They are very stable on the water, you can rock it pretty aggressively with your hips and not go over. The seats are comfortable for the most part, can get a sore hiney after a few hours of paddling without a break. They are light, easy to carry, have a big cockpit area which works out perfect since we take our small/mid size dog with us (30lb puggle). If you are a beginner or intend to only use it occasionally it will be a great boat for you.Īs first time kayak purchasers I found that this kayak best suited our needs for what we were going to use them for (lakes, slow rivers, ocean bays). I let guests use it since it is easy to get in, easy to adjust and easy to paddle. I no longer use it, but it is a great beginners boat. I am paddling on longer excursions every weekend and wanted something faster and more comfortable. I have retired this boat to back-up status. My wife seems to be able to endure the seat much better than me, so I suppose it's comfort is going to very based on your anatomy. Even with a cushion I can only paddle for 2 hours before I need to get out and stretch my legs. You should plan on getting a seat cushion for this boat if you plan to be in it for more than an hour. The boat had a V hull and no edge to speak of, leaning has no consistent effect on the steering of the boat. I have played around with leaning the boat over and trying to grab an edge. The boat has good secondary stability, you lean it over so far and it seems to stop leaning. I am able to tuck my knees up under them and I feel really locked into the boat. It responds better to a slower, steady paddling pace than to a paddle hard and coast for a while pace. It also has a pronounced tendency to spin out when you stop paddling like a whitewater boat. It took more effort than the boat it replaced to keep it going straight in the water. Most reviewers felt it tracks well, I didn't find that to be the case. Usually I just use a sponge to drain the water. It is in a strange location and if you have a lot of water inside it does work somewhat but it will leave a few cups of water inside. I tried to use the drain plug to get water out of the boat. A longer paddle and concentrating on a smooth paddle stroke seemed to solve the water entering the boat. The first few times I used this boat I got a lot of water inside, the opening is so large that anything that drips off your paddle lands inside the boat. The cockpit opening is huge, which is nice for entry and exit and there is lots of room to move your legs around in different positions. The foot pegs are easy to adjust from inside the boat and have enough adjustment for someone with long legs. It feels good in the water, it is stable. The Vapor definitely has the capacity and the leg room. I bought the Vapor 10 as my second kayak. Not the fastest, but much better quality than cheap boats like Pelicans or other lowest-priced options. Huge cockpit with no enclosed bulkhead means it can swamp in heavy waves or whitewater (but I've taken it on lively Class II+).īOTTOMLINE: Great stable, comfortable recreational kayak. Very high deck means it catches a lot of wind. Handy enhancements include the molded-in cup holder (my cup stayed put all the way down the upper Buffalo National River at slightly off flood stage!), and the open well in back (perfect for a small rectangular cooler).ĬONS: Slow boat compared to more streamlined 10 foot recreational kayaks. Huge cockpit has enough room for a large dog (I've had 2 in with me) or a small child sitting in front of you. Very stable - it would be hard to tip this boat. Very comfortable seat with adjustable back. PROS: Excellent quality, and support from Old Town on a couple of minor updates has been excellent. I'm still happy I got it and will continue to use it despite buying and using other kayaks. I've paddled it on countless lakes and rivers, from Class I-II floats and whitewater, to 25+ miles on the Missouri River. I wanted a good-quality, stable, comfortable kayak with a very large cockpit for easy entry and exit for very tall people. I purchased my Old Town Vapor 10 in 2010.
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