Aquaglide Navarro 145 Review
Rating
Performance: 8
Size/Weight: 6
Durability: 9
Setup: 7
Value: 5
OVERALL: 7.0
A reliable, well-crafted choice.
The Aquaglide Navarro 145 shows impressive versatility and toughness throughout. Built with rugged 600-denier hex ripstop polyester and a rigid floor panel, it handles well, though it sometimes struggles to maintain a straight course. An excellent option for river runs, touring adventures and casual paddling.
Comparison
Rank: #5
Open Size: Spacious
Packed Size: Portable
Weight: Heavier
Capacity: Higher
Perfect For: Rough waters, recreational trips
Pros: Tough construction, handles easily, fair price
Cons: Wanders off course, doesn't come with pump, adapters or paddles
Verdict: Solid performance and smart design for recreational paddlers
Skip ahead to First Impressions, Setup/Packdown, Paddling Experience, or the Final Verdict, check out how the Aquaglide Navarro 145 compares to others in our list of the Top Ten 2 Person Inflatable Kayaks or see how we choose the best inflatable kayak.
Specs:
Open Size: 14'4x39in
Packed Size: 26x25x14in
Weight: 36lbs
Capacity: 500lbs
Price: $449.88
First Impressions
The Aquaglide Navarro 145 has just about everything you might want. It can be changed into a single-cockpit setup for solo paddling and it works with extra skirts you can buy separately that fit nicely and feel comfortable. Like the one-person model, this one was clearly made to handle different temperatures and you can tell that by the way it’s built. The spray skirt helps keep you warm and blocks out splashes when the weather isn’t so great. When we took it out, it happened to be a bright, sunny day, so we left the skirt off. This kayak seems ready for all types of weather and we liked using it as an open-deck kayak because it gave us more space to move around.
It has a strong drop-stitch floor, which helps it feel sturdy and makes paddling smoother. The long front deck gave us plenty of space for gear and there’s a rear hatch for more storage, too. The paddle holders on both sides were small but handy, making it easy to grab a snack or adjust your seat. There’s a good amount of smart design here, which seems to be a regular thing with Aquaglide kayaks.
Setup/Packdown
This kayak comes with a duffel-style bag that makes it easy to pack up. We liked how small it folds down and how the drawstring top opens wide enough to fit everything in.
Having to swap between different valve attachments still bothers us and takes more time than it should. We would have preferred if one type of valve worked for the whole kayak. All up, it took us around 12 minutes to unpack, blow it up and get everything ready to go.
Just a heads-up, though, because the outer layer is made of polyester, it dries more slowly than kayaks made from full PVC. It’s really important to let it dry all the way before packing it up, especially if you’re going to keep it stored away for a while.
Paddling Experience
What makes this kayak stand out is how nice it feels to paddle in. Thanks to the drop-stitch floor, it stays firm under your feet and gives a steady ride. The adjustable seats were great too, with high backrests and padded cushions that added to the comfort.
The 600-denier ripstop fabric on the outside holds up well against sun, water and rough use. It definitely feels like it was made to last, although ours looked a little loose and wrinkly in a few spots, which is something we haven’t seen on other fabric-covered kayaks, but it didn’t cause any problems once we got on the water.
We tried it on slightly choppy water and noticed it had a bit of trouble going in a straight line, but turning and steering were smooth and easy. It gave us a fun trip overall and it seems like something we’d use again in different kinds of weather or on longer tours.
Final Verdict
The Aquaglide Navarro 145 can handle almost any type of water or weather, with a bunch of features that make it a really good all-rounder. It’s easy to steer, has a well-made cockpit and plenty of room for your things. The setup and drying time were a bit of a pain and it didn’t track perfectly straight, but if those things don’t worry you, this kayak is a great pick for your next trip.
Want to see how the Aquaglide Navarro 145 compares to other kayaks we tested? Head over to our 2 Person Inflatable Kayak Review.
Water & Outdoors reviews are written by our staff writers, who combined have over fifty years of experience on the water and outdoors. We may earn commissions if you choose to buy through a link you’ve clicked on our website, however this does not influence our reviews. For more information, please see our Editorial Policies.