Aire Tomcat Review

Is this inflatable kayak a good value?

Yes...

The Aire Tomcat has been around for several years. The manufacturer has tweeked and adjusted the boat to fix most of the minor problems it had in it's early years. It's still a heavier boat than most other inflatable kayaks. If the weight isn't a big issue, it is a good boat for many people. It's stable and can carrly lots of weight.

With the improvements in the Tomcats, we've started using more of them in our outfitting operation. They are a good value for us.

The Tomcat is a good value.

For a few years, the Tomcat was the only widely available "mid range" inflatable kayak. There were outfitter quality boats and low end (low price and inferior quality) boats. That made the Tomcat the only choice for a mid range IK.

Now Northwest River Supply (NRS) and Hyside have "mid range" inflatable kayaks that are a great option. They cost a little more than the Tomcat, but are significantly better quality.

Still, the Aire Tomcat is a good value for many people.

Used Aire Tomcats for sale...

The Good

Aire Tomcats now use upgraded air bladders and "chair" type seats. Both of these are significant improvements over earlier models.

It's a stable inflatable kayak. This makes it great for beginners, or if you are carrying other people or lots of gear.

The Bad

The two layer system makes maintenance and repair of the Aire Tomcat more difficult than iks with a single layer of material.

Aire now uses upgraded air bladders for these IKs. This is a significant improvement and lessens the negative effects of the two layer system.

The two layer system has some advantages. It makes the boat more resistant to air loss from a puncture. And, the ability to switch out air bladders can be helpful.

Oh yeah, the Tomcat weighs more than most inflatable kayaks I have used. The extra weight is not a big problem, but it is not a good thing.

What can you do with this inflatable kayak?

You could use it for that, but it can do much more.

Would I use this boat on a lake?

I certainly could, but it's not the best use of the boat. There are better boats for a lake. This boat has good stability and tracks well for a whitewater inflatable kayak. That makes it ok for a lake.

Please note that most inflatables don't perform well on lakes. The exceptions are those inflatables built for touring and/ or sea kayaking.

Inflatables give you more stability. The trade off is more drag. You're going to work harder to move an inflatable on a lake. And, if you get a windy day, you could be fighting to make much progress at all.

Would I take this Aire inflatable on a calm water river?

Absolutely. It will do great. It's stable and tracks well. It has great carrying capacity. On a calm river, you could carry extra weight or and extra person.

Would I take this inflatable kayak on Class II/III whitewater?

Absolutely. The Aire Tomcat inflatable kayak is great at this. If Class II/III whitewater is the biggest whitewater you plan to run, the Tomcat might be a good option for you.

This is a great way (and a great level of difficulty) for beginners to try whitewater on their own. Go with an outfitter or with experienced friends.

Can the Aire Tomcat handle Class IV whitewater?

I wouldn't do it and I wouldn't let my family or friends do it.

I'm sure it's been done. But if you are planning on running Class IV or up, I would recommend another boat.

Just because you can handle the river, doesn't mean your boat can.

Can this inflatable be used for fishing?

It could. It's stable and handles well.

Could the it be used for an overnight or multi-day trip?

The the two person versiion could work good for an overnight or multi-day trip. It has lots of carrying capacity and handles well even when loaded with lots of gear.

If I were going to be very far from civilization, I would want a better boat.

Just remember, you and your gear will usually get wetter in an inflatable than you would in a hard boat. Take precautions to keep your gear dry.

Can I resale this boat if it doesn't work out for me?

Aire inflatables have very good resale value. You are going to lose money as soon as you paddle it off the lot. But once it loses that initial "new" value, it holds the rest of its value very well.

Aire has the best "brand recognition" of the outfitter quality inflatable manufacturers. When it comes to resale, "brand recognition" matters.

Buyers know the Aire name and will pay more for an Aire than they will for a better boat from a company that is not as well known.

This inflatable kayak is definitely inferior to its brother, the Aire Lynx. But it still may be a good boat for you.

Overall Recommendation

It's stable and can carry lots of weight. This makes it a versatile boat that can be used for a variety of river trips.

About this review

The reviews are based on years of experience with inflatable kayaks.

In the end, this review, like all reviews, reflects personal opinion.

For more information on Aire Tomcat go here...