20 Best Lightweight Kayak For Seniors (2023 Updated)

I took this kayak out on Crane Prairie Reservoir for about 2. 5 hours of paddling, and even though the wind picked up quite often, I stayed comfortable and dry the entire time. This is my fourth Pelican kayak, and like all Pelicans, it is durable, lightweight, comfortable, and reassuringly stable.

This is a very basic kayak – almost no frills. It features a drink holder on the “dash” that is a bit of a reach when seated, and one down between the legs that is convenient but will be exposed to the sun and warm up in the summer.

There is a storage area in a water-resistant (not waterproof) hatch on the back. The hatch is nice because it doesn’t simply dump gear down in the hull, but it is quite small. On this kayak, I really missed any feature that could secure my paddle – a feature on all of my other kayaks.

Make sure you have a paddle that floats with this one! I own a kayak tether, and there wasn’t even a great place to attach the tether if I’d wanted to. The seat is simply shaped into the hull, with a foam pad on the bottom and a flexible plastic back rest with the angle set by adjustable side straps, as often found on these simple kayaks.

Seats on Pelican kayaks are comfortable, and this one is no exception. Also, at a mere 38 pounds in weight, loading and unloading this thing was a cinch. It has carrying handles on the front and rear for a team-carry, but I had no trouble handling it alone and I’m a pretty small guy.

Additionally, for lakes shared with motorboats, the construction-cone orange-red color of this kayak should prevent high-speed boaters from failing to see you! For the price, this is a great kayak. It is just right for traveling light and paddling on the lake in safety.

If you’re looking for a kayak for fishing or packing camping gear, this is not the right choice, and you’ll probably want to spend another $100-200 for those features.

Overall this kayak is great! It’s beautiful, lightweight, and I was able to go much faster than others around me. I took it out this week on a very calm river. When the wind picked up and caused a little bit of chop in the water, it bounced over the small waves and began to feel a little unstable.

It did not break waves very well, but that’s not what this kayak is really meant for anyway. When the water was calm, it tracked very straight. My biggest complaint is that they didn’t even try to make the front compartment or the exo-shell watertight, which makes them kind of pointless.

They could’ve easily made them with rubber gaskets and they’d be great for waterproof storage, but the front hatch is literally just a loose plastic lid held in place by the bungee cord. And the exo-shell container is just thin plastic that loosely clamshells together with no rubber or anything to keep it straight or watertight.

Very disappointing as even my husband’s cheap Walmart kayak has watertight storage compartments. Also, because the plastic is black, so in the sun it gets HOT and will heat up your water bottles and melt your M&Ms 🙁 The seat is comfortable for the first few hours.

I have a pretty bony back though, so after about 2-3 hours it was a bit uncomfortable where my spine was rubbing against the back of the seat. The leg padding and thigh guards are nice. I do wish the paddle that came with the kayak was a bit longer.

I believe its 226 cm. I’m a 5’4” female and that just felt too short for me. A couple inches longer would’ve make Paddling much easier. I didn’t take on much water while Paddling, maybe a cup total that drained out easily when finished.

There was a small amount of water in the hatch and exoshell too from waves splashing. Overall though, it’s a nice kayak for the price, and its design is very beautiful! I’d purchase it again, perhaps if it was on sale so I could buy a longer paddle for about the same price.

Have paddled this kayak on two rivers (Paint Rock and Flint) and one lake with ease. Although not a super fast kayak, it moves fast enough for paddling upstream on shallow rivers. It’s easy to maneuver around boulders and fallen trees.

Because I scrape the bottom of the shallow rivers here during a drought (6’1”, 230 lbs), I taped the keel and chines with waterproof “gorilla tape” to prevent punctures and deep scrapes of the hull. I paid $228 plus tax for this Pelican Clipper 100X kayak from Walmart on 9 July 2022 and ridden it half a dozen times.

I have used my Old Town Vapor 10 a few years now. I would have to say it’s a little heavy/bulky for a 5 foot 3 inch woman although I’ve used it in all kinds of water like still lakes, moving rivers and ocean bays.

In a river with a harsh current, If you’re not careful, sometimes the back end likes to go first. Have dragged it over rocks, rammed it into underwater trees and rocks and it only has some scratches on the bottom.

Very sturdy kayak and stable for the most part. I suggest you do not leave it in the back of a pickup truck in very hot sun for long periods of time, it will warp. Although mine did straighten back out when laid on the ground.

It has spent many many hours on the water, traveled to many different states, and has served me and my dog well. I did add extra kayak straps and hooks to the front of mine to haul my dry bag. Was very easy to do.

Seat is not the most comfortable but a foam cushion attached to the seat with a very small bungee cord works wonders. Keep a bilge pump strapped in somewhere because if you ever flip this thing you’re going to need it.

It’s not the fastest kayak by any means but maneuvers pretty well in all kinds of water.

I purchased this Vapor 10 used a couple of months ago. It’s a 2015 model. I’ve added some features to it to make it even better. Fishing rod holders, bungees to close in the stern day well, side handles, and a bungee paddle holder.

I’m also going to add a drain plug at the stern since the location of the one that came with the boat is in a really odd place. It’s impossible to drain all of the water out of the craft with the drain plug location.

I will add bungees to the bow of the boat as well. I love this kayak because it has such a large cockpit. I’m able to take my dog with me on my adventures. I did add a yoga mat to the bottom of the craft so my dog doesn’t slip on the bottom.

Overall, I’m very pleased with the Vapor 10. It construction is great especially since it’s one solid piece instead of two put together like so many other brands. Old Town did a great job in designing the introductory kayak.

My only complaint is the location of the drain hole/plug.

I bought a Lifetime Payette and then got the Vapor 10 to replace it and WOW what a difference. This boat is well worth the money. The feature I like the most and all my other kayak buddies are jealous of is the two notches in the gunnels to hold your paddle while you do things like get a drink from your cooler.

The boat is lightweight and easy to carry and load on top of my truck. It handles great on flat water as well as small rivers. Good job Old Town!!.

Tarpon 105 Review Last weekend I went kayaking with my family with the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 105 kayak. I kayak a lot but usually with a different kayak. This time I just wanted to try a different kayak.

When I first started paddling the kayak, I realized that it seemed a little heavier than some of the other kayaks I have paddled. Because of this extra weight, it was a little harder to paddle. It felt like I was paddling a barge.

It just felt really heavy and slow. Another thing was the handling of the kayak. It was very hard to keep going in one direction. It felt like with every paddle it would go the opposite direction of where I wanted to go.

However, there were a few good things about the kayak. The seat was very comfortable. It was the best kayak seat I have ever sat on. Another positive thing is the stability. Usually when getting into a kayak it will wobble a little bit and I would have to find some balance and then get into the kayak.

In this kayak, I could sit down with relative ease. Overall, I would say that there definitely are some positives and negatives about this kayak but for me the negatives outweigh the positives.

I bought my Tarpon 105 from Black Creek Outfitters in Jacksonville in 2021. I love the light weight and size. It’s easy to load and transport. It is very comfortable. Tracks great. Really unexpectedly great tracking considering the size of the boat.

I have had a major problem with mine. The straps that hold the back of the seat have broken twice now. The first time, the place I bought it replaced them for free. Now they are out of business and the Wilderness System website says they don’t make the part anymore which is puzzling since stores are still selling this boat.

I am searching for at least a replacement strap. At best a new seat. I would not recommend it until this strap problem is correct.

Handles nicely and the tracking is great. Love the multi-adjustment seat, secured tackle box, and magnetized bottle holder. It would be really nice if scupper hole plugs came with it for all that money.

Thanks for enclosing the holes under the seat tho. There’s no way to secure anything in the front dry well. A friend of mine has a 2018 Tarpon 100 that has eyelets in the dry well so you can at least clip something in.

All in all it’s a really nice kayak and I’m loving it. Thanks Appomattox River Company for your Covid-19 safety precautions when loading my kayak.

Lightweight! Glides easily in the water. There is a removable skeg/fin that snaps in with no locking mechanism. I would think it would pop off if grounded, but it did not. Read items that are shipped as it does not come with a pump or bag, I have one from another kayak.

You will need two nozzles to inflate. The main three plugs are NOT screw plugs and simply push in. Tough to release if your hands are wet. The top end sections to inflate are silly and only hold a bit of air.

If the small air release tubes are still in plug from shipping, remove them immediately so the inner flap closes on its own. Do not store with those tubes inserted, but keep them handy for deflation.

The seats stay secure with the adjustable buckles. Dog goes in and out with ease and nails do not puncture. The walls are high and seats low so it is more canoe than kayak when paddling. The oars have a lot more weight than expected and the connections unscrew during use.

Bonus, there is a drain plug to release water when packing it up. Recommend blowing up and leaving for a day or two to determine if any leaks prior to arriving at the water. Mine did NOT have any issues or require special accommodations.

Good pice of Kayak. As an inflatable Kayak it is stable, I used so far two time. While buying you need to think about your size and weight. For average person it is really good. My son (11 yr, approx 38Kg) loved it.

He was kayaking himself, it was great.

I purchased this product and had lower expectations due to the price. I was pleasantly surprised when the item arrived in two days. Set up was a breeze and only took about 10 minutes with a hand air pump.

The boat is sturdy and easily and comfortably fit two adults. This is a great recreational toy and serves its purpose. I wouldn’t recommend taking it in roaring rapids or extreme conditions, but a nice trip on the lake or a calm river is perfect for this kayak.

I have had 2 of these for several years now. Although they aren’t an extremely efficient boat to paddle, they are very durable and perfect for smaller water, for kids and for people just starting out with kayaking.

At this price, you can’t go wrong! The customer service from lifetime is also outstanding! One of my hatch covers flew off while transporting the boats. lifetime quickly and easily sent me a new cover at my request!.

I am very disappointed in this Lifetime Daylite 8 foot kayak. I should have heeded the other reviews better before purchasing! I went kayaking 10. 5 miles down the Powell river with my family, and had to paddle with all I had the whole time just to keep in sight of the others.

It doesn’t glide smoothly like the, say, Lifetime Tahoma. As soon as I stopped paddling it slowed way down and just went the speed of the river instead of continuing to glide. I think this is due to the shape of the kayak; it points in the front and is blunt in the back.

Just lacks that pointing edge that cuts through the water. It felt like it was dragging along. My 16 year old brother, who is normally toward the front of the party of kayakers, tried it out for the last bit, and instantly fell way behind.

What should have been a fun Saturday afternoon was near exhausting. I’ve kayaked/canoed 34 miles of river this year, so it’s not like I don’t know what I’m talking about. I haven’t tried this on a lake, so that may be a different and better scenario.

Hopefully it is! So, needless to say, I’m returning this (thank you to Walmart for letting me!) and I plan to get either the Lifetime Tahoma, (my brother and sister have those, and I’ve tried them compared to the Daylite; they’re great) or the Lifetime Tamarack Angler even thought it’s much more expensive.

I think it will be worth it!.

Disappointed beyond belief in this purchase. The first time I carried the kayak using the handles, the back handle popped out. I figured it just needed to be screwed in – that’s how it is designed, the handle is attached by rope to a plastic screw and it screws into a hole in the front and back of the kayak.

I reattached the handle, screwing it in tightly. The second time I used the kayak, the same thing happened. It popped right out. It’s a very inexpensive kayak, all we wanted was to tool around the lake for an hour.

It works fairly well in that regard. The seat backs are hard as a rock and we had to purchase extra cushioning. The foot rests and molded and set, so if your feet reach in between the rests, you are out of luck.

Either your legs will be too bend, or straight. Both are unacceptable. Fortunately the added back cushion helped me reach a proper foot rest. The paddles are very short. Other designs for Lifetime kayaks have the handles self-attached to a molded notch in the boat which eliminates the need for a plastic screw in handle.

I contacted Lifetime and they were great with another issue we had with the same kayak, which we had to return. They sent us another kayak but it was a different model and is dangerously close to the weight limit of the person using it.

It was also missing pieces which they sent us in the mail. The whole spring passed with us waiting for pieces that should have come with the kayak in the first place. Not sure if this is WalMart’s fault or Lifetime ‘s.

I contacted Lifetime about my handle falling out and I have not heard anything yet. I suspect they will send me some kind of maritime glue and I don’t really have any confidence whatsoever that the fix they suggest will last.

The handle design is such a joke. Don’t buy this kayak. I know there are a lot of positive reviews but it was no fun carrying a kayak both times I used it and having a 40 lb kayak crash to my feet out of nowhere.

Plastic on plastic screw in handle design is ridiculous.

For it’s size and price, it is an awesome kayak made by a great company. I had to replace seat and webbing which had oxidized in 4 years and broke. No problem, they stood behind their warranty and shipped me new parts.

It is light and easy to launch and retrieve from a medium sized boat. Great for shorter trips but I am 6’7 and 220lbs and the seat isn’t the most comfortable when I am out for 2 hours at a time on the ocean.

But for less than $300, I wasn’t expecting luxury seating. Tracking is not very good, but I just make up for it by paying more attention. My son at 5’10” and 145lbs has no problem whatsoever and has loved it over the 6 years we have owned it.

I bought this kayak for my young adult son who paddled a little too hard and snapped the paddle in half the second time he used it. I emailed customer service and they responded right away. I received a sturdy replacement paddle in the mail less than a week later.

Exceeded my expectations!.

I had a broken strap the holds the seat up. I contacted the company to see if they could help me find a replacement. Guess what? They had one in stock and sent it to me for free! What great customer service.

I loved my kayak before, and now I love the company! Thanks!.

We bought two Pelican Mustang 100x kayaks with plans to take them on quiet lakes. I’ve been kayaking in other people’s heavy, large tandem kayaks, but these were our first purchases for personal use and we’re very happy with them! Cockpit room: We’re 5’8″ and 5’2″ with medium builds.

We easily carried them to the shore with a person holding the grip at each end. We each felt comfy once settled inside, and found good positions using the lineup of molded footrests. I thought the padded seat was great and had no issues after five hours on the water.

My partner has less built-in rear end padding, so he wants to buy an additional donut cushion. Handling: When I reached an arm out over the water while seated, the kayak resisted, tipped a little to the side and kept its balance.

Once I returned to normal position, it was level and very stable. I made tight turns and stops with no issues. It felt like sitting in a patio chair which happened to float. Storage: The Exopod & rear hatch were roomy & convenient.

We knew they weren’t waterproof from reading about the Mustang, so brought our own dry bags to stash inside with keys, wallets, etc. A small insulated lunch tote fit in front of my feet, and my phone (sealed in a waterproof bag with lanyard) was either sitting in the holder at the front of the cockpit or in my hands.

Paddling experience: We tried 210 cm paddles, but 230 and 240 work better for us because shorter ones can tap against the edges of the cockpit if you get too wild. The Mustang 100X isn’t really built for speed, but we had a little friendly competition.

We brought bilge sponges because we splashed a lot and got some water in the bottom, but nothing major. There’s a handy little dent on both sides of the cockpit to rest the paddle after vanquishing your opponent.

😉 The color assortment of Field & Stream and Chute paddles that Dick’s carries complements these kayaks perfectly. I got neon yellow to go with my aqua and lime green kayak – it would be easier to see if I accidentally tossed it into a murky lake.

Summary: The Pelican Mustang 100X is perfect for new kayakers who are nervous about tipping over and want to stay in flat water. It holds all of your essential gear and looks fabulous. The very attractive blue, orange and green/blue color choices are accented by the black triangular Exopod, hatch cover and elastic cording with a white hull.

If I could change anything, it would be the hull color, because after bumping into a few cypress knees and soaking in algae-filled lakes, that pristine white might not look so fresh. We plan to use these a lot, so we will find out!.

I bought two of these mustangs about a year ago. The strength of this model is its tracking — it goes in a straight line very well. You can actually feel/see the kayak correcting itself as it glides through the water after a thrust of the paddle.

Another strength of this model is its capacity. Most of the Pelicans I am aware of have a capacity of about 250-275 pounds, while the Mustang has a capacity of 300 pounds. The rear tank well also allows you to strap in gear.

I put a big tripping pack in the rear with another pack in between my legs in the cockpit, simulating gear for an overnight or multi-day trip. It all fit well enough. A third advantage is how light it is.

I think it’s about 36 pounds, which is less than the weight of other sit-on kayaks (this is a sit-in kayak). The only disadvantage I see with this model is the fact that the rear tank well tends to take on water easily.

On a lake with a lot of motorboat wake, you end up with a small to medium amount of water in the tank well, and you can’t empty it. Other reviewers indicate you end up with a lot of water if you do white-water kayaking (granted, this model is for slow water and lakes, so it’s not really fair to assess it based on a whitewater experience).

Pelican came out with a model that addressed the Mustang’s tendency to take on water. This was the Argo 100, which featured scupper (drainage) holds in the tank well. However, the Argo did not track well at all when I tried it out.

I would rather take on Mustang water and than paddle the Argo.

I wanted to go kayaking in my neighborhood lake, and since my husband wasn’t too interested, I wanted one I could load and handle by myself, and that didn’t cost too much. This fit the bill perfectly.

I am 58 YO, 145lbs and 5’8”, and I can load and unload it easily from our pick-up. I could not carry it the 200 yards to the lake access from the parking lot, but I bought a little kayak cart which easily solved that problem.

(Although light, the kayak is long and bulky). The kayak is stable, tracks straight, and coasts pretty well when you stop paddling. (It will feel like it stops dead but if you watch a leaf or cottonwood fuzz floating on the water you can see that you are still moving away from it when you stop paddling.

). I would have liked an open sit-on-top one, but they were heavier. My legs fit well underneath so it’s no issue. Buy a $10 dry bag for the rear if you need to keep something completely dry. If it’s just a jacket and stuff it’s probably fine unless you’re in big waves.

Definitely a great first kayak for gentle lake conditions. Be gentle pulling out the plug to drain, bc you could snap it off as one reviewer said. Jiggle it out gently side-to-side.

Meh I bought these because thanks to pandemic buying and a plastic shortage, kayaks at a reasonable price are scarce. These I believe are overpriced. I also wanted them to fit in my Crosstour, which they do, so that’s a plus.

They’re not too heavy, 38lbs I think. My daughter and I stack 2 in the hatch, tie them in & go. They track poorly. I have trouble staying straight at all. I paddle hard & sometimes don’t get very far at all, so I’m getting a workout.

Definitely for flat calm water, which is fine, but don’t plan on getting anywhere in a hurry. Comfy for the most part but my feet fall in between 2 rests so I just keep my legs flat. I’m going to want a better boat soon.

DO NOT ORDER ONLINE!!!! I ordered this two pack and one was delivered with a hole in the hull. I called Lifetime because all the paperwork says to contact them. Lifetime said this was Sam’sClub’s problem because it hadn’t been over 30 days since purchase.

I’ve contacted Sam’sClub 4 times about this issue. Each time I’m told they are escalating my problem, and then nothing happens! So I’m stuck with a broke kayak, and both the seller, and the manufacturer are NOT HELPFUL AT ALL!!! KAYAK Review: I got this kayak because it was 8ft.

I am 6 ft tall, when I am on this thing it feels extremely small. The leg positions is not comfortable. I wish that I would have gotten a 10ft one. Also: These sit on top Kayaks have holes in them. to help with balance, buoyancy, drainage, ect.

It would be fine if the holes were in the front and back only. BUT NO, they put two of them right where you sit. I don’t expect to stay completely dry when in water, but I don’t want to have a wet butt every time! The moment you get in you will have water on your seat, and therefore you will be sitting in wet the whole time, and after! Third-Party companies do make plugs for this.

I recommend buying some before you even try these.

We bought these boats to use on a local creek where we needed maneuverability and stability, and these boats provide both. Weakness includes: – hard seats and no lower back support – wet bums, when the water overflows the bow or back flows through the floor drains on rougher water.

– not so straight tracking, need to deep paddle to correct this.

IšverstiShow in original languageI bought this Kayak about a year and a half ago. I have been very happy with it and enjoy it often on a nearby river. Very solid and easy to use! To make it even better, I recently broke a small clamp that holds the back seat strap to the side of the kayak.

After looking online and trying to find a part number so I could order a replacement and not being able to find a number, I went to Lifetime website and used chat. Not only was there representative Adam able to find the correct part but he sent it to me free.

What a surprise! So I am very happy and if I buy another kayak in the future, it will be a Lifetime. My only negative was that the paddle included is not very good so after replacing it I was set! Thanks Lifetime!.

IšverstiShow in original languageI bought this yak earlier in the year. Due to the pandemic kayaks are hard to find in Alabama, probably everywhere. I love this thing. Went out with my brother and friends and they HATED the rental kayak.

Old Town? Anyway we came back and bought another. I did have to purchase the gray piece that goes to the seat. Not sure if it was ever there but no big deal. I also purchased a dry bag compartment and replacement for the storage area.

The original lid actually fits over the replacement for double closure. LOL. Have had it on rapids. smaller ones. Drove through like a tank.

I was excited to see that the kayak rental on our vacation had these available since I have been watching them all summer. We rented them for 2 days, and between our whole family probably kayaked more than 20 miles around a lake.

We have a short bed pickup, so transporting is difficult, and we also have limited storage space, but do not want inflatables. The Lifetime Hydros is a good value, especially at Farm and Fleet’s sale prices.

All 3 of my kids, ages 10-16 were able to take turns. The 16 year old was also able to kayak comfortably with a 5 year old in front of her, both wearing lifevests of course. A little water does get in through the scupper holes, but these things are stable to get in and out of and to row.

The only downside is that they are not very fast on the water. The fastest I was able to go downstream on the lake was about 6 or 7 mph if Strava is accurate. It felt slow, and they don’t really track the straightest.

For the price, they are a good buy in spite of that, they just won’t win any races unless they are all the same model. There’s nothing better than floating on water without the noise of an engine or smell of gasoline when you want peace and quiet.

Extremely light kayak. Paddle is the only reason i down graded it from a 5 star. However i bought a new one. i bought it for my younger brother so he could kayak fish with me. we’ve had a lot of fun and he loves it.

Our favorite part about this kayak is the weight. It is so light and maneuverable. We set the hook like we on a fiberglass boat and havent tipped it yet. If youre debating on kayak fishing or kayaking in general buy this one.

if you want a slight upgrade minus the benefit of it being so light weight look at the tioga angler. it has a better paddle and i love it.

This is Perfect for what I needed. A cheap two person kayak for a small pond. Beware: this kayak will go all over the place if there is even a hint of wind. Also if you hook a fish, the fish will pull you around.

It is very light, but you really can’t beat the price. It works perfect for fishing in a small pond and I would definitely recommend it for that. Don’t buy this if you plan to use it on a lake or anywhere that has any wind at all, you will be carried away wherever the wind wants to take you.

Lastly, pumping it up takes around 15 minutes and taking it down takes about 10. So it’s pretty fast and you can use the seat straps to tie it all together when taking it down. Overall, this is the perfect kayak for 2 people looking to reach areas of a small pond or just relax in a small pond, but if there is a little wind then be prepared to be fighting it all day.

I bought this so I could pack it in my SUV when we went camping and blow it up at the site! It worked great and held both me and my boyfriend and together we weighed right at the maximum weight and it worked well.

Only thing is we couldn’t get the fin off after using it so it’s still on there. Be sure it’s dry before packing it away or it will mildew and mold!! Otherwise great buy!!.

Don’t pay much more than 100 for this. I paid 102 approx. You might think you are going to ride the seven seas and go fishing etc. In reality you are going to have lots of fun on very calm water- inland or very calm seas.

My wife has just found out that you need a license to paddle on inland waters,so life as always ,might not be as simple as you think. No surprise there! I need to look into the license thing in the UK.

I have had mine for 2 years now. The first year I paddled 8-10 miles per trip. It has a comfortable seat, holds quite a bit of gear (use dry bags) tracks fairly well and is pretty fast for a wide boat.

I have no problem keeping up with my buddy that has a 12′ Perception and keep up no problem, until the wind starts to blow, then I have to work harder to keep up. It’s a very stable boat. I added rod holders and a spray skirt to stay dry during cold paddles.

Adding the spray skirt was problematic, because the comb doesn’t roll over enough to hold the skirt, but a little American ingenuity and I’m good to go.

So excited to receive my new kayak. Did extensive research looking for a lighter, yet well designed boat, in my price range. I’ve been kayaking for a little over a year, in a Lifetime Zenith 100, which I still love, but am passing it on to my brother for his introduction to kayaking.

My sister owns an Old Town Puffin and during our several trips on the Rock River in Illinois and on the Mississippi, it was very hard for me to keep up in my Zenith. During these trips observing her boat, I was impressed by the many qualities of the Old Town brand.

Tried out my new Heron 9XT, in the Photic color, which is so pleasing to my eye, on Lake Carlton in northern Illinois. A perfect place to experiment. At first I felt a little “wiggly “, but quickly realized it was my core balance getting used to the different type hull.

About 20 minutes later, it was like the boat was a part of me. So responsive to shift in weight and paddling! Love the attention to detail in all the features. Seat, thigh pads , CUP HOLDER ! (perfect for me.

), gasket around hatch with indented hand accesses and rounded edges! Easy on the hands. I’m a 65 year old female, 180 lbs and 5’5″. The cockpit is smaller than my other boat, but for me, that’s a plus.

Has a cozier feel. Really like that the seat is separate (not molded in) from the boat, in the event I would want or need to replace it. I expect this boat to be my best buddy for a long time to come.

I bought this boat with the intention of paddling solo on occasional camping trips and paddling it solo with my dog on day trips (and maybe occasionally using as a tandem). I quickly realized that this is far too much boat for that purpose.

I am 5’8″ and weigh about 130lbs and my dog is a tall 60lb standard poodle mix. I need a large cockpit for the length of my dog, but the cockpit on the Twin Heron is far too large. The dog would have room to roam and I would not be able to reach him from the rear seat if he was standing at the front of the cockpit.

I subtracted a star because this boat is marketed as good for solo with a dog, but it seems like way too much boat for that. The front seat is very difficult to remove. Apparently, the thumbscrews have changed from previous year models and these ones necessitated using a wrench to unscrew.

Even after a few turns, the screws could not be turned by hand. Customer Service offered to send some of the older thumb screws, but I have not received them yet to compare. I even asked my strong nephew to attempt the thumbscrews to make sure it wasn’t just a strength issue, but he was also unable to get them to budge.

I subtracted another star for the thumbscrew issue. The back seat cannot adjust forward, so the massive size of the cockpit cannot be mitigated. I rented a 14. 5ft Perception tandem last year and was able to easily slide the front seat back to be paddled solo.

After the hassle with the thumbscrews, the marketing referring to this type of seat adjustment as ‘cumbersome’ is laughable. Despite being a foot longer, the Perception felt more manageable with one person (and a dog).

I subtracted another star just because I liked my experience with the competing boat with similar marketing so much better. All that said, the boat seems quality (aside from the thumbscrews) and that’s what I expect from the Old Town name.

I ended up selling the Twin Heron to my brother a few days after it arrived. He and my nephew (both robust 6ft+ fellas) took it out and it suited them really well. My nephew also was able to handle it solo on a calm river.

It feels almost like a cross between a canoe and a kayak. This boat could certainly earn a couple stars back from my brother with more accurate marketing and improved thumbscrews. After talking to Customer Service, it seems like a Loon 120 would be a much better option for me.

Now I just need to wait for it to be in stock. Customer Service was great. Very friendly and extremely knowledgable about the products. If you are trying to decide on a kayak, I recommend calling them for a chat FIRST :).

I bought a used Heron 9XT for my teen stepdaughter to learn the basics of paddling in. Her first boat was a Liquidlogic Stomper 80 whitewater boat, also used, because I thought a whitewater boat would grow with her as her skills improve.

The Stomper was way too much boat for her, and she couldn’t track straight to save her life, so I decided to start her out in a rec boat. I still haven’t gotten her into the Heron yet, but I took it through its paces on a local large lake.

The boat turns on a dime, not to the extended off a rockered WW boat, but at 9. 5 feet I expected it to. It tracks like a dream and moves fast, but that’s years of paddling experience pulling good performance from this boat.

It also handles well in choppy waves and motorboat wake, but water will splash in over the cockpit rim without a skirt (Seals makes decent skirts for rec boats, and this particular model uses a size 4.

2, btw). The width of the boat makes it extremely stable. Im 5’9/180, and I’m pushing the limit for cockpit comfort and fit in this boat. It wasn’t particularly uncomfortable, but I can see that a larger paddler may want a larger boat.

The seat is extremely comfortable for a boat in this price range and the thigh/knee pads on the cockpit rim make it easy to “lock in” for greater control. The foot braces are easy to adjust and comfortable.

My used Heron was extremely dirty when I bought it, and washing the interior was a great test of the rear bulkhead’s water seal. With the boat resting against a wall standing on its stern, I hosed the interior down.

The water pooled on the bulkhead, but no water managed to leak into the storage area in the stern. Overall, I’d say this is a great boat for learning to paddle in. I’d have no problem letting my kid run class I rivers in it, and possibly lower class II rapids.

While I have read positive reviews of the Heron’s performance in class III water, I’d have to say that anyone trying that is a fool. Rec boats aren’t designed for class II or higher whitewater. The hulls aren’t as thick and the lifesaving inner construction that WW boats have are not present in these types of craft.

Overall this a fun little learning, goofing around, and light exploration boat. It’s well made for its intended purposes and does what it was designed to do well, without breaking the bank. I did remove 1 star for the paddle holder.

Mine was broken by the previous owner and I’ve seen several reviewers say that their paddle holders have broken as well.

Just received via shipping. Can’t wait to try it out. I have owned several kayaks so I was looking for one with specifics I wanted and this one had most. First is sit on top. sit in boats are hard to get out of gracefully, especially for an old big guy! But I’ve watched young and fit adults struggle as well.

Lol The multi foot rest positions are another personal preference. I have owned kayaks with adjustable foot rest. they are not easy to adjust from a seated position and you tend to adjust your feet often on a decent trip.

I really wanted the side mounted adjustable rod holder also and this is the only boat I found designed this way. If you like slow trolling fishing then a center mount rod holder makes it difficult to do.

Plus you usually have to lean forward a bit to reach the rod with a center mount. The side mount is an easy reach for a quick set. I’ll be pushing the weight limit at 275 but sit on tops won’t swamp or sink.

The width of the hull looks much wider than any of my previous boats so that will only improve stability quite a bit! Eager to dirty it up with some fish scales and slime!.

I bought this Kayak about 9 years ago and although I haven’t used it for a few years, it doesn’t disappoint. Very sturdy and great for small lakes. Have used it fishing, since that’s what it is intended for, but mostly just for cruising and enjoying the scenery.

It is a bit heavier kayak, but that’s what also makes it more sturdy. Easily holds someone who is 225lbs with no problems at all. Customer service has been great. I lost one of the hatch covers and looked for a replacement online, but couldn’t find one that size.

Contacted Lifetime and they are able to ship one out to me. super easy and quick. Even after being in outside storage for 3 years, a little bit of cleaning and it’s as good as new. Can’t wait to get it back in the water.

I purchased this kayak to open up the fishing possibilities in ponds, lakes, and creeks nearby, and it has been almost perfect. Despite the price, the whole package feels very well put together. You can absolutely buy this kayak and take it straight out to the water and start paddling and fishing.

The downside of the budget nature is that finishing isn’t perfect. The edges around the plastic of the storage compartments and the rod holder are a bit sharp. The seat strap needs to be tightened frequently.

The in-boat storage areas are not compartmentalized (they’re open to the hull) and are not dry storage. You will want to replace the included paddle for anything but the lightest duty paddling. You’ll want to add some storage like a crate.

For fishing, you will probably want an anchor setup. A wheeled cart is incredibly useful for transport where you would otherwise be carrying or dragging the boat. But this boat will get you out there comfortably, and provides a good base from which to customize.

IšverstiShow in original language5 solid stars for the Argo 100X! Last summer I was able to borrow one of these kayaks for a number of floats and they were fantastic! Unfortunately, the shipping cost to my rural location made purchasing directly from Pelican expensive.

I did wind up purchasing this kayak (but unfortunately, not in that beautiful red!) and I know of no fewer than five friends who have purchased this model as it is perfect for our local waters.

IšverstiShow in original languageHave not been out on water yet as it is still early March in Canada (we purchased now to beat the spring rush), but we purchased these two Pelican Argo 100’s for our home (kayak outings around our home), as we already have two Pelican Magna 100’s that stay at our cottage.

They are essentially the same (different colour) and we have been very happy with them. I am 6’1″ and 225 lbs and am very pleased with how it carries me along the water. My wife is quite a bit lighter and yet the difference in draft between the two is still fairly close.

I do suggest getting the Poseiden paddles (as we have for all four boats) as their reach and the small drip fin that channels water off the paddle is great.

No assembly directions- 2 pictures. The kayak was spinning in circles even with the fin on the bottom. The oars were too short for my preference. The seats were very flimsy, you couldn’t even lean back without them falling onto the person behind you’s legs.

Took almost an hour to blow up, out on the water for only 20 minutes until we decided to return it. Fairly easy return process.

IšverstiShow in original languageExcellent kayak. For a first kayak its am excellent buy and pricepoint, you wount find a better kayak at this price point hands down. The seat is super comfortable, I spend hours on it and I am a beginner, this is my first kayak that I own even though I’ve been on various models either rented or borrowed from friends.

The stability is top notch, maneuverability is excellent as well, no negatives at all honestly, and I can find things to correct fairly quick on most product I buy, but this kayak is perfect on its price range and even when conpared to more expensive kayaks, I paddle with people that have really expensive kayaks, and not even once I had a need to upgrade mine because of x or y reasons.

If considering it, buy it. Dont even think about it. Excellent kayak. Thank you Pelican, for an awsome product!!!.

IšverstiShow in original languageI purchased this kayak last summer as I didn’t want to invest a lot into one in case I didn’t like it. Turns out, I love kayaking! This is a great starter model, easy to use, stable and fits in my Chevy Traverse so no need for a roof rack, yaay! However, the seat is HORRIBLE, thin and not much support to it at all.

Your toosh will be very sore after continued use. Also, the tracking isn’t very good, but for this price point, it’s to be expected. I have definite kayak-envy this season as I’m dying to get a longer boat so that I can glide through the water better, quicker.

Overall, this is a great model to get if you’re just starting out, but you will soon discover that kayaking is fun and you will want a better yak!.

IšverstiShow in original languageBought this on a “Black Friday” sale. Have taken it out 3 times now and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I know it is basically a beginner kayak but I like it. It did seem a little more “tippy” at first than my previous kayak – which was an inflatable – but didn’t take long to feel comfortable in it.

Have had it on river inlets near the ocean as well as delta and river with no issues. I find it is easy to maneuver and paddle, and I love its light weight. Plenty of room for anything I want to take, have plenty of space in front and a nice flat area behind the seat.

I did buy a plastic container to put my things in at the back as there are scupper holes there and it does get wet, but no issues in the cockpit area. A smaller cooler could also sit in that back area.

The same kayak is sold by other stores as the Maverick or the Odyssey with perhaps a different modification here or there such as a small storage compartment or a web instead of bunges on the back, but essentially the same kayak.

Bought this kayak to replace an older Pelican sit-on-top tandem which was uncomfortable for myself, my husband and our 50 lb dog. The Malibu Two is much more comfortable for all of us giving my husband at the back enough leg room, lots of room for our dog in the middle and a comfortable configuration for my legs in front.

It tracks better than the Pelican and is nice and stable even when our dog get wiggly. It is still very heavy to manage out of the water (lighter than the Pelican) but the handles on the side make it a lot easier and together we can load it onto the top of our camper.

My only beef with the kayak (and the reason I can’t give it 5 stars) is that I can’t keep my “behind” dry! The self-bailing holes on either side of the front seat act as blow holes that shoot up water into the front seating area in small waves or chop (like a boat wake) so on every paddle, I am pretty much guaranteed to end up with wet pants (and sitting in a puddle).

Also, the kayak also doesn’t take chop or waves over the bow well and the person in the front is guaranteed to get quite wet if you have to paddle straight into them as we did recently when the wind came up on our return to our parking spot (I was soaked).

So it is a great kayak for warmer weather when you don’t mind getting wet, but I would not use it for paddling in cold lakes in cold weather. This may be somewhat the downside of the sit on top kayaks, but it seems the seating could be designed a bit more thoughtfully to mitigate the problem.

I bought this over a year ago because I was told they discontinued the Frenzy and this model replaced it. I needed something for surf fishing. I have used it twice in the bay where it’s calm. Too much drag causing to use up a lot of energy to get to the fishing spot.

Also doesn’t track very well. Constantly wants to spin around. I don’t want to even use this in the surf. If it performs this bad in calm water, I don’t want to venture into waves with it. Deeply disappointed in it.

Also deeply disappointed in Ocean Kayak for discontinuing the Frenzy. That was the best surf kayak I have ever used and was very popular in my area.

Great color and style for a recreational kayak — stable and pet friendly – which is what I was looking for. However, I paddle the ocean sound and in any amount of wind it’s horrible. I frequently have to paddle on one side just to keep it straight and it’s a constant fight even very moderate conditions, impossible with any kind of tide or wave action.

I own the 11. 5 Malibu – got the long boat for better tracking and it’s just awful. Why isn’t there a skeg with this kind of performance? And $300 for a rudder in addition to the $700 price tag? For $1000 neighborhood, a better all round kayak is possible.

Really disappointed. I’ll have to sell it to save my shoulders since it’s rarely glass-like conditions on the coast.

IšverstiShow in original languageI’m new to the sport of kayaking. After renting one I fell in love with the sport! I needed a boat that was light to carry, fit into my Honda CRV, would not easily tip and had storage areas.

This kayak has it all and for less than $200! It was missing a seat latch and buckle so I emailed customer service and had 2 free replacements within a week. Thank you, Lifetime, for another great product!.

IšverstiShow in original languageI’ve got to give a big shout out to the Lifetime company for their customer service. I have two Volt kayaks I bought about three years ago. One of them started having trouble with its backrest falling out of the little clip it slides into.

I contacted the company to see about purchasing a replacement clip. After three emails back and forth with a man at Lifetime, they sent me not just that part but three other parts (just in case those are wearing out too).

And they sent them FedEx because I’m planning a boat-in camp trip. And they DID NOT CHARGE ME A CENT for all this.