MONTANA Inflatable Kayak

Great beginner kayak

We are not experts - took a few guided classes and decided we were ready to do it on our own. We researched the kayaks that were used in our classes but they were too expensive. Once I found this model I researched the prices and found Walmart was the cheapest. We've taken them in the ocean and in the river - they performed great in both. They are extremely portable - I have a power source in the back of my car so we can fold them up and take them anywhere, inflate them on site and off we go. It takes my husband less than 5 minutes to inflate each one. We use them weekly and they seem to be holding up really well. We get compliments on them wherever we go. Some kayaking guides in California commented on how nice they were which we thought was a great compliment coming from experts in the field. I really appreciated the bright color of the kayak when we were in CA with lots of motor boats around us. We did go on a guided tour in La Jolla and used their tandem hard kayak. I was so incredibly sore for days afterwards. The inflatables are so comfortable and soft. The seats are very adjustable. My husband and I are very different in size and both accommodate us extremely well. I can't recommend this kayak enough...absolutely love it and the price is great. Maybe as beginners we don't know what to compare it to but for now we are extremely happy with our kayak choice!

kayakersforlyfe . Review provider: walmart.com

Way to Paddle

I am preparing to begin my second season with my TK1. Last year it preformed perfect on over 10 white water rafting trips. I have rented NRS boats, and besides being self bailing were no better. This boat is the best you can buy for the money. I purchased the matching paddle and found it to be terrific as well. The boat does have guides that stick out from the bottom. They really help out in guiding the boat. I am looking forward to season two!

ASRA . Review provider: walmart.com

hr pufnstuf

I've have two of the these, the tk1 and tk2, both have lasted for nearly a decade now. It's probably one of the most stable boats around. I took a saw and cut the fins off to give it more of a shallow draft as the fins are pretty much useless anyway. Through experience I have learned that it is best to take the bladders out after use and allow to dry thoroughly before putting up in storage, this will eliminate any mold or mildew issues and extend the bladder life. Great kayak for the money.

Smoote . Review provider: walmart.com

very nice

Ok I've am a inflatable kayak freak, I always get inflatables for the storage and portability value. I have owned many, I get them and usually sell them and get another. This kayak is all I expected and hoped for. It isn't a touring kayak but can be used as one. It's tracking is OK but its really meant to be more of a quick turning boat and it does that very well. If you don't know how to control an agile kayak it will take some getting use to. it is very stable and roomy, I put my 3 yr old in the front and have no problem paddling around with her. I bought it primarily to use in the surf (I'm in so cal) and it is a blast. the drain hole isn't suppose to be a self bailing hole but it sure works as one really really well. If you want a good touring inflatable get a spree from sevylor, but if you want a really good versatile boat that will surf high waves, shoot rapids, and even tour around a bit then you cant go wrong with the tk1. and don't worry about the little wrinkles on the bottom its so water will channel off and out the back. I feel it is much better then the cordova or the airframes and I know it is tough enough for years of abuse. thanx and enjoy life

pescadore1964 . Review provider: walmart.com

This kayak gets you out there

I took this IK down the Balcony Falls run on the James River in Virginia. This is a class III run and the water level was pretty low. It performed better than I expected. I had no problem getting it to go where I wanted it to and it actually tracks better than my $400 Sevylor IK (although it doesn't out-perform). I had no problem paddling it upstream, catching eddies and surfing in holes. My only complaint is that the boat rides pretty low in the water which in low levels has you dragging on the bottom often. Nonetheless, I found it to be very durable. After the run, I inspected the bottom expecting to find a tear or rip at minimum since I'd scraped it pretty good throughout the trip. Not a single problem. The tracking fins on the bottom were scraped but only cosmetically which was as expected. I'm 5'10 and about 160 lbs. I left the drain plug out the whole time and I was high and dry with no issues of sitting in water. We'll see if it puts up with regular abuse, but based on the quality of the product, I believe it'll last quite a while. I bought it to have a way to take friends on river trips. Nothing beats being able to pack 2 or 3 inflatable kayaks into a car trunk and not having to deal with roof racks/storage. I also paddle a regular whitewater kayak (Wavesport X). For the money, this boat will go wherever you want it to, from flat water to decent whitewater.

webslinger . Review provider: walmart.com

A GOOD, COMPACT DINGHY FOR A SINGLE-HANDED YACHT -- AND MORE!

I bought an earlier version of the AHTK-1 (one-person) kayak, to use as a dinghy for my 30-foot sailboat. It has worked out pretty well, but I thought I could do better.... A few weeks ago, I bought a Sea Eagle RazorLite kayak, as a replacement for my Montana. It was faster - but "tippier" - and it was three feet longer than my Montana, which means that I couldn't handle it on the foredeck of my sailboat. So I've sent it back. I've just bought another Montana AHTK-1 to enjoy when I'm away from my home waters. It's capable of "light" white-water, Class I-II, so it can handle the 'rock garden' rapids of my nearby rivers. I can also enjoy it when the weather's 'not quite right' for sailing on my segment of the Chesapeake Bay.

Rick Westlake . Review provider: walmart.com

Sooo much fun on the water

This craft was easy to manuver on the water, also moved at a decent speed. My one complaint about this product would be the bladder. I had a difficult time filling it up the first times I used it. Filling up worked great with ozark trail pump double pump high suggest this as well filled up in about 5 minutes once the bladder issue was straightend up. Worth the money!

AshleylovesJoey . Review provider: walmart.com

Good Value Tricky Though

This product is a great beginner / casual kayak experience. The boat handles well at the right pressure, and has all the features you would expect of an economical blow up boat. Some dangers with it exist though in terms of blowing up the bottom too tightly will result in a tipsy and unstable condition. Adjustments of the lower bladder are not that difficult and you only need to let air out and keep the bottom at a medium to low fill pressure to avoid the tippiness. Stable up to 300 pounds ( or more ) on the sides though. Manueverable, and runs well with the Airhead paddles. The seat and foot pegs are great, and the fill method combined with the Airhead pump is the best I have seen for a blow up boat. Nice valves that are screw on and off ( a major plus ). Everything about the boat makes sense but getting the bottom bladder inflation right is definately an art with this be sure to do it in shallow water until stable condition is found...

oceanspraydsd . Review provider: walmart.com

I'm pleased with this kayak overall. I was anxious about an inflatable boat as I'm rather heavy, this kayak holds me fine. The tip of the kayak rides high out of the water regardless of the weight of the person in it though. I've taken to packing a back pack and throwing it up front to weight it down. I also got the matching paddle - DON'T! The paddle itself is really nice but not long enough for the width of this boat. The boat itself is nice and durable and really rather comfortable once you figure out where you need the seat to be. I'm 5'4" and have had to put the seat all the way forward, so I'd imagine someone who's tall would be able to fit fine. All in all its pretty nice. Just make sure you don't get the air chambers twisted inside the shell - they are a pain to straghten out.

Anonymous34 . Review provider: walmart.com

Kwik Tek T1

I bought this boat for my adult daughter who has developed an interest in kayaking. Neither one of us wanted to put a pile of money into a boat. Out of the box this looks like a decent boat for the money, although the seams look a little ratty, loose threads, etc. As has been mentioned numerous times in other reviews, the bladders require some adjustment to get them lined up right. It took us three tries inflating and deflating to get it right, but after that seemed OK. The bottom looks pretty tough, but I don't see how the skegs could do much good. There is a lot of room inside with some nice features like the carry straps, shock cord and a foot brace. The seat is so-so. You would probably be better off buying a decent aftermarket seat. This one is a bit rigid and too high for my taste. Took it for a test drive on a moderate whitewater river the following day. My daughter immediately noticed it felt tippy. I tried it out and noticed the same. We may have had the floor over inflated somewhat, contributing to the problem. In any case, she seemed to get used to it after a while and successfuilly negotiated a few class III rapids without a spill, and this was her first solo trip. This boat is very lighweight. We portaged about 300-400 yards on this trip with no problem. I think it is a decent product for the money (Walmart has the best price, by far). This sport can get very expensive, so if you have a casual to moderate interest in paddling, this would be a good starter boat.

Boater1 . Review provider: walmart.com