Aquaplanet Inflatable Kayak – Review

Last Updated on July 1, 2024

Getting out on the water with the Aquaplanet Inflatable Kayak

As someone who has only ever kayaked in a hard-shell kayak, an inflatable one was something I had already debated getting throughout the lockdown. I asked myself if it was going to be stable. Was I going to feel comfortable taking it out anywhere? These were questions going through my head before it arrived.

The Aquaplanet inflatable 1-person kayak arrived in what seemed like a massive box.  I was really excited to see what was inside. Opening the box revealed a large backpack-style bag, making it easy to pack away and transport. To think a kayak would fit in a bag is impressive and ideal for people who want to go kayaking recreationally.

Inside the bag, everything was carefully packed away with an instruction manual on assembly and its own pump to inflate it. The separate components comprised the pump, kayak, paddle, seat, pressure gauge, and fin. I could not wait to try to put it together and see how it performed on the water.

My chosen spot to go for a trial, the Wey navigation, is a lovely place to walk.  I was sure it would be even better to travel down on the water. I grabbed my kayak bag, put it in the boot of my car, and drove to the canal.  The instructions explained that you should make sure not to put the kayak down on rocks or sharp surfaces, so I found a grassy meadow area on the waterside. I realised I might just have chosen the perfect spot to give the kayak a test drive looking at the number of other kayaks and paddleboards being set up around me.

I started the process of setting it up by taking everything out of the bag and laying it on the ground to see what there was. This is something I do with anything that has instructions included. First, I took the pressure gauge and secured it to the top of the pump, then I attached the tube to it. This kayak is smart as the ‘plugs’ that you pump the air into have caps that twist on and off. This means that when pumping it up the air cannot come out as a valve keeps it in. I loved the way the gauge shows the amount of pressure in the kayak and that it gives an exact amount to inflate it by. It is always hard to know if something is pumped up properly, but with this, it is so clear.

Once everything was full of air it was time for the simple job of adding the chair, the fin, and assembling the paddle. The chair was simple with it velcroing to the bottom of the kayak and then using tightening straps to connect it to the sides of the kayak.

It took a bit of common sense to make sure I put the fin on in the right direction but thinking back to surfboards, I got it on, and the kayak was ready to go in the canal. The paddle once fully connected fits perfectly in the straps on the side of the kayak so there is no need to worry about losing the paddle when moving it into the water.

A bit nervous about taking a tumble into the canal, I was fully prepared in my lightweight workout kit for any accidental falls! I moved the kayak down onto the water, careful to keep a hold of it, and scooted my way into position in the seat. I then sat still for a moment testing how it felt, gave it a little wiggle, and relaxed. The kayak was surprisingly sturdy and stable – it was time to get moving.

If you have not been kayaking before there is something very calming in the motion of twisting your body left and right to move forward. A tip I have learned to help you is to use your whole body to pull the paddle through the water, not just your arms. The smoother the paddle moves the smoother your movement is. I can say that this kayak made a smile naturally appear on my face. I love to be surrounded by nature. Whether I am by the sea, in the mountains, or by the canal I find peace when I am out in the open air.

Where I live in the countryside in Surrey there appear to be a lot of people who share my love of being on the water. I met some who had been kayaking all day along the canal towards Wokingham, and others who had just arrived to get on the water as part of what was probably a kayaking club. Now I am definitely ready to make it a more regular activity.

I had a lot of fun testing the manoeuvrability of the kayak. Used to more rigid sea kayaks that take a lot of effort to turn, I found the speed and efficiency with which you can turn in this kayak quite amazing. I went round and round in a circle in joy until the dizziness hit. I think a nearby swan was entertained by it as he then decided to become my kayak friend and swim alongside me.

After 30 minutes on the water, I thought I had tested the kayak enough, it was time to let my photographer go home. As mentioned earlier the stability of this kayak is excellent. Getting out of the kayak was just as easy as getting in. It was a little harder to get the kayak itself out of the water, but a good tug released it back onto land.

The first thing to do to pack up the kayak is to take the fin and seat off and let it dry out, (or dry it off as I did). Then, simply fully twist off the caps on the vents and listen as the air rushes out. It was fully deflated and packed up in less than 10 minutes.

Everything fits back into the bag very easily. The Aquaplanet Inflatable Kayak is compact, easy to move and fast to inflate and deflate. In short, the perfect kayak for anyone who wants to get out on the water on a glorious summer’s day but needs an easy-to-transport option.  Oh, and just in case you are worried about carrying the backpack, I’m a slim 5’4 (162cm) woman – and I had no problem at all

For more information and current offers on Aquaplanet sports kayaks visit: Aquaplanet kayaks,

Aquaplanet sports have an extensive range of SUPs, stand-up inflatable paddle boards as well as kayaks.