Article courtesy of PumpupBoats.com - Inflatable boat guides, mods, how-to articles.

More and more paddlers are choosing not to put their kayaks into winter storage, rather experience the stunning scenery and tranquility winter has to offer from the water.

Before you head out, run through our guide to Inflatable Kayaks for winter kayaking.

Can you use an inflatable kayak for winter kayaking?

Yes you can, keeping in mind that inflatable kayaks are somewhat different from hardshell kayaks. People even use inflatable kayaks for extended self-support kayaking trips in Alaska, as you can see in this Men’s Journal article.

Here is a full-out comparison on the differences between inflatable and hardshell kayaks, but for winter paddling, the most important ones are:

Better stability

Inflatable kayaks are more stable than hardshell kayaks. Accidentally tipping one over is not really possible, you really need to go at it to do so, as you can see in this video.

You can see that to tip an inflatable kayak over, you need to sit on a side tube, grab the other tube and pull on it with force. Accidentally doing this is very unlikely.

Of course this is a wide Sea Eagle Explorer kayak, the narrower Advanced Elements Expedition is somewhat easier.

No Eskimo roll with inflatable kayaks

It is impossible to do Eskimo rolls with inflatable kayaks. This act of righting a capsized kayak is non-existent with inflatables.

With that said, an inflatable is much less likely to capsize as a hardshell kayak.

Spray skirt is nice in the cold

Spray skirts (a.k.a. spray decks) are used on sit-in kayaks to prevent water from entering the boat. A flexible waterproof cover is worn on the kayaker’s torso, with the other end being attached to the kayak around the cockpit coaming.

Spray skirts are a good way to keep yourself dry and warm, but will not prevent hypothermia.

While most hardshell kayaks can be fitted with a spray skirt, the contrary is true for inflatable kayaks.

Only a few inflatable kayaks are designed for use with spray skirts, these have an inflatable cockpit coaming to attach the spray skirt to.

This is not a deal-breaker, but it is something you would consider if you plan on going on long winter kayaking trips. Spending many hours in an inflatable kayak is much more comfortable with a spray skirt, since:

• It keeps you warmer.
• It keeps the snow/rain/spray out.

Inflating a kayak in the wintertime

Before you go out on the water during winter, you will need to check the weather reports to know the expected wind speeds, air temperature, and the water temperature.

When it comes to inflating your kayak, you need to be mindful of how air pressure changes in your kayak tubes:

• pressure drops when air is cooled
• the pressure increases when air is warmed

If the temperature of the air is much higher than the water temperature, the water will cool down the air in your tubes and cause low air pressure in your kayak. This can become a problem, as your kayak will not perform optimally.

To avert this situation, you may need to drop your kayak into the water for 10-15 to let the temperatures “equalize”, and top it off afterwards.

Another situation you will be faced with in the winter on a sunny day is that when you are on a break on shore, the sun will quickly heat up and expand the air in your tubes. This might lead to overinflation. I can say with 99.9% certainty that your kayak won’t pop, but it’s wise to pay attention to this.

Best inflatable kayaks for winter kayaking

There are a lot of inflatable kayaks, but not many are suited for winter paddling.

In my opinion, these are the best inflatable kayaks for winter kayaking. They all have:

• Comfortable seats for lengthy paddling
• Are made of heavy-duty, durable materials
• Are constructed to make them suitable for the extremities of winter kayaking (stable, rigid, tracking fins, room for storage, bungee storage straps, D-rings, etc).

Here are the few I know of that are. If you know of any other ones, please leave it as a comment at the end of the article.

Advanced Elements Expedition AE1009-XE

The Expedition by Advanced Elements is high quality touring kayak. It is a step-up from your normal inflatable kayak, since it is shaped like a hard shell kayak and paddles like one as well. This is made possible with the company’s aluminum rib-frame technology, which shapes the bow and stern of the kayak.

It also has a drop stitch floor, which makes the bottom firm.

You need to inflate 9 (!) air chambers for the kayak to win its final shape, which sounds daunting at first, but it’s actually quite quick once you get used to it. This is because 6 of the 9 chambers only need 1-2 pumps of air.

The AE1009 also has a cockpit coaming to attach a spray skirt, which is great for paddling in cold weather.

There is also lots of room under the spray deck and on top as well, making it great for longer trips.

Sea Eagle Explorer kayaks

The Sea Eagle Explorer is another high quality, albeit more pricey inflatable kayak. It is made in 3 sizes: 300 cm, 380 cm and 420 cm.

The Explorer is a very stable kayak, capsizing it is no easy feat. It is made out of very strong PVC and also includes a drop-stitch floor for extra stability.

This kayak is rated for Class IV whitewater, so if you know your trip will take you through chops, this might be a good choice.

The Explorer cannot be fitted with a spray skirt though, so it may not be your best choice for extended winter kayaking trips.

Echo Ikayak

The Echo iKayak is another inflatable yak which can handle winter paddling.

It also has drop-stitch floors for extra rigidity, and a lot of space under and above the spray deck to store your gear on longer kayaking trips.

It has an aluminum frame you put under the cover, which keeps the hull angled to shed water. In comparison, the Advanced Elements Expedition above uses 4 inflatable “deck lifts” to achieve this.

This is also one of the few inflatable boats that can be fitted with a spray skirt to keep you warm and dry during winter paddling.

This kayak does not come with a carry backpack, rather some fabric to wrap the folded kayak. This just means that it’s not suitable for hiking, but it’s OK for moving from A to B in the trunk of your car.

You can also install a rudder (AE4005 Rudder Kit), which you can steer with foot pedals. This make it easier to turn and improves tracking. Pretty cool!

You can find this kayak for around $600, making it one of the cheapest kayaks with a drop-stitch floor.

If you know of any other inflatable kayaks you could safely use during winter, let me know in the comments below.

And most importantly:

• Stay safe by following these winter kayaking safety tips.
• Wear winter kayaking clothes to prevent frostbite and hypothermia.

Winter kayaking is a lot of fun in inflatables, try it if you have the chance.

Original article: Guide to Inflatable Kayaks for Winter Kayaking