Advanced Elements AirFusion Kayak

Comments about Advanced Elements AirFusion Kayak:

So after much research and testing out different kayaks, I bought the Air Fusion. I was excited and drove straight up to Grand Lake after picking it up at REI Denver. First bad surprise was the the wrong user manual was included..i did figure it out, but setup is not simple. You have to align everything correctly otherwise the kayak will be unbalanced at best, or you will break/damage something at worst.

I used it 3 times so far, and every time I had to deflate and re-inflate because I had forgotten something. But I think that from here on it will be faster and I would count about 20min for full setup. Which is fine in my opinion. Breakdown is very easy, as the storm was rushing in yesterday, I did it in about 5 minutes.

On the water, it's a nice little kayak for sure. Maneouverable, decently fast although I am not sure about those that report speeds of 7-8mph..my guess is that it's probably a bit slower than a similar length hardshell. I am happy with its speed.

One of the issue I have is with the seat. It moves, and it's not very supportive. I have not had back pains with any other kayak but with this one I do. So it's a problem for me.

The biggest issue though, is the space in the kayak. There is very little space inside the kayak for any storage. And yet more importantly, there is very little space for you. I am 6"1 with longer legs than torso and I would say that while I am able to fit in the kayak, anyone taller will have issues to keep the legs straight while kayaking.
Then, the problem is to get in the kayak. The only way I can slide in is by lifting myself up and straightening out the legs. The kayak interior is not high, so a slight bend of my knees result in reaching the top of the kayak with the knees.
Combine this with the fact that this kayak is the most unstable kayak I have paddled on (granted, I have only paddled 5-6 different kayaks), well, lifting myself up while bringing my second leg in is a sketchy exercise.

Stand-up paddling is impossible in my opinion. You will flip it. I flipped it while kneeling to relieve my back pain and it happened very quickly. Good news is that it is easy to get back in and that the kayak floats very well even with water inside.

Finally, another issue is that the inside of the kayak is very narrow. I have a narrow waist (32") and i am touching both air chambers on the side and feeling pressure from the side against me. So comfort wise, it's not great. You have only two positions you can sit in really, straight legs and slightly bent legs.

I am also not 100% confident in the material, it all feels very lightweight and I would be pleasantly surprised if I did not puncture it sometimes soon.

Tracking wise, it requires skills. But even then, it will always pull to one side or the other, especially with wind. So you will constantly be adjusting. AE has now an aftermarket skeg that you can buy, so this is not really an issue.

I am still not convinced that I will keep it. I may return it and get a fast track. Perhaps slower but much more versatile.

Bottom line is that this kayak is a great choice for smaller people. For me, it would be perfect if it came in a 17 feet version, with slightly sturdier material.

I would only recommend this product to a friend if he was not looking for a versatile kayak.

Comments about Advanced Elements AirFusion Kayak:

I've assembled my Airfusion four times and paddled it twice (nine miles total). I like it better each time I assemble it and paddle it. Basically this is a great portable boat that I can take on long back country car camping trips where I wouldn't take my composite boat. I can easily maintain 4 - 4.5 miles / hour in flat water, I've sprinted it to 5.5 or so, but I can't come close to holding that speed. Once trimed correctly with forward thwart moved way forward I find tracking acceptable. I purchased the optional skeg directly from Advanced Elements, but I've never deployed it as tracking has been fine without it. However that may change if I take the boat out in winds. I also purchased a spray skirt from AE, but the inflatable cowling on the kayak doesn't really hold the skirt very well. Assembly seems to be about 1/2 hour but I'm pretty finicky and often deflate to fine tune the placement of the thwarts.

Originally I was trying to adjust the Airfusion so that my position was similar to my composite boat (knees and thighs against the deck under the coaming). I found that position unstable so I moved the forward thwart way forward so that my legs are extended with a slight bend at the knees. This is more comfortable, much more stable, and seems to help tracking. The Airfusion seems to perform best with a high frequency, low angle paddling style and constant attention to course.

There were some minor quality control issues - the instruction manual had the correct cover but the contents were for a different boat (fixed by downloading pdf version from AE's website). The inflatable tubes weren't initially installed correctly in the outer skin, but that was easily corrected once I spoke with AE customer service.

As mentioned in other reviews there is very little storage space for gear - most of the space below decks is taken up with the large inflatable thwarts. It would be an example of design genus if those inflatable thwarts could be constructed as waterproof gear bags like one finds in the Trak Kayaks. I haven't tried a camping trip yet, but it will take a minimalist approach to be successful.

The Airfusion is very light and I find it easy to carry up to 1/2 a mile when assembled. It doesn't carry well on your shoulder like a composite boat but I invert the boat and balance the seat on my head - sort of like portaging a canoe.

Summary - I'd recommend this as a travelling kayak for day trips with possible use for short camping trips. It is fast for an inflatable, handles well and allows you to access water you might not get to with a "real" boat.

Comments about Advanced Elements AirFusion Kayak:

not suitable for rivers or open water.slightest swells can lead to water entering the boat without a spray skirt.that said i still love this kayak but know it is not a do everything.i have had to repair holes in the bottom, easy enough to do but my other inflatables exposed to similar wear and tear have never needed repair.i would like to add an extra strip of pvc right down the center to help with scrapes and the eventual pin holes from launching landing on rocks.also top pole is backward.smaller portion of pole is farthest forward,pull to remove and smallest portion doesnt reach sleeve separates from pole necessitating pushing longer pole out and pulling through zipper hole at front.i took out elastic from pole made longer pole front most pole added elastic issue resolved.wish they thought of that and the extra strip of pvc on exterior bottom for abrasion protection along the bottom of kayak along the pole prior to my purchase. last issue is the seat. i replaced the padding,zipper makes this easy.i added velcro to bottom of seat and inside kayak to keep it from slipping.longer trips i would be laying down by end of day.i often use my seat from other inflatable as i enjoy the higher back(that seat came with velcro on bottom giving me the idea).seat position will change handling considerably and putting it together means it never feels exactly the same.i still enjoy this kayak but in winds i keep it home, and if there is reasonable chop i consider my other options.i made a rudder works great but find moving the seat back as far as i can it tracks straightest and is easier then playing with the rudder so i dont use it.i didnt change the valves as my previous post mentions,i found a smaller pump that fits the valves.i have been through many kayaks and this one is a keeper. the pros outweigh the cons.with slight modifications this is still my favourite in my fleet.i no longer support the add a rudder theory, i do enjoy a taller seat back then what is provided adding velcro to the bottom of the seat is a must.my other inflatables all have triple layer pvc on the bottom, sure they also weigh more but they are older and have way more use (mostly because their age) neither have developed any holes. i have patched 3 holes in less then 2 years on this particular kayak.still this is my favourite and i would recommend it if you understand its limited use.

Comments about Advanced Elements AirFusion Kayak:

not as hard to set up as was told. super fast on the water and lightest usable kayak i have ever come across. reasonably comfortable. no usable storage, not really an issue but for as fast as it is, as soon as you take a break from paddling (which means constantly adjusting course)you are spinning in circles. it sits low but i am 180lbs. concerns me in rough water, i barely use a spray skirt ever on my others but this one it maybe a must have for the slightest of turbulence. if it doesnt feel stable play with the air, over inflation and seat adjustment will make it feel less stable. if i could find a rudder or skeg this would be 5 stars. and i will be changing the valves but that is just me. they are usable but they could be so much easier. also the amount of air needed for this a pump 1/4 the size would work fine. (my ultra compact bike pump if it had the fitting would be perfect.) any one complaining about set up time, come pump up my tandem inflatable for 20 minutes.

Comments about Advanced Elements AirFusion Kayak:

Early in 2010, out of curiosity about its design, I purchased one of the first production models of the new AirFusion. Several months later, I have to admit it is more fun to paddle than any other kayak I have enjoyed. By comparison, other inflatables and hard-shells now seem rather routine. I have even named my AirFusion "Jack" because it is so nimble and quick. There is nothing boring about the performance of this new design.
Set-up and take-apart times took a bit of doing before they were reasonable (15 - 20 minutes for set-up). The instruction manual is very clear, though, and following it step-by-step leads to a smooth and efficient assembly. Putting a bit of graphite, petroleum jelly, or some sort of lubricant on the joints of the anodized aluminum poles helps them slip together more easily (and adds protection against salt-water use). The kayak folds and goes quickly back into its carrying case: it is not necessary to leave the kayak assembled.
I was confused by another reviewer who praised the AirFusion as a kayak and a paddling experience, rating it four stars out of five, but trashing its assembly as a "nightmare" and not even recommending it to others. Maybe it is all just a question of patience, practice, and experience. A friend purchased a beautiful and expensive folding kayak, and he spent more than two hours each time he put it together, at first, in his home. He said he came within an ace of listing it for sale on eBay. But learning how to assemble it brought his times down to 30 - 45 minutes, which are still over twice what I spend on the AirFusion, and he is now happy. I no longer even have to think about getting the AirFusion ready; it seems to happen automatically, which is what all these little challenges, in all sports, come down to in good time.
So, the AirFusion is quite wonderful and puts a spring back in one's paddling stroke. It is not really made to haul a lot of gear, but perhaps this is a good argument for having more than one kayak.

Comments about Advanced Elements AirFusion Kayak:

Let me start by saying I LOVE this kayak. I got it because I needed a kayak that was light, fast, and easy to carry through long portages. It is the second AE I've owned, it slices through the water like a knife, has a modest amount of storage (if you're short and can spare the leg room), weighs almost nothing (even for a relative weakling like me), and (unlike its canvas siblings) does NOT get heavier when wet.

That being said, I think potential buyers should know just how much of a NIGHTMARE this thing can be to assemble/dissemble, particularly in the beginning. I watched the Youtube video and read some reviews which made it seem easy to put together, and since my previous AE kayak had been a breeze, I assumed the video and reviews were accurate. THEY WERE NOT!

First of all, in case you were wondering, you can NOT carry this on top of your car. I tried, but the pressure began pushing the poles through the side of kayak, which didn't seem like a good thing. If you have a truck, though, you're in luck-- you can haul it fully assembled with a red flag hanging off the back and never have to worry about taking the wretched thing apart. Which brings me to my only, albeit HUGE, complaint...

The initial assembly, which I did in my living room, took over an hour and left me with bruises all over my arms. No big deal, really-- it was so beautiful, I was willing to accept the bruises-- but I wouldn't have wanted to do it outdoors. Now on to the important part...

You will be bending over and down on your knees (ouch) for at least fifteen minutes, pumping up the 6 air chambers 8 times (unless you ignore the directions and only partially inflate the side chambers once, the first time, which equals 6 times). This may not seem like a big deal (cough), but when the sun is beating down, the mosquitos and yellowjackets are swarming, and other people are watching you do it, it seems like an hour.

Afterwards, until the poles get broken in, they are so tight I almost couldn't get them to come apart. (A stronger person probably wouldn't have had as much trouble, but I'm not exactly a wuss either, so be aware. Anyone with weak arms, weak hands, carpel tunnel, etc. could be left stranded with an untransportable kayak). I now keep a pair of traction-gloves in the back of the kayak seat, just in case the poles get stuck again.

I had read in a review that you you could partially deflate it, fold it in half, and stuff it in a trunk. NOT TRUE. The only way that thing is going back in a trunk is f-u-l-l-y deflated and dissembled, the thought of which makes me want to sob every time I consider doing it. As it stands, I partially deflate/dissemble it, fold it in half, and it still takes up most of the backseat AND the passenger seat in my Camry.

If you plan on using this everyday (as I do), have weak arms/wrists/hands or injuries, don't need to carry the kayak through lengthy portages, don't own a truck, and don't live next to the water, you might want to opt for a heavier, hard shell kayak instead. The assembly/dissembly really is THAT BAD. Until the hard shells get light enough for me to carry, I'm just going to have to suffer... or buy a truck...which I'm seriously considering now. Yes, it really IS that bad...