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Pros
Light, maneuverable, durable, tough, looks good, comfortable, good
storage, very stable, dirt-cheap price.
Cons
Heavy when full of water, for a brief moment, before all the water
bails out.
The Bottom Line
If you want something that performs like the big boys, but is priced
like the cheapo's, this is the IK for you.
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Full Review |
This inflatable kayak
is awesome as far as performance, I love this thing. It is really maneuverable. You can turn fast, paddle upriver, or paddle in a
straight line, all with ease. As you go through a rapid, it only feels
more stable. The self bailing works really well, especially if you are
moving fast. The ONLY time I get concerned, is in huge rapids, when
the boat fills up with water 1/2 way down the rapid, and the kayak
feels a little heavy and sluggish...but then as soon as you are
through the rapid, all the water is bailed. Bow and stern float bags
should greatly reduce the amount of water that can come in, and in
turn, reduce the amount of time to fully bail the water, and really,
this is the only feature this kayak lacks when compared to Aire and
other highly priced IK's. But you can get float bags for way less than
the difference in price!
The kayak is very comfortable for me. I have a 34" waist, and it's a
little tight, but not uncomfortably tight at all. I guess someone with
a really large waist could be uncomfortable. The foot rest can be put
in 2 different places, mine is the farthest from the seat (closest to
the bow)...and at 6 ft 1, this is the perfect length for me...I would
guess you wouldn't want to be much taller than about 6 ft 4.
The thigh straps are awesome. I have flipped over once in this kayak,
and the thigh straps held me in while I was upside down. I do not yet
know how to roll back over, so I just straightened my legs and I came
right out of the straps...so basically they only hold you in if you
want them to...which is perfect.
I have yet to have a single problem with punctures, holes,
patches.....the outer hull material is really strong, and I just don't
see anything poking through the outer layer, all the way into the
bladder...it would have to be something like a knife.
The seat is great. Other IK's are starting to copy this seat design.
It folds up small for storage, yet has great lower back support, and
has a velcro latching pouch in the back, and two side pouches that
close with a draw string. Also, the gear bag that comes with this
kayak, folds up and fits nicely in the back pouch.
Another feature that is not often disclosed, is that the self-bailing
holes have plugs built in, that you can put in or out...so if you are
going on flat water, and want to stay dry, they work..I went fishing
and didn't get my jeans or shoes wet.
Two of these kayaks, deflated, will fold up and fit in the trunk of a
Honda Civic Coupe, or any hatch back....with room to spare.
It is really hard for me to think of anything about this kayak that I
don't like...and the one con I list below, is probably true with
anything that is self-bailing. I highly recommend this kayak for
someone who has never been on water, all the way up to someone who has
paddled for years. I have taken mine on some serious class 3 rapids,
and a few class 4's at lower water...and if I was ever in doubt...it
was about my skills...not the performance of the kayak.
Recommended
Yes
Ease Of Use: Excellent
Recommended Use: All-Purpose
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