beach Sport
- Best Newcomer – Wilderness Systems iA.T.A.K 110 Angler Kayak
Best Overall Inflatable Kayak
BOTE Rackham Aero
You can read our full review of this inflatable fishing kayak hybrid boat in the following link. But here’s the quick rundown on this awesome inflatable.
This reimagined BOTE Rackham Aero offers a paddleboard/kayak hybrid capable of utilizing a pedal drive, offering the best of both worlds. This makes it an attractive option for anglers that want to fish off paddleboards, with the potential for faster access to distant water. The APEX Pedal Drive is sold separately, but it’s what makes this paddleboard hybrid so inviting. A simple paddleboard, or an evolved almost “pedal skiff” for getting after fish a little more seriously. It’s everything you want out of a paddle board with everything you need out of a kayak. It’s sturdy, stable and functional with a relatively easy setup and lots of options to add on. A very fun way to fish in the warmer months for sure.
Pros
- Super fast setup
- Pedal Drive
- Lightweight
Cons
- Price a little higher
Specs
- Length: 12 feet, 4 inches
- Weight: 45 pounds (79 pounds packed in bag)
- Capacity: 400 pounds
Best Hybrid Paddleboards for Fishing
BOTE LowRider Aero
One of the paddle boards offered by BOTE, the LowRider Aero is also one of their lightest. And the bag packs nicely in any size vehicle, making it the perfect option for on-the-go kayak and paddle board adventures. This kit comes with an inflatable seat that is very comfortable as well as the option to just use the paddle board as-is. It airs up easily and quickly and feels even more rigid if that’s possible than its predecessors.
We’ve spent a bit of time paddle boarding and fishing off of the LowRider Aero, mostly for shallow panfish and have had a ball. It’s been my wife’s main paddle board this spring for working out, enjoying a day on the lake and fishing with me when I’m kayaking. The board features all the nice connection points as well as bungee tie downs and their Magnepod for taking along a magnetic cup to hold your drink. My wife loves how light it is and how easy she can go kayaking and paddle boarding on her own.
The board is 10 1/2 feet long and can support 300 pounds. It says it weighs 30 pounds aired up but it seems lighter as my wife can one-hand carry it to the water and up to her vehicle.
Pros
- Light weight
- Very stiff surface
- Magnetic drink holder
Cons
- Lower weight capacity than some models
Specs
- Length: 10 feet, 6 inches
- Weight: 30 pounds
- Capacity: 300 pounds
Isle Explorer Pro
There is a growing segment of anglers who are fishing on paddle boards, especially on slow moving rivers. They just like to dangle their legs in the water in the warm months and just tool around leisurely and fish. And these hybrid paddleboard kayaks are very cool new options for anglers. The ISLE Explorer Pro inflates easily and we were up and fishing in minutes thanks to their additional electric air pump.
The Seat sets up quick after inflating the parts and attaching via velcro and carabiner clips on straps to the loop stringer system running down either side of the paddleboard. Once the seat is in, you simply sit on it and get a feel for where you want to put the foot rest. Set it so your knees are bent and then attach the clips to the nearest loop and tighten. It’s very stable and having a paddle board with a backrest and footrest is very nice if you don’t want to dangle your feet in the water. Extra bungee straps allow you to fasten down paddles and gear while you fish. I was super impressed with this unique offering for those looking for a cross between a paddleboard and a kayak. See other Isle paddle boards at Amazon.com.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Quick setup
- Very durable, rugged construction
Cons
- Seat is lower than most
- Limited for accessories
Specs
- Length: 12 feet (a 14 foot version is also available)
- Weight: 23 pounds
- Capacity: 325 pounds
Best Value in Inflatable Kayaks
NRS Pike 12.6 Pro
I wasn’t even aware that NRS had inflatable kayaks until the summer of 2023, and a good friend let me test and review his NRS Pike 12.6 Pro. Immediately I found it to be one the more impressive inflatable kayaks I’ve tested. Not only does it blow up and assemble faster than any other I have used but it was easily the most stable I’ve ever tested of the inflatable kayaks. It features a 4-inch drop-stitch deck that inflates independently of the two 10 1/2 inch side rails. You air all three up and you have a super stable platform to fish out of in minutes. The keel insert improves your tracking on flat water and EVA foam deck will protect your kayak from hooks and snags. There is a fish measuring board integrated into the deck. Along with a suspended aluminum framed mesh seat, YakAttack accessory mounts, and adjustable foot pegs, and you have a great fishing platform that transports easily and fishes stable and well for an inflatable kayak. But be warned: the NRS Pike has been discontinued, so there are only a few left for sale. If you’re interested in one, buy it now.
Pros
- Great price
- Assembles quickly
- Very rugged
- Lots of open room for gear
Cons
- Paddle only
Specs
- Length: 12 feet, 8 inches
- Weight: 48 pounds
- Capacity: 375 pounds
Best Folding Kayak
Oru Beach LT
I will admit, I was skeptical about a folding kayak, but one of the fastest growing segments of the fishing kayak space is in these more portable options. The unique design of the Oru Beach Sport LT provides a quickly assembled folding kayak that impressed me with its performance. Even on my first try, I put it together in 15 minutes. When I got in the first time, I was really impressed with how I sat in the water, how maneuverable the kayak was and I actually really liked how I sat really level to the water. I could skip baits effortlessly under docks and overhangs.
I’m a big guy and I never worried about taking on water and was never slowed down by my weight in this kayak. The sturdy rail system from Haven TT allows you to seamlessly mount all types of accessories from fishing rod holders to camera gear without the hassle of adhesives. The new gel cushion seat system made for a comfortable fishing day, and the open cockpit design allowed me to just drop my gear in and go without it being in the way.
And at just 28 pounds, the Beach LT Sport has a weight capacity of 300 pounds, making it the easiest by far kayak option to get in and out of a vehicle and and on and off the water. It breaks down faster than it went together, and I was on my way in minutes. A very ingenious option for kayakers looking for maximum portability and efficiency. And it says that it can be folded and unfolded more than 10,000 times before it will wear.
Pros
- Lightest option
- Quick assembly
- Less puncture concern
Cons
- Price
- Almost feels like you are below the water line at times
Specs
- Length: 12 feet 1 inch
- Weight: 28 pounds
- Capacity: 300 pounds
Best Newcomer
Wilderness Systems iA.T.A.K 110 Angler Kayak
I checked out the new iA.T.A.K. 110 Angler kayak at the ICAST show in Orlando in July 2023, where I got to go for a spin in one at the on-the-water demo day. It cuts and handles the water nicely. It’s a very rigid design thanks to floor and side wall drop-stitched stringer design that give it a stiffer feel, more like a molded kayak. It has a lot of accessory mounting options. It features a hard keel and fin system on the back that helps it resist being blown off course by the wind. This makes it uniquely stable for an inflatable kayak in windy conditions.
The unique frame seat is comfortable, and it can be folded down to be a standing platform for smaller angler. It holds about 14 pounds of air pressure but has unique self-relief valves so that if the pressure builds because of heat, it will self regulate. There are four universal mounting ports as well as a front bar for mounting graphs, etc.
Pros:
- Great rigidity
- Nice mounting options
- Very stable
Cons:
- Price a little higher
Specs:
- Length: 11 feet
- Weight: 50 pounds
- Capacity: 375 pounds
What to Look for in an Inflatable Kayak or Paddleboard for Fishing
Certain factors influence any buying decision, price is always one of those. Like most things you want to choose the options that covers the most important features for your budget. With inflatable kayaks, the most important features are usually easy of setup and transportability, stability on the water, and of course durability. You don’t want to be out on to the water and realize your packable kayak is losing air or taking on water. So you want a kayak that is very rigid. The more rigid an inflatable kayak becomes the less susceptible it is to puncturing.
The inflatables coming out now from the better brands like BOTE, Isle, NRS, Hobie and others offer boats that have been through rigid testing and beatings to make sure they will stand up to wear and tear. The hybrid offerings we are seeing now are part skiff, part paddle board, part kayak and even part canoe. They offer a lot of for a little. The fact you can get an inflatable fishing boat with a pedal drive is crazy, considering nothing like this existed 10 years ago.
