Innova Helios II EX (green/gray) Reviews


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Innova Helios II EX (green/gray) Feature
- Optional foot-controlled rudder
- Deck gear netting and bungees
- Included drybag/backpack
- Small enough to be carryon luggage
- Environmentally safe non-PVC construction
The Helios II EX has been selected for 6 years as the Best Inflatable Kayak in the Readers' Choice Award by Sea Kayaker magazine.
The Helios II EX is small enough to be carryon luggage, sets up (and breaks down) in less than 10 minutes. It features a unique rubber coating over 1,200-denier polyester fabric. The construction is very abrasion resistant, lightweight, and unlike competing "bladder-type" kayak construction, very quick to dry.
All the air-holding seams are vulcanized together in a process similar to the way tires are made. Each and every kayak is pressure checked at the factory for 4 hours at 1.5 times the working pressure.
Although inflatable kayaks are not known for performance in wind, the Helios II EX is an exception. Average paddlers can sustain 4 mph.
We entered the Helios double in a 40-mile race in the San Juan Islands north of Seattle. We were the only inflatable in a field of 41 kayaks. On the second day of the race the winds blew 25-29 knots with gusts to 45 knots. Eleven of the kayaks stayed on the beach. The remaining 30 headed out into extremely rough conditions. Four dropped out and were picked up by chase boats. Nine sea kayakers capsized and were unable to self-rescue in the waves, wind, and 50-degree water. We found ourselves able to pull away from many sea kayaks paddling into a 25-knot wind, and we finished without capsizing, averaging 3 knots, and winning our section.
The Innova Helios double has been used around the world from Lake Baikal to the Solomon Islands to the Orinoco River to local rivers and lakes across North America. We had one outfitter spend over 700 days paddling a Helios in the South Pacific report that he never put a hole in it, despite daily contact with coral.
So, even if you never expect to paddle nothing more than across your favorite swimming hole, the Helios II EX is a proven, safe performer than will hold up in conditions that destroy other inflatables.
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