Northwest River Supply Inflatable Kayak Review, the BanditThe "Bandit" Northwest River Supply inflatable kayak is built for whitewater. It's extremely light, but still very tough. It has the same lines as its big brother, the NRS Maverick.
Is the "Bandit" Northwest River Supply inflatable kayak a good value?It is if you are looking for a whitewater inflatable kayak, are not a big person, or don't need to carry tons of gear.
The GoodIt's very light and still very tough.It's great for whitewater. It packs away very easily. If you need to carry a boat into the backcountry or ease of shipping is important, then take a close look at this boat. The BadIt doesn't have great carrying capacity. That means it's not a great boat for heavy people and it's not a great boat if you are going to need to carry lots of cargo.
What can you do with this inflatable kayak?Is this inflatable kayak a good pool toy?You could do this, but it's not as stable as some others. Would I use this boat on a lake? The Bandit would not do good on a lake. It tracks poorly, isn't extremely stable, and it's light weight makes it more prone to getting pushed around by the wind. 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 Northwest River Supply inflatable kayak on a calm water river? If that's what you are going to be doing most of the time, I would look at another boat. The Bandit is made for whitewater. It can make it down a calm water river, but it doesn't track well and is a little tippy. Would I take this inflatable kayak on Class II whitewater? Absolutely. It's great for this.
Can this Northwest River Supply inflatable kayak handle Class IV whitewater? Yes, if you and your group can handle it, this boat can.
Can this inflatable be used for fishing? It's not a great fishing boat, except in one situation. If you are hiking into backcountry and have some whitewater paddling skills, the Bandit would make a great fishing boat. Could this inflatable kayak be used for an overnight or multi-day trip? It could make the trip, but the extra gear and weight may create a problem.
Can I resale this boat if it doesn't work out for me?This NRS inflatable kayak holds its value well. In paddling circles, NRS is reasonably well known. 2006 is the second year for the Bandit. It will take the boat a couple of years to prove its self. After it does that, (I'm confident it will.) demand for used ones will increase.Overall RecommendationThe Bandit Northwest River Supply inflatable kayak is a great little boat. It is designed for whitewater. It's good on whitewater, but not on other water.It is more "tippy" than many inflatable kayaks. That can be a good thing. After you've gained some whitewater paddling skills, "tippy" becomes better handling and more stable. Don't be fooled by its light weight, it's still a very tough boat. We use NRS Bandit's in our outfitting business. They have been used one season and still look brand new. About This ReviewWe do our best to make fair and accurate reviews.The reviews are based on years of experience with inflatable kayaks. In the end, this review, like all reviews, reflects personal opinion.
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