Do inflatable kayaks work well?

I want to get a kayak but I have a small car so I won't be able to transport it well. I want to use it a kayak for camping trips and working out.


Do the inflatable kayaks work well?|||For the most part, inflatables won't work as well as hardshells. They don't handle well in the wind, and they tend to be fairly slow. I'd be conerned about the durability of cheaper inflatables, especially if you're going to be in shallow water where the boat could scrape the bottom. There are some quality inflatables with construction similar to rafts, but most of them are designed for whitewater, and they are also pretty expensive.





You might be surprised what you can carry on your car with the right roof rack. I've seen an 18 ft sea kayak on a Geo Metro, and there are even setups for carrying kayaks on convertibles. Yakima and Thule are the biggest manufacturers of aftermarket racks.





Another option is a folding kayak. These consist of a wood or aluminum frame that snaps together (similar to tent poles) plus an outer skin made of heavy nylon or other durable fabric. However, they tend to be expensive and they're time-consuming to assemble.|||it depends on how much you are going to use the kayak, if you are a small time hobbyist, who is going to use it once or twice a year, then inflatable is best for you.





but if you are serious kayaking whitewater enthusiast then hard shell is the way to go, ( inflatables won't be much protection in whitewater)





and as another poster has already said, you will be surprised what you can transport with the right type of rack.|||Yes and no! Inflateables are soft and difficult to manuever. Forget transport. Your car can carry a 4 meter kayak with few problems. A kayak may not be the right answer for a camping boat. Check out a 14 or 15 foot canoe.