Hobie  Endeavor 12.5 Kayak

Kayak was as nice as described. Molly was very helpful in explaining and demonstrating the features of the kayak which made our decision to purchase two kayaks easy. The price and quality of the kayak compared favorably with similar recreational kayaks at LL Bean that we considered.

I bought this kayak in late fall, so I’ve only had one chance to take it out so far—but I was really impressed! It feels incredibly stable and glides across the water like a dream. The storage area behind the seat is super convenient for keeping a dry bag within easy reach (and not at my feet!). The cup holder fits my REI Nalgene water bottle perfectly, and it’s easy to grab while paddling. As a woman who wears a size 18 in pants, I fit comfortably in this kayak. I also love the higher seating position—it’s very comfortable—and the seat is removable, which makes transporting the kayak easier or gives you the option to use it for a picnic stop along your route. 10 stars for this amazingly comfortable seat! One thing to note: getting the kayak up onto (or down from) the top of an SUV might require two people. I’m on the shorter side, but I had no trouble adjusting the foot pedals while floating, which was a nice bonus. Overall, I’m really happy with this purchase and can’t wait for more adventures!

I was able to get one of these kayaks while on sale for just under $600. For that price, I think it's a great deal, but not so sure it's worth the full $1k price tag; here's my review. Pros: A 12.5ft kayak for under $600 is hard to find, especially one from a quality brand. The removable seat is comfortable and is a great feature to have. The kayak has a replaceable skid plate on the rear, so you don't need to worry too much about damaging the rear of the keel/hull if you drag the kayak. The boat is fast and tracks straight. The center console is a great added feature to have, with the water-tight storage and a couple of short gear tracks (plus a beer bottle opener!). The handles on the center console also come in handy. The handles at the front and back of the boat seem of high quality, though they aren't heavy-duty bolted-on or molded-in handles. Lastly, I like that there is a rear bulkhead for floatation. Cons: The biggest con is that Hobie discontinued this model after only a couple of seasons in production. This means that it may be difficult and/or impossible to find replacement parts in the future (but hopefully that's not the case). Some of the parts I worry about are the skid plate and the handles. The bulkhead, while there is one, was very poorly made. It is made of a piece of cheap foam, and the fit is not perfect at all. The seal from the factory failed, I noticed when I took delivery of the boat, there was silicone all around where the bulkhead should have been adhered, but they completely missed the foam, so I had to reseal it myself. Also, there is only a rear bulkhead, none at the front, which is a bummer. Since there isn't a bulkhead at the front, you will need a way to get water out of the front half if/when water gets in. Hobie did not install a drain plug, which is a shame, as they are cheap and simple. Therefore, I had to install my own. Lastly, I'm not sure if the rear storage is completely waterproof. It seals with bungees and a gasket, but none seem to be super tight like some other competitors in the price range. If you can snag one of these on sale, its a good buy. If you are looking at purchasing one full price, I'd suggest maybe comparing this to some others in the price range before you pull the trigger. Some comparably priced boats I'd suggest are the Old Town Loon and the Wilderness Systems Pungo. Even the FeelFree Aventura might be a good alternative if buying full price.

Its a great kayak, but I was impressed with the extra effort in packaging, it was extremely well protected for shipping to prevent damage. So many companies seem to fail in this aspect.