* Update – The Airis kayaks are unfortunately no longer in production.
For other great inflatable kayak options check out our fave top 5 inflatable kayaks for recreational paddling.
Best Uses: Flat water, touring, ocean bays, slow rivers
Brand: Airis by Walker Bay
Number of Paddlers: 1
Stats: Length 10’10”, Width 31″, Weight 20 lbs., Load Capacity 250 lbs.
Accessories Included: Adjustable seat, large rear skeg, high-pressure air pump with gauge, deluxe AirPack backpack, repair kit
Pros: Stable, tracks well, good speed, glides nicely through the water, easy to maneuver, light weight and compact, storage bungee cords at rear for securing gear, D-ring for attaching accessories, 4 great carrying handle (front, back and each side), deluxe backpack to easily carry this kayak on your back, very strong and rigid material, easy and fast to inflate
Cons: Could use a little extra storage space – this kayak is best suited for day trips only, you may get a little extra wet in this kayak as water can sometimes get inside with the lower profile.
More In-Depth Info
The Airis Sport is my favourite of the three Airis kayak models. It not only paddles well but it is extremely light weight and compact making it ultra portable.
It offers convenience, quality and performance all wrapped into a nice compact package.
What I love most about the Sport is the fact that it is just so easy in every way.
- I can carry it in a large backpack (backpack carry bag comes with the kayak)
- I can inflate it in under five minutes
- I can take it anywhere because it weighs so little
- I can store it in a closet or in a small space as it takes up very little room
- I can paddle until my hearts content because it is so easy and fun to paddle
I like this kayak a lot and I think it is ideal for a large range of people.
Set-Up
As far as set-up goes, simply take the kayak out of the backpack, lay it out flat, then inflate the three main air chambers. Attach the seat and away you go.
Once you’ve done it a couple times it will take you no more than 5 minutes. The skeg is already attached and after using it once you could even leave the seat attached.
Start with inflating the floor first. Then do each side. Sometimes you will need to push the floor down so that it is positioned properly between the two sides for maximum stability. Just push down on the floor with your hands or your foot and it will go into place.
Once you are done paddling dump any water out, dry it off, deflate it, roll it up and store back inside the backpack.
My Experience with the Airis Sport
I knew the older Airis kayaks gave a decent performance but I have to admit that the Sport impressed me more than I expected. It glides really well through the water and tracks quite straight.
It just feels easy to paddle and maneuver and although it is not the fastest kayak out there I do feel like it zips along pretty good.
The large attached skeg helps with the tracking as do the overall length and width of the kayak and the super rigid floor help as well.
You sit up a little higher in the Airis kayaks and it makes for a very easy paddling experience. There is no rubbing of the arms on the side of the boat as you sometimes get with kayaks that have larger and higher pontoon sides.
Sitting up higher is a different feeling and it doesn’t necessarily have that “authentic” kayak feel. However you get used to it and the overall ease of paddling is really nice.
The foot pegs allow you to brace your feet on something for added support and there is ample leg room.
I think the Sport is best suited for day trips as there is not a huge amount of storage room.
There are the bungee tie down cords at the back that can be used for securing a dry bag and you could always store some gear up front. However the space is limited.
Also worth noting that there is no covered area for storing gear so anything you have on board will get wet. Definitely store your essentials in a dry bag to keep them safe.
Quality of Construction
As mentioned in the other Airis kayak reviews, the quality of construction is excellent. These kayaks inflate to an extremely rigid air pressure.
They are made using AirWeb Patented high pressure construction, formed from heavy duty, seven layer polymer coated fabric that is joined by thousands of drop-stitch fibers.
They are tear and abrasion resistant and extremely durable.
Once inflated you will be shocked and probably very pleasantly surprised how rigid the Sport is. It is very solid and well made.
Although I have had issues with the stitching coming apart on their backpack carry bags, I have never had an issue with their kayaks in general.
Size and Weight
One of the great things about the Sport is that it has the length needed to excel on the water but is still extremely light weight.
When deflated and rolled up it makes a super compact package. You can easily carry it on your back although depending on your strength you may not want to hike up a mountain with it!
At twenty pounds it is no problem to carry it short distances to the water.
When the Sport is inflated it is also easy to carry it yourself with one arm making this an easy kayak to take out solo.
The light weight makes it ideal for traveling and simple to take anywhere.
Deluxe Backpack
The backpack that comes with the Airis Sport easily fits the kayak inside when deflated and rolled up properly as well as the repair kit and pump.
It has padded shoulder straps and a front pocket for extra essentials. There is a draw cord on top to cinch it closed and two clips to secure it. There are also clips on the side to attach your paddle.
I like the backpack and it works well. However I have had issues with the stitching on the shoulder straps coming apart and with the clips tearing off, which was disappointing. I would say it is not as well made as the kayak itself.
Comfort and Storage
Overall I find the Sport to be very comfortable. The seat is adjustable and offers decent back support.
There is a fair amount of leg room up front and even someone over 6′ tall would have no problem stretching out. The small foot rests are also a nice added feature.
You can store some gear under the bungee tie down cords at the back of the kayak and more up front if needed. There is not a huge amount of space for storage as mentioned before but enough for any type of day trip.
My Video
My Pictures
Final Thoughts
I own the Sport myself and have used it a LOT. I have also lent it to many friends and family members and everyone seems to enjoy it.
It is one of the most portable and convenient solo inflatable kayaks on the market. Although not perfect, it is worth the money and ultimately gives you a super convenient way to get on the water.
You may get a little extra wet in this kayak but plan for the weather and water and you’ll be fine. It has never been a big issue for me.
The Sport is an ideal choice for anyone looking for a light weight model that still excels on the water.
Using the SPORT in hot climates ( between 11* N and S) requires a good supply of glue to fix the many times the kayak will deflate due to the glue not holding in the sun. We have the habit of releasing air on a regular basis while the temp is incresing during the day.Be careful not to get caught onshore with not enough air in the kayak as the air cools because you have let air out so it does not become “unglued”. Find shade if you can. Do not inflate into the “green zone”. It will burst in the heat.
Were I can bye ?
Hi Allison,
I decided to order the Helio I, think the smaller backpack and covered storage compartments will work best for me.
That’s awesome Debbie! The Helios is a great choice and definitely has some nice features and is very portable.
Hi Allison,
I have one more question about the Sport. I have seen complaints about leaking scupper valves. What are they for anyway? This, and the fact that people say the company moved to Mexico and are hard to contact about warranty service, makes me wonder if it is worth almost as much as a Helio I. I guess my biggest concern is whether the Sport, being the lightest, is actually my best option for a very lightweight, easy to paddle kayak. I can’t help but wonder if it is even close to the Helio in comparison of which moves faster through the water and tracks the best. Any more input would be greatly appreciated. I think the Razorlite might just be a little more difficult for me to travel with and carry.
Hi Allison,
I forgot to ask about the bulkiness and fit of the backpacks for the 3 kayaks. Which is lightest? Which packs everything away the easiest, without a struggle to fit everything back inside? If I am somewhere without a car and need to pack all equipment back in the pack, and carry a big drybag too, and a water jug, I need to know my options. Could you fit a water jug, big drybag, and the pack and pump in the Sport while paddling?
Hi Allison,
I am still torn between the Airis Sport, Razorlite, and Helio. It appears the Helio packs the lightest and smallest. The Airis is the lightest though, right? Is the Airis more like a toy compared to the other two when in comes to paddling distance? Also, it looks like the seat has a low back on the Airis. Is it very comfortable paddling for a couple hours? Does the seat, oars, pump and paddle fit in the backpacks for all three kayaks? Which is easiest to wipe dry and pack away, without having to lay outside?
Hi Allison,
Thanks for your great reviews, they are really helping me narrow down my search.
I plan to do most of my paddling on a lake that does have a tendency to be windy, and hope to take my 50 lb golden retriever with me. I’m 5’8″ and weigh 125 lbs. For a short time, I used the Point 65 Tequila modular kayak, but the tracking was terrible, and made paddling not as much fun as it should be.
I am mostly looking at the Airis Sport and the Sea Eagle Razorlite. I am a bit concerned about the tippiness of the Razorlite (paddling with a dog bigger than yours) as well as the weight of the Razorlite (you mentioned it was tough to carry alone when inflated). I find that I use the footrests a fair amount when paddling, and like that both of these boats offer them – assuming they are in the right place for someone with longer legs.
I think that I would buy the Airis Sport in a heartbeat if it had the same 180 day trial period the Sea Eagle offers. Sea Eagle seems to have amazing customer service, plus you really seem pleased with yours. Like Fran, in the review above, I am a little nervous about buying an Airis sight unseen.
Your thoughts?
Thanks much,
Jane
Hi Jane, The Sport is definitely more stable for paddling with your dog but there isn’t as much room for the dog to sit. He will likely be in between your legs, which may or may not bother you. We have had our 75 lbs. German Shepard in our Razorlite before. The kayak held him no problem and he had decent space to sit but if he moved at all it affected the balance. It’s doable but not that enjoyable with a nervous 75 lbs.dog who kept trying to stand up and turn around haha. If your dog is good at sitting or laying still in the kayak you may have no problem. However the Razorlite is definitely not as easy to pick up and carry by yourself when inflated like you mentioned. It is nice that the Razorlite can be returned if it doesn’t work out for you, it might be worth a shot. I have no issues with the Airis Sport though either, it’s a great little kayak, fun to paddle and highly portable. It isn’t as fast as the Razorlite but very easy to paddle. Good luck!! Whichever one you get let me know how it goes!
Hi again Allison,
We,had the opportunity to try out the Hobie Mirage 11S in San Diego. We really liked it. There only three real drawbacks, it isn’t really a kayak, it is somewhat heavy when fully assembled and it is a tad pricey. Even so, we came close to buying 2 of them on the spot. It is quite quick and extremely stable. The hands free drive makes a lot of activities more convenient, e.g. Photography, eating, fishing, etc. Since it uses the stronger leg muscles, fatigue isn’t as much of an issue for cyclists like us.
All that said, my bride of nearly 41 years is very interested in the Airis Sport. The only reason we haven’t bought one is that she really wants to test ride before buying and there are no dealers within 100 miles! (At roughly $1,000 we really don’t want to buy a pig-in-a-poke, no matter how well recommended. We certainly wouldn’t buy a good bike without a test ride.) We have looked at forums hoping to find someone relatively local who might permit a short trial ride, but so far no success.
Thanks for the service you provide. When we finally take the leap, in either or both directions,we will give you a review.
Fran
Sun City West, AZ
Thanks Fran! That is the biggest problem with inflatable kayaks – it is so hard to find somewhere to test them out! Good luck and I look forward to hearing your review, whichever way you go 🙂
Hi Allison,
Since I posted all that about the FastTrack, Razorlite, Airis, and Helio, I have decided comfort and fun in ocean bays, weight, and ease of inflation and deflation are my top priorities, and not getting a tandem kayak. I do like the storage space in the Helio, for throwing in a dry pack, and taking water, etc.. along with me. I really want a kayak that I could even take with me on a cruise ship, on an airplane, and use while traveling, that I would be able to easily explore ocean bays, canals, slow moving rivers, bayous, lakes, etc.. I know Innova makes other models other than the Helio which are lighter, but I don’t know if the other solo kayaks which aren’t designed more for whitewater rafting would be as fun to use in the ocean. Simplicity, fun, ease of use solo, and comfort attract me more than anything. I know you sit in water in a Helio, but I would mainly be using it in warm water, and even if I didn’t I read you could place a seat cushion to stay above the water. The Safari could be another option, but I don’t know how it compares to the Helio in comfort and in all around use. My biggest qualm about the Airis, which looks great, is that I wouldn’t have much room to take a day pack and any small things I wanted to bring along, such as fins and snorkel, or any items I simply didn’t want to leave on the beach, such as carry bag and pump, if I came off a cruise ship. I really appreciate any input you can give me on these models.
Hi Debbie, The Airis Sport and the Innova Helios pack up into the smallest packages and I would say are the easiest to travel with. The Sea Eagle kayaks are portable as well but slightly bulkier when packed up in their backpacks.
I have been paddling a new Innova Helios the last couple of weeks to update my review. I have noticed that it definitely takes a little longer to setup and inflate than the others. However deflating it is super fast and easy. I added in the high-back seat from my Sea Eagle kayak and it worked great in the Helios and kept me dry. So you could always add in a seat. The Helios doesn’t inflate to as rigid an air pressure as the FastTrack, Sport and especially the Razorlite (which inflates to quite a high air pressure making it extremely rigid). However the Helios is easy to paddle, quick to turn and comfortable… though a little less stable in waves.
Out of all those kayaks the Razorlite is the fastest and easiest to inflate in my opinion. It also performs the best. In waves and chop it is less stable however.
The FastTrack is bulkier, very stable and comfortable. I prefer paddling the FastTrack as a tandem now instead of solo because I am so used to paddling the Razorlite solo. However I did paddle this kayak solo for quite awhile before getting the Razorlite.
I think for simplicity, ease of use, and comfort you can’t really go wrong with the Razorlite, Helios or Sport. The Razorlite is faster, the Helios is just easy (except for setup takes longer) and the Sport is more stable but capable of taking on more water in waves and of course less storage. I hope that helps, I know it’s a tough decision.
Thank you for all your input Allison. I think the Helio will probably be my best option, and it’s nice to know the high back seat works well with it. Does it fit well for use in the Helio? Are you talking about the high back black seat Sea Eagle sells with their Pro Packages?
Yes I used the high back seat that came with the pro package. It fit really quite well in the Helios. You could likely use any seat, there are a few on Amazon for a good price as well. Innova also sells an inflatable seat that is used with their Sunny kayak. If you are able to buy that one solo it also fits into the Helios – but is one more thing to inflate 🙂
Would you say the Sea Eagle high back seat is more comfortable than the Sunny inflatable one? I actually can’t seem to find where you can buy a Sunny seat so it might not matter. Also, how on earth does the Sea Eagle high back seat clip on? I don’t see anywhere to clip on the straps for the seats. Also, are there any other seats that have a high back that you find more comfortable for less money that would fit in the Helio? I probably won’t purchase one right away, but was wondering how they would clip in.
I prefer the SE high back seat to the Innova inflatable one personally. I find it offers a little more support. I just did a quick search and I don’t see the inflatable one for sale anywhere either. Mine came from a local store. Possibly you could get one by contacting Innova directly. For the SE high back seat I just attached the clips to the back bungee cord loops on the Helios. The seat fit in the kayak snuggly and I was able to lean it up against the inflatable backrest on the Heliios. I didn’t even really need to attach it to the bungee cord but probably a good idea so you don’t lose it if you happen to tip. There are a bunch of other kayak seats on Amazon you could also try. The cheaper ones tend to have less padding and less back support in my experience.
How on earth do you attach the kayak seat straps on the Helio? I can’t see any rings to hook them to from the pictures? I am not sure you can buy a seat such as the ones in the Sunny. Are they as comfy as the Sea Eagle seat? Are there any other seats from amazon you would recommend for the Helio? I will try it out of course, before I decide to buy another seat, but I appreciate your help since you have tested so many kayaks, etc..
I think any seat would work fine. It fits nice and tight in the kayak and you are able to lean it right up against the Helios inflatable backrest so I would imagine any seat would do the trick. I like a seat with a higher (and stiffer) back for more back support personally. You’ll get a better idea what will work for you once you try the Helios out. Good luck!
Hi Debbie, Just realized I forgot to comment on the Safari. It’s a great kayak but really designed for whitewater. It doesn’t perform nearly as well on flat water as the Helios does. It handles waves well but tracking isn’t as good and I think you might find it a bit sluggish.
I thought the Safari looked like a great kayak! I just don’t want to go white water rafting, so didn’t think it would be as good for paddling around calm bay waters.
Hi Allison,
I am still undecided on which inflatable to choose, after a year of researching. I think I have narrowed it down to Sea Eagle, Airis, and Helio. If I went by company backing their product, from everything I have read, then Sea Eagle would be my first pick. It seems that Airis and Helio might be nightmares to get anything repaired or replaced, and since they are quite expensive, that concerns me. I really want a kayak to take in the ocean bays, around coastlines, down bayous, or in lakes. There is a nature reserve near me which I would like to kayak in, but there are alligators in the bayou, which makes me question these models as well. But, that isn’t my priority in kayaking. I like the ocean and lakes too. Comfort in the kayak is one of my biggest priorities, with the ability to go into shallow water, and not scrape bottom all the time, and have fun paddling around in the ocean. The option of going tandem is a huge plus, but not at the expense of taking away from enjoying the kayak paddling solo. Which Innova tandem is most comfortable and easy to paddle solo? The Helio II, Sunny, or Safari? I like the Airis Sport design, but wonder if it is as comfortable as the Innova models, or if a tandem is as fun or easy to paddle solo as the Innova brands. The Sea Eagle FastTrack seems to have the best variety of accessories, for solo, tandem, fishing, sailing, etc…, but it just doesn’t look as comfy as the Helio, or as fun to paddle around solo in many conditions. The Razorlite appeals to me for it’s weight, but again, it appears to look more like a strictly exercise rowing kayak, you couldn’t play around in as much. I don’t know why the Helio just appeals to me so much. It just looks fun to jump in, and head out in the water in. Out of all the kayaks I have named, which is the most comfortable to paddle in, and most fun to maneuver solo for up to 4 hours? The option of taking it with me to the Caribbean, and paddling around off the shore is a huge plus, but again, Sea Eagle draws me in with their good reviews. They just don’t look as much fun as the Helio and Airis models. Last, but not least, I will mainly be paddling solo, and do like to travel a lot, and would love to take a kayak. With that being said, would the Airis Sport and Helio I be the best options for that, or are other tandem models in Airis, Innova, and Sea Eagle very fun for solo paddling in all conditions.
Your site is great. Very helpful. One question about the Airis Sport(or Play): I’m only 5’2″, will I be able to utilize the foot rests? If not, do you have a recommended solution for me? I’m a beginner with kayaking and need something light weight and manageable to get to the water. Do you have other ideas on inflatables that I should consider? I’ll be using primarily on lakes. Thanks for your help.
Hi Lucy, I think you will be able to use the footrests. If not just stuff a dry bag up front and place your feet on that.. it works quite well. The Sport or the Play would be a great choice. Both very lightweight, easy to take anywhere and fun to paddle. I prefer the performance of the Sport myself but my neighbor has the Play (she is also 5’2″) and loves it! I find I can carry both the Sport and the Play myself with no help so they are both quite easy to manage.
Nice site with tons of good info, so thank you. I like the looks of the Sport from your review, however my wife pointed out the “duck walk yaw” that it seemed to exhibit in your video. The front went the opposite direction of your paddle with each stroke. How does that symptom compare to other IKs, especially the SE Razr and the SE FT, as well as with budget hard shell touring models? If it doesn’t remain straight while paddling, why would it have “good tracking” in its review? Thanks again!
Hi Brad, The yaw movement isn’t too bad. I have a friend who paddles this kayak regularly with our paddling club. There are a few of us with inflatable kayaks but most are hard-shells. She keeps up just fine. I don’t find the tracking to be that different from many of the recreational hard-shell kayaks. The Razorlite definitely tracks better. I would say it is one of the best tracking IK’s I have tried and is definitely the one I prefer to take out. The SE FT tracks well too, probably just slightly better than the Sport but not quite as well as the Razorlite. However the Sport is fun to paddle, stable and super compact and portable. We have paddled this kayak often in all different types of water. True it doesn’t perform like a good hard-shell touring kayak but all things considered it handles just fine.
My wife and I ar considering the Airis Sport, the Advanced Elements Sport, and the Sea Eagle RazorLite. We were considering the Oru folder, but my butt is wider than the cockpit…
How would these 3 compare for speed/ease of paddling? How about toppings? I’m no longer spry and balance has never been my strong suit.
We currently have a 2013 Sea Eagle Fast Track, which we use tandem. It doesn’t seem that fast to us, especially when we are out with friends in hard shell models. We want to have individual boats that will do better than the FT.
Out of the three kayaks you mentioned the SE RazorLite is the fastest, then the Airis Sport then the AE Sport. The Advanced Elements Sport is my least favorite of the three. It looks nice but doesn’t perform as well as the other two. Plus the Airis Sport and the SE RazorLite are easier to setup.
With the Airis Sport you sit a little higher up so it has more of a sit-on-top feel to it. It is very easy to paddle and although not quite as fast as the RazorLite, it does zip around pretty good. My boyfriend and I both have an Airis Sport and we really like paddling them. I find the Sport to be very stable, it would be nearly impossible to tip.
The Sea Eagle RazorLite is the kayak I paddle most often these days. It is extremely fast to setup and very rigid. I would say it performs most like a hard-shell kayak as compared to the other two mentioned. However it does have more of a ‘tippy’ feel to it. I find that I got used to the ‘tippyness’ of it quickly and I’ve had it in some pretty rough conditions and never felt like I was going to go over. However it is not quite as stable as the Airis Sport.
I belong to a kayaking club and I paddle my RazorLite all the time alongside hard-shell kayaks. I have a friend in the club who paddles the Airis Tandem (but uses it as a solo) and she has no problem keeping up as well. I think you can’t go too wrong with either the Airis Sport or the RazorLite… you will get a little extra stability with the Airis Sport and a little extra speed with the RazorLite. Hope that helps!
Thanks for all your advice on the kayaks. I am a little concerned about some terrible reviews I saw on the Airis kayaks in regards to leaks, and losing air around the valve. I haven’t seen anything bad like that on the Helios, which makes me want to lean towards that brand. It’s hard to find many reviews on the Airis really, and I am hesitant to trust them now.
Hi Debbie, I have all three Airis kayaks here and I haven’t had any issues with them. However I have read some of the complaints from others as well. So I haven’t had a bad experience with them myself but I understand your hesitation. Innova is a great brand with a great rep. The Helios in particular is a really nice kayak, well made and durable. If light weight and portability are important to you, the Helios is just as portable as the Airis kayaks.
We have two sport model kayaks on our yacht, which we used a lot as we cruised up the Queensland coast last year. Now back in south Australia they are not getting as much use as it is much colder down here. Only problems so far has been puncturing them on the split pins on the rigging of the yacht and loosing the little spring that holds the paddle halves together. On the up side they are great for exploring from the yacht and can go so much faster and further than our dingy. It may seem obvious but it’s neat facing forward rather facing backwards in our dingy.
E
I imagine the inflatable kayaks would be so ideal on a yacht. I totally get what you mean about facing forward when you are used to rowing backwards on a dingy… kind of a refreshing change 🙂 Thanks for the comment!
Allison, I love the way this kayak looks in your pictures. I have been researching so many kayaks that it makes me dizzy, trying to find something very light, easy to paddle, and very durable. I am mainly going to be using it in the ocean, lakes, and bayous. I will not need one for rapids. This looks ideal, other than the lack of any storage for water and snacks, or to put the backpack and pump. It also looks like you will get a wet bum, which is fine in the ocean and fresh water, but I might be wary to use it in bayous, with dirty water. Would this not be a good kayak to use in bayous? I am torn between this, the Helio EX (which is really too expensive), the Advanced Elements Sport, and the Aquaglide Columbia One HB or Klickitat models. If you had to compare any of these which would you say is most comfy, most durable, and just plain overall best in many ways? I would greatly appreciate your input and help.
Thanks,
Debbie
I prefer the Airis Sport over all the others you mentioned. It is a super convenient kayak and it paddles well. I don’t actually find I get wet in the Sport, only possibly some drips from my paddles. The only time I’ve taken on a bit of water was in ocean swells in heavy wind… but it wasn’t too bad. Even though I prefer paddling the Sea Eagle kayaks myself, I really think the Sport would suit your needs well over all the other kayaks you’ve mentioned. It is super portable, ideal for traveling, great for lakes and ocean bays, plus you could use the Quick Sail as you mentioned before and although I’ve never tried it with the Sport, I think it would work great. There is a lack of storage space but I have secured a dry bag with gear under the bungee cords and kept a little backpack behind my seat (it’s hard to tell from the pics, but there is a tiny bit of room behind the seat). Then my water bottle I just keep by my legs. Overall it works and it’s a super fun kayak… very comfy, durable and easy to paddle.
Allison, does the backpack fit under the bungee cords? I was thinking about what I would do with the backpack at a remote location with no vehicle. I thought maybe if it is waterproof and like a drybag it could hold other stuff after the boat and gear came out. Also, does the material wipe dry without having to air dry? I wouldn’t want to risk mold if packing up after use and carrying back to a hostel, B&B, or somewhere on travels where I couldn’t leave it out to dry.
Yes no problem storing the backpack under the bungee cords. It is not waterproof but is fairly water resistant and you can just wipe it dry. I wouldn’t foresee any issues with mold unless you are in a very humid area and it stays moist.
Must admit they paddle lovely and really light and portable. I have had a problem with the floor on mine where the drop stitching has separated around the valve. Apparently Walker Bay have agreed to replace floor on warranty but haven’t received it yet 4 weeks so far.
oops i mean Sea Eagle Explorer
Because I’m around 6.5 ft it doesn’t look big enough for me. Right now I have a advanced elements convertible and use it as a solo simply because the size is more comfortable. Should I look for a duo in this case as well? It looks like footrests are glued to the bottom, and: can you kayak surf with this?
Yes I would say the Sport might be a little small for you. Take a look at the Airis Tandem. The seats can be adjusted for solo use. I have a very tall friend who uses this model and it works well for him. Any of the Airis kayaks can be used for surf, no problem. And yes you are correct, the footrests are glued to the bottom, they don’t move.
Thanks!
Really like the idea of a lightweight portable Kayak for a quick run down the beach and kayak. the Advanced Elements is just too heavy, and after a bit of surf action it usually has a couple gallons of water in it 🙂 (completely closed or not, the zippers of the top deck are not the best design for keeping water out)
Was also checking the sea eagle expedition 420, because you can put a sail on it etc. but that is yet another heavy package. This is how I found out the Advanced Elements was not the perfect Kayak for the surf: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4PRdE6Kd_w
Hey Martin, that’s a pretty awesome video, thanks for posting it! Looks like so much fun. I can see how you would get completely water logged. It’s an interesting comment about the zippers with the AE kayak.
Allison,
Thanks for the very informative review on the Airis Sport. I just placed my order.
Dick
Awesome, you will love the Sport, it is truly a great kayak. So glad you found the review helpful.
Happy Paddling!