Intex Explorer K2 Review

The Intex Explorer K2 has a 400-pound capacity and is a tandem, or two-person, model. It's made of polypropylene and comes with two paddles, a hand pump, and repair patches. It features a removable skeg, adjustable seatbacks, bow and stern lines, and a manual cockpit drainage port.

Performance Comparison

Gliding and Tracking

The Explorer K2 sinks a lot when loaded with grown adults, adding drag to the paddling experience. It sits lower in the water than most other tandems, even with lighter people inside. Though it has shorter paddles to try to match its length, we still found ourselves frequently clashing blades with our partners. A removable skeg helps a bit with tracking, but the bottom of the boat is quite flat, lacking that cutting quality. Even with two paddlers, we found ourselves wig-wagging across the surface of the lake. If it didn't weave and taco so much, the PVC exterior would more effectively glide, and this boat could be fast. But in reality, it isn't.

Maneuverability

The lower profile of the Explorer does help it catch less wind, though we still wouldn't recommend paddling this boat on a windy day. It's reasonably easy to turn quickly — if you can avoid smashing your paddle into your partner's paddle. We have very little faith that this boat is up to many difficult tasks involving rocks or submerged sticks. It's made of some of the thinnest material of any kayak we tested and lacks any additional layers that might protect it. The sides also bulge and deform when it's fully inflated.

Stability

As one of the widest kayaks we tested, the Explorer K2 has some level of stability. The inflatable seats aren't overly thick, helping you ride lower and be better balanced in the water. While this lower seat makes getting in a fairly straightforward affair, getting back out proves to be more challenging. The most common feedback we got from our testing team is that this boat feels like paddling around in a pool toy — fun but not the most reliable. The cockpit has a drainage port in the back, but it's the type of valve you have to squeeze open with your hands, so it is utterly useless for emptying the boat while you paddle.

Ease of Set Up

Impressively, this tandem kayak weighs just 26 pounds. That's on par with many of the single boats we've tested. Of course, this is achieved in part by being rather small and constructed of very thin materials. It's not horrible to cart down the path to the beach, though the duffel-style carry bag without any padding on the handles isn't the most comfortable over long distances.

The hand pump included with the Explorer is quite small, and it takes a long time to inflate the boat. Ours also fell into pieces the third time we used it, though we were able to easily put it back together again. The boat itself has five chambers (two are just tiny tubes on the bow and stern to hold the splash guards taut), and each seat is a single chamber. However, there are three different valve types, forcing you to swap out adapters to get the right fit. The valve in the floor is challenging to reach, as the sides inflate over the top of it, so you have to remember to inflate it first and deflate it last. The fin on the bottom is so incredibly difficult to get fully into place that it's easy to want to give up and leave it behind. Deflating this boat requires constant attention, as the floor, bow, stern, and seat valves are the type that requires you to hold them squeezed open to release the air. This proves challenging with the floor in particular, as the valve is on the inside, so you're actively rolling up while still trying to deflate. Fortunately, the storage bag is oversized and easily fits all the components of this kayaking kit.

Comfort

As a very squishy watercraft, the Explorer K2 feels relatively comfortable to sit in, easily conforming to your shape and boasting adjustable seatbacks. The seats clip into place and velcro to the floor of the boat, which certainly stops them from sliding but also makes it very difficult for them to adjust to the appropriate amount of leg room for both passengers. Riding lower in the water is a different paddling experience than a higher-seated boat, most commonly resulting in a wetter excursion.

Construction Quality

The Explorer K2 suffered no tears, rips, or punctures during our extensive testing. However, it's exceedingly thin, and the internet is filled with reports of the seams breaking and the patch kit not working, which doesn't fill us with the same confidence we have with so many of the beefier models we tested. Even compared to other kayaks in our lineup that are sold for around the same price point, the Explorer is one of the thinnest-walled options.

Should You Buy the Intex Explorer K2?

It's tempting to see the price tag on this all-inclusive kit and think it's a great value item. But when it comes to performance, the Explorer K2 just can't compete with the others. If you can spend just a little more, there are several better all-inclusive kits that far outperform this one for not all that much more money.

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