KXOne Slider 375 Kayak
Summary
Price At Time Of Writing | £855
Our Overall Rating | 86 out of 100
Pros - Easy to setup, well constructed
Cons - Drag, uncomfortable seat
Overall - Firm and high quality, could improve on performance
Technical Specifications
Open Size - 384x78cm
Weight - 14.2kg
Load Capacity - 175kg
Packed Size - 85x57x43cm
Our Analysis & Ratings
The KXOne Slider series are full drop-stitch kayaks that provide a nice firmness against the water. The 375 model is well-sized for one person paddling, easy to set up and very well constructed, but there were some downsides in terms of performance and comfort.
Performance (speed, tracking, manoeuvrability, stability, load handling): 5/10
Speed: Being a full drop-stitch hull with plastic bow and stern, the KXOne certainly has everything required to cut nicely through the water. However, there's a surprising element of drag in the hull that, as far as we could tell, comes from the dips that curved drainage channels in the inner floor cause on the outer hull, resulting in bumps that gather water. As such, it was not as efficient to paddle as we'd expect in a kayak of this design and construction.
Stability: The full drop-stitch construction gives it that nice firmness against the water, providing a solid, rigid feel underfoot.
Construction (materials, seams, valve quality, durability and fittings): 9/10
The KXOne is undoubtedly a quality-built kayak. The drop-stitch sides and floor inflate to a very firm 8psi, and the outer is a durable PVC. On the model we tested, we largely saw evidence of care in the manufacturing process, with no visible glue or frayed edges on accessories.
Our one very small criticism was the plastic sheet that gives shape to the splash guard, which is not covered and comes out very easily.
Setup/Pack Down (inflation time, valves, folding and drying): 9/10
Amongst our top-rated kayaks for setup and pack down, with only three matching inflation points and quick-drying PVC, it couldn't be easier to set up and pack down.
Portability (weight, packed size, ease of carrying): 8/10
Weighing about 14kg, this is amongst the middle of the range for the inflatable kayaks we tested, and similarly average in terms of bulk. There is a trick to folding this one in terms of sandwiching the plastic bow and stern so they fit into the bag, but once that's been mastered, it's one of the simpler kayaks to pack away.
Comfort (seat support, legroom, fatigue over distance): 7/10
While there is plenty of room in the cockpit and a very reassuring firmness, we had some issues with the seat. We found the foam of the seat to be slightly thinner than other foam seats we tested, and our experience was that the side supports actually made paddling harder, as you couldn't access the full range of motion in your shoulder without having to push against the side panel of the seat.
Value for money:
The KXOne Slider 375 is a well-manufactured, easy-to-set-up kayak that offers a solid drop-stitch build for the price. The main trade-offs are around paddling efficiency and seat comfort, which are worth weighing if those matter most to you.
Best for:
Solo paddlers wanting a well-made, rigid drop-stitch kayak
Quick, hassle-free setup and pack down
Paddlers who don't mind trading a little paddling efficiency for build quality
Compact storage and easy transport
Overall:
A quality full drop-stitch kayak that could improve slightly in performance and comfort.
