KXone Slider Performance Inflatable Kayaks

The KXone Slider inflatable kayaks are something of a revolution in the inflatable kayak world, made entirely from dropstitch material.

CLEARANCE – LAST FEW LEFT! Sadly these kayaks are no longer being imported to the UK, mostly due to superficially similar competition of inferior quality, but much cheaper. These are absolutely superb quality and at current prices incredible value.

The biggest difference between these and “conventional” inflatable kayaks is that their sides are made from flat (approx 4” thick) high pressure inflatable panels, rather than lower pressure tubes (typically 10” diameter). The extra pressure makes them inherently stiffer, and having thinner sides means they don’t have to be as wide, to get sufficient internal space. Both these features mean they are more hydrodynamically efficient – they go through the water more easily, so you’ll travel a bit further or faster for the same effort.

This cutaway diagram probably explains it better than we can say it. The bottom of the kayak is made from 80mm (approx 3″) thick dropstitch material; the sides are made from 100mm (4″) thick dropstitch material. The black “supported” (mesh-reinforced) fabric runs around the outside of the hull, acting as a sort of hinge between the sides and bottom, and fairing off the gap between them. The flat sides cause less drag in the water, compared with a tube of the same height.

The designers were not messing about. Besides using dropstitch technology for the sides, as well as the floor, they used hard plastic mouldings for the ends. That means the bow and stern shape is really efficient, and the waterline length (which has a direct effect on speed) is maximised. So they’re narrower and more of their length is in the water, which means their length to beam ratio is higher than any other inflatable kayak we can think of. Indeed many people when they first look at the Sliders think they are hard-shell kayaks, and in fact touching them enhances the illusion.

Now at this point if you know anything about kayaks you will be saying “but narrower means less stable too”. And yes, this is true. The Sliders are less stable than for example our Aquaglide Chelans – which combine a dropstitch floor with conventional tube sides – but still sufficiently stable for most paddlers with some experience. As with all boats the longer versions are more stable than the shorter ones, so if you place a very high value on stability you may wish to consider a longer Slider (all can be set up for Solo paddling) or the Aquaglide Chelans – which are also excellent inflatable kayaks, just not quite as fast. (Both types are almost infinitely better to paddle than the “floppy barges” sold at the lower end of the market!)