Published July 24, 2026 05:00AM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
After years (and miles) of wade fishing, I\u2019ve always wanted my own kayak but could never quite figure out how to practically store one. Living in an apartment in upstate New York means I simply don\u2019t have the space to stash a hard-shell boat. Add in the hassle of buying a trailer or a roof rack just to get it to the water, and owning a kayak has always been like a down-the-line dream.<\/p>\n
Sure, inflatable fishing kayaks have existed, but I\u2019ve always been skeptical. For years, they carried the reputation of being soft, couch-y, and one fish hook away from disaster. But the category has evolved, and Bote\u2019s new Argo Aero<\/a>\u2014the brand\u2019s first dedicated inflatable fishing kayak\u2014promised the stability and fishability of a hard shell, without the headache of actually owning one. After taking it out on the water, I found myself forgetting that it was inflatable at all.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Capacity:<\/strong> 675 pounds Pros<\/strong> Cons<\/strong> Who it\u2019s for: <\/strong>Anglers who want the performance of a fishing kayak without the hassle of owning one<\/p>\n <\/section>\n The biggest advantage of an inflatable kayak is obvious before it ever touches the water. Instead of wrestling a 100-pound boat onto my roof, the Argo Aero<\/a> comes neatly folded in an included rolling travel bag that fits in my Subaru\u2019s trunk. In the bag, the Solo model and its accessories weigh 67 pounds (the 15-foot Tandem<\/a> comes in at 84 pounds), making it dramatically easier to move than most hard-shell fishing kayaks.<\/p>\n But as someone who has owned inflatable paddleboards<\/i> for years\u2014including a few from Bote<\/a>\u2014I was fully expecting the inflation process to be the worst part. Pumping a SUP to 12-plus PSI always devolves into a sweaty mess, so much so that I\u2019ve since defaulted to using an electric pump that plugs into my car to save myself the misery.<\/p>\n Shockingly, the Argo Aero doesn\u2019t require that much sweat at all. The side pontoons only need 2 to 3 PSI, and the floor inflates to 6 to 8 PSI, so I had the whole thing ready to launch by hand <\/i>in about 8 minutes. It\u2019s the first inflatable watercraft I\u2019ve used where the setup didn\u2019t make me want to skip the paddle altogether.<\/p>\n Once inflated, setup was straightforward: I attached the elevated Solis Frame Seat (included), assembled the included five-piece paddle, and slid in the adjustable footrests. I grabbed my rod, gear bag, and PFD, of course, hopped in, and shoved off from shore. The whole process took me around 20 minutes to hit the water\u2014considerably less time than I thought it would for my maiden voyage.<\/p>\n This is where I expected the Argo Aero to lose me, but it didn\u2019t. The 41-inch-wide pontoon-style hull makes for a stable platform. I never felt that wobbly sensation that some kayaks\u2014and many inflatables\u2014can have. I was also impressed by its ample, \u201creal\u201d boat-like features, including bungee tie-downs, lash points, and even scuppers in the bottom of the hull designed to self-bail in rocky water. Bote also borrowed a few thoughtful touches from its paddleboard lineup, like MagnePod magnetic compatibility<\/a> that keeps your water bottle or tumbler from sliding around, plus Rac receivers<\/a> for quickly mounting accessories like rod holders, camera mounts, and other gear without resorting to a bunch of DIY rigging.<\/p>\n On the water, the Argo Aero tracked surprisingly well. Most inflatable kayaks, and even some paddleboards, \u201cwag\u201d from side to side when you paddle instead of holding a steady line. The Argo Aero didn\u2019t, especially when outfitted with the removable fin. Now, it doesn\u2019t paddle with quite the same efficiency or speed as a composite touring kayak, but that\u2019s not what this boat is trying to be. I got fairly blown around in windy conditions only because of the lightness of the hull. But on calm days on my local lake, I forgot it was inflatable within the first few minutes.<\/p>\n The standout feature is the Solis Frame Seat, which sits a bit higher on the deck than other seats on fishing kayaks. That elevated position improves visibility into the water and gives you a much better casting angle than the low, reclined seats found on many recreational kayaks. It also makes spending several hours on the water way more comfortable.<\/p>\n Casting a spin rod from a seated position felt natural, and I had no hesitation leaning over the side or behind me to grab gear. Standing up to cast felt surprisingly stable, too, as the pontoon sides provided something to anchor my feet against. Bote also included plenty of thoughtful rigging points for accessories, dry bags, and gear, so the kayak feels customizable without becoming cluttered.<\/p>\n After testing the kayak for about a month, I definitely recommend buying a rod holder. The first day I took my Argo Aero out, I forgot my Slide-In Rac Receivers<\/a> from my Bote paddleboard that I\u2019ve had for a few seasons. I got away with laying my spin rod down behind me with the butt of the rod underneath my seat, but I prefer to have a secure place for my gear, and now I always bring the Racs with me. Still, throughout that first paddle, I shifted my weight while reaching for tackle, changing lures, and repositioning my rod, and I never felt unsettled or like my rod would fall out.<\/p>\n At $1,499, the Argo Aero<\/a> isn\u2019t inexpensive. In fact, you can find budget hard-shell fishing kayaks<\/a> for a similar price. The difference is that those kayaks also require somewhere to store them and a way to transport them\u2014and even then, they don\u2019t include some of the extras (the paddle, bag, foot rests, etc.) that the Argo Aero does.<\/p>\n Will the Argo Aero replace a premium fishing kayak? No. Dedicated anglers who spend every weekend chasing fish in salt water or choppy conditions will probably still appreciate the speed and rigidity of a premium hard-shell. And while the Argo Aero is compatible with a wide range of Bote accessories, it doesn\u2019t come built-out to fish, so you\u2019ll need to purchase rod holders separately, which can be expensive ($30-$250 depending on which Rac systems<\/a> you go with). But if you\u2019ve avoided kayak fishing because you don\u2019t have a garage or trailer (or you\u2019ve simply gotten tired of wrestling one around) the Argo Aero makes a remarkably convincing argument that inflatable kayaks are way better than they used to be.<\/p>\n <\/div>\nBote Argo Aero Single Kayak<\/h2>\n
Inflated weight:<\/strong> 33 lbs
In-bag weight:<\/strong> 67.4 pounds<\/p>\n
+ Packs into a rolling bag\u2014no roof rack, trailer, or garage required
+ Lightweight and easy to transport solo
+ Elevated frame seat is comfortable and an easier casting angle
+ Generous accessory kit includes paddle, pump, seat, fin, repair kit, and bag
+ Feels surprisingly close to a hard-shell on calm water
+ Easier to inflate by hand than other inflatable water vessels<\/p>\n
\u2013 Doesn\u2019t paddle as quickly or efficiently as a hard-shell, especially in wind
\u2013 Rod holders and attachments need to be purchased separately
\u2013 $1,499 can be cost-prohibitive<\/p>\nSetup Is Surprisingly Painless<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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It Doesn\u2019t Feel Inflatable<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Built for Fishing, Not Just Floating<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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The Verdict<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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