Sevylor QuickPak K1 1-Person Inflatable Kayak, Kayak Folds into Backpack with 5-Minute Setup, 21-Gauge PVC Construction; Hand Pump & Paddle Included

I researched for days prior to ordering this Kayak and I am so thankful I took the plunge and purchased it. My goal in writing this review is not just to tell you what I experienced with my new kayak but to encourage anyone that is struggling with their size not to let it keep you from getting out there. I am 5 8' 320 pounds give or take and I am trying my best to get out and be active. I loathe the gym and I am trying to find things that I can do. I have always been athletic but due to injuries from working out being the size I am has made adventures quite challenging and sometimes painful. But here's the skinny on my maiden voyage. My kayak arrived 2 days after order and I had a planned to head to the lake with a friend to try it out immediately. I inflated it in my home because I did not want any surprises happening on the lake. I ordered new paddles before my kayak arrived because of so many other reviewers reporting how crappy the ones are that come with the kayak and I must agree on that point. It was easy and quick to inflate but I have yet to figure out the back pack which also is the back support, The kayak fully inflated is very light and easy to transfer from the car to the lake area. There was a boat launch where we were which was nice. I decided to straddle the kayak to sit down into it as recommended by another reviewer, it wasn't pretty but it worked. I realize that the boat is made to hold up to 400 pounds but it did sag in the middle some and my bottom was wet the entire time but I didn't care because I was finally able to kayak!! It takes a while to balance and paddle at the same time as it does not track as well as a hard shell kayak but I got into a great rhythm and figured out how far to place the paddles in the water to maintain my stride and balance. The friend I was with had a hard shell kayak and I kept up with her perfectly. The back support is not much of a support but to me it was comfortable because I liked sitting back while I paddled. The top and back came up slightly out of the water and there was a small crease where I sat on the kayak but to be honest I didn't really care what I looked like I just wanted to be out on the water. The material was very durable and we were out when it was in the 90's. My dog laid comfortably on my leg as I paddled and her nails were no problem at all.My first voyage was over 2 hours and I loved every minute of it and I can't wait to get back out there. So all in all I am giving this kayak 5 stars. It's an inexpensive alternative and it worked well for me.

As soon as I saw that the manufacturer was Sevylor, I paid attention and purchased one because I have had one of their inflatable dinghys for more than 25 years as my ship-to-shore and anchor placement transport with never a problem of any kind. My first test of the K1 kayak just occurred this morning and Sevylor totally lived up to my expectations…and here is why you may wish to listen to me.I’m just turning 79 and for 75 of those years (yes, since the age of 4) I have been a serious sailer and power boater all over the U.S. and Europe as well as a canoeist and kayaker on both flat and white water from New England to the Rockies to the West Coast.For more than 20 years I have used a Perception for white water and a Hobie for flat water on the West Coast, the East Coast, and many places betwixt and between and dearly love them and the fact that the Hobie paddles, pedals, and sails…truly wonderful thing. However, I am now old, puny, and needed another kayak that can fit anywhere including a car trunk and can be easily transported on my back to bodies of water more challenging to access such as remote mountain lakes.The K1 seemed like a possible answer but I was concerned with how well it would perform as well as inflate, breakdown, and fit once more in the back pack. What I found was that the inflation process took me 15 minutes the first time and 6 minutes the second time. Each fold down process took me about that same amount of time as well and it actually did fit easily into the back pack. I also noted in a review I read that someone found it challenging to thoroughly dry and clean it before folding it up but the simple solution for me was to give the top surfaces a quick wipe down fresh out of the water with a little bar rag carried in a pocket before deflating it and then wipe down the bottom surface after I deflated it as I folded it up. No problem as you can see in the attached photo allowing me to return home with no further clean-up required.In terms of performance, my first concern based on reviews I read was how squirrelly the K1 would be but I found that it tracks very well (what I couldn’t see in the Amazon.com photos were the two skegs fore and aft on the bottom which are a great help) and is also very stable because it is beamy. At the same time it maneuvers quickly and well. My second concern regarding performance arose from reading several reviews that mention the apparent inadequacy of the paddle but here again I found it to be perfectly acceptable and therefore did not feel any need to use another one of my paddles.There are three negatives I need to mention: First, the back pack turned into seat is uncomfortable in my opinion. It hits me awkwardly in mid-back and there is no means by which to tie the top edge in place. The life vest helps overcome this. Second, the straps and flaps that retain the folded up kayak in the back pack could in my opinion be better designed. Placing the kayak carefully partially alleviates this. Three, the three plastic hooks at the corners of the triangular net are very difficult to take out of their slots once installed. They will probably loosen up with use.In conclusion, I appreciate the compactness, light weight, and quality of the K1 plus believe based on my experience that Sevylor does a very fine job of designing and manufacturing inflatables that are seriously excellent…and no, I don’t have anything to do with the company.