The Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Expedition is best for the recreational paddler.
It is not as speedy as some of its higher priced competitors but it will get you where you want to go in comfort, style and at a decent price for what you get.
This is another closed-deck model that I think looks fantastic. It reminds me more of the look of a hard shell kayak and it has some great accessories to go with it.
Best Uses: Calm Water Lakes Or Ocean
Brand: Advanced Elements
Best Deal: For the best price plus free shipping go to Outdoorplay.com.
Number of Paddlers: 1
Specs: Length 13’, Width 32”, Weight 42 lbs, Load Capacity 450 lbs
Accessories Included: Carrying duffel bag 31” x 16” x 10”, folding seat, repair kit, owner’s manual
Kayak Material: PVC Tarpaulin with 1000 denier polyester outer fabric, heavy-duty 30-gauge PVC main chamber, high density polyurethane-coated polyester inner cover
Pros: Easy setup, stable, tracks well, comfortable, easy entry and exit
Cons: Needs to be dried out thoroughly before storing, heavy (for a 1-person kayak), can be slow, trouble with spray skirt staying on
Performance & Comfort
The Expedition is ideal for the taller paddler. There is far more leg room and space to maneuver inside the cockpit than the smaller Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame.
Even with the longer 13′ length is feels easy to turn and maneuver and is quite responsive to some good power strokes.
The tracking fin greatly helps to keep the Expedition paddling in a straight line and you will find that you will go further with less effort in this inflatable kayak.
It doesn’t glide as fast as one might think from first looking at it, but overall it’s a decent ride, comfortable and smooth.
As with many of the Advanced Elements kayaks this model has built-in aluminum ribs that help to create a rigid bow and stern. These ribs greatly help with tracking as well.
The ample leg room and adjustable foot braces help with paddling efficiency and power. The adjustable lumbar seat is fairly basic on this kayak but comfortable enough for day trips.
If you plan on doing longer excursions you may want to add a little extra padding and support or upgrade the seat.
Features & Options
One thing I like about the Expedition is that the front deck can unzip so that you can open it up and put your legs out in the sun.
That is a very cool feature that I have not seen in other closed-deck models.
You have the option of closing off the front deck when you need protection from the elements. There is an optional spray skirt that secures you in nicely and totally protects you from rough water.
There is a little room for storing a couple dry bags inside the cockpit as well as front bungees on top of the deck that can be used for storing gear as well.
The kayak deflates and rolls into a compact package that can be stored in the included carry bag. The bag is basic but does the trick and the kayak easily stores inside it.
The shoulder straps make it easy to carry and transport.
The Down Side
There are two things to be aware of with this model.
1. It is quite heavy considering it is a solo kayak. At 42 pounds, the Expedition is definitely one of the heavier solo models.
2. It sits low in the water, which is nice for performance but we noticed water easily splashes inside the cockpit when paddling through larger swells and on choppy water.
However if you plan on mostly kayaking on calm lakes and bays you won’t have any issue.
3. Setup takes longer than other inflatable kayaks. In general I find all of the Advanced Elements closed-deck kayaks to take longer to setup than other inflatable kayaks. It’s not a huge difference but whereas I can have my Sea Eagle Razorlite inflated in 6 minutes flat, the Expedition takes me a good 10-15 minutes to fully setup.
Final Thoughts
All in all the Advanced Frame Expedition inflatable kayak is very versatile and most people seem to agree that although not perfect, it is well worth the money.
It is not a top of the line model, but it will hold up well and easily get you to your destination.
The material is durable and although I have never found the Advanced Elements kayaks to be the most rigid compared to some other manufacturers they are always popular, fun to paddle and seem to hold up quite well.
Where To Buy
Click Here For The Best Deal On The Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Expedition At OutdoorPlay.com.
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Nothing but trouble.
DO NOT BUY THIS BOAT. I purchased two two years ago; the first one’s main bladder failed irrepably a week after the warranty expired. Advanced Elements responded by sending us glue that didn’t fix the issue, and it took the intervention of a representative from the Pack&Paddle where we bought it for them to do right by the customer and send us a replacement air bladder. The build quality is generally poor, and the attachment points for the air bladders to the interior of the hull have all but ripped out. These boats are nothing but trouble, and not nearly worth the money or hassle.