My local kayak shop had a demo day today, so I had the chance to go to a State Park and try out many different kayaks. In the end, I got the Hobie Outback. In general, it is probably overkill for this specific application, but I wanted something that my wife and daughter can enjoy as well. That said, there were a few features that made this model stand out:
1. Hobie\'s \"Mirage drive\": basically a very efficient peddling system that frees your hands. The whole peddling unit is modular and you can remove it/install it in seconds. This has the added benefit of being stealthier than paddling, which can cause alarm to the animals (at least when done by a newbie like me).
2. Stability: I tried my hardest to capsize the kayak and I couldn\'t. Felt very secure getting in and out with the camera. Smooth steering using the rudder.
I liked two other kayaks that were just as stable- Native\'s Slayer and Wilderness Systems\' Ride (135 or 115). If I didn\'t get the Hobie, I would have gone with the Ride 115. The best thing about that one was a nice wide, flat deck that would be perfect for laying forward for a really low angle shot, or even setting up a tripod.
My local kayak shop had a demo day today, so I had the chance to go to a State Park and try out many different kayaks. In the end, I got the Hobie Outbacker. In general, it is probably overkill for this specific application, but I wanted something that my wife and daughter can enjoy as well. That said, there were a few features that made this model stand out:
1. Hobie\'s \"Mirage drive\": basically a very efficient peddling system that frees your hands. The whole peddling unit is modular and you can remove it/install it in seconds. This has the added benefit of being stealthier than paddling, which can cause alarm to the animals (at least when done by a newbie like me).
2. Stability: I tried my hardest to capsize the kayak and I couldn\'t. Felt very secure getting in and out with the camera. Smooth steering using the rudder.
I liked two other kayaks that were just as stable- Native\'s Slayer and Wilderness Systems\' Ride (135 or 115). If I didn\'t get the Hobie, I would have gone with the Ride 115. The best thing about that one was a nice wide, flat deck that would be perfect for laying forward for a really low angle shot, or even setting up a tripod.
May 18, 2013 at 11:56 PM
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