Outdoor Tuff Stinger 3 Inflatable Kayak – Hit or Bust?

Kayaking is a sport that is enjoyed by many people of all shapes, sizes and ages. The biggest problem that is faced is the unwieldiness of the traditional kayak. There is a solution to the problem on the market: the Outdoor Tuff Stinger 3 Inflatable Kayak (one person) is a cost effective and lightweight way to have fun on your family’s favorite body of water.  (The two person option can be found here on Amazon).

Outdoor Tuff Stinger 3 Inflatable Kayak Basics

The Tuff Stinger kayak is made from heavy duty PVC and consists of three reinforced chambers which inflate to full rigidity. There is a removable seat and two splash covers to keep you comfortable and as dry as you can be as you navigate your favorite body of water. The package includes a foot pump, inflation ruler, a 87 inch paddle and two fins as well as a backpack for easy packing and storing of the kayak.

Features of the Outdoor Tuff Stinger 3 Inflatable One-Person Kayak Portable

The Outdoor Tuff Stinger 3 Inflatable Kayak only weighs twenty five pounds. It folds away into a relatively small package that you can easily fit into your car or trailer. This makes it far easier to transport than a more traditional rigid kayak which requires a roof rack. The backpack which is included in the package makes for easy storage and transport.

The kayak is constructed of three layers of PVC which has been treated to ensure maximum puncture resistance. This PVC gives the Outdoor Tuff Stinger 3 Inflatable One-Person Kayak the same resilience and stiffness of a traditional kayak once it has been properly inflated. With maximum durability comes the cost effectiveness, which makes it a personal favorite of all buyers regardless of their spending power.

Does the Stinger Inflate FAST?!

The kayak only has three chambers to inflate and comes with a foot pump as well as the various attachments that you will need to inflate it. The foot pump works well and inflates the kayak quickly and efficiently. The end result is properly rigid and stable.

Manufacturer’s Limited Warranty

The kayak comes with a one year limited warranty from the manufacturer. This should give you some peace of mind and recourse should the kayak develop a puncture within the first year of normal use.

Maneuverable and Stable?

User of the kayak found that it was extremely stable, even in water also in use by jet skis and motor boats. The included paddle is easy to handle and offers speed and efficiency so that the kayak can be used by children as young as twelve years old. The fins which are also included in the package add even more stability to the kayak. Since the chambers of the kayak inflate to a good pressure, the end result is a rigid kayak that is comparable to traditional kayaks.

Downsides to the Outdoor Tuff Stinger 3 Inflatable Kayak

For some reason not all the valves on the kayak are the same. The foot compartment requires a different attachment for the foot pump than the other two compartments. This means that there is an extra piece to keep track of and not lose. This can be overcome with some care and ensuring that you take note of where you place the attachments and adapters as you inflate your kayak.

Check out the Outdoor Tuff Stinger on Amazon by clicking here!

Some users of the Outdoor Tuff Stinger 3 inflatable kayak have found that the construction of the seat is not as comfortable as the manufacturers claim. The method of attachment to the kayak, a strap that wraps around the back of the seat, changes the form of the seat and causes some discomfort in the back.

Final Verdict

For additional reviews of inflatable kayaks, check out our dedicated page here. Overall, the Outdoor Tuff Stinger 3 Inflatable is durable and easy to transport, already giving it an advantage over traditional kayaks. Users have found it to be stable and easy to maneuver, even for children with minimal experience. There appear to be very few downsides to this inflatable kayak. The two different kinds of valve are a bit of a complication and the seat may not be the most comfortable but the kayak makes up for this in a number of different ways, including its simplicity. If you are looking for a well priced alternative to a traditional kayak, then the Outdoor Tuff Stinger 3 Inflatable One-Person Kayak definitely needs to be a consideration.

All The Details You Can Get: AIRHEAD Montana Performance Kayak (AHTK-1)

Wow! It has been a while since I posted an update but you know what? The time sounds about right since it’s mid summer and you all can benefit from exercising–especially in the form or canoeing or kayaking >:)

Today, I’m critiquing the Airhead Montana Performance kayak, another inflatable kayak with a terrible name (AHTK?) To be honest, right from the start, the Airhead one person kayak will run you around $220-$275 on average, making it not the most expensive option but also, not the least expensive option.

Is it worth your money, though? You decide. Let’s slice and dice this baby.

The Basics

This kayak is a one person seater with plenty of space coming in around 9 feet long. Its build is compact and lightweight, designed specifically for lakes and easy white water shenanigans. The build of its three chambers is lined with a strong 840 denier nylon. It also comes with 4 bottom fins making it easy to steer. As is typical, the Airhead Montana Performance kayak comes with ultra-violet and water resistant coatings.

The Meat Of the Airhead Montana One Seater

To be honest, this inflatable kayak has quite a few things going for it but there is a common complaint about it. Some folks seem to absolutely love the Airhead Montana while others wish they hadn’t purchased it.
Let’s start with the durable material. Even though I mentioned that you can go white water rafting on it, the kayak has been tested in medium waters and has performed well (read more Amazon reviews here).
One thing you can’t do is compare any inflatable kayak to a hard shelled kayak, neither when it comes to build nor speed… and well, nor trekking.

boat

Even though this inflatable boat comes with 4 fins on the bottom, trekking seems to be an issue. Moving with the downstream, it seems to move well. However, going upstream or in slightly rough waters, the kayak has trouble being maneuvered and some reviewers have mentioned it to be a challenge to go in a straight line. Due to that, the speed is kind of slow or average at best.

To be fair, for the price point of around $240, this inflatable kayak will proudly take a few bruises without receiving much of any damage. Compared to a hard shell, the price is somewhere in the middle (not cheap nor expensive) and that reflects the quality of the product. It performs and is built better than the cheaper inflatable kayaks I have reviewed.

One major drawback with this product is that the valve isn’t tethered to the boat itself. There doesn’t seem to be any good reason for this. In fact, there is danger in losing the value as it needs to be removed in order for the kayak to be deflated.

Verdict

In Conclusion, the Airhead kayak can be used by a beginner or intermediate kayaker in mild waters and really, for recreational or exercise purpose and with the price, many folks will find this option appetizing.