60 reviews for ADVANCED ELEMENTS AE1007-R-P AdvancedFrame Convertible Inflatable Kayak – Pump Included – 15″ – Red Sports & Outdoors

1. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Andrew O. – February 23, 2024

   4.0 out of 5 stars

   Great kayak, very adaptable.

   Right up top, let me say this review is by a novice kayaker who up until purchasing this had never kayaked, just done a little river rafting. This kayak takes a little while to warm up to. The first time I tried to set it up it took me literally an hour, and it was still crooked. This was in large part because of the Durafloor attachment in there, but you may want to practice setting this up in your backyard before hitting the water. Once I had it set up my daughter and I practiced with it in the pool, and we took turns falling out and climbing back in. The kayak proved very stable, we were able to get in and out easily. Next we practiced with our 60-lb dog, who fits nicely between the two seats. Again, the stability kept us from rocking too much as the dog would turn around.I took it to a lake first and it was great, although it revealed one of its drawbacks: it’s big and heavy. At fifteen feet long and fifty pounds (plus oars, gear etc) it was too much for my little man body to carry, and my daughter isn’t strong enough to carry a side. Luckily a nice guy at the lake helped us, but had there not been someone to help out I would have just had to drag it. So if two adults are involved, no problem. There are some little kayak trailers out there, one of which I purchased but it sucked.Since the lake I’ve taken it to the ocean a few times, and again, it’s been great. Make sure to inflate the floor enough, it seems to make a big difference in the kayak performance. Since I have to rinse off the kayak after the ocean I’ve started skipping using the bag and just dumping it in the back of my truck. The bag works well for storage but sometimes you’ll fold it like you have every other time and it just won’t fit.Overall I have been very happy with this kayak, and even as a novice I was able to pick it up very quickly. I’d say I can deploy it using a hand pump in about seven minutes now, which isn’t bad at all. I have noticed a scrape with a little missing PVC on the bottom already, so be extra careful not to drag it! The only thing I don’t like about it is the original floor. It’s basically a crappy pool toy raft, and it isn’t dog safe so you have to purchase one of their superior floors. I’d rather they just offered the kayak with a nice floor all in one package.

   28 people found this helpful

2. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Amazon Customer – February 23, 2024

   4.0 out of 5 stars

   getting it back is the bag can be a challenge.

   Haven’t got it wet yet, but did a practice setup in the garage. Glad I did. The instructions are comprehensive enough. The material weight seems really good. Reminds me of white water rafting days. I do have a negative comment:I’m an old guy, but not weak or slow to a challenge. I wanted a kayak for traveling purposes. I have both a one and two person rigid kayak for my lakeside property.1) Deflating is not too difficult with the appropriate pump. I bought the AE pump around the same time that I ordered the kayak.2) Refolding correctly (I took step-by-step pictures as I unfolded.) is a little tough because of the material thicknesses, but doable.3) Placing the folded kayak in the FABRIC BAG by one’s self is a real struggle because of the FABRIC BAG, not the kayak. A full zipper on the FABRIC BAG would be a significant improvement, so that the FABRIC BAG would lay flat instead of collapsing or folding up while I had my hands full of 50 pounds of kayak.I will very likely install a longer zipper or make a new bag.Hey AE, are you reading your reviews? I hope so….

   8 people found this helpful

3. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Jerry RobisonJerry Robison – February 23, 2024

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   AE Convertible Inflatable

   Well, that was fun. This Advanced Elements inflatable, convertible kayak was procured at the last second before leaving on a tour thru Oregon. I ended up putting it into several small lakes (Sparks, Elk, Hosmer) as well as sending it down a river (Clackamas near McIver SP). Due to the length and diversity of our tour, my Perception Acadia hard shell was once again left at home.There are several things you need to know. First and foremost, where ever you go you will be the only one with one of these. You will be conspicuous. You will be watched. At the boat ramp, people will stare at you because either they’ve never seen anything like it or because they wonder if they too should get out of their hardshells and into something a lot more portable. Whereas other inflatables reveal their parallel tube design, the Advance Elements products wraps the tubes in a conventional looking and handsome envelope. Reviews of other smaller tandems mention that leg room can be an issue, so I’m happy to report that at 15 feet there is plenty with the AE. Don’t count on a much cargo though unless you convert over to single passenger.The second thing you should know is that it does its job very well. On the lakes it was fast in the open and, close to shore, impenetrable. On the river, the tough rubber lower survived rude rocks in class 1+ rapids. Yes it is heavier than the others, but it is also stable, robust and sturdy.Third, those electric pumps normally used for matresses will not work. Surprisingly, a cheap 14″ double-action will do the job, in about 200 strokes, allowing you to get from car trunk to water in under 10 minutes. I recommend going to a 19″ pump. Count on getting the pump online because currently, kayak dealers and sporting goods stores provide almost no inventory or support for inflatables. I got a longish 240cm paddle and was glad I did as the inflatable tubes necessarily make the kayak wider than a hardshell.This was an unexpected game changer for us because we can now tour knowing we have impromptu access to lake & streams along the way without worrying about security and storage for a hardshell.

   188 people found this helpful

4. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   JeffH – February 23, 2024

   4.0 out of 5 stars

   So far, so good

   We purchased this kayak two weeks ago and just got back from our trip where we had our maiden voyage. First off, we are weekend RVers who are beginner kayakers. Our criteria was to find something that provides us with a solid kayak experience similar to a hardshell but with the added convenience of quick setup, tear down, and stowage in the belly of our class A.The AE Kayak seems to fit nearly all of our criteria as our first run was a very pleasing first trip. The kayak is very durable and we felt very safe in it. Further, it is clear this kayak is capable of so much more than we plan to put it through and that is a comfort in itself. It is much lighter than a hard shell and required less effort to keep even with our friends who were working hard in their “plastic yellow banana”l. The kayak did have a little “side to side” movement but overall tracked very well. Even though it folds up into a bag the size of a large suitcase, the total weight of the kayak could be an issue if you plan to walk any decent distance without the assistance of a dolly. Set up is a breeze (probably 10minutes) but putting the kayak away is a bit more involved. As you’d expect, water collects in the bottom and it takes a little extra time to empty out, dry off, clean up, fold, and put away. The extra steps, by no fault of the kayak, had us still working on our kayak as our friends had stowed their hard shell and were watching with interest as we finished up. Despite that, having the ability to store the thing in the motorhome is a huge plus and more than makes up for the extra time spent packing up.We chose the Advanced Elements Convertible Kayak sight unseen and solely off of internet reviews. The online community did not let us down. We are pleased with the purchase and would do it again.

   23 people found this helpful

5. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   binkied – February 23, 2024

   4.0 out of 5 stars

   High quality and stable

   I bought this kayak a year ago and I really like it. I use it to paddle my daughter (age 3 1/2) and usually a dog, or two. The material is durable, it is easy to assemble and inflates quickly with the double action hand pump. I went with the inflatable kayak because I don’t have to maneuver a hard shell on and off of my car alone and it packs away conveniently to store. It has stayed clean, in spite of the fact that I don’t get to drying & cleaning it immediately after use. My daughter can easily jump in and out of the water and stand up without tipping the kayak. It is very stable.A few thoughts: I am paddling alone with a child & canine passenger. The kayak is pretty huge for just day use and I probably could have purchased the single (it would be fine for two adults and a dog). I did not buy the spine and I think I might for better maneuverability. My set up now is ideal for a slow moving river or a lake on a calm day, but I had some trouble paddling alone on a lake with wind… just a lot of work. I have the basic seat and I think there are some upgrade options there also. I put a boat pad under my seat to raise the height slightly (I am small) and, because I am in and out of the water, keep the water off of my bum. I’m not sure how wet this would be on a cold day (I don’t have the skirt). This is a great product, but with all of the extras, quite expensive.

   11 people found this helpful

6. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Claudio – February 23, 2024

   4.0 out of 5 stars

   After almost 1 year I’m very happy with my kayak

   I have been using this Kayak almost every week. Yes indeed, it is a hard work to inflate and build the kayak and worse once you are tired deflate the Kayak clean it, and store it. However, it worth the effort. Some people say that is better than having to carry a hard kayak, and I believe it.I was inexperienced, and was hard to me keep in a straight line, until I realized that the Backbone need to be perfectly in place and also the current make it harder. I had my learning curve, still learning, but it has been a lot of fun.Every time I inflate the kayak, the people always approach to me asking me where I bought it, how much does it cost, and if it is safe.I think AE Convertible still has a great value, but you need to be aware that you need to spend in: 2 paddles ($70), Pump ($26), 2 Life Jacket ($80). Then if you are planning to go to the Sea, you also need the Backbone ($94) that I would recommend. The initial AE Kayak I received had a problem with the air chamber 2. I don’t know if it was caused by the backbone, or if it arrived damaged. I could never inflate it correctly because it had that problem. But even loosing air the Kayak was able to navigate. Amazon made it very simple, they sent me a RMA, I dropped the Kayak in UPS, and send me a new one next day. It was an amazing experience for such a bad problem. Thanks Amazon!

   4 people found this helpful

7. 

   Rated 3 out of 5

   Amazon Customer – February 23, 2024

   3.0 out of 5 stars

   If you can’t get a hard body its good, but there is some effort required that isn’t initially apparent.

   While the kayak is fun and functional when inflated, the effort to inflate and, more importantly deflate has proven to be a big damper on the amount I use this product. That may sound lazy, but let me be more specific: its almost impossible to thoroughly clean. After trying to superficially clean it at the park where I put in, it always ends up going in the back of car dirty (don’t even think about trying to put it in the bag still damp). Then I get home and need to lay it out to dry (where it is still getting dirt all over it), but then I should probably inflate it to wash it off, right? Well, there are so many crevices and places that don’t get revealed well that inflating to clean doesn’t help much either. Also, any time you try to move this thing around too much while deflated the internal bracing gets all wonky, which you don’t realize until you have it fully inflated and the nose or rear is floppy. When that happens you have to deflate it, fiddle with the bracing, and try inflating it again hoping you set it all up correctly.Overall I would say if there is no way you can get and/or transport a hard body kayak then this is a decent replacement, but don’t think that it will be a quick and easy gig. The “convenience” in transportation you get by being able to pack this up is quickly lost in the effort needed to unpack, inflate, deflate, clean (if it ever gets clean), and then repack. With a hard body you can just throw it on your car dirty and wash it off at home with a hose. This requires a couple extra steps that I don’t think make up for the inflatable aspects.

   31 people found this helpful

8. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Nathan BrownNathan Brown – February 23, 2024

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   Love it!!

   My concerns previous to purchasing:DURABILITY: I was most worried about durability questions when I first started my search. Inflatable kayaks are a little more durable than most people give them credit for. The second time I took this to the Texas coast I drifted over an oyster reef…. then I did it again:) To my amazement, the razor-sharp shells did not instantly pop my yak! There was not even a scratch on the hull.PERFORMANCE: Alright. If your fishing, you will be ok. Advanced Elements offers different attachments that promise to upgrade the performance. I just bought the backbone attachment and I can’t wait to try it!!PUMPING IT UP: I hate being the dorky guy working a hand pump. If I’m being honest that is still probably the worst part of this rig. Get yourself a car adapted mattress pump. Blow up the main chambers. Then… just be confident in yourself as a man… and pump up the rest with the hand pump as fast as humanly possible. Then laugh to yourself as you paddle off to fish heaven, and think of all the poor souls straining their backs to manipulate their hardshells.I had to return a 13ft., 100lbs., hardshell fishing kayak in February. It was a great kayak, but the mobility, or lack ther of, lead to my decision. I hurt my back, scratched my SUV, broke my roof rack, and simply did not have a pleasant experience. That lead me to inflatable kayaks. I’ve owned one inflatable kayak, but it looked like a pool toy. I was worried all inflatable kayaks looked and functioned that way. However, I started into higher quality inflatable kayaks and settled in on this specific kayak. I could not be happier. I love the length, control, speed, and look. I’ve taken this kayak on several trips to the coast, and have not been disappointed.I will forever leave hardshell kayaks behind.

   58 people found this helpful

9. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Awe-some-o – February 23, 2024

   5.0 out of 5 stars

   great

   So far, I set it up and kayaked it only once.It pumped up much faster than i expected. I placed in the advanced element backbone. People mentioned its hard to get in the right position. Maybe i got lucky cause it seemed easy to me. I also read someone say it was uncomfortable to sit on. I would say i did not even feel it. In fact, the whole kayak is amazingly comfortable. It would make a nice bed, lol.Tracking. i had a big concern about this. But it performed great. My former kayak was Hobie Mirage Outback with a drop down rudder. Without the rudder it does not track at all. This kayak went very straight. It turns slow though but that is the trade off you make.Weight. This kayak is easy for me to pick up even though it is 56 pounds. My Hobie Mirage Outback was listed at 66 pounds. It is hard to pick up and move about. So, i expected this to be about the same. I was pleased to find 10 pounds made a big difference. Maybe the fact that it is inflatable helps too as it can easily rest on my shoulder.Anyway, I piled myself (6’3 210pd) my girlfriend (5’7) and 2 little dogs in. Plenty of room for all. I look forward to having some adventures with this kayak in the back country.============05.15.2012 updateStill loving it. Now i have developed a new style of sitting and paddling on it. i sit back on my knees and even stand on my knees and paddle. It’s super comfortable and great for really digging in deep into the water.Also i leave my kayak inflated on my back of my boat. i covered it with a piece of sunbrella. Holds air very well.

   9 people found this helpful

10. 

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Eric Bader – February 23, 2024

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    Excellent Product

    So I have had this boat for a little over 2 years now and have had some great experiences. First of all this is high quality boat and is built really well. There is plenty of space for 2 people or even 1 person and two kids or dogs etc. It tracks really well and is a pleasure to paddle on the water.Pluses- great amount of space if your taking multiple people – not a problem to paddle alone but there may be better options- design with outer shell seems perfect for durability – no problems at all to report- paddles really well and tracks well- setup is fairly easy – after the first time setup shouldn’t take more than 10-15 minutes- storage is great as it fits into a large bagDrawbacks- weight – even though fairly easy to store its pretty heavy to heft around- drying it out after use is the only reason I cannot give five stars. A certain amount of water gets into the kayak and based on the design its very difficult to dry out unless you remove the inner part and dry seperate – once you do this putting everything back together is definitely a pain.In conclusion I can highly recommend this boat but just be aware that even though setup is a breeze that drying out and preparing for storage is a bit of a project.

    24 people found this helpful

11. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    sd – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Awesome Kayak – not so awesome carrying case

    I am a whitewater kayaker and previously only had tried whitewater kayaks. I went through the whole novice phase where trying to paddle just turns you around and around – not to mention, extremely frustrating. White water kayaks are meant to spin very easily because you want to be able to maneuver your kayak really quickly when you are in the rapids or among rocks or other hazards. Speed is much less of a concern with a white water kayak since, well, the water is already moving, so you don’t need to paddle very hard.However, taking a whitewater kayak in a lake is pretty much good for only two things: 1) An extremely good workout – since the kayaks simply do not want to go straight and 2) Practicing your skills in a safe environment without having to worry about hazards and currents.My wife had been wanting to go on the water with me for a while now so I finally buckled down and bought this kayak (of course after researching the hell out of inflatable kayaks.) Friend kayakers had told me that Inflatable kayaks are in general stable and this kayak just delivers on the mark. I bought it with the double action pump and it worked pretty well. The kayak is pretty heavy – 56 lbs. I consider myself strong but trying to carry it in the case to the water was a bit of struggle. The reason is not that the weight. Rather, the carrying case is is like an oversize shopping bag – of course, zippered, so it is completely enclosed. The handles are not big enough to give you enough length to hang around your shoulders. You can put your arm in and put it on your shoulder, but it is not very comfortable.Setting it up was pretty straightforward. It takes about 10 minutes to fully setup. One thing I had been dreading was pumping the kayak up. Surprisingly, the kayak barely requires 1-2 psi pressure when fully inflated, so the pump really pumps it up very quickly.I did a water launch of the kayak i.e. take it in about calf deep water and then place your butt in the kayak. Then raise your legs and bring them in. My wife is not a kayaker and does not know swimming, so I was quite concerned with stability of the kayak. I suited her up in the life vest and had her sit in first in the rear seat. Boy, it was stable! She sat down with not an issue. I got in without any issues as well. I tried to rock the kayak, it does not rock much. Both Primary and Secondary stability of the kayak are excellent. Primary stability means when the kayak is sitting on water and you try to rock it a bit, does it become tippy whereas secondary stability means when the kayak is almost on its side, does it become tippy or tips over. Happy to say, I did not feel any tippiness at all.Tracking: Tracking means when that when you are paddling, how well does the kayak move in a straight line. Coming from a white water world, I am really well versed with keeping a kayak straight (remember how I earlier said that white water kayaks DO NOT want to go straight and require skill to keep them moving in a particular direction). I was simply amazed at the tracking ability of this kayak. I mean after I paddled it for a few strokes and just let it go, it would go in exactly the direction that I left it at. No turning, no twisting whatsoever. Coming from the whitewater world, this just seems like magic. The fact that the kayak has a welded keel at the bottom and a plastic weldged spine at the bottom must be contributing to that as well. I tested the tracking in flat, calm water and it performed superb. Of course, if you try it in a windy place or otherwise moving water, it would affect the tracking.I noticed while setting the kayak up that there is an aluminum backbone in both the tips of the kayak which keeps the tips sharp and help it cut through the water. It was not much work to make it travel through the water.The seats are pretty OK. The seats attach to the kayak with two buckle straps and I tightened mine to make it near straight back sitting. After an hour or so, it was slightly uncomfortable. You might have to play with a few adjustments, aftermarket accessories if you want to go on a long trip. As someone else mentioned, the rear seat touches the back ring of the kayak, so the person in the back seat is likely getting more support and is likely more comfortable. Of course, this is a bit of nitpick. Any kayak, no matter whether hardshell or inflatable requires fiddling around with the seat to make it work best for you.NOTE: I had read a few comments on how the instructions on how exactly to inflate the kayak are a bit unclear. I concur with those comments. So, the pump connects with the spring loaded air valves. What the instruction booklet does not make clear is that the central portion within the spring loaded air valves can be pushed with a finger and that you can actually turn it with a finger without grabbing it. No seriously, just push the central portion of the valve down and then just using pressure and friction, try to turn it left or right. It will turn. So, this central position has two positions, down and up. When the valve is up, you can pump air in and when you detach the pump, the kayak will hold air. If the valve is in down position, you can pump air, but as soon as you remove the pump, it immediately starts losing air. So lesson: when filling it up, keep the value in the up position and when you want to deflate, push the valve down and twist it with your fingertip till it gets stuck in the down position and it will let the air out.NOTE: Note the way the kayak is folded when you first take it out of the carrying case. If you don’t, you might struggle quite a bit to put the kayak back in its case. For reference, this is how I fold it: The back side of the kayak folds a small fold, then the just folded portion is folded again over itself. Next, approach the kayak from the other edge. Fold the other edge on the main body. Now take the newly folded section and fold it over the rear side. Not sure if that helps, but that is the way I do it.Now for the Cons:- When the broadside is facing wind, the kayak feels a teeny bit tippy. I have heard that this is more common with inflatable kayaks. Even hardshells have it, but inflatables have it a bit more- No footrest. Coming from whitewater, this was a bit of a shocker. In white water kayaking, your lower body is completely locked win the kayak. You are pressing a footrest with your foot and your knees are under extended portion of the kayak that covers your knees. Effectively, the point is to make sure that your lower body and the kayak behave as one unit, so you can control the kayak with purely your lower body. This kayak has no footrest. In fact there is quite a bit of space in front of your legs. I guess for flat water, it felt just fine, although if I want to take this in moving water, I would probably stuff something in front of my feet to have something to push on. There are no knee braces, but I guess if you buy the extra shell, you might have something like it.- Water – Some water got in while paddling. Probably less than a cup or two but it did. This is not the kayak’s fault. The kayak is open top so of course some water will splash in. I used the white water paddle with my kayak (they are a bit shorter and have wider blades) and no water splashed onto my wife. I read another reviewer’s comment saying that it splashed water on the person in the rear, but I did not experience any such thing.- Drying – Now, this was a chore. With my hardshells, I just lift them on my shoulder and twist and turn till I let all the water out and then I just have them sit in the garage while they dry out. The fabric at the top, although nylong, is a woven nylon fabric which gives it great strength but also makes it retain some water. So after I brought it home, I had to use a sponge to take out all excess water. The fabric at the top and around the tubing was wet, so I let a pedstal fan blow on it all night and it was dry in the morning. I have seen comments saying that they leave it outside for a while in the sun and it dries up. I leave in Pacific Northwest and this is not really an option for me most of the year. I guess this is the cost I will have to pay to get the flexibility of an inflatable.I MUST really really complain about the carrying case again (by the way, the fabric of the case seems waterproof and is pretty solid). The issue is not just with this kayak but pretty much anything that comes with a case. The manufacturers try to save on the material to the degree that both taking the kayak out of the bag and putting it back in is a frikkin pain in the butt. I work up a small amount of sweat pushing it back in into the carrying case. I mean SERIOUSLY! I just paid $650+Tax for a kayak. If they would have taken care of making a case that was a few inches longer, I could actually have put the kayak back in easily. As is, it is like wrestling with a gator. It takes me and my wife both about 2-3 minutes pushing and shoving and pulling the case up to get it in.Final observation: I am a big complainer when I don’t like something, so please don’t read the above comments as if I am trying to dissuade you from purchasing the kayak. This is an absolutely fantastic kayak. I love it and would not trade it for anything. The construction is rock solid. The fabric used is both aesthetically pleasing as as pretty strong. The canvas at the bottom inspires confidence. The fact that they thought over and have two tubes with separate valves that by themselves can keep the kayak afloat – so that in case one of the tubes fails, you can still get back is a testament to the marvelous engineering the folks at Advanced Elements did.Overall, buy without hesitation but be ready to struggle with the wretched case.

    424 people found this helpful

12. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Placeholder – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertible Inflatable Kayak

    I looked at a lot of kayaks before buying this one and am very happy with my purchase. I had some experience in a hard shell kayak, but they were all out of my price range (especially the tandems). I wanted a kayak that would allow me to paddle solo or with a another person, I wanted a kayak that tracked well, and I wanted something that would break down in fit in the back of my car. This kayak is all those things.Obviously the biggest drawback to this kayak is having to assemble and disassemble after every use (and every time you clean it). It only takes 5-10 minutes to inflate (even with a cheap hand pump) and even less to deflate. Taking it apart and cleaning it after every use has been the only downside. I mainly kayak in the ocean and also live in the Pacific Northwest, so I need to make sure everything is clean and dry when I pack it up.It is important to fully inflate all chambers for ideal performance, but you dont want to over inflate or you might damage the kayak. This is why I ordered the Advanced Frame Dual Action Pump with Pressure Gauge, however, cheaper pumps work too. When I’ve gone solo in this kayak I noticed it sags a bit in the center (to be expected for an inflatable) and the sides of the fabric bow out and can start to collect water. I’m sure with the addition of a spray deck and the backbone this wont be an issue anymore.I noticed a lot of people complaining about how heavy this kayak is and it is heavy (around 55 pounds) but it is just as heavy as a most hard shell kayaks. Another thing people said in reviews is that they were unable to get the kayak back in the duffel bag. I got mine back in just fine, all you have to do is make sure you get all the air out first.To sum things up, the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Convertable Kayak is an awesome kayak. It is ideal for people who dont want to spend the big bucks on a hard shell kayak and want something that they can fold up and stick in a duffel bag, while still getting the performance you would expect from a hard shell kayak.Pros:Great price for a convertible kayakCan easily fit in the backseat of your carMade from high quality materialsGreat tracking, cuts right through the waterVery stable on the water, even in choppy and windy conditions.Cons:Inflating, deflating, and cleanup can be a choreSpray decks and backbone needed for best performance (but not required)

    33 people found this helpful

13. 

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Amazon Customer – February 23, 2024

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    Nice Solution for Urban Dwellers

    I began looking to buy a kayak when I discovered how expensive rentals are in my area (San Francisco Bay Area). Because I live in a small apartment, an inflatable was really the only way to go. After plenty of research, I settled on this kayak. I’ve taken it out on the San Francisco Bay a couple times and can say I don’t regret the purchase.The kayak looks nice; unlike others that look like floating air mattresses. It’s also very stable and performs well on the water. It’s also spacious and comfortably seats two (though the optional deck reduces leg room considerably and may makes it tough for tall people in the back seat.I have taken it out twice on San Francisco Bay. The first time, the winds were calm and the water was calm, so we had no issues. The second time, winds were high and the water was choppy, but the kayak still maintained stability.It’s not perfect; there are trade-offs for the portability. I take it on quick trips for the sole purpose of kayaking, so waiting around for it to dry afterward is not a good option. I take a towel to dry it off, then lay it back out at home to finish drying overnight, which isn’t ideal.I’m also not wild about the seats. They sit directly on the kayak floor, so if any water gets into the kayak (which it probably will), you will be sitting in it in short order. In my opinion, the low seats in conjunction with the wide sides also make paddling a bit more difficult. I haven’t found any after-market accessories that raise the seats, but I would definitely buy them.I bought two accessories with it. I got the two-person deck, which I was very glad to have on my windy excursion, but it left little legroom in the back (deflating the foot rest helped). I also got the backbone, which I haven’t tried yet, but will if I have more time to devote to setup.On the whole, I really like the kayak. It goes from closet to trunk of my car to the water easily. It performs well. I am looking forward to future trips on waterways throughout the region.

    6 people found this helpful

14. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Thad – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Great inflatable raft.

    We bought this for a two week trip to Hawaii. We were able to be in the water in about ten minuets from the time we arrived at the beach. This was a hit for the kids, and the wife. I liked being able to quickly change from double to single. Plenty of room for two adults and some gear. My wife and I paddled all over the coastline in this, it felt stable and tracked well.We launched from the beach in small to moderate waves and didn’t have any problems. Coming back in to the beach was similar, unless your passenger waits too long to get out… you take waves over the stern. We were out in in windy, choppy seas and the boat felt stable the whole time. I took it out a couple of times in about 3 foot swells and white caps, water over the bow, but other than that no problem. I did wish I had purchased the skirting for those occasions. The kayak is sable enough that my 15 year old could stand up in the front and dive in to the water.There were only a couple of minor things that I noticed;1. I wish both sides had double paddle loops.2. Self bailing would be nice, once it gets full of water you have to flip it over in the water, but it wasn’t a huge issue.3. The zippers on the sides were rough on my fingers if I grazed them while paddling.Overall this was a lot of fun for the family and easy to transport.

    16 people found this helpful

15. 

    Rated 1 out of 5

    PJPJ – February 23, 2024

    1.0 out of 5 stars

    Poor servicew

    We love the kayak, but the inflatable thwart is defective and does not hold air. You can see that the seams are crimped in the corners and that is where it leaks. We called and left a message and emailed the company twice asking for either a replacement or discount. We have heard nothing back from any of our attempts to resolve this issue. My only option, it appears is to leave this bad review. Too bad, the Kayak is great, but it they don’t or won’t stand by their product, I have my doubts about doing business with them.

    One person found this helpful

16. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Amazon Customer – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    I love this kayak!

    I love this kayak! When I first heard of inflatable kayaks, I thought pool toy. This is so durable and so far from that! I read every description and review several times before purchasing. I wanted a kayak I could tote myself, and a tandem that maybe I could get my hubby in. My reluctant husband likes it too and feels 100 Percent comfortable and safe in it. It would be super hard to overturn. I have had kids get in and out of it in the water when using it to swim, etc… I can take it out by myself, but I have had a lot of fun taking out people who have never kayaked or are unsure! It is difficult for me to get out of a typical kayak due to an injury and I am not young, and I have to have someone help me get out. I get out of this on my own with no problem.At first, I did not get the Advanced Elements hand pump due to some bad reviews. I ordered another brand but the nozzle for the two main chambers didn’t work well at all and the guage didn’t work. I returned it and ordered the Advanced Elements pump. I wish it was a little bigger and more sturdy, but it too, was a dual action pump. The nozzles fit perfectly of course! The guage doesn’t work, but I just read directions carefully and pumped it up. In a review, someone mentioned that they called Advanced Elements about the guage, and the company sent them a piece to make it work. I just didn’t get around to that. I also order the electric one but someone said those take a long time to air the boat up. I can pump the kayak up with the dual action pump easily. I figure it just adds to the workout, and honestly doesn’t take long to do, and I certainly don’t have big muscles!I recommend watching videos about how to open and set it up as well as take it down and pack it. People mention it is heavy and difficult to put back in the bag. I watched the video over and over. I watched many videos, but my favorite was by Kayak Central. It is heavy for me to carry the bag, but I can do it. It doesn’t take long to learn how to fold it up correctly and put it in the bag. It is helpful if my hubby helps me put it in the bag after I fold it up properly. Like many others have mentioned, when done, I dry it off some, and fold it up and put it in the back of my SUV, often putting it in without doing the final fold over of one side to the other. when home I clean and dry it off, letting it sit outside or in the garage to let it completely dry.I did get a dolly (kbxstart) to use when I am by myself or with a child to take it to the water/ramp works well. I highly recommend this kayak!

    13 people found this helpful

17. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Zeek – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Excellent Portable Boat

    I never bought a kayak before because they take up too much storage space and too much room to crate around, especially if you already have a camper or a boat. A friend had this model and I took a ride in it. I was impressed with the portability, ease of set up and handling on the water. I bought my own and have used it several times on flat lakes and class II rapids. It’s excellent and durable. I hit submerged rocks and trees and boat sustained zero damage. Advanced Elements website has a forum with a wealth of information that I found very helpful. Yesterday I had two people walk up to ma at the launch and ask about the boat. I pointed at two other groups trying to cram and tie down all their hardside kayaks while I simply deflated, folded and threw in the trunk! The other advantage is it’s much more comfortable to ride in for hours because there are no hard edges to rub against.******UPDATE August 2013************I still love this thing for all the reasons I’ve said. No comparison to the hassle with hard-sides.I bought the backbone which I have used a few times. I would say that if you are in deep water or are carrying a lot of gear or weight it may be worthwhile. I’m 170 lbs. and my wife I’m guessing is about 130. We do a LOT of shallow water kayaking in tributaries in our area. The beauty of this thing is if the rear person arches their back up onto the rear and you do not have the back bone in, you can go over almost ANY shallow water hazards. The back bone can actually make the bottom more prone to damage, but I have not had ANY significant damage to the hull.Other thing I cheeped out on to begin with was I had a 12v pump I used instead of theirs. I finally sprung for the Advanced pump WITH air gauge and found that taking the bladders to the optimum max pressure worked SO much better. I was always afraid of over-inflating, but with their pump and the quick disconnects with the air gauge marked for optimum pressure, it’s WAY better . . . buy it.If you can spare the coin, you won’t regret it:)

    7 people found this helpful

18. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    pj – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    It is easy to inflate and deflate

    We (husband and wife) bought this to take with us in the RV. Much easier for travel than the traditional hard version. It is easy to inflate and deflate. The only down side is that it is quite heavy to tote around in the case. It takes a little practice to get it back into the case after it is deflated; but it can be done. The key to it is to fold it the same way each time and make sure it is completely deflated. Leave the chambers open after deflating so any extra air will escape as you are folding it.The kayak tracks wonderfully and is very fast when paddling tandem. Neither of us have paddled solo yet, so I can’t speak to that yet. We received many complements on the kayak while we were paddling the Silver River in Silver Springs FL. We even talked with another couple who also purchased the same kayak and travel with it as well. They like it as much as we do.My husband and I highly recommend it. The shell is thick, the size is perfect, it is easy to maneuver, easy to inflate and deflate, looks great, and just plain fun.

    32 people found this helpful

19. 

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Fred Bloggs – February 23, 2024

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    Works good so far for a couple of 70 year olds

    Very easy to set up even considering the double action hand pump. Fairly easy to deflate. A little tricky to fold and get back in the bag. The footrest divider needs a proper strap to hold it in place. Velcro useless first time your feet push on it. Have used 3 times so far. Suggest placing towel between your knees to soak up water dripping off the paddles. Time will tell if the plastic will not eventually crack due to the folding. You have to pay attention to where the rigid parts of the keel are when folding up for storage. With two adults and one in rear paddling the kayak is fairly manouverable and once moving is easily kept moving. Also, it would be good if there was a way to strap the seat bottom in place which would then allow the backrest straps more effective.

    One person found this helpful

20. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    DiscoveryDiscovery – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Almost returned it!

    The media could not be loaded.

     If it was not for the great customer service provided by Matt at Advanced Elements I would have returned this. Here’s the story. There are MANY warnings about “do not over inflate” and only fill to 2PSI So, because there is no gauge built into the boat nor did either of my pumps have one, I had to guess at what 2PSI should be and I filled it to where I was comfortable and took it for a test drive and it was awful. At 210lbs solo, it was bowing badly in the middle and did not maneuver well at all. Also, with two people carrying it, it would bend in the middle so I was beginning to think that I was going to have to spend another $200+ for the rigid floor (which I still believe should be included). I was ready to box it up and send it back but figured I would wait to see if A.E. would reply to my email and they did quite promptly!Because the spring valves were new to me I was inflating improperly and after some experimenting and Matt’s help, I discovered that I could fill the spring valves in the inflate position but I found it was much easier and faster to leave in the deflate position, fill, pull the hose and quickly turn the valve back to inflate, reconnect the hose and top it off with air.Also, this tip from Matt was perfect and saved the day … ” If you are inflating it using a pump without a gauge you can test it to see if you have the correct pressure by picking the kayak up by the carrying handle at one end and giving it a good up and down shake. If there is any bending occurring in the middle, go ahead and give the main chambers a few more pumps”After doing this, we could carry it without it bending in the middle. It also maneuvers much better and I think we are happy with it …. will update after we do some more kayaking here in Florida, we just arrived and have not had a chance to test further but I’m confident we will like it.We bought this instead of trying to take our two rigid yaks down in the Motor Home or using all the space in the back of the tow vehicle. The bag fits nicely in the back seat of the Pick up truck or just about anywhere you want to store it. We paid close attention on how to fold it and had no troubles getting it back in the bag!UPDATE 12/23/19: Did some kayaking with the alligators in Florida …. love it, proper inflating was key!

    21 people found this helpful

21. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    MB – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Great boat

    Stable, fast, once you get the hang of set up and tear down it’s quick and easy. Drying is a pain but it’s a small price to pay for basically a canoe you can put in a closet

22. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    M Knight – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Awesome Kayak

    I ordered this kayak last August, was only able to try it out this past weekend (April). This thing is amazing! My wife and I enjoy paddling, but the his & hers kayaks I bought years ago were just uncomfortable and after about 30 minutes we were just uncomfortable.But with this tandem kayak, we were so comfortable that we paddled for well over an hour and felt great. I’m a big guy, 6 foot and 250 lbs, and I couldn’t believe how well I fit in this thing. It had plenty of room. It tracked well. I would definitely recommend buying this kayak.

    One person found this helpful

23. 

    Rated 2 out of 5

    HeR3tic – February 23, 2024

    2.0 out of 5 stars

    Cranal Anal Intrustion

    Where were their heads when it came to seat back support? Seat straps and gunwale connectors take alot of stresses.Included One back support bag for Crewman Yaker and none for the Captain. An inflatable bag behind HCIC, rear seater, $5.The bag should be useable behind midship seating. Where’s the sidewall velcro for the solo Yak driver. A couple swatches of velcro, $1 at most, would have sufficed.

24. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    SKC – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Great Kayak

    This is a great kayak for the money. It is fast and sleek in the water and is easy to paddle. After reading reviews by others I decided to get the extra backbone which increased the kayaks stability and performance. It is designed very well and of good quality. I was surprised that an inflatable could be this good on the water. Very easy to transport and doesn’t need much storage space. It comes already assembled and is easy to inflate with step by step instructions that are easy to follow.While trying to decide which kayak would best suit my needs I did a lot of research; looked at different designs and prices and found that when I picked this one it was the best for me; touring — lakes and ocean, but too long (15ft)for whitewater. Medium price and good design.

    5 people found this helpful

25. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Pete from Chandler AZ – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Easier than I thought for inflating and deflating — tracks well too

    It is very high quality and it’s lot easier than I thought inflating and deflating. Seats are very comfortable and it tracks surprisingly well and glides well also. It feels much lighter once on water and does not take much effort to zip it around the water. I am very happy with this kayak and no need to be on the fence about purchasing this one.

    2 people found this helpful

26. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Amazon Customer – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    So fun~! Very enjoyable inflatable 🙂

    Great inflatable~! Used it on bay and lake and ocean so far. Easy to inflate. Follow the instructions and you’ll have a great inflate~! Don’t follow the directions and you might jump to conclusions.Sharp looking kayak. I’ve partially inflated and carted on my roof racks a couple times and driven on city streets (and once on the highway for 30 mins). Held up well. However, the best way is to just inflate when you arrive.

    One person found this helpful

27. 

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Charlene McLauchlan – February 23, 2024

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    Great inflatable kayak

    We have taken the kayak out twice now. We have a pump that attaches to our car battery that works great…takes less than 10 minutes to completely inflate. The seats that come with the kayak are a little low, so we put a stadium cushion underneath the seat….seems to correct the problem. The boat is comfortable and meets our needs.

    2 people found this helpful

28. 

    Rated 1 out of 5

    F. Atkinson – February 23, 2024

    1.0 out of 5 stars

    Would be a good kayak, but tube not symmetrical

    When I first received and unpacked this boat I was quite impressed with the design and quality. However, once I inflated it I noticed that there was a lot of slack in the fabric deck on the right side. Looking closer and per the manufacturers advice, I removed the tube to see what was going on. Measuring it, I found that the circumference of the tube on the right side was significantly smaller than that on the left – in some places as much as 7 cm smaller. While the kayak would float and basically worked fine, it didn’t look right, being visibly smaller on the right side. Given the price, I wasn’t satisfied with this.I informed Advanced Elements, and they sent me a replacement tube, concluding that there was a manufacturing defect. However, the new tube had the exact same problem – it was skinnier on the right side than on the left! At this point I decided to return the boat for a refund – too much trouble to deal with it any more. I haven’t yet decided which boat to buy instead.This boat has a lot of potential, but based on my experience some of the parts may have manufacturing defects. If the one you purchase has this problem, and you bought by mail order, it’s going to be a headache either way – waiting for a replacement part which may also be defective, or returning a package that weighs in at 60 pounds.

    70 people found this helpful

29. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Mark AardsmaMark Aardsma – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Really happy with this Kayak

    This was my first kayak purchase. Wanted the portability to move this in my car, and easy storage in my house. I’m really impressed with the design of this, feels more like a normal kayak shape and not an inflatable thing as much as I expected. Materials are tough. It’s surprisingly stable in the water, doesn’t feel tippy at all getting in and out. Carries two adults no problem. Really happy with this.

    3 people found this helpful

30. 

    Rated 1 out of 5

    Marco Vera – February 23, 2024

    1.0 out of 5 stars

    Do not honor their warranties.

    Kayak skin ripped at the seams (within one year of purchase) and they blamed over inflation. Noted that I had purchased their pump and was following their instructions by the letter.Finally they offered to replace the skin but not the inner bladder, both of which are not available to order.The Company has also been sold to a Canadian Company so good luck going through the small claims system.

    One person found this helpful

31. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    GPB – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Worth The Money

    First used in it the Florida Keys and it did great.Not-my first kayak but needed one to put in the RV front storage. It’s stable and actually moves quite well along the water. Hint to new owners let out enough air to fold in half and strap it move in your truck bed for quick location moves. Today we had both of us and our 60 pound dog riding in front with zero issues…

32. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    cpeelycpeely – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    One of the best products I’ve ever bought…

    With most products there is often a tinge of buyers remorse, like I wish it had this, or did this or wasn’t like that. I have to say that the Advanced Elements Kayak is a product that I keep being amazed about just how fantastic it is. I’ve had this boat book marked for months, but have always had a nagging doubt that stopped me pulling the trigger. I’ve also been heavily influenced by my friends who own, more white water focused boats, with potentially more storage for gear. HOWEVER, thanks to another friend who like me had been on the fence, but UNLIKE me he had the balls to buy one… I went out for a paddle in his. I was convinced and bought my boat from the dock literally on my phone. So why do i like it…ProsInflates in minutes, easy to put togetherTracks like a hard hull kayaklooks awesomeFits my 4 yr old and all our camping gear inIncredibly stableprovides my daughter with ‘some’ protection at the frontpacks up and deflates with no hassle and packs up into a bag that doesn’t look like it could possibly hold such a cool boat.Very comfortable for paddling.I could go on….LOVE LOVE LOVE this boat.

    43 people found this helpful

33. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    WestTXBuilder – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Rocks!!!

    I am bored of going to the gym and running, rowing or climbing stairs at the gym like I was in a hamster wheel. Decided to give kayaking a try and looked around for months to decide on which one to get. At the end I felt a portable Kayak would be best since with gas prices I did not always want to use my truck to haul around a kayak. After looking around I saw many great kayaks but because of the weight capacity I decided on this one. It has its challenges setting up but if you are willing to spend a few minutes in the companies forum you will find quick and easy solutions. I highly recommend the top cover if you are not going to be using it calm waters. I just got home but my local lake after a tornado alert, super strong winds, hail and painfully fast rain. Did not have any issues with my Advanced Elements Convertible. Made it to shore safe and sound. Look around but this is a great options. Highly recommend a bilge pump (For those of you like me who are new to kayaking) helps pump water out. The single or double cover. But even without those things you will have a great time.

    7 people found this helpful

34. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    tfrankjr – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Great Kayak!

    I did a fair amount of online research before buying this kayak. I have a soft-top convertible car so a hard shell kayak wasn’t really an option. I’ve never owned a kayak before, I’ve only rented them on vacation. This kayak is great. It’s a breeze to set up. It only takes about 10 minutes with a dual-action hand pump to get fully inflated. It’s really easy to put together. Deflating is also really fast. I just reverse the pump and it takes all the air out. I kayak in Sausalito so I just rinse the kayak off in the driveway when I get home and fold it up for the next time.In the water it handles very easily and seems to track well (I don’t have a lot of kayaking experience to compare it to). If you’re in the market for an inflatable kayak, I highly recommend this one.I like the kayak so much that I just ordered a SUP from Advanced Elements. I’ll write a review on that once I get it.

35. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    MEF – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Fantastic High-Quality Double Seated Kayak

    This kayak is built very well – it’s solid. Sure, it’s much more expensive than the hard shell kayaks but it’s so much more versatile. When packed, it’s the size of a large suitcase. It’s incredible to travel with — just throw it in your trunk and take it to nature. My wife and I have enjoyed ours and have even encouraged other friends to get one of their own. Kayaking is a really fun activity and Advanced Elements has launched a great product. If I was to give Advanced Elements a point of consideration — need to make a strong recommendation on a specific pump for this double seated kayak. There’s not a pump that matches the quality of this kayak from my experience.

36. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Doxielvr – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    One of the BETTER inflatable kayaks!

    This kayak is STOUT! We have two hard side sit on top kayaks but I wanted something we could transport without a rack or our truck. When I told my husband about this one, he kept referring to it as a Blow-up raft! He ate his words when we got it. Had a blast with our two dachshunds paddling the lakes near home and we take it camping also.it is well made and not cheap looking like some other brands. I would recommend getting the double action pump with gauge. Makes it much quicker to pump up. I also ordered the Backbone as it stiffens bottom and makes it track better plus with two people and two dogs we are close to maxing the weight capacity.Looking forward to more adventures on our new water toy!

    6 people found this helpful

37. 

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Riley – February 23, 2024

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    AE Kayak

    Worked exactly as promoted. Easy to fill. Fills nice and tight. The bulk of the fill can be done with a 12 volt air pump (use a cheap, weak pump so as not to over inflate), but you will need a foot pump to tighten things up. The air pump speeds up the fill process. I was worried that once it hit cool water it might lose pressure. Not the case, stayed tight in the water, and maintained its shape when loaded with weight (people). It is not a fast kayak, but it is surprisingly comfortable and easy to maneuver. The supplied seats work well with sufficient back support. It is heavier than I thought it would be. Not a problem for two people, but difficult to launch for one person.

    7 people found this helpful

38. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Brett Michael Grzegorczyk – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Perfect

    The best Kayak I’ve ever been in. I love this Kayak. I get lots of compliments when I’m going down the river or around the lakes. I love the strong material. I’ve ran over rocks and logs with no issues. I like all of the tie downs on the front and back. I also purchased the kick Bag, top cover, lumbar support seats, by Advanced Elements. I have bending branches paddles and kayak specific life jackets, that make the trips more comfortable. The Kayak remains to this day very clean and new looking. It inflates easily with the double action advanced elements pump. I purchased a large tote to carry all of my accessories and swim gear in. I purchased gloves, tethers, and the backbone for a straighter ride on rivers. I think all of the inflatable floor and cushy seats make the ride all the more enjoyable. I can’t suggest this enough. So much fun.

    2 people found this helpful

39. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    KF29 – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Fast, stable, and easy to blow up.

    We sold 2 cheap kayaks and bought this one to replace them. There was a small learning curve to blow it up and fold it up, but we’ve taken it out several times and it’s now quick and easy. We love the way it tracks and how stable it is in wakes and waves.

    2 people found this helpful

40. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    samiamagainsamiamagain – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    I am in love. I wanted a kayak for years

    I am in love. I wanted a kayak for years.after finally being ready I did some research. My goal was to be able to take my dog and not have to buy a whole riof rack assembly for something I probably couldn’t lift over my head.I initiallyconsidered a modular, but aftet the reviews I read, I decided I had to gind something else. Enter Advanced Elements kayaks. The reviews, reasonable price and portability sold me. And let me say, I am a single woman almost 50, and I was able to tote the bag from car to dock and be able to air up and hit the lake in kess than 15 minutes with my dog. I love this product, but will definitely invest in the drop stitch floor for extra stability and peace of mind.

    64 people found this helpful

41. 

    Rated 1 out of 5

    Anne H – February 23, 2024

    1.0 out of 5 stars

    LEAKS AIR

    Used a dozen times over 3 months. Tube started leaking at seam. They sent new tube with a bad seam that leaked immediately. They are not replying about remedying. Basically they sold me a pile of rubber, not a kayak.

42. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    CyrilCyril – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Best 2-persons kayak – stable and quickly inflating

    The media could not be loaded.

     I really like it so far:- kayak is stable indeed, quite overcome my expectations on stability- it takes ~5min (10 in lazy manner) to make kayak ready for water from a deflated state in bag- I like velcro fastener on boards for fixating oars when not in use- though not designated, there is quite a room for a small child (up to 5yo) between 2 adults or even 2 smaller if second one is ahead of front adult (front deck top can be unzipped in the middle)- it takes up to 1,5 hours to completely dry it (inner parts, not directly explained to the sun)

    5 people found this helpful

43. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    AKAK – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Much better than I expected

    I took a chance by quickly ordering it from Amazon and taking it to Baja California (Mexico), I drove along the entire coast and this kayak is a beast. If you are looking for perfection, then look elsewhere but I was really stunned by the quality and even the speed.The only beef I had with is that an inflatable kayak, by its nature, is going to be easier to carry in a trunk but it’s also harder to setup. It also took a while before it was dry enough for me to put it back in the bag. OK, I just watched a video on YouTube and using the right towel does definitely help (so now it’s 5.5 stars!).

    6 people found this helpful

44. 

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Jason – February 23, 2024

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    really great product…

    I live in the NW and this is my first Kayak. I bought this b/c it conveniently fits in my SUV and easily assembled. My two kids and I brought it out for a ride in hood canal for the first time and it was a blast (I know its a 2 man boat but we fit 3). It tracks pretty well and we were going against a head wind. I didn’t give it 5 star b/c it is kind of heavy. I bought a luggage cart for $20 at WM and is well worth it b/c I don’t think I could of carry it 1/2 a mile to the water. Overall very strudy kayak and it only took me only 10 mins to set everything up by myself.

    4 people found this helpful

45. 

    Rated 4 out of 5

    theflyingtinman – February 23, 2024

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    Excellent value. Sags a little with a solo heavyweight.

    Would have given 5 stars all round but deducted one just because with the original floor the kayak sagged quite a bit in the middle when I went solo (though I am 220lb). I bought the high-pressure drop-stitch floor and that fixes the sag completely.

    2 people found this helpful

46. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Stephanie – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Ocean going as well a backwater estuary.

    Live on the beach and use it primarily through the surf to get out passed sand bars. Good in under 12 mph winds in Gulf of Mexico where there are small white caps. The most people we had were 2 adults and 2 children under 550 lbs and kayak worked well. Easy to assemble or unfold and inflate. After a few practices one gets the hang of it. Ordered the additional interior mat which gives internal stability.

    5 people found this helpful

47. 

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Ricky and Jackie – February 23, 2024

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    Portability, and compact

    If you don’t have space to store a a standard kayak or car to haul one this is perfect! I’ve gone kayaking several times on lakes and it’s been amazing. The only negative thing is you need to plan to spend some after kayaking to allow it to dry up, and if you do not get the proprietary pump good luck finding something that’ll work for you. That being said the proprietary pump works fast, and drying time comes with the territory of inflatables.

    One person found this helpful

48. 

    Rated 3 out of 5

    David CooperDavid Cooper – February 23, 2024

    3.0 out of 5 stars

    Family Lake Kayaking

    This will work for the lake, but it wasn’t as rigid as I’d hoped. The different inflation points was easy to follow, although you need to factor in air loss between removing the nozzle and closing the valve. I wish there was some kind of foot support while in the single paddler setup. Haven’t tried it with two persons yet, but my timid dog was confident to ride on the stern. Overall this will be used by the whole family for our light recreation needs.

    3 people found this helpful

49. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Sage Hunter – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Fantastic product

    If you need a kayak that you can pack up in a suitcase and take it with you, then this is the one! The craftsmanship and material are excellent. I bought the backbone and have never used the kayak without it. I would recommend you get the backbone even though it probably adds several minutes to setup time. This kayak is ultra-stable. It would be very hard to turn it over in calm water. This was my first kayak and in about two hours I’ll be exploring the Willamette Narrows in it. My wife and I use it in tandem mode. I will be purchasing the deck tops in the future, but the open double cockpit make it easy to learn how to enter a kayak for 60+ people. I was fortunate to get it from Amazon at the amazing price of $418.

    17 people found this helpful

50. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Rob H. – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Best inflatable kayak on the market…period!

    This Kayak beats out every inflatable kayak I’ve ever tried or seen. I’m so impressed by the quality and attention to detail. It is so easy to inflate and deflate. I really expected to fight this thing and never expected to get it back in the bag….wrong! I timed myself from the second I got out of the kayak to the second I was walking back to my car with the kayak fully deflated and back in the bag (working by myself) was about 12 minutes. It’s sturdy in the water and holds everything I need and more.

51. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Amazon CustomerAmazon Customer – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    You’ll get well deserved compliments

    Very Happy.Overall we both love it.Almost every time we go out, someone stops by to comment.Looks sharp.easy to set upeasy to take downeasy to transport.Really great quality.Extremely stable.Roomypaddle holdersWe tried the backbone and don’t feel it’s necessary, plus it adds about 10 minutes to set up.Get long paddles. I’m 5’11 and a 240mm is good. wife is 5’6 and uses a 230mm up front.the zip on cover is high quality, fits great and it’s fairly easy to put on. Probably best for colder weather although it does give the rear paddler a nice deck.on that subject..You need something like a 15×15 elastic net over the thwart in the rear (see pic, it’s half filled) because there’s no place to put a bag that’s easy to get in, except between your legs, or a good place to stash a water bottle.Get the advance elements hand pump for sure and a cordless electric one if you can, the air chambers are pretty big.We just fold it up after we use it and set it on top of the bag to get it home, then pump it partly up to wash off and let dry, then fold it and bag it for the next trip.Even tho it’s lightweight, wheels are helpful and there’s a good place on the rear deck to show it.Definitely no regerts with this purchase.

    21 people found this helpful

52. 

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Nathan Gasner – February 23, 2024

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    Had some issues, but the customer service is amazing.

    I purchased this kayak in 2011 for my fiance and I. We read reviews for several months before deciding on advanced elements, and thought we made a good choice. Unfortunately, two years later, it has suffered 3 seam failures. the first two were on the main chamber, where the vinyl was stretched to form the seam. They were small holes, very difficult to find, but easy to patch, The last one, however, was a 5 inch blowout on the floor chamber, where the baffle attached to the top layer. I have been very careful not to exceed the 1 psi inflation spec over the last 2 years, and the chamber was only about half full when it popped. It hadn’t even started to take shape yet! The kayak only came with a one year warranty, so I imagine I am S.O.L. I have e-mailed advanced elements and am awaiting their reply.UPDATE: As it turns out, I am not S.O.L. Advanced Elements customer service replied within two days. They offered to send me a new floor and main chamber (even though I was able to fix mine) if I could cover the shipping ($30). They assured me that these types of issues are rare with their products and were very understanding and helpful. I am impress with the way advanced elements stands behind their products.My final verdict: you get more than just a boat for your investment. Any possible issues are made up for with excellent customer service.

    11 people found this helpful

53. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    M. Maier – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Very Please with the Performance

    I just bought this kayak with the backbone and the double deck. I used it for the first time in a calm lake. I have to say I was very impress with the performance. It moved fast. This is the first time I use a kayak, but based on the hard shell kayaks we saw in the lake ours was keeping the same speed. You can turn directions very easily. I used very cheap paddles and the kayak was still quit fast. I figure if I use better paddle the speed will increase. This kayak is well made. It is hard to tell from the picture, but the top of the kayak has fabric. It’s a very good looking kayak. My husband wanted a hard shell kayak, but we don’t have a rack on our car. At the end of our trip we saw a couple with hard shell kayaks that ended their trip at the same time than us. We deflated and folded the kayak, put the backbone and the deck in their pouch, placed everything in the trunk of the car and the couple was still trying to place their kayaks on the roof of their car. We passed by them and waved them goodbye LOL! I’ll be taking the kayak to a bit aggressive river in 3 weeks and I will report back. The only bad thing is that you have to buy the backbone and deck separately which hike the price around $750. The backbone will give more speed and the deck will make the kayak more firm. With the deck, the water still spray few drops here and there, but nothing that bother me in a hot day.

    9 people found this helpful

54. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Donald A. Bergstrom – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Great mix of convenience and performance

    We purchased this kayak as a second double for a family of 5: my wife and I and 3 kids ages 12, 10 and 5. My wife and the 12 year old and 5 year old paddle the hard shell Necky double. My 10 year old son and I paddled the new inflatable – officially christened the “floating mattress.” The only accessory we’ve bought so far is the double deck, which I would recommend for kayaking in anything other than glassy conditions. The drop sewn floor is on our “to buy” list, and I would say it’s a must for any seas bigger than we tackled today.We’ve taken two 7-8 mile kayaks on Lake Champlain in this boat. It tracks well, moves with relatively little resistance, and is quite stable. Today we did a 1-2 mile open water crossing in 2-4 foot seas on the lake. There was the occasional breaking wave, and lots of chop when motor boat wake meet wind-blown swells. We never felt that the kayak was at risk of dumping, and the deck kept us relatively dry. On the bigger swells, the boat would flex quite a bit, sometimes feeling as if it were bending as we would go over a swell. It was never an issue to keep the boat in control. This is an issue that can be fixed by the stiffer floor, which would be a pre-requisite for me to feel comfortable in rougher conditions.This was a great addition to our kayak fleet.

    6 people found this helpful

55. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Amazon Customer – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    good as advertised

    Very easy to set up and use. We bought so that we would not have to rent kayaks when traveling. This boat handles very well, faster and better tracking than most sit on top two person kayaks I have rented in the past. Very comparable to a hard shell plastic kayak that I own. We have used it in light white water ( two foot Class II waves) in California and Arkansas, and it handles very well. I would not push it into many larger rapids, because it tracks so well with the rigid fin on he bottom, that it has a very wide turn radius. Not designed for quick turns. It has been a delight on flat water. We took it on a trip to Florida and used 4 times in a week on rivers and lakes. Plenty of room for two paddlers plus lunch. I have also used it once in the one paddler set-up. I was easily able to keep up with the rest of my float group. I love that you don’t need a roof rack. Set up takes about 10 minutes ,then when you are finished about 3 minutes to let the air out and throw in the trunk. I then let it air out and dry when I get home, and re-pack it in the bag. I haven’t had any trouble getting it back in the bag, like some of the other reviewers. I even got two paddles and the pump in the bag, for when I checked it on our flight to Florida. Overall, very pleased with the kayak.

    10 people found this helpful

56. 

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Amazon Customer – February 23, 2024

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    Really great in the water, but takes forever to dry the ends

    Pumping this guy up is no problem, only takes 2 lbs of pressure, but the thing still knifes the water really well. Not amazing tracking because the fins on the bottom are small, but that also makes for less worry when I slam the thing into the shore because I don’t want to have to pull it up all the way every time. Trust my nieces and nephews and dog with it np, because it is really durable. Only thing is is afterward I have to leave a 14ft boat in my driveway for 2 days and the tips are still moist. There is so much material on the ends where the inserts meet etc, that it just doesnt get a ton of breathing room. That is the only downside of this boat to me. Otherwise its a great buy. Always getting asked about it and told how cool it looks on the water.

    4 people found this helpful

57. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Scot Smith – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Love my Convertible

    Love my Convertible! It’s very durable, tracks well, and is reasonably fast with good paddlers. I use the Backbone in mine when we are on the lake and no backbone when doing whitewater. It is a bit heavy though, much heavier than our AE Lagoon tandem. However it is quite a bit roomier too.Although it is generally not advertised for it, it will do mild whitewater pretty well for such a long boat. We recently went down the Coosa River in Alabama, which has sections of whitewater up to Class 3. This boat was a bit harder to maneuver than the hard shells that went with us, but it was rock solid STABLE. Everyone else was flipping over, multiple times even, but ours stayed right side up the whole time. This kayak is not self-bailing however, so a bilge pump would be a great accessory if you are going on whitewater. We took on quite a bit of water in some sections.So far, I’ve taken it out about half a dozen times. It seems to be built very well and is quite rugged. It takes about 10 minutes to inflate, a bit longer when setting it up with the backbone. Drying it out is a bit of a pain but it is a nice tradeoff vs a hardshell for the portability.

    18 people found this helpful

58. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Surreal Adventure – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    You will have to dry it off, then before storage, let it dry out in the sun.

    Everything about this is wonderful, it’s the most comfortable Kayak I’ve been in. The bottom is tough, it looks great, and there are plenty of options available for it. One thing of note, however, you are not going to be able to simply take this out of the water, fold it up, and put it back in the bag and store it. You must rinse it with fresh water, to get the salt out, drain it out, towel it down, and then you can take it home, but then you have to take it back out, and let it sit out until it is completely dry, before storing it for a long period. If you don’t do this, expect mold, and it will get wrecked. I don’t bother putting mine back in the bag, I wash it, drain it, wipe it with a towel, fold it, stick it in the back of my car, then take it home and put it on the lawn, or a deck. The next day, I fold it up and store it, good as new.

    5 people found this helpful

59. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    E. GreenbaumE. Greenbaum – February 23, 2024

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Great investment!

    Not wanting to transport our canoe on top of the SUV when camping, we had to find a more practical solution to getting on the water. I had researched a few inflatables earlier and was leery as to durability. When I started to read about AE products I felt this was what I needed. It has proven to be both portable and durable.This is a great looking kayak and tracks well. We will use it for sightseeing and fishing. Perfect for rivers, lakes and bays. I have no intention of using it in too severe conditions but would feel comfortable if those conditions arise.Setup and take down is relatively easy. Allow 30 minutes for each. Make sure it is dry before storing. The process takes some common sense in maintaining your investment. It will last many years if taken care of properly.I really don’t feel there are any negatives on this kayak. Some complain that it is heavy (53lbs) but that is a sign of its quality. I know my 14′ Old Town canoe weighs in at 75 lbs. It may not be a speed demon, but it is not designed to be.

    99 people found this helpful

60. 

    Rated 4 out of 5

    E. Tracey – February 23, 2024

    4.0 out of 5 stars

    Very nice kayak

    I have always wanted to have my own kayak but did not want to take up all that space in my garage. Bought the convertible this week and spent the day on it with my family at the lake today. Loved it. I didnt put the back bone in correct so the kayak leaned to one side but we still had a great time on it. It didnt take much to fill it up with air and setup was a breeze. The kayak is comfortable and extremely stable. The material is tough and stood up to the elements well. After a day on the water, I deflated the kayak and cleaned it before packing it away…no problems at all. A couple of recommendations. 1. Get a backbone, its worth the money and adds stiffness to the kayak. 2. Unpack your new kayak and set it up at your home and get familiar with the process. 3. Bring a tarp to set underneath your new kayak for setup so not to cause unnecessary damage. Enjoy!

    12 people found this helpful