Best Inflatable Two-Person Kayaks For 2025

In all my years paddling, I’ve spent many days in kayaks and in rafts, but some of the most enjoyable times on the water I’ve ever had have been the trips partnered in a tandem inflatable. There is just something fun about bobbing your way down the river, trying to synchronize as you bounce off rocks and bash through wave trains. Or, in those calm stretches, being able to swing your legs over the side and drift your way through long flat pools with a charcuterie lunch spread out on the deck. Yes, kayaking is always good time, but sharing a boat with a friend, relative or your significant other gives the whole experience a big boost of lighthearted adventure. Of course, going tandem will also test the foundation of any relationship, but let’s gloss over that for now.

Throw in the fact the best two-person inflatable kayaks available today roll up to fit in a closet, are made of lighter, durable material, and provide an accessible gateway to paddling that requires far less experience than a hardshell kayak, and the only question left is why wouldn’t you want to have one? The key element though in today’s flood of inflatables floating around online is finding one that you will actually enjoy paddling once you have it. To set you on the right course, I’ve put together a list of what I feel are the best tandem inflatable kayaks out there today. The goal of this article is not only to provide direct boat options but to share some insights that I hope will be helpful when considering the kayaks that are available for you.

Best inflatable two-person kayaks: Our top picks

• Nyce Haul
• Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite
• BOTE Zeppelin Aero 12’6”
• Sea Eagle 370 

Best tandem inflatable kayaks for whitewater

Nyce Haul

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NYCE KAYAKS

Why we love it

I didn’t know I could be as smitten with an inflatable kayak as I am with the Nyce Haul. The Colorado-based brand has incorporated thoughtful, unencumbered design elements to this tandem inflatable kayak which have made it an outstanding design in my mind.

The Haul takes on an elongated raft-like oval shape with 12-inch outer tubes and kicked-up bow and stern rocker that smashes rapids and feels plenty stable on the river.

There are 12 internal D-rings within the Haul for both securing the outfitting and strapping in gear. Speaking of outfitting, the Haul uses tubular backrests that provide good support and are secured with nothing more than a cam strap. This allows you to move the backrest position with next to no effort. This also means that while the 11-foot boat is a two-person kayak, you can easily switch the seating to a solo setup that is perfect for loading down with gear for a desert river trip. It all rolls up well in their travel bag, along with their included air pump, with some room left for a bit more gear like breakdown paddles.

My absolute favorite part of the Nyce Haul though is the drop-stitch constructed floor. What a drop-stitch floor provides is a more rigid structure because you can inflate it to a higher air pressure per square inch. Think of the solid feel of an inflatable paddleboard compared to a squishy pool floatie. Inflatable kayaks and rafts tend to fall somewhere between these two, however, because of the drop stitch floor, the Haul leans toward the firmness of a SUP. This means it has less squish as it punches through a drop, and it provides a sturdy platform to stand up and scout ahead or cast your fly rod across those long pools between rapids.

The floor of the Nyce Haul is also self-bailing, meaning any whitewater that splashes into the kayak drains out through ports running along the edge of the floor. And a bonus, the floor bladder slides out, which means it can be used as a makeshift camp pad, or, if damaged, conveniently replaced from Nyce.

Bottom line

The streamlined and well-constructed design elements of the Nyce Haul have made it my new favorite tandem inflatable kayak, and whether I’m taking a summer float down the Willamette or convincing someone to try whitewater for the first time, it’ll be loaded in the car.

AIRE Tributary Tomcat Tandem

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AIRE AMAZON BACKCOUNTRY OUTDOORPLAY

Why we love it

The AIRE Tributary Tomcat Tandem is a classic design in the world of inflatable kayaks, built for running rivers 20 years running. The torpedo shape with a rockered nose and plows over rapids and remains stable. The Tomcat II has a comfortable backrest to lean against, and the floor has a slight ridge to let water drain away from your butt and out through the self-bailing mesh ports. It also rolls up to a more reasonable size than I would have expected and easily fits in the back of my Subaru with more than enough room for gear.

AIRE also uses a unique construction element for river runners, an innertube-like bladder inside the outer PVC shell that can be easily replaced. The outer shell is tough, as tough as any other inflatable kayak out there, but no matter how tough a tube is, when you’re running whitewater a pop can happen and old seams wear out. If and when it happens, you can simply unzip any of the Tomcat’s three tubes and remove the vinyl chamber. Then simply throw on a patch or buy a replacement and the boat is back to work.

The Tomcat’s 500-pound capacity and interior area provide plenty of space as a tandem kayak, along with room in the stern for a gear bag.

AIRE has a collection of respected tandem designs, including the bigger Outfitter II and sleek sporty Lynx II. The Tomcat II isn’t too dissimilar from either of these designs. The Tomcat, though, is half the price. Sure, there are slight differences in tube diameter and bow rise, but the biggest difference is in the innertube construction. The Tomcat uses a lower-cost vinyl bladder, whereas the other two use urethane. This doesn’t hold the Tomcat back and still withstand years of regular use—so you can put those savings toward the rest of your whitewater gear.

Bottom line

The AIRE Tributary Tomcat Tandem has been a long-tested and trusted river-running inflatable for two decades now. It is stable, punches through waves and holes, and has space to load up gear.

Best tandem inflatable kayak for lakes, bays and slow rivers

Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite

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ADVANCED ELEMENTS AMAZON ECO FISHING SHOP OUTDOORPLAY

Why we love it

The words two-person inflatable kayak and flatwater paddling tend to mix like oil and water. Because of their ballooned shape and their bouncy, less-than-rigid structure, taking most inflatable kayaks across a lake or bay is a laborious slog. Not so for the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite. When our editors wrote a full review of the Convertible Elite, we applauded “its long waterline and chines, which help enhance speed, tracking and edging ability. These features make the AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite efficient and ideally suited for day trips and touring in friendly conditions.”

What makes the Convertible Elite a touring-capable inflatable is the fact its construction goes beyond rubber air bladders. A pair of aluminum ribs are inserted at the bow and stern to provide a stiff, peaked shape like you would find on a fiberglass or plastic kayak. This helps the bow to efficiently cut through the water instead of just slapping at it. Additional plastic plates are inserted on the deck ends as well to further strengthen the area and shed water.

Inflatable Kayak Review: Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite

The floor of the kayak uses a drop-stitch construction similar to a paddleboard. This provides rigidity to the hull for efficient gliding across the water. The floor on the Convertible Elite also creates a chined hull, meaning you actually have some edge transition—a rarity on an inflatable paddle craft. The foam seat is comfortable enough to spend the day on and combined with the stiffness of the drop stitch floor, raises you to a nice high paddling position.

Factor all of this with the boat’s namesake—a convertible deck that can either be an open cockpit or closed up with the option of a zip-on spray deck—and you have an inflatable kayak that can be rolled up and stored in the back of your van, and unfurled to make a crossing against a wind chopped bay with an ability outranking most inflatable kayaks.

Bottom line

The Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible Elite is one of few tandem inflatable kayaks you’ll find enjoyable on a flatwater tour.

Best tandem packrafts

Alpacka Tango

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ALPACKA

Why we love it

I know, it’s technically a packraft, but a packraft is really just an inflatable kayak. Or, wait, maybe an inflatable kayak is just a raft? Either way, you blow them up with air, sit in them and use a kayak paddle to propel them. Packrafts are a fantastic tandem kayak option, especially for two types of people. First, those who are really tight on space, whether at home or in their liveaboard vehicle. The other type is those who live the motto: it’s not just about the journey on the water but the journey to the water—people whose idea of fun is a hike to a mountain lake or bikepack to remote streams.

Alpacka is one of the most well-regarded brands when it comes to packrafts, and we found their Tango tandem a creative option in the realm of inflatables. The Tango is extremely lightweight at just 13 pounds. You can easily carry it with one hand and toss it around in the air like pizza dough. But the Tango is by no means a fragile tandem inflatable. Alpacka uses 210-denier nylon on the tubes, and a 840-denier ballistic nylon floor to maximize durability.

The distinct, bulbous shape of the packraft rides over minor waves with ease. You could paddle the Tango across a small lake or down some mild rapids. The floor is not self-bailing however, and so I wouldn’t recommend it on anything over class II. Because of its flat hull design and short length, it doesn’t have the best tracking ability either, and so wouldn’t be my first choice to cross an open waterway.

The interior cockpit feels a little cramped, which is to be expected on such a lightweight 12-foot boat, but what I did appreciate about the Alpack Tango when it came to utilizing space was the Cargo Fly zipper built into the stern. This means if you and your partner want to head out and camp the night on an island, you can stow drybags and gear inside the packraft—a useful feature you won’t find on traditional types of inflatable kayaks.

Bottom line

Packrafts are about as convenient as an inflatable kayak can get in terms of storage and transport. If you are traveling with limited space and just want to be able to get out on the water, or enjoy hiking or biking to remote paddling locales, the Alpacka Tango is your tandem packraft.

Kokopelli Twain

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KOKOPELLI BACKCOUNTRY

Why we love it

Our editor-in-chief Kaydi Pyette spent time with Kokopelli’s tandem packraft, the Twain. Kaydi found the Twain fun to paddle on local Ontario adventures with her mom. And, it was super stable—in her words, “approaching the stability of a small barge/pontoon.”

Kaydi also found the Twain maneuverable. If you were to flip the Twain over, you’d see it has a very flat hull, which, combined with its short waterline, lets it spin easily to change direction. This is great for moving water like rivers, but can be counterproductive on flatwater because it leads to corrections with each stroke. What the Twain provides that is unique for a tandem packraft, and alleviates constant corrections, is a removable center fin under the stern. Say you’re on a tandem paddle across the lake, that fin provides better tracking to help you draw straighter lines in your course of travel. In the packraft realm, this gives the Twain a big benefit over others on open waterways. Then if your next mission is down a shallow river, you simply remove the fin and you have that deft little boat for maneuvering back.

The Twain doesn’t have a self-bailing floor however, which limits the size of the rapids it would be suited for. And, with the short interior cockpit, Kaydi felt the inside space was snug for two paddlers and wouldn’t accommodate much camping gear. She recommends opting for the TiZIP upgrade that provides storage within the packraft.

It took less than 10 minutes for our editor to set up the Kokopelli Twain for the first time, and that was while figuring out the outfitting. To deflate and roll up, it was just five minutes to pack away the packraft. A tandem packraft like the Twain provides a nice option for after-work afternoons on the lake, meandering floats down the river and urban adventures.

Bottom line

If a packraft provides the storability and portability you need for flatwater and slower rivers, the Kokopelli Twain provides a quick-setup, easy-to-paddle option and the bonus of a removable center fin for flatwater.

Best tandem inflatable fishing kayaks

BOTE Zeppelin Aero 12’6”

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BOTE AMAZON SCHEELS

Why we love it

Fishing kayaks have gone to such a rigging extreme that there is an endless debate over when they are still kayaks and just another boat. The BOTE Zeppelin Aero takes the fishing kayak discussion back to simpler times, with just a touch of outfitting to make this a tandem inflatable kayak great for fishing.

First off, the obvious advantage of a two-person-inflatable fishing kayak is that the BOTE Zeppelin Aero doesn’t require a trailer to get to the water. When rolled up, the Zeppelin is just three feet long and two feet wide. The combination of a keeled bow and removable fin on the stern help the Zeppelin Aero travel straight lines across the open types of waterways favored for fishing. And since it’s a tandem, you can have your paddling partner back you away from overhanging mangroves or hold you steady near the mouth of that irresistible channel.

What I really enjoy about BOTE’s design though are the outfitting subtleties that turn this into an angler’s inflatable kayak. The high-rise inflated seats provide an elevated casting position, and if that’s not enough, the drop-stitch floor can be blown up to 15 PSI, providing a solid platform to stand and sight cast. I also love their MAGNEPOD magnetic base plates on the deck and find them a fantastic place to put a fly or forceps while getting prepped.

The Zeppelin Aero also includes accessory points to attach your GoPro or other gadgetry and the ability to integrate BOTE’s Bucket-Rac system, which creates the option for rod storage and a secured five-gallon bucket.

Bottom line

The BOTE Zeppelin Aero has everything an angler needs on a two-person inflatable fishing kayak and nothing you don’t.

Hobie Mirage iTrek 14 Duo

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HOBIE OUTDOORPLAY

Why we love it

The pedal drive may just be the biggest moment of evolution in the history of kayak fishing. For those who’ve never fished a tight stream or along overhanging estuaries without a pedal drive or trolling motor, let me tell you, frustration was a large part of the experience as you had a paddle in one hand and a rod in the other. Thanks to pedal drives, the kayaking part of fishing became nearly hands-free, allowing you to focus on what you really hit the water to do, toss a line. It was the Hobie MirageDrive that led the way, and so it’s no surprise they looked at the inflatable paddleboards and kayaks floating around and realized they had something to offer—a pedal drive kayak that weighs just 45 pounds.

The 13-foot 8-inch iTrek Duo looks more paddleboard than tandem kayak, with the addition of outrigger-like rails to provide increased stability. The dual flipper-style pedal and rudder system mean you and your fishing pal can haul to your hot spot. The iTrek Duo doesn’t feature many fishing-specific features, but that keeps the weight and bulk to a minimum and is easily resolved to an extent thanks to the lash points to strap down a crate.

Tandem Fishing Kayak Review: Hobie Mirage iTrek 14 Duo

Our editor at Kayak Angler, Ric Burnley, has tested just about every fishing kayak in existence. After reviewing the Hobie Mirage iTrek 14 Duo, he declared it a sensible tandem solution. Ric said that the secret to the iTrek Duo’s success as a portable tandem kayak is its simple and stable design. “I always wanted a tandem kayak, but I don’t have room for another boat in my yard,” Ric shared in his full review. “The packable, inflatable pedal-powered tandem is a sensible solution. When the objective is family time with a side of fishing, the Mirage iTrek 14 Duo is the platform for focusing on what is most important—having fun with a favorite person.”

Bottom line

The Hobie Mirage iTrek 14 Duo opens the possibility of getting on the water with friends or family to do some tandem fishing with the efficiency and low-strain effort provided by the MirageDrive. The inflatable platform is a fraction of the weight of a comparable plastic kayak.

Budget-friendly two-person inflatable kayak

Sea Eagle 370

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SEA EAGLE

Why we love it

If you were to conduct a search for a cheap two-person inflatable kayak, two of the models that come up most often are the Intex Explorer K2 and the Sea Eagle 370. In fact, the Intex Explorer usually ranks higher in results, costs just a couple hundred dollars, and has tens of thousands of positive Amazon reviews. As someone who has sat in considerably more kayaks than I have office chairs, has had their share of rough paddling experiences, and wants you to get the best possible value for your dollar when it comes to gear, I’d like to ask you to consider spending just a little more to get an inflatable tandem you’ll be happier with for years ahead—the Sea Eagle 370.

Sea Eagle is a 50-year-running inflatable kayak company based out of Long Island, New York. The 370 represents their entry-level boat design, meaning if you are happy with what they produce, you can always upgrade to a higher-performance, heavier-duty kayak within their fleet.

Inflatable Kayak Review: Sea Eagle 370

Something you’ll notice in comparing the Sea Eagle 370 with the Intex Explorer are the valve styles on the floor and seats. The Sea Eagle provides screw-in one-way air valves on every chamber of the kayak, while the Explorer has small pool float style valves to blow up by mouth on the floor and seats. This means you can more easily inflate the Sea Eagle to its maximum air pressure. Why is that important? A fully inflated kayak has more rigidity which leads to better comfort and performance. A soft kayak is spongy, and feels like you are being folded in a bow to stern taco while swinging a paddle around.

The Sea Eagle 370 has a 38-millimeter PolyKrylar PVC build on its outer tubes which Sea Eagle warrants is strong enough to paddle up to class-III whitewater. This doesn’t mean you have to go anywhere near rapids with the 370, but what it does mean is the brand believes in the construction of the boat to bash against some rocks. Sea Eagle even provides a three-year manufacturer warranty on the 370, which says a lot for their trust in a boat at this price range.

Bottom line

If you are looking for a two-person inflatable kayak at a low cost that will get you floating on the lake or drifting down the local river, the Sea Eagle 370 will be one of the best deals you can get for your dollar.

What to consider when buying a tandem inflatable kayak

It’s easy to look at price tags and ask what could possibly be the difference between two inflatable kayaks. There are a few key elements you should bear in mind though before purchasing one to enjoy the water.

The construction of varying degrees of inflatable kayaks is likely one of the largest differences between boats. The best inflatable tandem kayaks are made of stronger, thicker soft plastics. A poorly constructed inflatable kayak is very often made with thin plastics that feel like they belong to an inflatable pool toy. Packrafts are an exception, having managed to use thinner material technology that is very light but durable and easy to repair.

Air valves are another major factor to reaching proper inflation, and, for the hull at least, a well-designed inflatable kayak features one-way valves that you can inflate without air escaping when you pull away your pump nozzle. This allows you to be able to put the maximum recommended air pressure into each tube. This and the construction of the tubes equates to a tandem kayak that feels more rigid for effective paddling—like you would sooner bounce off of it rather than sink into it.

Also, pay attention to how many air chambers there are. Air chambers are what keep you afloat, and while standup paddleboards have yet to regularly adopt multiple chambers, most well built kayaks will have a few, which provides a safety element should a chamber pop.

Along with the overall shape of a kayak and whether it is made more for rivers or flatwater, the outer tube diameter is something else to consider. The larger the tube diameter, the more of a pontoon each will provide to keep you riding high and stable. A larger tube diameter is especially important on whitewater, and much less so on flatwater. You do, however, also want to consider whether the size of the tube diameter inhibits your ability to self-rescue back into the boat should you capsize. With this in mind, if you have the opportunity to test out a friend’s inflatable or visit a local outfitter you’ll quickly see how comfortable and capable a model is for you to paddle.

Best Two-Person Inflatable Kayak Brands

• AIRE
• NRS
• Sea Eagle
• Advanced Elements
• Nyce
• BOTE
• Jimmy Styks
• Alpacka
• Kokopelli
• Rocky Mountain Rafts
• Z Pro
• Hobie
• Aquaglide
• SOTAR
• Gumotex

How we tested

To create this list of the best two-person inflatable kayaks we took popular boats available today out on our favorite local waterways, as well as gathered the feedback of editors and contributors and their reviews conducted over years of editorial coverage.

Why you should trust us

As a river guide and paddling instructor for nearly two decades, inflatable kayaks have played a key role in how I’ve introduced people to kayaking. Especially on rivers, they offer a low barrier of entry into the sport. I’ve spent many a day on the river paddling them myself to be in the same craft as students and guests, gaining a great appreciation for the benefits and limitations of inflatable kayaks.

The author teamed up in a tandem on the Orange River, South Africa. | Feature photo: Regina Nicolardi