KXOne Slider 375

Summary

Price At Time Of Writing | $1,398.00

Our Overall Rating | 88 out of 100

Pros - Built well and easy to set up

Cons - Seat is uncomfortable, has drag

Overall - High quality, but needs improvements on performance

Technical Specifications

Open Size - 384x78cm

Weight - 14.2kg

Load Capacity - 175kg

Packed Size - 85x57x43cm

Our Analysis & Ratings

Full drop-stitch kayaks with a wonderful stiffness against the water make up the KXOne Slider line. The 375 model had certain drawbacks in terms of performance and comfort, but it was well-sized for one-person paddling, simple to put up and extremely well manufactured.

Performance (speed, tracking, manoeuvrability, stability, load handling): 5/10

Speed: The KXOne has a full drop-stitch hull with plastic bow and stern, so it has everything needed to move through the water with ease. The hull does, however, have a surprising amount of drag that, as far as we could tell, is caused by the dips that curved drainage channels in the inner floor generate on the outside hull, resulting in bumps that collect water. As a result, paddling wasn't as effective as we'd anticipate from a kayak with this kind of structure and design.

Stability: The full drop-stitch construction gives it that wonderful stiffness against the water, providing a solid, rigid feel underfoot.

Construction (materials, seams, valve quality, durability and fittings): 9/10

The KXOne is unquestionably a well-built product. The outside is made of sturdy PVC and the drop-stitched sides and floor inflate to a very solid 8 psi. We mostly observed evidence of care in the production process on the model we evaluated, with no obvious glue or frayed edges on accessories.

The plastic layer that gives the splash guard its form is not covered and is the only very minor issue we had with it, as it comes out fairly easily.

Setup/Pack Down (inflation time, valves, folding and drying): 9/10

With only three matching inflation points and quick-drying PVC, the KXOne Slider 375 couldn't be simpler to set up and pack away.

Portability (weight, packed size, ease of carrying): 8/10

This inflatable kayak weighs about 14kg, which is average in weight and bulk compared to other inflatable kayaks we tested. It takes a little practice to fold this one so that the plastic bow and stern fit inside the bag, but once you get the hang of it, it's one of the easier kayaks to pack away and store.

Comfort (seat support, legroom, fatigue over distance): 7/10

We had several concerns with the seat, despite the cockpit having enough space and a very comforting firmness. The seat's foam was a little bit thinner than the other foam seats we examined, and in our opinion, the side supports actually made paddling more difficult because you couldn't fully extend your shoulder without pushing on the seat's side panel.

Value for money:

The KXOne Slider 375 is a well-made, easy-to-set-up kayak that offers a solid drop-stitch build for the price. The main trade-offs are around paddling efficiency and seat comfort, which are worth weighing if those matter most to you.

Best for:

• Solo paddlers wanting a well-made, firm drop-stitch kayak

• Quick, hassle-free setup and pack down

• Paddlers who don't mind trading a little paddling efficiency for build quality

• Compact storage and easy transport

Overall:

The KXOne Slider 375 is a good full-drop stitch kayak with room for small performance and comfort improvements.