The best "allrounder" Kayak to buy
Each craft is assessed on stability and how well they maneuvered through different water conditions; comfort features as well as the construction quality.
PRIJON CUSTOMLINE 390 The Customline comes in a light and economical basic model, and a fully equipped touring version. The Boat is nicely engineered with an appealing look, but also is easy to use and paddle. The pronounced keel means that you will have good tracking capabilities even in the basic version, and the large base allows a high level of stability and agility, even for the larger paddler.
The large cockpit makes it easier to get in and out of the boat. Our tour seat with the new high CustomLine back rest garantees a comfortable sitting position.
However, the basic version does not come with many bells and whistles. The seat is a plastic moulded seat with no padding and the thigh braces are either non-existent or basic as well ( tour padding). While you don’t need thigh braces in this boat to achieve a great paddling experience, it would benefit from seat padding. However, this is reflected in the price. The Kayak travels nicely and maintains a good speed without too much effort. It is a comfortable and easy ride. · <!--[endif]-->Length 362 cm Width 66 cm Weight 20,5 kg Cockpit 100 cm Volume 340 Liter Capacity 140 kg Paddlerweight 70-110 kg PRICE $1499 AUD RATING · <!--[endif]-->GLIDE AND TRACKING 9.0 · <!--[endif]-->MANEUVERABILITY 7.0 · <!--[endif]-->STABILITY 8.0 · <!--[endif]-->COMFORT 6.0 · <!--[endif]-->CONSTRUCTION QUALITY 9.0 · <!--[endif]-->PORTABILITY 6.0 · <!--[endif]-->PRICE 8.0 PRIJON VELLAMO The Vellamo is a great allrounder, with its high stability and easy paddling characteristics. It is easy and neutral to paddle and the large cockpit makes it also very easy to get in and out of the boat. The wide basis and the pronounced edges on the bottom make it stable and safe. The kayak itself is not very large, so its easy to handle, and the prilite construction mean that its also lighter than most. This is particularly useful when loading on and off the roof of the car. The kayak is equipped with a comfortable seat, seat paddling and backrest padding, thigh braces – all of which are adjustable. It also boasts a watertight rear hatch and an adjustable footrest. In short it has all the characteristics you would expect from this German company. The down side is the price – lighter weight plastics come with a heftier price tag.
· <!--[endif]-->Length ca. 330cm Width ca. 69cm Weight ca. 18kg Cockpit ca. 97cm Volume ca. 370L Capacity ca. 115kg Paddlerweight ca. 60 - 105kg
PRICE $2699
RATING · <!--[endif]-->GLIDE AND TRACKING 8.0 · <!--[endif]-->MANEUVERABILITY 7.0 · <!--[endif]-->STABILITY 8.0 · COMFORT 7.0 · <!--[endif]-->CONSTRUCTION QUALITY 9.0 · <!--[endif]-->PORTABILITY 7.0 · <!--[endif]-->PRICE 5.0 MISSION CONTOUR 390 The smallest kayak in the Contour series is a versatile touring design with good speed and great storage for a smaller kayak. New Zealand made, you can be sure of its quality. However, it is on the heavier side, which is a bit of a draw back in terms of carrying it anywhere, or loading on the car. Once in the water the kayak is very easy to use. The Rudder allows you to paddle straight, even in wind and offers a quiet, fast gilde. However, some of this is also due to the fact that the kayak is slightly narrower than the above ones reviewed. The upswept bow is great in choppy conditions, riding over most of the waves and keeping the paddler dry. The cockpit is still fairly roomy, and has enough room inside to allow larger paddlers to comfortable use it. The outfitting includes a seat pad and backrest which is adjustable. The kayak has 2 hatches and deck lines, allowing for multiday trips if warranted. Length 375cm Width 62cm Weight 22kg Max Load 150kgs Rear hatch 50L RATING · <!--[endif]-->GLIDE AND TRACKING 9.0 · <!--[endif]-->MANEUVERABILITY 6.0 · <!--[endif]-->STABILITY 70 · <!--[endif]-->COMFORT 7.0 · <!--[endif]-->CONSTRUCTION QUALITY 7.0 · <!--[endif]-->PORTABILITY 6.0 · <!--[endif]-->PRICE 7.0 L'ATTITUDE SWIFT
One of the shorter kayaks in the touring / all-rounder range, the Swift is actually a very usable kayak. Its stable and surprisingly fast, and accelerates quickly. It has a V-shaped hull with hard chine, and little rocker, which allows it to stay on line easily, even when not using the rudder.
The drawbacks are that the kayak is quite heavy for its size, slightly heavier than even the Mission. However, it does come with quite a few features for the price. The Swift features a rudder which is foot controlled, two hatches, deck rigging, thigh braces, adjustable back band and seat pad. However, the inside of the kayak is quite basic, although useable. The cockpit is large and easy to get in and out of, but won’t accommodate really large paddlers.
The biggest advantage of this model is the price. It is very economical for what you are getting. If you can reconcile the extra weight against the features and the price, it is a very good buy. Note: Beware of other models branded differently. Some of the specifications on other brands are not accurate and you may be stung by online retailers where you cannot sit in the kayak or have a look at the products before buying. Length 3.30m Width 0.67m Height 0.40m Weight 23kg Capacity 170kg Storage Capacity Rear 50 Litres Front 20 Litres Cockpit 92cm x48cm Volume 260 Litres PRICE $850 RATING · <!--[endif]-->GLIDE AND TRACKING 8.0 · <!--[endif]-->MANEUVERABILITY 6.0 · <!--[endif]-->STABILITY 7.0 · <!--[endif]-->COMFORT 5.0 · <!--[endif]-->CONSTRUCTION QUALITY 7.0 · <!--[endif]-->PORTABILITY 6.0 · <!--[endif]-->PRICE 9.0
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PRICE $1695
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