Best Rafts For River 2021 – Rule the Waves With These 10

2. Bris 9.8ft Inflatable Raft – A Little Beast to Handle Class IV Rapids

BRIS Rafts produces a whole range of inflatable products. Their whitewater rafts range from 8.2 to 15 ft. One of their characteristic features is the price. They come at a very reasonable price considering the features they provide. The raft we have at hand is their 9.8 ft raft.

If you have a keen eye for rafting, the first thing you will notice about this raft is its rocker. It has a rocker of 25.5 inches, which is quite good for a raft under 10 ft. This enables it to handle some of the high waves effortlessly.

This raft has a construction of 2000 denier 1.2 mm thick PVC fabric. This makes the main tube and the bottom floor. Denier is the measure of the density of the fabric and anything above 1000 denier is durable and tear resistant. Drop-stitch floor has been a hit in inflatables for a while now as this makes the floor more rigid. BRIS also uses a drop-stitch floor which has 140 mm thickness. The tube diameter is 18 inches and it has seven chambers.

One of the major concerns in any raft is the seam where the main tube joins the floor. However, BRIS rafts use thermal welding to adjoin the seams. This makes them withstand different water conditions and varying temperatures.

3. Saturn 12 ft Light River Raft – Best River Raft for Beginners

This light river raft we have at hand is the upgraded version of previous Saturn light river raft at 12 feet. Saturn claims that it has 70% thicker bottom PVC cover which uses 1.5 mm PVC. It also has 40% thicker drop-stitch floor which has 1.3 mm PVC. Talking about the floor, the good thing about this floor is that it covers the whole bottom of the raft.

When it comes to construction, this raft has 1100 Dtex high-strength PVC fabric. This additionally has a coating on both sides of 0.9mm 1100 g/m2. This makes it highly tear resistant and gives it durability. Moreover, it has modified Halkey-Roberts Naru valves which have a pushpin. The overall tube diameter is 15″ and it has 3+2 air chambers.

This raft comes at a rating of class II+ rapids. However, we have used it on East Fork Carson River which has good class IV rapids and it handled quite well. It basically has a good rocker to punch through the waves. Nevertheless, it is stable enough to use it as a fishing raft.

Saturn 12’ has a weight capacity of 770 pounds. This means that you can have 3-4 persons on board and still have the capacity to have your gear. For comfort, this raft comes with two detachable thwarts, which you can use or remove according to your preference. The thwarts are rigid enough to provide good back support and fit snugly in the raft.

One of the notable features in this kayak is its weight which is only 50 pounds. This means you can easily carry it to your favorite rivers and lakes. What adds to easy handling are the bow and stern soft handles. It has also six D-rings for additional frame attachment.

In terms of accessories, this raft comes with a couple of paddles, a repair kit, and a carry bag. The paddles are two shorts for my liking and you might have to add new ones. However, the raft does have paddles holders on both sides.

4. BRIS 1.2mm 12 ft Inflatable River Raft – Best River Raft for Family Trips

BRIS 12 ft is the big brother of the BRIS 9.8 ft discussed earlier. This comes at a length of 12 ft and a width of 6 ft. The greater length gives it the ability to hold up to six adults. It has the ability to handle class V+ rapids and is essentially what you call a proper whitewater raft.

BRIS 12 ft uses 2000 denier PVC fabric which is 1.2 mm thick. This constitutes the bottom floor and main tube. Like most rafts on our list, this raft is also self-bailing. This means you do not have to worry about water accumulating in the raft. This river raft uses 18.5″ diameter tube. The boat itself weights at 100 pounds and has seven air chambers.

Drop-stitch floor technology has been a hit in inflatables. It essentially makes the floor rigid enough to stand on and was first used in paddleboards. BRIS rafts also have a 140 mm drop-stitch floor. This floor design adds stiffness and the additional rigidity enables the raft to cut through waves efficiently. This also adds to the speed of the raft.

BRIS 12 ft comes with 8 D-rings which are around the exterior of the raft. This allows for optional frame attachment. A grab rope runs through the D-rings. An all-around grab rope is a real help when you are in water and are trying to get on to the raft. There is also all-around strake protection which acts as an extra layer of protection against pointy objects.

Almost all of BRIS rafts feature a prominent rocker. In this raft, the rocker or bow/stern rise is of 27 inches. This gives it the potential to handle some of the higher waves easily. Last year, we packed it up and went for a weekend trip to West Virginia. It essentially handled the class IV rapids of Gauley River pretty well.

One of the improved features in BRIS rafts is their seams which now use thermal welding. They earlier used to have a glue for seams which were a concern. Now, this essentially means that it can handle all sorts of water conditions without tearing the seams apart.

In terms of accessories, the raft comes with two inflatable thwarts, which you can remove for additional storage. It also comes with a repair kit, a foot pump, and a carrying bag.

5. Bestway HydroForce Voyager 1000 – Best Inflatable Fishing Raft

Bestway makes is a well-known name in inflatables and has been in business since the 1990s. They attract a market share of as high as 34% of the inflatable market in Europe. This is a good indication of the quality they bring into the equation. Their product which makes our list is their HydroForce Voyager 1000 which is the biggest boat in their three-boat series.

Voyager 1000 has a construction of high-grade three-ply vinyl. This makes it abrasion and tear resistant. One of the characteristic features of vinyl is UV resistance. This means they can withstand direct sunlight and would not lose its composure and color. This boat basically has two air chambers. One chamber makes the sides and other the floor.

One of the notable features about this boat is its almost flat construction. This means it has literally no rocker. The main attribute this flat design imparts is stability. However, it also just makes it limited to flat water bodies like lakes and slow-moving rivers.

When it comes accessories, it has a couple of 60″ aluminum paddles. It also comes with a repair patch, a storage bag, and an inflation pump. This boat essentially has a weight of around 33 pounds and this means you can easily carry it to and from the waters. You can also secure your paddles in oarlocks on board which is a good convenience to have. This boat additionally has a couple of fishing rod holders.

6. BRIS 15ft Inflatable Whitewater River Raft – Best Raft for Rafting Guides

One of the reasons BRIS rafts are my favorite rafts around is the excellent price they come at. They provide great quality at an unbelievably low price. I often get asked how they can be so affordable in this quality. The only answer I can think of is that BRIS sales the rafts themselves, there are no dealers involved. This is their third product that makes my list. This is because frankly, it is hard to go around them when talking about good rafts.

BRIS 15ft is the biggest raft in their raft series. It essentially has the same construction as other rafts on the series. The main tube and bottom floor fabric have a construction of 2000 denier PVC fabric which is 1.2 mm thick. The tuber diameter is good 20″.

This raft is great for you if you are a rafting guide as it can hold up to 12 adults. It also has five pairs of foot straps on board which add an extra level of safety in heavy rapids. Additionally, on sides, it has extra patches of rubber which make the sides less slippery.

This BRIS raft also has a drop-stitch floor, which is 140 mm thick. The main attribute of drop-stitch is the stiffness and stability it adds to the floor. This floor is also self-bailing. It also has all-around strake protection which adds protection for the raft against rocks and pointy objects.

On the outside, it has 12 D-rings and an all-around grab rope which runs through them. D-rings are essential for attaching an optional frame. It also has six soft handles which help in its transport.

Like other BRIS rafts in our list, it also uses Halkey Roberts valves. HR valves are the go-to values in most inflatables. They are efficient in that they have a quarter-turn lock and this reduces the chance of air leakage.

This raft also has pressure-release valves. These valves release air pressure if it reaches a threshold. Air pressure can increase if the raft is in use or in the sun and this essentially can damage the tubes.

7. Saturn 13′ Inflatable Raft – Best inflatable River Raft

Saturn makes all kinds of inflatable boats and their river rafts are their trademark products. Amongst river rafts, this 13-feet raft is their best-selling product. This is because it comes at an in-between size for river rafts. This enables it to not only handle heavy rapids but also go through tight spots. Saturn Rafts also provides a number of color options.

Like the Saturn 9.6 ft raft earlier in the list, it also has a construction of 1100 Dtex PVC fabric. At 1100 Dtex, it has good durability, and tear and puncture resistance. If you have ever owned a raft, you would know that it is the seam that often comes apart. However, Saturn rafts have strong seams because they use cold welding for seams in addition to a chemical glue. It has a tube diameter of 17.6″.

Saturn rafts have a drop-stitch floor like any good raft nowadays. This five-layer floor is stiff and rigid and gives the raft stability in low water conditions. Saturn claim after the floor revision in 2017, it gives provides 70% more protection.

In inflatables, air valves direct, regulate and control the flow of air. Saturn 13 ft uses C7 Leafield valves which have a smooth and low profile. C7 valves have a seal which wipes seal surface during operation and this reduces dirt contamination. Because of their smooth outer surface, C7 valves do not snug with other materials.

With this raft, you will get detachable thwarts, a repair kit, and a carrying bag. However, it does not come with an air pump or a set of paddles. Nevertheless, you can use any mattress pump for its inflation.

8. BRIS 1.2mm 13ft Inflatable Raft – A Feature-Rich River Raft

This next raft which makes our list is the BRIS’s 13 ft inflatable raft. It comes at a width of 6.2 ft and can hold up to eight adults. When it comes to the size of raft, 13 ft is a size which promises a lot. It is big enough to handle those heavy waves and still agile enough to get through those tight constraints.

Just like other BRIS rafts, this raft also has a making of 2000 denier PVC fabric which is 1.2 mm thick. This configuration makes the main tube and bottom of the raft. The overall tube diameter is 18.8 inches and it has seven chambers. BRIS now also uses thermal welding seams which makes seams strong.

This raft also has a drop-stitch floor which is 140 mm thick. Drop-stitch technology makes the floor more rigid and stiff. This makes the floor stable enough to stand on it. Moreover, this floor is self-bailing which means it prevents water from accumulating in the raft.

On the exterior, BRIS 13 ft has 10 D-rings which help with additional frame attachment. It also has six soft handles on the outside. These handles help with easy transport and getting into the raft.

9. Intex Mariner 4 Inflatable River Raft – A Versatile River Raft

Intex makes a variety of inflatable including airbeds, boats and above-ground pools. Their product which makes our list is the Intex Mariner 4 which is a four-person inflatable boat. There is also Mariner 3 in this series and that can hold three persons on board.

This raft makes our list for being versatile. Its features enable you to use it as a fishing boat and go on recreational trips. Nevertheless, you can also use it for up to class III river rafting. Additionally, this raft has points for attaching a motormount kit. This enables you to attach a trolling motor giving you an inflatable raft with a motor, which is cool.

When it comes to construction, it is like a whitewater raft, which means it consists of three layers. It has a polyester layer which is between two thick PVC layers. However, it also has a vinyl layer on top making it abrasion and UV resistant. The key attribute which makes this boat very stable is the hard floor.

Moving on, Mariner 4 has two fishing rod holders and two 360-degree oarlocks. This means that you can rotate oarlocks to varying degrees and can lock them according to your preference. On the outside, it also two grab handles, one each at the bow and stern, for carrying and handling.

Mariner comes at a capacity of 800 pounds and claims to hold up to four adults. However, I would say having four adults on board would make it congested. It is better to have two adults and two kids for an easy ride.

10. Intex Excursion 5 Inflatable Raft – Best Recreational River Raft

Intex has been in business for more than forty years. They produce a variety of inflatable products. Intex Excursion 5 is by far their best-selling boat. This is an entry-level inflatable boat which is great for a fun day on the water with family and friends. Whether you love fishing, paddling or just float around the river, Excursion 5 has you covered.

It has a durable PVC vinyl construction which is puncture resistant. Moreover, it has an inflatable I-beam floor which gives it stability and rigidity. Like Mariner 4, it uses Double Quick pump with Boston valves and you can inflate it in around 10 minutes. It basically has three air chambers with an auxiliary air chamber. The auxiliary chamber adds an extra level of safety as it can keep you afloat alone.

Excursion 5 has four fishing holders, which are not strong enough to hold a heavy bass, but they count. On the outside, it also has two pairs of welded oar locks for securing your oars. By the way, Excursion 5 does come with 54-inch aluminum oars. It additionally has a gear pouch, where you can put your valuables like cell phone and wallet.

Excursion 5 is not easy to paddle with people on board. However, it has motor mounting points on the back and you can add a trolling motor of up to 1.5 horsepower. It also has an all-around grab rail which helps in carrying it to and from water.

Additionally, Excursion 5 comes with inflatable seats with backrests which are not much to talk about. I think with seats on board you would not have much space. Therefore, as it has a rigid floor, I would recommend removing the seats.