Advanced Elements Straitedge Kayak
Summary
Price At Time Of Writing | $899.99
Our Overall Rating | 79 out of 100
Pros - Stable, spacious and strong
Cons - Uncomfortable, doesn't track well, slow, lots of inflation points
Overall - Ok for fishing or white water, awkward to paddle long distances
Technical Specifications
Open Size - 116x35in
Weight - 34lbs
Load Capacity - 300lbs
Packed Size - 30x17x10in
Our Analysis & Ratings
Spacious and stable, this is a great kayak for beginners or someone who wants the option to go fishing without committing to a full-fledged fishing kayak. Suitable for class 3 rapids, it certainly won't fall apart on you either. In terms of performance, it is a bit slow in the water and doesn't track that well in a straight line. It also has a lot of inflation points and the seat is a bit uncomfortable. We can see how it's functional in circumstances like fishing or white water, but we wouldn't want to paddle any sort of distance in it.
Performance - This is a wide-base kayak that offers extra stability in the water, which is great for beginners. Those with a bit more experience may find it slow in the water. Getting it to track in a straight line is also a bit of a challenge.
Construction - As with all Advanced Elements products, this is a quality construction. Durable enough for class 3 rapids and made with PVC tarpaulin, it's made to last you a while. The bulk and curves of the design just feel a bit awkward on this model for us.
Setup/Pack Down - Setup is pretty good on this kayak. It does take a while to dry it out before putting it back in the bag and there are a number of chambers to inflate, which is a bit tedious.
Portability - At 34lbs this is pretty standard for an inflatable kayak. Not as portable as some of the others but still pretty good.
Comfort - One of our big complaints with this kayak is the backrest. Although there is plenty of room in the kayak, we just found the backrest offers little support, which makes it hard to sit in for any significant period of time.
Overall - Ok for fishing or white water, awkward to paddle long distances.
