Advanced Elements Inflatable Kayaks New for 2010

It is always exciting to see who comes out with new inflatable kayak models for the New Year. This year it seems that Advanced Elements has topped the list with two brand new models to add to their popular fleet of inflatable kayaks.

These two models are quite different from each other but each has their place within the inflatable kayak world and will likely be very appealing to many people.

Below are the two new additions to the Advanced Elements kayaks. Please click on the kayak name to read the full detailed review of each individual kayak.

1. Advanced Elements Advanced Frame Sport Inflatable Kayak
   
   The new Advanced Elements Sport has been added to the Advanced Frame family. It is smaller than the original solo Advanced Frame and simplified in design.
   
   The Sport is designed for one person and paddles best on flat water. It is a great looking kayak; I personally love the designs on the material but looks aren’t everything and it is really quite simple in performance.
   
   I believe the Advanced Frame Sport will really appeal to those looking for an affordable, decent quality inflatable kayak that is stable, roomy, comfortable and very easy to travel with.
2. Advanced Elements AirFusion Inflatable Kayak
   
   The AirFusion is a hybrid inflatable kayak meaning that it encompasses aluminum poles to create a rigid frame as well as inflatable tubes for the kayak. The fact that the AirFusion comes with the rigid aluminum pole frame makes this kayak rigid and great to paddle. It has a sleek design and was built to reach fairly good speeds.
   
   The unfortunate part is of course that having to construct the frame will take up more time than simply inflating a normal inflatable kayak. Advanced Elements states it should take about fifteen minutes but I would count on a lot more than that on your first try.
   
   The AirFusion is a very nice looking solo inflatable kayak and is built to paddle best on flat water in either lakes, bays, estuaries or calm rivers.

It is always nice to see new inflatable kayaks being added to the already great selection of inflatable kayaks on the market. More choice equals more options for all of us.

We would love to hear your first impressions on these two new inflatable kayaks. As for myself, they don’t make my wish list, but I am looking forward to hearing from those who will be among the first to purchase.

Sea Eagle Kayak Comparisons

Sea Eagle kayaks are some of the most popular inflatable kayaks on the market. They are not the top of the line but they do offer more versatility and features than most others in their price range.

It is no secret that I am a big fan of Sea Eagle kayaks, in particular their Explorer kayaks. My favorite model is the Sea Eagle 380X. I found that this inflatable kayak meets almost all of my needs:

1. Tandem kayak that can also be paddled solo
2. Versatile enough to paddle in different types of water
3. Decent warranty
4. Rigid yet very comfortable
5. Can be taken traveling… anywhere
6. Costs under $1000

Those were my basic requirements for an inflatable kayak and the 380X Sea Eagle kayak fit the bill… but how does it stack up to other comparable inflatable kayaks?

Below I will go through some comparison factors to other similar models.

The Sea Eagle 380X Compared To:

Aire Super Lynx

I strongly considered the Aire Super Lynx when I began searching for the right inflatable kayak. This kayak has been extremely popular and is similar to the Sea Eagle kayak in that it is a jack of all trades but a master at none. I don’t mind that because it tends to mirror my kayaking style.

• The Super Lynx is longer and is able to pick up higher speeds, which is nice.
• It weighs 43 lbs.
• It can hold a good amount of weight
• It is self-bailing and is known to be very comfortable.
• The quality is excellent and it has a top of the line warranty.

The problem… it is expensive. The Aire Super Lynx runs roughly at $1500 and that only includes the kayak and the seats. With the Sea Eagle kayaks you can get the kayak, the good seats, the good paddles, the air pump, etc. all for just over $800. Once you add all the essentials to the Super Lynx it will end up costing more than twice as much. Even though I do believe the Super Lynx is worth it, I am willing to settle for a slightly less impressive inflatable kayak for a much, much lower price.

Another thing to consider is that if you do plan on paddling your tandem kayak solo at times, the Super Lynx is long and may not be as easy to handle for one person.

Advanced Elements StraitEdge 2

The AE StraitEdge 2 has had its share of popularity. I would describe Advanced Elements kayaks as “middle of the road”. I like the StraitEdge because it can be paddled on flat water or whitewater, it is self-bailing, similar in size and weight to the 380x as well as similar in price.

I ended up dismissing it for a few reasons:

• There is no option to add a rudder.
• I am not fond of the AE seats (though these can always be changed).
• The Advanced Elements quality of construction is not as good as the Sea Eagle kayaks, nor is their warranty.

Aire Lynx II

No doubt about it, the Aire Lynx is a fantastic inflatable kayak. This kayak has many factors that are better than the Sea Eagle kayaks including:

• the quality
• the warranty
• the performance

In fact they are better than just about every other inflatable kayak on the market. However the Lynx is purely designed for whitewater and would not track well or paddle well on flat water.

I like the fact that it weighs only 39 pounds but dismissed it because I am not a hardcore whitewater kayaker. The Lynx II costs almost twice as much as the 380X and if I were to pay that kind of money, the kayak better meet all my needs. The Lynx II would be well suited to those wanting a really good quality, compact inflatable kayak that is able to take on big rapids.

Tributary Strike 2

For some reason the Tributary Strike seems to get overlooked. The Tributary kayaks (owned by Aire) do not offer the same excellent quality that the American made Aire kayaks do. The Tributary Strike however is one of the better ones and does offer versatility, a decent performance, similar dimensions to the Sea Eagle 380X as well as great stability.

It is in truth quite comparable to the Sea Eagle Explorer kayaks… the big difference is that it costs a fair amount more. Why would I pay almost $1000 for this kayak then still have to buy my paddles and my pump when I can get just as good of a kayak with Sea Eagle for a lot less? Well I wouldn’t.

Conclusion…

I know that not everyone would agree with me but even when I consider all these other similar inflatable kayaks, my choice is still the 380X Sea Eagle kayak. I am willing to sacrifice a little speed for a kayak that meets all my other needs.

The one thing that I would have preferred was a kayak that weighed a little bit less. The Sea Eagle 380X weighs 47 lbs which is still okay but for traveling I would have loved it to weigh less. However for all the pluses it offers I was willing to overlook this. Besides when a kayak is too light it tends to get blown by the wind and becomes hard to control.

I suppose that if I were to recommend one inflatable kayak that offers everything the Sea Eagle explorer kayak does and more it would be the Aire Super Lynx. It comes down to whether it is really worth it for you to spend twice the amount of money for a slightly better kayak. For me right now, it is not… but I would consider it down the road.

For more detailed information on individual models please see our reviews of inflatable kayaks.

Cheap Inflatable Kayaks

I would classify a cheap inflatable kayak as one that can be purchased for under $500. Sometimes we don’t want to spend a lot of money on a boat if we are not going to become avid kayakers. If you are looking for an inflatable kayak to pull out a few times a year for some paddling fun or perhaps to bring along with you on camping trips with the family you may not want to invest a lot of money.

There are some really excellent choices for inflatable kayaks that cost less than $500 that will last a fairly long time. Just because you are not spending a $1000 or more does not mean that you will be getting a glorified pool toy. Inflatable kayaks have come a long way as far as quality and performance are concerned and there are some really good name brand cheap inflatable kayaks. Read more

New Inflatable Kayak and Inflatable Canoe Reviews

We have added four new inflatable kayak reviews and one new inflatable canoe review over the last couple of months that may be of interest.

New Inflatable Kayak Reviews

• Innova Twist – Extremely lightweight, small inflatable kayak that can be carried on your back and taken hiking, camping, traveling, cycling or on an airplane. Inexpensive yet with Innova’s great quality. Read full review.

• Advanced Elements Firefly – The smallest of the Advanced Elements kayaks it is really best suited for flatwater recreational paddling. It is recommended for new kayakers, children or for someone who wants a solo inflatable kayak that can be taken easily be taken anywhere in the world. It is not suited for a larger person. Read full review.

• Sevylor XK1 – Known as a river kayak but can actually be used on all types of water. Its versatility and lightweight make it ideal for traveling. Read full review.

• Sevylor XK2 – Tandem version of the XK1 and has a fair amount of room for two people. Good for traveling, rivers and ocean surf. Read full review.

New Inflatable Canoe Review

• Innova Vagabond Inflatable Canoe – Extremely rugged and superior river trekking inflatable canoe that can handles up to class III rapids. It is light enough to take anywhere and works very well for multi-day expeditions. Read full review.

Check back often as we are continuously adding more inflatable kayak and inflatable boat reviews each month.

View a complete list of our inflatable boat reviews.

Best Inflatable Kayaks for Traveling

If you have considered bringing an inflatable kayak along on your travels there are a few things to consider…

• Weight
• Size
• Inflation time
• Will you be kayaking solo or tandem?
• Type of water you will be kayaking in

It is a really fantastic idea to bring along an inflatable kayak and it allows you the convenience of stopping to kayak anywhere your travels take you. Often times when you rent kayaks you are limited to where you can go and for how long. Having an inflatable along for the ride means that you can hop into any river, lake or ocean and explore areas and scenery you would not have been able to otherwise. Read more

Advanced Elements Kayaks

Advanced Elements came on the inflatable kayak scene with the goal of developing unique kayaking products with cutting edge technology. They succeeded in not only making excellent quality inflatable kayaks for paddlers of all skill levels but also to become one of the most popular brand names on the market.

I think one of the things that has made Advanced Elements Kayaks so popular is that they design very attractive kayaks that are completely functional. They have a full lineup of inflatable kayaks that are suitable for a range of different types of water including flatwater/recreational kayaks, whitewater kayaks and sea/touring kayaks. Their prices have been kept fairly affordable and were designed to appeal to a wide range of people. There is literally something for everyone.

Below are the 10 Models of Advanced Elements Kayaks…

• AE Advanced Frame – Excellent for recreational paddling. Great for lake or calm ocean kayaking.

• AE Advanced Frame Convertible – Very popular model. Tandem kayak but can be converted to solo. Optional decks for more protection from the elements.

• AE Advanced Frame Expedition – Solo kayak, great for touring and exploring.

• AE Lagoon 1 – Affordable and very easy to paddle. Excellent kayak for easy flatwater paddling.

• AE Lagoon 2 - Tandem version of the Lagoon. This is a great double kayak for traveling as it is very lightweight.

• AE Firefly – Small inflatable kayak that tracks decently. Not super fast, but a lot of fun.

• AE StraitEdge – Very popular, self-bailing, good for whitewater but also paddles decent in flatwater.

• AE StraitEdge 2 – Tandem version of the StraitEdge. Great for whitewater, camping, exploring and some flatwater kayaking.

• AE StraitEdge Canoe – Great inflatable canoe that can be easily taken anywhere you go. Good for fishing, families and flatwater paddling.

Advanced Elements Kayak Material

The Advanced Frame kayaks are constructed with PVC Tarpaulin with 1000 denier polyester. The material on the bow and stern is doubled. There is also landing plates welded under the bow and stern for protection when beaching the kayak.

The Dragonfly is constructed with double-coated PVC-coated nylon with ripstop tarpaulin fabric.

The StraitEdge kayaks and canoe are made with heavy duty PVC tarpaulin material that is extremely puncture resistant.

The Lagoon kayaks are constructed with high denier polyester rip-stop fabric with a PVC laminate. The hull is also PVC tarpaulin.

Bottom line is that all of the Advanced Elements inflatable kayaks are made with heavy duty, puncture resistant material that can last a lifetime with a little care.

Are there any Negatives to Advanced Elements Kayaks?

I very much like the look of the Advanced Elements kayaks and there are numerous benefits and features. I do find that some of their kayaks get a little heavy and could have better tracking. That being said, they are not high end kayaks. They are middle of the road inflatables that are constructed very well, are highly functional and are also quite affordable.

Final Thoughts on Advanced Elements Kayak…

As I have said before Advanced Elements does not make high end inflatable kayaks. They make affordable, well designed kayaks that are very rugged and fun to use. I would say that Advanced Elements are better than the Sevylor, Colemans or other cheaper brands but do not quite compare to the supreme quality of Aire, Innova, NRS or Airis kayaks. They will best suit recreational paddlers that want a great inflatable kayak for a half decent price.

Read our comprehensive Advanced Elements kayak reviews for more detailed information and pictures.

OR view other inflatable kayak reviews.

Sevylor Pointer K2 – New Review

The Sevylor Pointer K2 has been added to our tandem recreational inflatable kayak category.  It is the first Sevylor that we have done a comprehensive review on.  I don’t get too excited about the Sevylor boats as I don’t find their quality to be as good as the Advanced Elements, Sea Eagle or the Innova kayaks.  However the Pointer K2 is worth looking at if you are a brand new kayaker and want an affordable boat to paddle with. Read more

Advanced Elements Lagoon 2 – New Review

The Advanced Elements Lagoon 2 also known as the Advanced Elements Dragonfly 2 is a great tandem recreational inflatable kayak for a very affordable price.  It does not offer the same good performance as the AE Advanced Frame Convertible or the StraitEdge 2 but it is a great boat for beginner kayakers to get out and enjoy the water.

It comes standard with a two year warranty, a tracking fin, comfortable seats and a duffel/carry bag.  It will paddle best on flatwater be it ocean, lakes or river.  This kayak is a great price and if you wanted to improve the performance a little there is the option of adding a backbone for extra rigidity and a spray skirt for added protection from the elements.  I would highly recommend the backbone.  Read full review of the Advanced Elements Lagoon 2.

Advanced Elements StraitEdge – 10 % Off

Sale: 10% off

Best Uses: Rivers, oceans, lakes, day trips, camping

Available At: Mountain Plus – Advanced Elements StraitEdge 2

The Advanced Elements StraitEdge is a very stable, self-bailing inflatable kayak that handles many different water conditions quite well. It was designed more for rivers, but tracks decently on open water as well. The StraitEdge 1 is the solo version and weighs only 34 pounds and the StraitEdge 2 is the tandem version weighing 47 pounds.

These kayaks are great for kayakers of any skill level and come with a two year warranty. They are rugged and solid and with a little care will likely last a lifetime. The StraitEdge kayaks are extremely popular and offer a lot of versatility for not a huge amount of money.

For a limited time Mountain Plus is offering the Advanced Elements StraitEdge 1 & 2 for 10% off. They also qualify for free shipping within the U.S.

To read our full review as well as to see more detailed pictures of the Advanced Elements StraitEdge 1… click here, for the StraitEdge 2…  click here.

To go straight to Mountain Plus… click here.

Inflatable Kayaks that Hold 500 Pounds or More

If you are looking for an inflatable kayak that can hold one heck of a lot of gear then you have a few different options. Below is a list of inflatable kayaks that can hold over 500 pounds and keep on gliding through the water smoothly with absolutely no problem. These are all tandem kayaks as they tend to be the ones that can hold more weight.

Inflatable Kayaks that can Hold over 500 lbs

• Advanced Elements Advanced Frame Convertible – Weight Capacity 550 lbs
  Great for recreational paddling and can be converted to a solo kayak. This kayak is affordable and sturdy. Gear can be tied down on the front of the kayak with the bungee cords or stored in the second cockpit. Read full review for Advanced Elements Advanced Frame Convertible.

• Sea Eagle 340X – Weight Capacity 600 lbs
  Rugged, versatile and stable. Not a super fast kayak but excellent for exploring, expeditions, camping, fishing and wilderness kayaking. Read full review for Sea Eagle 340X.

• Sea Eagle 370 – Weight Capacity 650 lbs
  Though this kayak can hold a lot of weight there is not much room to store any gear unless it is being paddled solo. However it is super light weight and can be taken anywhere very easily. Read full review Sea Eagle 370.

• Sea Eagle PaddleSki – Weight Capacity 650 lbs
  Very versatile and can be used for paddling, rowing, sailing, motoring or fishing. It holds a ton of weight and weighs only – 49 – 57 lbs (depending on the size you get). Read full review Sea Eagle PaddleSki.

• Sea Eagle 380X – Weight Capacity 750 lbs
  The ultimate exploration kayak. It can easily hold up to 750 pounds it is highly stable and totally rugged. It can handle whitewater rapids as well as flatwater. Not a fast kayak but versatile none the less. Read full review  Sea Eagle 380X.

• Aire Sea Tiger – Weight Capacity 750 lbs
  This is a touring sea kayak that comes with a phenomenal ten year warranty. It tracks beautifully and gives a great performance. It is a little heavy weighing 61 lbs but works great for fishing, scuba-diving and even snorkeling. Read full review Aire Sea Tiger.

• Sea Eagle 420X – Weight Capacity 853 lbs
  The 420X is largest of Sea Eagle’s explorer kayaks. There is no other inflatable kayak that can hold this much weight. This kayak has tons of room for two adults plus possibly a child or dog and lots of gear. Good for whitewater or flatwater. Read full review Sea Eagle 420X.

Inflatable Kayaks that Hold Exactly 500 Pounds

• Advanced Elements StraitEdge 2 – Weight Capacity 500 lbs
  This is a self-bailing whitewater kayak that also tracks decently on open. Not a lot of room for storage but is not a bad option. Read full review Advanced Elements StraitEdge 2.

• Sea Eagle 330 – Weight Capacity 500 lbs
  Can hold a lot of weight but there is truly no room for gear storage unless it is paddled solo. Good beginner kayak. Read full review Sea Eagle 330.

Hopefully this list helps if you are looking for an inflatable kayak that can hold a ton of weight and get you to your destination without having to swim. Check out our extensive inflatable kayak comparison chart for more stats and details.

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