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Aquaglide was born in the rugged Columbia River Gorge in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. The company, known for its quality inflatable kayaks, is now based in Bend, Oregon.
From swift river runners to stable recreational models, we explore the craftsmanship, performance, and unique features that set these inflatable kayaks apart.
Discover the perfect boat for your next waterborne adventure and make waves with Aquaglide kayaks.
Top Picks:
- Aquaglide Deschutes 110 (Best For Recreation)
- Aquaglide Chinook 100 (Best For Beginners)
- Aquaglide Blackfoot Angler 130 (Best For Fishing)
- Aquaglide Chelan 155 (Best For Touring)
- Aquaglide Navarro 130 (Best Sit-Inside)
- Aquaglide Mckenzie 125 (Best For Whitewater)
- Aquaglide Cirrus Ultralight 110 (Most Lightweight)
Aquaglide Deschutes 110 (Best For Recreation)
- Length: 11 foot
- Width: 36 inches
- Weight: 18.1 pounds
- Weight capacity: 300 pounds
The Aquaglide Deschutes 110 is a single-person inflatable kayak with a low rocker-profile that’s ideal for flatwater adventures.
The hull of the Aquaglide Deschutes 110 is designed to improve speed and glide, with narrow tubes and a tapered bow and stern. This streamlined shape (and removable weedless fin) also means the Deschutes kayak tracks well.
It’s made from Duratex fabric, which is a reinforced PVC material for added strength and durability. It also has a solid EVA floor that doesn’t require inflation. However, this is not as rigid as a drop-stitch floor.
This is a lightweight kayak that folds up into a compact size for traveling and it fits in the included backpack for easy transportation.
There’s a padded seat with a high backrest for comfort. You’ll also find an EVA footrest. The seat can be adjusted slightly using the Velcro adjustment strips.
There’s some storage space behind the seat and there are bungee cords on the bow and stern spray covers for securing gear.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact
- Good tracking and speed
- Ideal for lakes and slow-moving rivers
Cons
- Pump not included
- No drop-stitch floor
Aquaglide Deschutes 145
- Length: 14 foot 7 inches
- Width: 38 inches
- Weight: 25.3 pounds
- Weight capacity: 600 pounds
The Aquaglide Deschutes 145 is a spacious tandem kayak that’s ideal if you’re looking for more space without compromising on performance. It made our top tandem kayaks in Australia list.
Aquaglide Deschutes 130
- Length: 12 foot 10 inches
- Width: 37.5 inches
- Weight: 22.2 pounds
- Weight capacity: 400 pounds
The Aquaglide Deschutes 130 is a solo inflatable kayak that’s great for larger paddlers. It’s also equally ideal if you’re looking for increased storage space for gear for kayak camping.
It features in our best inflatable kayaks for sea and ocean list.
Aquaglide Chinook 100 (Best For Beginners)
- Length: 10 foot
- Width: 36 inches
- Weight: 24.3 pounds
- Weight capacity: 400 pounds
The Aquaglide Chinook 100 is an affordable, stable kayak that is a great choice for beginners. It’s compact and easy to maneuver. This also makes it an excellent choice for smaller bodies of water, such as narrow rivers.
The Chinook is built for flatwater paddling but can handle up to Class II rapids if you have the skills to match.
This comes with two seats but I think it’s best suited to solo paddlers or if you want to paddle with a child or a dog. There’s not much room for two adults.
This is a durable inflatable kayak that’s made from 600-denier hex ripstop polyester and it’s puncture-resistant.
This favors stability over speed, so it’s not the fastest kayak on the list. However, it has a decent load capacity if you’re a solo paddler with heavy gear.
There’s bungee rigging at the bow and stern. Plus, you’ll find two fishing rod holders if you want to load it up for a kayak fishing trip.
Pros
- Affordable
- Very stable
- Easy to maneuver
Cons
- Not spacious as a tandem
> Tips for beginners and inflatable kayaks
Aquaglide Chinook 120
- Length: 12 foot
- Width: 37 inches
- Weight: 27.9 pounds
- Weight capacity: 550 pounds
The Aquaglide Chinook 120 is a good option for two adults. There’s even room for a third passenger, so you can bring along a child or a dog.
Read our best tandem inflatable kayaks rundown to see more like the Chelan 120.
Aquaglide Chinook 90
- Length: 9 foot
- Width: 35 inches
- Weight: 19.7 pounds
- Weight capacity: 250 pounds
The Aquaglide Chinook 90 can be a great alternative for smaller paddlers looking for added maneuverability in a lighter, more compact package.
Aquaglide Blackfoot Angler 130 (Best For Fishing)
- Length: 13 foot
- Width: 38 inches
- Weight: 41 pounds
- Weight capacity: 650 pounds
The Aquaglide Blackfoot Angler 130 is a durable inflatable fishing kayak that can be ideal for all-day fishing trips. It can handle almost any type of water and has a drop-stitch floor for performance.
It has an AG Frame seat that can be positioned high or low for optimum elevation. The seat also features an adjustable backrest and it has under-seat storage.
A great feature of this fishing kayak is the included fishing cooler. This has rod holders and a map case, plus plenty of room to keep snacks or bait cool.
The Blackfoot Angler can be easily customized to suit your fishing game, with MOLLE plates, universal accessory mounts, and multiple tie-down loops for securing accessories. You’ll also find deck bungees to keep gear secure and a place to stow your paddle while you’re fishing.
This is a large kayak with a high load capacity. There’s space to bring a dog or a child.
However, while this is a lightweight fishing kayak, it is heavy compared to other inflatable kayaks. On the other hand, it’s around average compared to other inflatable fishing kayaks.
Check out some of the top-rated inflatable fishing kayaks here.
Pros
- Easy to customize
- Lots of fishing features
- Comfortable seat
Cons
- Heavy
Aquaglide Blackfoot Angler 160
- Length: 16 foot 4 inches
- Width: 38 inches
- Weight: 50 pounds
- Weight capacity: 800 pounds
If you’d prefer to fish with a buddy, the Aquaglide Blackfoot Angler 160 is a very spacious tandem fishing kayak with two framed seats and plenty of room for gear.
Aquaglide Backwoods Purist 65 (most portable)
- Length: 6 foot 7 inches
- Width: 43.3 inches
- Weight: 6.2 pounds
- Weight capacity: 250 pounds
The Aquaglide Backwoods Purist 65 is a cross between a dinghy and a kayak. It’s incredibly wide for added stability and its ultra-short length makes it easy to maneuver in small or narrow waterways.
However, it’s not very fast because of its more rounded shape compared to other kayaks.
As well as being extremely compact, this is also very lightweight, making it easier to carry compared to other inflatable kayaks. This can be an ideal kayak for hiking into remote areas, in my opinion.
This compact kayak is designed to be minimalistic, so don’t expect a lot of extra features. There are paddle holders on the sides and an inflatable seat but there’s not a lot of storage space.
There are deck bungees at the front and back to secure a small dry bag or a rain jacket.
It’s made from heavy-duty TPU material. There are two side carry handles and a front carry handle for convenience.
Because of the rounded shape of this kayak, it doesn’t have the best tracking performance. It also lacks a fin, which I find makes it trickier to paddle in a straight line.
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Compact for transportation
- Stable
Cons
- Tracking isn’t great
- Not very efficient on the water
Aquaglide Backwoods Angler 75
- Length: 7 foot 7 inches
- Width: 48.5 inches
- Weight: 9.6 pounds
- Weight capacity: 300 pounds
The Backwoods Angler 75 offers a little extra space compared to the Purist, being a foot longer and five inches wider. This one also has the extra features of MOLLE plates to customize the boat for fishing. Plus, this one has a tracking fin.
Aquaglide Backwoods Expedition 85
- Length: 8 foot 4 inches
- Width: 35.5 inches
- Weight: 12 pounds
- Weight capacity: 300 pounds
The Aquaglide Backwoods Expedition 85 offers more space than both the other Backwoods models. This one has more of a pack raft design, with space for gear and improved tracking performance for longer trips.
Aquaglide Chelan 155 (Best For Touring)
- Length: 15 foot 1 inches
- Width: 36 inches
- Weight: 38 pounds
- Weight capacity: 600 pounds
The Aquaglide Chelan 155 is an inflatable touring kayak that offers space, speed, and paddling efficiency for longer trips.
It’s a tandem kayak so it comes with two ProFormance seats. These inflatable seats are elevated off the deck for improved comfort and they have adjustable backrests.
The Chelan is designed for performance touring and features a drop-stitch floor for added rigidity, speed, and stability. This offers a similar performance level to hard shell kayaks, though not as rigid.
This self-bailing kayak has space for gear and it can be paddled solo if you’re looking for maximum space. However, this tandem kayak is roomy enough to bring along a dog or a child as a third passenger.
The low-profile deck and streamlined hull of this Aquaglide kayak help with the overall performance over long distances. I find that the tracking fin is also a useful feature if you paddle on open water.
Like most Aquaglide kayaks, a pump is not included.
Pros
- Great for touring
- Spacious deck
- Drop-stitch floor
Cons
- Pump not included
Aquaglide Chelan 120
- Length: 11 foot 3 inches
- Width: 32.5 inches
- Weight: 28.3 pounds
- Weight capacity: 300 pounds
The Aquaglide Chelan 120 is a shorter, more maneuverable version of the Chelan 155. It’s crafted for solo paddling on large lakes, bays, and longer river trips. Our best solo inflatable kayak list has this one ranking high within it.
Aquaglide Chelan 140
- Length: 13 foot 6 inches
- Width: 35 inches
- Weight: 35 pounds
- Weight capacity: 400 pounds
The Aquaglide Chelan 140 is a shorter tandem version of the Chelan 155. This one is ideal for larger solo paddlers or solo paddlers with a lot of gear.
Aquaglide Navarro 130 (Best Sit-Inside)
- Length: 13 foot
- Width: 37.3 inches
- Weight: 30.6 pounds
- Weight capacity: 300 pounds
The Aquaglide Navarro 130 is an inflatable convertible kayak that can be ideal for paddling in all seasons. This is a solo kayak that offers speed and stability, with a drop-stitch floor and a pontoon-style hull.
One of the key features of the Navarro 130 is that it is compatible with a spray skirt, providing an enclosed cockpit to protect you from the elements. However, you need to purchase the optional zip-on deck cover to be able to fit a spray skirt.
This offers decent tracking, which is improved by the addition of the Quick Release weedless fin.
There’s space to store your gear, with deck bungees and zip storage at the bow. Plus, there’s a zip storage hatch at the stern, so you can keep smaller items stowed safely below deck.
In the cockpit, you’ll find a padded seat and an adjustable footrest. You can also adjust the position of the seat using the Velcro adjustment strips on the floor.
This can be ideal for river trips and kayaking on lakes and bays.
Pros
- Great for all seasons
- Compatible with spray skirts
- Covered storage
Cons
Cockpit cover not included as standard
Aquaglide Navarro 110
- Length: 11 foot
- Width: 35.5 inches
- Weight: 27.3 pounds
- Weight capacity: 250 pounds
The Aqualide Navarro 110 is a more compact version of the Navarro 130. This one is a more traditional sit-inside kayak and is compatible with spray skirts.
Aquaglide Navarro 145
- Length: 14 foot 4 inches
- Width: 39 inches
- Weight: 36 pounds
- Weight capacity: 500 pounds
The Aquaglide Navarro 145 is a tandem kayak with a convertible deck, giving you the option of creating a tandem sit-inside touring kayak or a large shared cockpit.
Aquaglide Mckenzie 125 (Best For Whitewater)
- Length: 12 foot 2 inches
- Width: 34.5 inches
- Weight: 30 pounds
- Weight capacity: 600 pounds
The Aquaglide McKenzie 125 is a whitewater kayak that offers plenty of versatility.
This is a tandem kayak that can be ideal for river trips where you might experience stretches of both rapids and flat water. This kayak is designed to handle all conditions.
However, it doesn’t have the best tracking performance due to the high rocker at the bow and stern.
It does, on the other hand, have excellent maneuverability for navigating tight bends and narrow rivers.
This is a durable boat that features Duratex PVC construction and an EvoBeam floor for added buoyancy.
The McKenzie 125 comes with two seats, both with backrests. The seats also benefit from having durable back straps that help to keep the seats in place when paddling in rough water.
Another feature I like is that you can switch the position of the seats so that they’re facing each other – perfect if you’re kayaking with a child.
One thing this lacks is bungee rigging. There’s limited space for gear.
Pros
- Great for river trips
- Seats can face each other
Cons
- No dedicated storage space
- Tracking isn’t great
Aquaglide Mckenzie 105
- Length: 10 foot 5 inches
- Width: 39 inches
- Weight: 19.6 pounds
- Weight capacity: 300 pounds
The Aquaglide Mckenzie 105 is a shorter, lighter-weight kayak for solo whitewater adventures.
Aquaglide Cirrus Ultralight 110 (Most Lightweight)
- Length: 11 foot
- Width: 35 inches
- Weight: 14.75 pounds
- Weight capacity: 300 pounds
The Aquaglide Cirrus Ultralight 110 is one of the lightest inflatable kayaks on the market for its size. But it comes at a price. This is much more expensive than most other Aquaglide inflatable kayaks.
This is a touring kayak that can be ideal for intermediate and advanced paddlers, with a performance hull that can deliver decent speeds on calm water.
The drop-stitch floor helps improve glide and stability. You’ll find it tracks pretty well too compared to some of the other kayaks.
The main feature of this inflatable kayak is that it’s lightweight. It comes with an inflatable seat and an inflatable footrest for comfort and control.
The bow and stern both have spray covers with bungee rigging attached so you can secure your gear to the deck. However, there are no paddle holders.
One thing I find useful is that the included storage bag doubles as a dry bag so once you’re ready to hit the water, you can use the bag to keep your essentials safe on deck.
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Drop-stitch floor
- Easy to carry
Cons
- Expensive
- No paddle holders
Aquaglide Cirrus Ultralight 150
- Length: 14 foot 9 inches
- Width: 34.5 inches
- Weight: 20.6 pounds
- Weight capacity: 600 pounds
The Aquaglide Cirrus Ultralight 150 is the tandem version of Cirrus 110. It’s ideal for two adults on an overnight adventure. Or you can paddle it solo with a four-legged friend.
Final Thoughts
No matter what your activity, there’s probably an inflatable kayak by Aquaglide kayaks that will suit you.
This US-based company offers a variety of inflatable kayaks that are incredibly durable, easy to use, and convenient for transportation.
Remember, though, most of these inflatable kayaks don’t come with a pump included, which could mean an additional cost.
Think about your own skills and ability, and the type of kayaking you want to do. If you plan to take a lot of gear or a dog, tandem inflatable kayaks can offer more space if you want to paddle without a partner.
Let us know your thoughts on these inflatable kayaks.
The Chinook 120 looked great on paper. And it started out ok, with Boston valves on the side tubes (gunwales) for easy inflation. But the floor uses a mini-Boston valve which requires that one person hold the pump adapter inside the valve while the other person works the pump. That’s just bad design. Epic kayak fail. It’s going back.
I own 3 Aquaglide inflatable kyacks. The Chelan 120, the Mckenzie 105 and the Blackfoot 130. All 3 are incredible. I would a say Aquaglide makes the best inflatable kyacks. Some of the competitors make good inflatable kyacks, but Aquaglide makes the best. Great comfortable seats, they are made of great material, setup and deflation is easy and quick, my 3 handle the water very well – they track and go fast in the water. They are well worth the price. A few of my friends bought Aquaglide kyacks because they saw how great mine are.