Folding boats have the advantage of easy portability and storage. A folding kayak is a collapsable boat made of fabric stretched over either a wood or aluminum frame. Their initial price is usually on the expensive end of the spectrum, but they tend to last longer than a typical hardshell and their resale price usually remains higher. Foldables are remarkably tough, flexible, stable and seaworthy, but the general consensus is that they lack a bit of the speed and performance of a hardshell. Like wood boats, folding kayaks bring a sense of nostalgia with them, as they carry on the traditional construction of past North American native cultures.
Inflatable boats offer terrific portability and ease of storage.
They can generally be the least expensive kayaking option. I ve been using an inflatable for years and I appreciate how easy it is to get it to the water and back. After it dries off, I just store it in the basement. But, as important as the structural makeup of the boat is, kayaks are typically classified as to the type of boating they are designed to do. Boats built for long distance touring are radically different from boats built for whitewater activity.