The Equipment Guide UK

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Aquaglide Blackfoot 160 DS Angler

Summary

Price At Time Of Writing | £1425.00

Our Overall Rating | 93 out of 100

Pros - Versatile, stable and tracks well

Cons - Slow to inflate, stern storage areas are not waterproof

Overall - Versatile with plenty of storage and additional features

Technical Specifications

Open Size - 498x96.5cm

Weight - 22.5kg

Load Capacity - 363kg

Packed Size - 92x60x43cm

Our Analysis & Ratings

The Aquaglide Blackfood 160 DS Angler is a durable and feature-packed kayak, perfect for fishing or paddling solo or with someone else. It’s also one of the best recreational inflatable kayaks due to its high performance, comfort, quality and overall versatility.

Performance - The Blackfoot 160 performs well in both whitewater and surf, and it even has the stability and construction, with the traction padding on the floor, for you to stand up. The Posi-track Weedless fin attachment makes paddling in wind or over long distances effortless and tracking. The length of the kayak also allows you to reach higher speeds than other kayaks.

Construction - The high walls of the Blackfoot 160 are made from DuratexTM reinforced PVC with a rigid drop-stitch floor. It has a well-thought-out design with clearly noted PSI levels next to the Halkey-Roberts Type Valves to help you not over or under-inflate the kayak. Equipped with attachment features, such as universal mounts on the floor and bow, MOLLE plates, velcro adjusters in the cockpit, webbing tie-downs and bungees.

Setup/Pack down - The size of the 160 means it takes a bit longer than other kayaks to inflate and set up, about 10 minutes when using the hand pump. Deflating is fast and simple, but it needs to be folded well to fit in the backpack. It also has a drainage system at the stern to empty the boat of water while on land.

Portability - The Blackfoot 160 has a backpack-style carry pack with a hipbelt to make carrying manageable. It can be carried by one person if the chairs are not attached and it has two carry handles in the centre of the cockpit. The shoulder straps and waist belt are padded and can be tucked away, allowing you to easily check it in as luggage on an airplane.

Comfort - The adjustable seats allow you to choose how low or high you want to sit in the kayak, such as lower for easy and stable paddling or higher for storage or fishing. The Blackfoot 160 stands out compared to the Razor R2 Ultra, which we've ranked just below it due to its features like its diamond-cut traction padding on the floor. This padding adds stability when standing up to cast when fishing and provides a safe, non-slip surface for kids and pets.

Overall - The best inflatable fishing kayak that is high-performance, versatile and stable, perfect for adventuring.

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