ADVANCED ELEMENTSAdvancedFrame

If you are looking for a kayak that has more stability vs a narrower variant that has more roll, you may want to consider the Expedition Elite. It's probably a good intro kayak as well since it is inherently stable enough that one could literally stand in it while afloat. It tracks pretty well and it has a large cockpit with an inflatable coaming. Depending on conditions, spray skirt is optional - (requires you to buy AE's custom spray skirt to fit it) I'd recommend the touring spray skirt if you want to keep the water out more effectively as well as stay warm on the ocean trips. This kayak can hold an impressive amount of gear if you are considering any coastline touring. I like that I can store it in the trunk of my car - and on a whim, take it out on the water. Setting up is quick although stowing and packing away are made more lengthy by having to insure everything is completely clean and dry before being properly stored. You can buy marine fabric waterproofing to make water retension less of an issue - but keep plenty of towels handy for drying the kayak off after each use. If you want to do a super thorough job, remove the dropstitch floor and main tubes to get at any knooks and crannys where water can hide.Although this is an especially labor intensive process I'd definately recommend doing it if the kayak is to be stowed for any lengthy periods to prevent any mold.

Paddler profile: intermediate/advanced hardshell paddler with Gulf Coast/ Everglades/10,000 Islands/Keys open water experience in a Norse Sleipner and a Valley Sirona. For this new boat, follow the instructions. Oh, did you forget? Welp, they put em on a tag at the end lift handle. Don't want to spend a ton of time pumping? Let's call it 70ish double pump strokes total across all chambers. Can't handle that? Then buck up or skip it. Seriously. And buy your own pump cause nope, they don't include one. Reviews mentioning this are...looks around and whispers...betas. An inflatable boat is, well, inflatable. You would miss a stable dropstitch floor that is an add-on in lower models, great cockpit room, and durability to drag this to Hades and back while avoiding any damage. As in, not a scratch. Did I mention it fits in a 36x15x15ish bag? Sure, this is just eyeballing but can you pull up to a paddle drop in a 911 and whip out an Open ocean paddler, lol? Well, neither can I, so join the crowd. Small SUV? Yep. Honda CVCC...ok, Civic? Yep. It fits in the trunk and maybe a frunk or two. Go with a wider paddle than a hard shell by 10-20 cm to get the reach over a wide beam. The spray skirt is passable but not your waterproof icon as in a whitewater 'yak. It tracks well and decently straight. Not roll tested, but really? Be my guest and enjoy the water exit. Not gonna go there. It is a fun boat, not an Ferrari. Enjoy this for every convenience and capability it brings. My favorite casual paddler overkill and capable of being more if you aren't into exotic hardshells or are looking for rugged simplicity in a compact package. You could do so much with this yak and yet you can be a beginner with desire to improve via this platform. Fantastic package, hard to ignore unless you think drop stitch in every surface uber alles is the way to go. You'll never match the purpose built hardshell ocean yaks but you'll have fun with the platform no matter your experience level. Git sum.

We own a 5th wheel camper and we love to explore. We looked at options for hauling our Perception recreation kayaks and just weren't thrilled.We found these and were hooked. Ordered and received in March - definitely not kayak season in the Midwest. Took them out for the first time finally in mid-May.They stored under the bed in our 5th wheel with room to spare. Inflation was easy even without the instructions or access to the internet. Easy enough for the two of us in our upper 50s to handle for transport from inflation area to the water.They paddle like a dream! We took them over fallen trees, through lilypads and other obstacles and not a mark on them. Very stable side to side and easy to steer.When we were done, deflation was easy, they dried quickly in the sun, and are packed away for our next adventure.The seat and flat bottom did wear on our tushes. We helped that by rolling a towel and placing under the front edge of the seat for support. We will likely add some sort of minor cushion for longer paddles.I'm 5'7" and it fit me just right. Husband is 6'1" and his size 11 feet were cramped with shoes, but barefoot worked fine. Toe room is limited. The cockpit is smaller than our Perceptions, but a little adjustment on how I entered it and all was well.Definitely recommend!!

I’m new to kayaking having only rented a coupe of times. This inflatable is durable, tracks well and is quick to inflate when you get to your destination.

The air intake valve for the 1 and 2 slots on the kayak have a small piece of plastic that holds the spring seal in place to keep the air in/out depending on what you're doing. This plastic is surprisingly thin (you don't notice how thin until it breaks). I don't think that for how expensive the kayak is the air valve should be so poorly designed that it can break so easily. I've used it about 15 times since I bought it in March and it broke the air valve broke July 1st. Will not be rebuying another AE kayak.