Advanced Elements Expedition Elite Kayak
Summary
Price At Time Of Writing | $1049.95
Our Overall Rating | 92 out of 100
Pros - Performs well in the water, good storage
Cons - Tedious setup, long drying time, very heavy
Overall - Great kayak. Just takes a bit of time to dry it out
Technical Specifications
Open Size - 156x32in
Weight - 42lbs
Load Capacity - 450lbs
Packed Size - 31x16x10in
Our Analysis & Ratings
This was an enjoyable ride. Good storage capacity, comfortable cockpit and there is a curved bar that lifts the deck to give you extra leg space. In terms of weight, it is a little hard to carry at 19.1kg, and you must be willing to spend more time setting up and packing down. It makes up for this with highly-rated comfort, quality and performance.
Performance - Amazing kayak with great tracking. Its speed adds to the performance — a real pleasure to paddle. The drop stitch floor gives it a quality hard surface that glides smoothly over the water, and the inbuilt skeg significantly controls yaw and keeps consistently straightforward motion, making it easy to paddle.
Construction - As with the rest of the Advanced Elements products, quality construction is a given, but this one stays ahead with its great drop-stitch floor. Its durable materials include rip-stop fabrics and PVC tarpaulin that are sure to stand the test of time. Worth mentioning is the good storage space, which is perfect for touring.
Setup/Pack Down - The multiple inflation points and mismatched valves consume a lot of time when setting up. The big downside is it’s tedious to pack down, considering the materials from the Expedition Elite are heavy and take a long time to dry.
Portability - This is the heaviest kayak among all the ones we reviewed, though given its quality we think that’s fair. At 42lbs, you might need help transporting it, but the bag comes with shoulder straps which helps.
Comfort - Everything in this kayak is comfortable, from the seat to the cockpit. It is one of the most comfortable among those we tested, with no issues during long trips. Having plenty of legroom and adjustable footrests, it’s certainly a design that puts comfort (and performance) first.
Overall - Only issue was extensive setup and drying, otherwise it’s a great kayak.
