Aqua glide McKenzie 125 Inflatable Kayak Review: Is It Worth Buying?

The Aqua glide McKenzie 125 kayak is a high-quality inflatable tandem kayak that has become popular over the years. This kayak is an excellent investment for anyone looking for a high-quality inflatable tandem kayak. If you love exploring different waters with a companion, then this kayak is worth buying.

Key Takeaways

  • The Aqua glide McKenzie 125 kayak is best for calm water and it can handle up to class III rapids
  • You can use the McKenzie 125 kayak on white-water rivers and also on coastlines and lakes for recreational kayaking
  • The price of the Aqua glide McKenzie 125 kayak is $999.99 and it is a reasonable price compared to its build qualities and features
  • The Aqua glide McKenzie 125 kayak is made from duratex-reinforced PVC, which is lightweight, durable, and stiff
  • This Kayak has a core 2.0 quick-release seat with a 6-point attachment system that ensures they are well secured

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What Is The Aqua Glide McKenzie 125 Inflatable Kayak?

The McKenzie 125 is a versatile hybrid kayak that can be used on calm water and handle up to class III rapids. It is a tandem kayak, but you can also paddle it solo. This kayak is stable, comfortable, and very easy to use. What we love most about this kayak is the quality of its construction and the tons of valuable features that it has. Being an inflatable kayak means that it is easily portable, and you can carry your kayak for distant travels.

Who Is Aqua Glide McKenzie 125 Inflatable Kayak For?

The McKenzie 125 is perfect for someone who wants a fun all-around paddling experience. You can use the kayak on white-water rivers and also on coastlines and lakes for recreational kayaking. This kayak is designed for the adventurous paddler and offers stability and control in rough water. The Mackenzie 125 is made of durable hull material with welded seams and has an Evo beam floor construction to ensure you enjoy years of use with this kayak. If you love a robust kayak that will take you on lots of adventures, this kayak is for you.

How Much Does The Aqua Glide McKenzie 125 Inflatable Kayak Cost?

The Aqua glide McKenzie 125 is available to buy for $999.99, which is quite reasonable for the quality of this high-end kayak. Most people love to rent this kayak and if you’re on a tight budget, renting the kayak to try out first is also an option. The cost of renting will vary depending on the dealer you opt for. 

Features Of The Aqua Glide McKenzie 125 Inflatable Kayak

The McKenzie 125 has lots of useful features that you will love and appreciate. Let’s have a look at these features in detail:

They are made from duratex-reinforced PVC, which is lightweight, durable, and stiff. This type of construction makes the kayak lightweight yet ideal for reasonably rough waters. You won’t have to worry about getting a puncture when you have this vessel. The seams of the kayak are all heat welded together to reduce the chances of bursting.

The kayak’s floor is constructed with Evo beam technology– the floor of this kayak is built for performance and maximum strength. The base creates a v-hull shape that makes the kayak has excellent tracking. The shape also allows the release of side rails when leaning to make turning effortless.

Lightweight and portable design– the aqua glide McKenzie 125 weighs 30 pounds making it easy to carry even for long-distance travel adventures. It also comes with a river crossing backpack storage bag to help you store and transport the kayak effortlessly.

It has a core 2.0 quick-release seat with seatback straps– the kayak comes with a padded seat with a comfortable thick cushion and a breathable high backrest. These seats have a 6-point attachment system that ensures they are well secured.  It also has straps that provide extra support and keep the seat firm when paddling in rough water. You can reposition the seats easily for tandem and solo use. It is also a possibility to have the seats facing each other, which is excellent for a picnic on the water.

Features a flexible touring fin for better tracking– the large touring fin is made from flexible vinyl that works excellently to keep the fin from bending or breaking. This fin attaches to a standard US fin box using a fin plate secured with screws. You don’t need any special tools to fix the fin. 

Has molded plastic carry handles at the bow and stern for comfortable lifting and carrying– the carry handles make it easier for two persons to take the inflated kayak with ease. The kayak also features side carry handles for carrying solo if the need arises. It might be awkward to carry the kayak solo so ensure you inflate it as close to the water as possible.

Self-bailing mesh cockpit drains– the kayak has four mesh drain valves strategically located to drain water fast when paddling in white water. The drain valves are permanently open, but they are designed to ensure the kayak floor doesn’t get wet when paddling in flat water.

Has Halkey-Roberts valves for easy inflation and deflation- Halkey-Roberts valves are the best for inflatable kayaks since they do not allow any air to escape. The valves are located on the floor. Each side tube and the recommended air pressure are printed beside each valve to help you know how much pressure to pump in. if you have a dual-action high-pressure hand pump, you will quickly inflate the kayak in under ten minutes. This kayak doesn’t come with a pump, so you will need to purchase one separately.

1. Has pressure release valves that protect the floor from damage that might result from over-inflation

2. Has 22 webbing floor loops for tying down your gear or seat – the tie-down loops along the sides of the floor can be used to secure dry bags, the seat, a cooler, or thigh straps when white-water kayaking.

3. It has a heavy-duty nose cone at the bow for durability and extra protection

Aqua glide McKenzie 125 Inflatable Kayak Review

Features Four Stainless Steel d-Rings (2 On Each Side Tube) For Attaching The Seats.

Specifications

BrandAqua Glide
MaterialReinforced PVC
Weight30 lbs.
Max weight capacity600 lbs.
Length 12’2”
Width 34.5”
Warranty 1-year warranty
Package includesKayak hull, two core seats, touring fin, storage bag, Halkey-Roberts valve adaptor, repair kit

Pros Of The Aqua Glide McKenzie 125 Inflatable Kayak

1. Excellent construction

2. Easy to inflate and deflate

3. Great tracking and maneuverability

4. It can be used for tandem or solo use

5. Very stable and comfortable

6. Ample tie-down for storage of dry bags and gear

7. Lightweight and portable

Cons Of The Aqua Glide McKenzie 125 Inflatable Kayak

1. It doesn’t come with a pump and paddle

2. The wide side tubes might get in the way of your paddles if using shorter paddles

Final Word

The Aqua glide McKenzie 125 Inflatable Kayak is a remarkable hybrid inflatable kayak that is great for flat water and white-water use. The kayak is versatile and has excellent quality construction making it a worthy purchase. It is easy to use on any water and has excellent tracking. This kayak is not as fast and might experience some drag, but we think the speed is fine since it is not a racing kayak.

The kayak is one of the few longer kayaks that are easy to turn and maneuver. Even as a beginner, you will be very comfortable in this kayak. The McKenzie 125 is ideal for white-water kayaking and performs very well on rivers. When kayaking on flat water, the fin significantly improves its tracking and overall performance. 

We recommend this kayak mostly for paddlers looking for a hybrid kayak that can handle white-water rapids and still cruise well. If you want a vessel only for flatwater touring, this wouldn’t be our first choice. We hope that this review helps you get a glimpse of what to expect from the Aqua glide McKenzie 125 Inflatable Kayak. If the features of this kayak match your needs, don’t hesitate to make that purchase. Happy kayaking.

References:

McKenzie 125

This is Rocky. I have been kayaking for the last 6 years and owns 5 kayaks (one Tandem, one Touring, and three fishing kayaks) and from different companies, especially from Intex. I love kayaking with my kids and dogs and I can’t but wait to go kayaking once I find the weather seems perfect.
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