Clare & Friends tested out a MRS Pack Raft & Aqua Marina Inflatable Kayak

Clare & Friends hired a MRS Pack Raft Ponto and Aqua Marina Memba Kayak

Here is what they thought:

Sean:

The pack raft packs down nice and small making it great for carrying and storing Cons: the inflation bag (the bag does require a bit of practice to get the maximum efficiency out of it). Once I had gotten the raft inflated and the paddle put together I was a little unsure how stable it would be but once in the water the raft was nice and comfortable. I felt safe as I paddled the lake I was on. It is a really nice and enjoyable piece of kit.  All in all I would highly recommend this raft to anyone wishing to get out on the water especially if you want to take it to more remote locations.

Sean:

I hired the Aqua Marine MEMBA inflatable kayak as I was looking to replace my current inflatable kayak, which was a cheap one that is very soft even when inflated. I had been looking at hard shell kayaks but when I saw this one I thought I would give it a go as it would be easier to transport and store, I was not disappointed; it is a lot more rigid than I expected and very stable on the water. I was so impressed by the kayak that I have bought the one I had on hire.

Annelie & Matthew:

We really liked the Aqua Marine MEMBA inflatable kayak. It was stable and easy to manoeuvre. It moved pretty quickly on the water too. I didn't like the paddles though. They were too slippy. I'd need to wear gloves, which would be handy for longer trips anyway though. It is also too small for two people, certainly if one of them is tall and doesn't have enough space for bags etc. for touring.

Clare:

I loved the kayak! I am plus size so we hired the two person model just for me to ensure the weight limit was okay but it had the added bonus of being long enough for me as I'm also relatively tall at 5'10. I already have a cheap kayak but the difference in quality, stability, and ease of use was astronomical! In my cheap kayak, I wobble and rock the whole time and am worried to move my legs in case I capsize. In the kayak from Tri Wetsuit Hire, I was able to move around in the kayak and change seated position frequently without feeling any wobble or instability, which meant I was able to keep paddling for longer and it was much more fun.

I thoroughly recommend hiring from Tri Wetsuit Hire as well , they send everything you need in plenty of time and are always on the other end of the phone or email if you have any questions.