Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Sport Kayak

Comments about Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Sport Kayak:

OK, so Ive taken this out a couple of times now and loved it. This kayak performs as well as other users have described and was, simply put, a joy to cruise around in.

That said, I have one recommendation, I bought this with the Advanced Elements Backbone Internal Kayak Frame - AdvancedFrame Single Kayak
REI Item # 7527830017, because a friend had advised me that this would make a tremendous difference during use. They were right.
I tried the kayak out both with and without the internal frame and with it the kayak performed perfectly, I was slightly slower than I am with a rigid kayak of similar size but I actually found maneuverability and seaworthiness equally good if not slightly better. Without the frame this kayak underperformed. I was not nearly as maneuverable and the kayak felt like it was folding slightly if I was hitting the (small) waves head on. This wobbly feeling was only there without the frame and, as such, I'd advise anyone purchasing this to get the frame or make your own before taking this out on the water.

Comments about Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Sport Kayak:

Living in an apartment, I don't have storage space for a rigid kayak. This inflatable one lives up to the product claims and the other reviews I have read on the REI site.
Inflation and deflation is very quick and simple which makes it really easy to pick up and go, without any hesitation. The kayak is quite wide and while I am only 5'6", I wish I had gotten 240cm paddles instead of 230cm. I purchased the rigid bar from the start based on other reviews. It's easy to insert and I agree with others that it should be included with kayak as standard equipment. The kayak is very stable and still quite manoverable. My husband accidentally beached on a mostly submerged rock in the lake and while there is a little scratch in the surface of the bottom of the kayak, it's otherwise fine and the does not appear damaged.

Comments about Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Sport Kayak:

I bought this for my wife who suddenly found the love for Kayaking while i was deployed to Afghanistan. My wife, who is all of 100 lbs soaking wet hates driving my SUV and didn't want to put a rack on her coupe, left it to me to figure out. After a month of research i found this Kayak (elsewhere) and looked here, found the kayak $80 less on REI. The kayak arrived 3 days earlier than expected! No confusion on how to inflate or set up, pull out, open up and pump!! Few "awkward" wrinkles which drove my wife nuts but two inflates later, smooth as silk.Great price, great ride, buying two more for my teenage son and myself which all fit in the back of a Civic.**Go to [@] (or your favorite other joint) and get the $7 double action pump. Pump was found in the Camping section, fits right in to all fittings without adapters and inflates the kayak in about 4 min. Have fun with this, you won't regret it.

Comments about Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Sport Kayak:

After taking a kayaking class so that I would be ready for Eppie's Great Race, I fell in love with kayaking. I have been searching for a kayak that would meet my needs, be affordable and that I could somehow carry on or in my Saturn Sport Coupe. I don't have a roof rack for my Saturn. I searched on this website and read many of the reviews. I saw a kayak, that was really a raft at a warehouse store across from REI, I compared the two and decided on this kayak. Why I never considered an inflatable long ago is beyond me.

I got the yellow pump to go with it, it looks like a fat bike pump and works fine. When I got home I unpacked it and immediately felt overwhelmed and a little intimidated. That did not last long. After putting it together and inflating it in my living room, I took it out to the pool to see if it floats and to practice a wet exit. I got a paddle that comes apart in two pieces and fits great in the trunk of my car.

In the pool it floated fine and the wet exit went fine, but I felt it unnecessary as it took some effort to flip it over, then it was all wet inside and I had to leave it out all night with the main inflatable ring pulled out to dry all the way.

The next day I took it out on Lake Natoma in Sacramento. I timed myself and it took 7 minutes and 28 seconds to get it from the bag fully put together ready to go in the water and that was not rushing. It was easy to carry to the water. I launched it in a quiet recreation area with very calm and flat water. It tracked and cut through the water just fine. Once out on choppier water it didn't seem as fast, then again I had to get used to paddling again as I had only used very long touring kayaks. This boat is not near as fast as one of those as is it shorter and flat bottom. However this little guy meets all of my needs for now as I do not plan on going out on rip roaring rapids and doing eskimo rolls.

I was out on the water for a long time, I went quite a distance it never lost air, I never once felt in danger of flipping over, I had a nice time.

Once back at my car I took a dip to cool off while I let my kayak sit out a little in the sun to dry. I timed myself once again, and it took 7 minutes and 15 seconds to get it from fully inflated to folded and zipped in the bag.

I'm very pleased with this purchase. It is so nice to be able to throw it in the trunk of my car and go out an hit the water. I got a plastic storage bin for the accessories to go with it; life vest, safety kit, pump, and a tarp. So I just have to throw three things in the trunk of my car the kayak, the bin of goodies and the oar. I am going to get a small ice chest and some bungee cords so I can put it on the stern since there are D rings I can use to tie it down with.

Comments about Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Sport Kayak:

Okay, when I decided to buy an inflatable kayak, I read the reviews here first. Once at the store I decided on this kayak. I would love to have a rigid kayak that's longer in length but I drive a Saturn Sport Coupe and I don't have a roof rack for it. Why I didn't think of an inflatable sooner is beyond me.

When I got it home I took it out of the bag, and briefly felt overwhelmed. I took my time, read the instructions and assembled it and inflated it in my living room. I got the hand pump for it. The yellow one that's on the website that looks like a fat bike pump. It did not take me long to figure it out, however I am quite good at putting things together. After it was all together I decided I'd take it out to the pool to see if it floats and to practice a wet exit.

At the pool it floated and the wet exit went fine, but now that I did it, I realized it really wasn't necessary as it took a little work to flip over. It got all wet inside and I had to leave it out all night to dry.

I took it out today on open water on Lake Natoma in Sacramento. I timed myself, getting it out of the bag, and inflated and ready to take to the dock it took me 7 minutes 23 seconds and that was not rushing.

Out on the water I felt stable and secure. It just took me a while to get the hang of paddling again. It cut through the water nicely not as fast as a rigid kayak or a long touring kayak but it performed a lot better than I was expecting. I went pretty far I was out for three hours. It did not lose any air and didn't take on any water with the exception of a little splashing and from dumping water on myself because it was hot.

When I went to deflate it and pack it in, I timed myself again. Not rushing from the time I started taking it down until it was folded and zipped in the bag it took me 7 minutes, 15 seconds.

This kayak is easy to carry when it's in the bag it fits in the trunk of my car. I got a paddle that comes apart in two pieces which is great for a sport coupe.

I could not be happier with this kayak.

Comments about Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Sport Kayak:

We don't have a vehicle that would transport two kayaks easily, so my husband said let's go demo inflatables. Well, I thought he was crazy, but finally said ok. We demoed several and were so completely bowled over by how fantastic this kayak was in so many ways. It is quick and easy to inflate and deflate, is so light weight and easy for me (a small female) to carry, it tracked well, and has speed comparable to an equivalent style hard-body kayak.
We bought two of the AdvancedFrame Sport kayaks that day. The look/graphics are great (we get "Wow, cool kayak!"-type compliments often), and no matter how long we are out, we never get sore bottoms! Some friends tried ours on the ocean, and immediately got on line and ordered their own, they liked them so much!
We've taken them on a river, a lake, a bay, and the ocean in both calm and choppy waters. We found them to be extremely stable on ocean waves. We have not taken them into rapids, but they would probably be fine on lower class rapids. We find the open cockpit style to be most comfortable for recreational kayaking, but wouldn't be the best option for anyone venturing into mid to high class rapids.
We bought the four piece paddles which fit inside the carry bags with the kayaks, and we plan to fly with them (the total weight is well under the weight limit for luggage). Note: the dual-action pump won't easily fit in the bag with the kayak, but is lightweight, and won't take up much room in our regular luggage.
Recommendations:
-The first time we removed it from it's carry/storage bag, we memorized EXACTLY how they had it folded. It was easy to refold and put back in the bag, as a result.
-For ocean kayaking, we left the seat back down (laying back and unclipped) until we cleared the first breaking waves and jumped in. Then we pulled the seat back up and clipped it in. If we didn't do this, when we jumped in (hastily between the breaking waves), we ended up folding forward (and sitting on top of the back of) the seat back. But once we discovered this solution, it was easy.
Negatives:
-Rinsing and drying them out for longer-term storage takes a little more effort than with "hard body" kayaks, but if you are looking for kayaks that are more easily transported, are more lightweight, and store in a much smaller space, this is a small price to pay.
-After bringing it ashore, if it will be sitting in the sun, you have to let some air out (which is luckily very quick and easy to do), to avoid damage to the seams due to air expansion when heated. Be sure to have a pump available in case you want to "top off" before going back out. There is a maximum PSI to inflate to, but we found that they performed quite well if left at a little lower PSI, and we often didn't need to re-inflate before going back out.

Comments about Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Sport Kayak:

This is my first kayak, and it is easy to set up, handle/maneuver and stow. It's a bit tricky to get out of, but it's only my own aging body that is the problem, not the kayak. I am developing better techniques with every outing. My only cons are that there is not much storage for more than a one day outing--but some creative packing and a couple of deck bags may solve that for an overnighter. My kayaking buddy is considerably taller than I am and says the leg/foot room is a bit short, so for a long-legged person, it might be too short. I have considerable experience with quality inflatables, and for the money, this one can't be beat. I've used inflatables that were 2x the price and half the boat! I highly recommend it!