Here at the club we've been using Innova inflatable kayaks for years. We've paddled them in all types of water and traveled with them to various locales in the U.S. and abroad. It's safe to say that we love them. We love that they pack up small and light (compared to other boats on the market), are durable (especially useful when 'the scoot' is applied, you know, when you sit down and the water is too shallow so you scoot your way to deeper water...avoid if possible), they set up quick (5 minutes when you get the hang of it), and they get you to where you are going fast (you'll want to race hard-shells). In comes two new inflatable kayaks from Innova - the Swing Single and the Swing Double. Do they live up to what we have come to love about Innova kayaks? Are they better? Find out in our ETC review! Swing SingleShe looks good. She's green (we'll explain) She handles nicely She's light I originally wasn't sold on the black hull but after paddling her around Seattle's Ship Canal and Lake Whatcom, and receiving a few complements while I put her together in about 5 minutes, I decided she had a James Bond quality that suited her. I'm serious about the 5 minute set-up, I timed it. Rather than having three chambers and an inflatable seat and footrest to pump up like other Innova boats, the Swing sticks with just the three main "tubeless" chambers. The valves work like the clicker on a ballpoint pen - press one way to inflate, the other to deflate. What Innova has added to widen the kayak (like the inflatable seat and footrest does in other models) are two aluminum bars that fit just in front and behind the seat. Zippers open up the fore and aft parts of the boat for storage. The Swing is green - completely free of PVC and made in the Czech Republic. It's light - it weighs just 22 pounds and packs small. It handles well due to design, the plastic fin on the bottom, and the rigid shape helped by the new cross bars and a higher pressure (3 psi). The Swing is a great addition to the Innova family. It has a lot going for it with few faults depending on how you use the boat (we explain below). Swing DoubleShe's green too She handles nicely...too She's light...just 26 lbs No need for foot pedals & a rudder to steer The three pictures above highlight three important parts of the Swing Double (and the Swing Single except it only has two bars). Seasoned Innova paddlers will like the slightly different "bayonet" valves (push in, push out - no twisting) and the urethane-coated decks that shed water in a jiffy. Having a quick-to-add fin on the bottom (pictured below) is nice and relieves you of adding a pedal-rudder system to help with steering. I mentioned before a possible fault - not really a fault - just something to know about these new models. The added bars help make this kayak what it is - faster assembly and disassembly and a stiffer boat with great handling. The sacrifice is the size after packing the boat up. Leaving the bars in while rolling the deflated kayak make the whole thing way bigger than some of Innova's other models I'm used to (like the Helios II). Taking the bars out after paddling adds a little time to setup and take-down. If you pride yourself on packing your Innova kayak in an airline carry-on you may have some difficulty with the bars depending on bag size and carry-on size restrictions of your airline. The reason the bars aren't really a fault, or why you may not even notice, are that a packed up Swing Single or Double with the bars in is still waaay smaller and lighter than competitor boats or hard-shells, the time to take the bars out and put them in only add a few minutes to your launch, and the truth is that your oar (even a 4-part) won't fit in a carry-on airline bag anyway. You'll have to check another bag so the cross bars will just go in it along with your PFDs, pump etc. I once tried to take the two pole parts of my oar as my "personal item" on a US flight...they didn't like it so much. So what we've got here is what I can't say enough - the Swing Single and Double are great additions to the Innova family. The valves are better, the handling is better, the air release valve is a nice touch (avoids overpressure), a place for an optional spray skirt is a plus, the colors are smooth, PVC free is a good thing, and the quality is what we've come to expect from a great inflatable kayak company. The Innova Swing Single and Swing Double, reviewed by Everyone's Travel Club on January 20th, 2012. Click the links below to head on over to the Innova site to read more and check out these new kayaks!
Innova Swing Single Innova Swing Double ~Paul, John ETC
29 Comments
Micke
2/6/2012 01:53:19 am
Thanks for the review!
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Micke, Thanks for the comment! The Swing I is a lot more stable than the Safari, I didn't measure but I imagine it is because it has a wider beam (the width at a boat's widest point) - definitely more stable. Speed was pretty similar between the two, however, the Swing is probably slightly faster. Also, I'd say the Swing tracked a little better because of its stiffer shape (due to the bars and a slightly higher psi).
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Micke
2/8/2012 04:13:07 am
Thanks again!
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James
11/27/2012 02:45:39 pm
Hi there, thanks for the review. How does the swing 2 compare to Advanced Elements convertible?
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Paul S Schernitzki
11/27/2012 03:05:21 pm
James - it's a no contest for us due to the weight/size & how the kayaks are made...the advanced elements kayaks are giant packed-up compared to Innova. If you're close to an R.E.I. check it out - the A.E.s are huge! This matters when hiking your boat to mountaintop lakes (see our post from Lake Serene!).
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james
12/10/2012 07:57:51 pm
Hi Paul, thanks so much for the reply. I'll be upfront - I ended up getting an AE convertible, but it was a big toss up in between that tandem and the swing 2. The swing 2's light weight and packing ease definitely put in the forefront, but it simply didn't have the weight holding capacity of the AE convertible which was a big factor in the final decision. Drying isn't a big issue where I am and for a first kayak we plan on taking it around the car for the most part to local lakes, rivers and bays. The other factor was sites like theboatpeople stated because of the non PVC green material, the swing 2 hull couldn't take scrapes against rocks etc like a PVC hull. Do you find that to be true? How resilient is the green material in comparison to the PVC stuff? I'm still interested in getting the swing 2 as a travelling kayak in the future simply because it is so damn light and easy to setup and put away so when I do get the overseas kayaking bug its definitely an option I will look at. Thanks again for the info.
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Paul S Schernitzki
12/11/2012 11:59:53 am
James,
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James
12/11/2012 01:42:18 pm
Hi Paul, thanks! If you could post a future update on how the swing has performed in the toughness department that would really help future buyers like myself!
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Hi Paul, many thanks for your great reviews.
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Paul Schernitzki
5/29/2013 01:23:28 am
Fabio, I see what you mean. It would be a little tight in the Swing - It would work better in a Helios 2 or even the Sunny which have more open cockpits/decks...good luck!
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11/27/2013 06:24:58 pm
Hi Paul,
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Paul S Schernitzki
11/30/2013 01:57:08 am
Robin,
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5/27/2014 06:54:16 pm
Just wanted to pop back in and say that we did in fact purchase the Swing II a few months ago and are loving it - fast setup, comfortable, feels stable and safe in the water, and as it's rated for up to 1 meter seas can handle a calm day on the Mediterranean with no problem. (Any more than that I prefer not to go out anyway, I'm a real flatwater paddler at heart!)
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Nathan
6/24/2014 04:57:06 am
Hey, I also live in Seattle and am thinking of getting an inflatable kayak that could handle some light touring in Puget Sound, meaning packing a small tent, sleeping bag and gear for an overnighter or two. Can you speak to the Swing 1's ability to handle a little camping gear? Looks like some storage behind the paddler, but I'm a long legged guy. Probably not much room below the deck up front. I imagine getting some dry bags and strapping gear up top. Have you loaded it up much?
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Paul S Schernitzki
6/25/2014 12:42:21 am
Robin, Great to hear!!!
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Paul S Schernitzki
6/25/2014 12:48:40 am
Nathan, The Swing is a sweet boat and I think a great option for you. There is storage behind the seat and it's totally possible to tie a bag on the aft deck if needed. If you're not totally sure if the model is perfect it might be worth a trip up to Burlington WA to sit in one at Innova. They don't have a storefront but Tim is super helpful and would probably make time for you. Maybe get on their website and send an email to setup.
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John Evans
8/8/2014 04:10:38 am
Hi
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Paul S Schernitzki
8/8/2014 05:42:35 am
John, You're welcome - you'll love it!
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Matt W
4/19/2015 11:35:35 am
Great review! My wife an I are considering buying the Swing II to take on a trip through Europe. We are really hoping that there might be a way to carry-on the Swing II on an airplane with the the typical 40L Innova backpack. We we are worried about the aluminum bars, as you mentioned, they probably won't fit in that backpack along with the kayak. I have two questions:
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Paul
4/19/2015 12:39:08 pm
Matt, We like your style - kayaks in the luggage heading overseas!!! The quick answer - yes the bars matter. Without them the shape is all wrong and probably a touch dangerous/wobbly on the water.
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Ephraim
5/24/2015 09:08:56 pm
In 12/11/2012 you stated that time would tell concerning the toughness of the Swing construction, I was wondering if you have any further comment concerning its toughness today, I'm debating whether to purchase the Swing ll or the Advanced Elements Convertible, i well be boating on rivers and very rocky shorelines therefore toughness well be an issue, thank you for your time and consideration
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Ephraim,
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Sylvia
7/28/2015 01:45:55 pm
Great information here! I was wondering if you would recommend the Swing for a fifty (closer to sixty) year old beginner, 5'7" and 170 lbs. I have neck and back problems due to a car accident and cannot lift a hard shell kayak onto the roof of my vehicle, so an inflatable looks like a great option. Thanks much.
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Kenneth
8/5/2015 03:11:52 pm
Hi Paul,
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Richie
9/5/2016 08:30:45 am
Hello...have been looking into the Gumotex/Innova Swing 1 and Swing EX. Both are inflated at 3psi per the manual. Would like to inquire if you think placing an after market Drop Stitch floor would increase rigidity and help resolve any cockpit bending / taco chipping.
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Richie - interesting idea! I think the support bars and design do a great job in the Swing I & II...they are pretty rigid boats - much more than my older version Helios II. I don't think you'd gain that much adding a floor like the one you describe. You are gonna lose a little with an inflatable vs a hard kayak, but for us the portability of Innova makes up for any loss of speed.
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Kat Davis
2/14/2017 10:56:46 am
So glad I found this review site! I'm looking at either the Swing 1 or EX for their fast set up and light weight. I've read that the EX is narrower and can feel less stable, but the longer length makes for better tracking and more space for camping gear/water. I'm a flat water adventurer, so the tracking issue may not be as big an issue. I'm also female, 5.2 and 125, so the shorter length and lighter payload pose no problems. What do you think? Also, have read reviews that noted problems with the skeg falling off when hitting rocks or backing up, and some problems with zippers. Any info on whether these issues have been addressed in new models? Thanks! Kat
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Kat,
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John Boyd
6/13/2020 07:55:24 pm
How difficult would it be to paddle a Swing 2 solo? I used to have a Sunny, but the weight capacity was insufficient for my wife and me. She seldom goes now, but I would like to be able to take her, but would use any tandem as a solo at other times.
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