Want to buy an inflatable kayak but not sure where to start? We take you through our ten favourites of 2026 available in Australia for under $1200.

The Glide Aquavate Solo is a very basic recreational inflatable kayak aimed at casual paddlers looking for an easy, affordable way to get on the water. It comes with an inflatable seat, paddle, pump and carry bag, and packs up small for transport. Its light weight and simple setup make it great for quiet creeks, tidal rivers and dams, but it’s best suited to calm conditions and short outings rather than anything demanding or performance-oriented.

The Aqua Marina Memba 330 is a stable touring inflatable that’s easy to paddle in flat water thanks to its long, streamlined shape and drop-stitch floor. It glides and tracks straight across lakes, rivers or calm sea, and the design gives a feeling that’s closer to a hard shell kayak than cheap inflatables. With a roomy layout and decent support from the seat, it’s a good all-round choice for day trips or relaxed touring. Read more in our Aqua Marina Memba 330 review.

The BOTE Deus Aero is a bit different to your typical inflatable kayak as it doubles as a sort of hybrid kayak and stand-up paddleboard, giving you more flexibility for chill paddling days. It’s comfy with plenty of room and feels tougher than cheap inflatables thanks to solid PVC and multi-chamber construction, but it’s on the heavier side and not the best if you’re chasing serious performance or straight-line tracking against wind. It’s best for laid-back adventures where comfort and versatility matter more than speed.

The Aqua Marina Tomahawk Air-K 375 is a performance-focused inflatable kayak that feels firmer and sleeker on the water thanks to high-pressure drop-stitch construction. It’s built to track well and paddle efficiently over longer distances, with a slim profile and V-shaped hull helping it glide straight and fast on lakes, rivers or calm coastal water. Its adjustable seat and footrest make longer sessions comfy, but it’s less about lazy paddling and more about getting out there and covering ground with control.

The Kokopelli Moki-Lite is a lighter-weight inflatable kayak that balances ease of use with solid build quality. It’s got a drop-stitch floor and removable tracking fin to help it steer reasonably well and while it won’t match rigid kayaks for speed, it’s great for quick outings on calm water, bays or inlets.

The Vango Nevis 200 is affordable, lightweight and compact and has good waterproofing for its cost, but it has a cramped interior with limited headroom, a single vestibule that offers minimal gear storage and its limited ventilation can lead to condensation. It’s a budget-friendly tent that sacrifices comfort and space for affordability, making it a decent option for beginners or solo campers on short trips.

The OA Hiker Pro is made of good materials and construction, is spacious and has a comfortable interior, but it only has two internal pockets, is heavier than other tents and is a snug fit for two people with wide sleeping mats. Overall, it’s a durable, comfortable and feature-packed tent that offers great value for its price, making it a great choice for budget-conscious hikers and campers.

The Nemo Hornet Elite OSMO 2-person tent is lightweight and compact, easy to set up and pack down and has great ventilation. It’s quite expensive for its size and durability, though, and its thin materials are prone to punctures and wear, and it’s not ideal for cold, windy or extreme weather conditions. It’s an ultralight tent for nice weather camping, but it’s more suited for experienced hikers who are looking for minimalism.

The Marmot Tungsten has a large living space but it’s weight is quite considerable, as is its size. It’s better suited for short trips & camping.

The Mont Moondance 2 Tent is spacious, durable, easy set up and has great ventilation, but the fly zippers don’t run full-length, making access tricky, and it can be complicated pitching solo. Overall, for those willing to invest in a high-quality, versatile tent, the Mont Moondance 2 is an excellent choice.

We like that Itiwit's upgraded the X100 1–2P to now be available with a drop-stitch floor for a reasonable price, but a lot of the old problems remain: bulky side tubes, drag in the water, slow-drying fabric and really, too short for two.

The KXOne Slider 410 made our list of top 10 best 2p kayaks as it has an easy set up construction and is well made. While it’s high-quality, there’s room for improvement, and the kayak is quite short to comfortably seat two adults.

The Glide Aquavate Duo scraped onto our Top Ten list of the best 2 person inflatable kayaks with its low cost and light weight. It has serious problems with comfort and paddling experience, but if you’re looking for something cheap that you or the kids will only use occasionally it may be worth considering.

The Itiwit 1-2 Person Cruising Kayak is a durable, well-constructed lower-cost option — but due to its paddling inefficiency, we’d recommend it only for occasional recreational use.

The Aqua Marina Laxo 320 has made our list because it’s able to track reasonably well in a straight line, which is unusual at this price point. However, there are some serious downsides, like a cramped cockpit and hard-to-dry fabric covering.

The Aqua Marina Laxo 285 benefits from its V-shaped hull and is able to maintain decent straight-line tracking. Read about how it sets up and packs down and how it is to paddle in our in-depth first-hand review.

The Lagoon 1 is a shorter, more packable offering from Advanced Elements in their typical style, but suffers from many of the drawbacks in the rest of their range without the redemption of excellent in-water performance.

Built with the same materials found in rescue boats, the Razor Kayaks R2 Ultra is our pick of 2-person inflatable kayaks. It’s super high quality, versatile, and best of all - great to paddle. Read more in our Razor Kayaks R2 Ultra review.

The North Face Blue Kazoo is a mummy-shaped bag that offers a great balance of warmth and quality at a reasonable weight and price. It has great water repellency and uses soft, breathable fabrics with good warmth distribution. Read more in our Blue Kazoo review.