Tucktec Folding Kayak Review

Kayaking is a fun hobby that is becoming increasingly popular. It is an enjoyable way to keep fit and spend more time outdoors, and is suitable for all sorts of people to take part in.

Whether you are a complete novice or an experienced kayaker, you will be able to get out on the water and enjoy yourself. 

One of the biggest barriers to people getting involved in kayaking is the hassle. Kayaks are big and bulky. They can be quite heavy.

You will probably need a roof rack to take them to the water, and you might need two people to lift the kayak on and off the car and carry it to the water, even if the kayak is only designed for one person! 

Inflatable kayaks make this somewhat easier, as they can be deflated for storage and transport and then inflated again at the waterside. But you also have to transport the air pump, and the kayak is at risk of getting a puncture. 

An alternative solution is to get yourself a folding kayak. These lightweight kayaks fold up into themselves for easy storage. We have reviewed the Tucktec folding kayak to help you decide if it is the right product for you.

Keep reading to find out more. 

Production Information 

The Tuktec folding kayak is a single person kayak with a 350 pound weight capacity.  It is 9 feet 6 inches long and 2 feet 7 inches wide, and weighs approximately 25 pounds.

When it is folded, it is roughly the size of a bag of golf clubs and fits into the boot of most cars. If it doesn’t fit in the boot then it should fit in the back seat. 

The kayak is made from high density polythene thermoplastic, and the side rails are made out of marine-grade closed cell foam. This makes it very lightweight.

The kayak itself is very durable, but some of the clips that keep it in place do not seem as strong as the polythene body, and the buckle and strap that holds it all together once folded is quite flimsy. The shoulder strap designed to make it easy to carry once folded is actually quite uncomfortable. 

The tracking performance of the kayak is very good. The tracking fin can be raised out of the water from the comfort of your seat.

It is longer than the tracking fins on other similar products, which means that this kayak keeps its direction in the water very well. You will feel little to no dragging as the kayak moves through the water. 

The key feature of this kayak is that it folds into itself for easy storage. Whilst it disassembles easily, it is actually quite difficult to set up.

The process is fairly complicated, and getting the lever locks into place is much harder than it looks. If the material is cold then it becomes very stiff and difficult to work with.

If you leave it to warm up in the sun for a while you will find the process a little easier. Some of the metal clips are quite sharp, and it is easy to cut yourself on them while you are struggling to click everything into place. 

Folding it up after use is much easier, and there are no spare parts that you could risk leaving behind- the kayak folds up into one item to take home with you. Once you have used the kayak a few times it becomes less stiff, but it can still be quite fiddly to assemble.

Whilst the kayak is designed to be easy for one person to use and carry around, it is easier to assemble it with two people as you have to put some of your body weight into it to push it into place.

However, it is lightweight, portable and easy to store, all without the need for an air pump like the inflatable kayaks. 

The kayak is quite wide which helps with balance and stability, but makes it difficult to build up any speed. The seat is quite thick which gives you a high vantage point, but this means your center of gravity is not as low.

This can make it difficult to maintain your balance when paddling through rough waters. However, the seat is nicely padded which makes it comfortable. The lack of footrests counteracts this to a certain extent, and the fact that the seat is not adjustable so you have only one seating position available to you. 

There are no scupper holes or drainage plugs, so if you take on water you will need to get back to shore to tip it out. Once the kayak does take on water, the pressure against the inside of the kayak can cause the bow and stern to come unfastened which will make the kayak fold into itself as if it is being disassembled.

The sides of the kayak are quite low, which means it doesn’t take much wobbling for the kayak to take on water. It also prevents it from being suitable for rough or choppy waters.

If you fall out of your kayak, then you won’t be able to get back in without letting water into the cockpit. However, the low sides do make it fairly easy to get in and out of the kayak when you are close to the shore. 

As you can see, there is a real mixed bag of positive features and drawbacks for this product. 

Pros

• This product is priced lower than other foldable kayaks on the market. 
• This kayak disassembles quickly. 
• The tracking performance is good. 
• The kayak is very lightweight yet sturdy and well balanced. 
• The seat is padded and comfortable. 
• The kayak is very durable. 

Cons

• It is not very easy to set up, especially when the material is cold. 
• The kayak is not suitable for rough waters. 
• The carry strap material is quite rough on your hands. 
• There are no drainage plugs to release water. 
• It is quite difficult to build up any speed. 
• The sides of the kayak are quite low so it can easily take on water in rough conditions. 
• There are no footrests which makes it less comfortable. 
• The seat position is not adjustable. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Was This Product Part Of A Kickstarter Campaign? 

The Tucktec folding kayak was part of a 2019 kick starter campaign and since its launch it has become very popular. 

Do I Need Any Equipment To Put The Foldable Kayak Together? 

You don’t need any special equipment to assemble the kayak, just the instructions. All of the clips and levers that keep it in place are attached to the kayak – it comes in one piece so you won’t lose anything or leave anything behind. 

Can Two People Fit On The Kayak?

Technically, you could fit a second person in the cockpit of this kayak, but it would be a tight squeeze and you wouldn’t have much leg room. You could more easily fit a small child or a dog on the kayak with you, but it would still be a bit cramped.

You should also consider that the sides are low, so small children and dogs are at risk of falling out of the kayak. There is plenty of space to store personal items, though it is not watertight storage so you will need a dry bag.

It is also worth noting that the kayak will become more unstable the more weight that is added, especially if it is not evenly spaced out. 

Does This Product Come With Any Accessories?

No accessories are included with this product. You will need to get yourself a paddle, and any other equipment you might need.

We recommend buying safety equipment like a helmet, a whistle and a life jacket. If you intend on being out in your kayak in poor lighting conditions then make sure that your life jacket has reflective strips or high visibility material. 

Summary 

Even though this product was designed with a spacious cockpit and a 350 pounds weight capacity, which suggests you could take some supplies with you and be out in it for quite a while, realistically this kayak is not reliable enough for that kind of use.

It is sturdy and roomy with good tracking, and it is ideal for paddling fairly close to the shore for short periods of time, or paddling out on flat water and leisurely floating around on a warm day. 

This kayak is definitely not suitable for choppy or rough waters, as it takes on water easily and once this happens the structural integrity is compromised until you can get back to shore and empty the water out. It is also quite fiddly to assemble. 

That being said, it is a lot cheaper than similar items on the market and you get what you pay for. If you are looking for a cheap and cheerful product to liven up your weekends or evenings at the lake then this could be perfect for you.