Intex Explorer 100 Inflatable Boat Review | Is It Worth It?

There’s nothing quite like the freedom that comes from being able to float down a river at ease, or drift along the body of a tranquil lake for hours on end, or splash along the banks of the beach where water empties itself upon the shore – or engage in all kinds of rafting and boating activities. The sense of freedom you can feel when out on the water in a raft or boat is indescribable, which is why it’s so important to make sure that you’re rafting and boating in a quality watercraft. After all, the last thing you want when having so much fun is to be left all wet or high and dry because your raft or boat has sprung a leak.

Thankfully, models such as the Intex Explorer 100 Raft offer all-around quality construction at an affordable rate, ensuring a positive experience for solo boating and family rafting adventures alike. It does this by doing something few rafts and inflatable boats do – offers an option that is exclusively for children, with parents able to float nearby, guiding them on as they enjoy their first experiences on the water.

So, what’s the Explorer 100 Raft really made of, and why is there such excitement around this inflatable boat option?

Features of Intex Explorer 100  

Among the features offered by the Intex Explorer 100 Inflatable Boat are:

• 4 ft 10 in. x 2 ft 9 in. x 1 ft 2 in.
• Maximum weight capacity of 120 lbs
• Grab rope on bow
• Two air chambers with double valves
• Welded oar locks
• Rigid inflatable floor

Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to elegance in simplicity, and that’s certainly the case with the Explore 100 Raft. It doesn’t offer many of the bells and whistles you’ll see in other inflatable boat options, nor does it try to pretend that it does. There’s nothing wrong with having a ton of features for an inflatable boat, of course. On the contrary – elite features for elite boats can lead to elite experiences.

Beginner Friendly

However, the Explorer 100 Raft is less about what’s elite and more about what’s affordable and family-friendly. This is a boat that knows what it’s about, and that something is making boating and rafting accessible to people of all ages. There’s nothing included with this boat that should require a ton of setup. The small size alone – not even 5 ft – should be a dead giveaway that this is a boat built for young children, and can really only support one child or two very young children at a time, especially given its weight capacity of 120 lbs.

But sometimes a boat is more than the sum of its parts, and that’s certainly the case with the Intex Explorer 100 Inflatable Boat. Part of the reason it can be hard to find dedicated inflatable boats for kids is that inflatable boats and rafts are typically complex and require a lot of attention to detail, which can be taxing for adults, let alone children.

Great for Children

The biggest feature for the Intex Explorer 100 Inflatable Boat, therefore, isn’t necessarily what’s listed on the feature’s list but what those simple features mean when put together – namely, fantastic accessibility. The incredibly lightweight nature of this boat (it weighs less than one kilogram!) and small-scale nature of the raft and oars means that it is incredibly easy for your child to use them on their own. This can allow them to get the hang of paddling on their own while you float nearby, instructing and encouraging them. As a result, children can have a fun time boating and rafting with the feeling that they’re “on their own” while you’re actually right there with them.

 

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What Do Users Say?

On the whole, users’ experiences with the Intex Explorer 100 Inflatable Boat have been positive, and largely centered on how it has enabled them to share their love of boating and rafting with their children. The raft has been seen as incredibly easy to set up, with users noting that setup doesn’t take too much time at all.

A lot of the focus has thus been on usage, and that is where this inflatable boat from Intex has shined. People have taken their children boating in it, or even taken their dogs along for a ride.

One thing to note about this inflatable boat is that there are actually larger models in this Explorer line by Intex that are more suitable for adults. These models are larger and can support more weight, thus allowing them to support adults as well as children. Needless to say, there’s practically no chance of your being able to use this model in that fashion given its size and weight capacity. You should thus check user reviews for yourself while shopping to make sure that you’re buying the model you think you are – you don’t want to purchase a child’s raft only to get a larger one for adults, or vice versa.

Finally, the rigid floor bottom is a nice touch, ensuring that it is stable enough for your child to stand up in the boat without it starting to wobble.

Pros and Cons

In Conclusion

Our rating: 4.5 / 5

Few things are more joyous as a parent than sharing the things you love with your children, and this inflatable boat and raft is a perfect example of how to do just that. It is affordable enough to buy without much risk, simple enough to set up without much hassle, and easy enough to use without much worry, allowing you to focus on what matters most – having fun with your child out on the water.

If you are looking for a child-friendly inflatable boat to help teach your child all about the fun of boating and rafting, this may be it.