This is my 3rd AE kayak (Lagoon 2 and Advanced Frame before). First off, this is an excellent kayak for certain types of paddling. Let’s get the cons out of the way first so we can end with the positives: Two normal size adults are not fitting in this. Luckily for me I am not a normal size adult so nobody is trying to wedge into this boat with me. Adult and small child, two teenagers, adult and dog, fine, no problems but if this is for you average size human being and your over 5’3 kayaking partner, not the boat for you. Tracking, meh. It’s got the standard IK tracking issues. Calm, flat day on the lake or a nice lazy tube floating river, you won’t notice it. Any breeze more than 10mph and it’ll make things difficult. If you put some weight in the bow (the front for non nautical folks :) like a gallon water jug, it helps a lot keeping the nose down and paddling straight. No need to talk about speed cause this is an inflatable and you aren’t winning any kayak drag races in it. Paddling width: this thing is wide. It says 37 inch but it feels even wider. If your under 5’9 or have short arms, you’re gonna rub your hands and paddle shaft on the sides all day. Get a 2-3 in seat riser, it’ll help a little. The seats: they suck. If you are gonna use this a few times a year for short excursions, okay, I guess if you want to be uncomfortable a few times a year. Everyone else, throw the seats out and spend $59-$99 on a real kayak seat. They’re littered on Amazon, you know which ones I’m talking about. Okay the good stuff: super easy to transport. It weighs nothing, folds to about 35in by 16in and packs into a duffel. I bought this to check luggage on planes and it will do so quite easily. set up/break down: again, piece of cake. Boston valves, a few minutes with a $12 5v travel pump, then top off with a hand pump and you are on the water. Just using a double action hand pump it still only takes about 7-8 minutes (and you get a nice pre paddling workout). Putting away js easy too. Don’t believe the anti AE talk about how hard they are to dry. Reduce some air pressure, let it sit for about 10-15 minutes to air/sun dry (again release some air first), then chamois/towel wipe it off before full deflation. It’s quick and easy. Build; AE builds good boats. This one is no exception. Every thing is put together well, valves work nice and smooth, and you won’t feel like this thing is gonna magically spring a leak out in the middle of some river. The floor has a nice cover over the I beams (which was my big complaint on prior AE kayaks). The cover and bottom are very thick and solid, you won’t puncture it with normal activities. Price; if you can land this kayak for $400 or under, you’re getting a deal. I know you don’t get a pump or paddles with it, but let’s be honest, the paddles these companies “give you for free” are garbage and you aren’t gonna use them anyway. Same for the bellows style pump. A decent mid range paddle can be had for under $100 and a double action pump is $14 at Walmart. This is a lot of high quality kayak for that price point.
