Iowa | Wizard - 2/22/2026 11:47 This was the kind of answer I was looking for. Those that know, versus those that understand. I'm entertaining the idea of getting a couple for some small rivers and lake exploring. The Hobie Mirage drive looks intriguing. Thanks!
Plenty of good info already. I bought one from Rutabaga in Madison WI (closed now I think) who were the THE place to buy from. They host the largest paddlesports event in the world each Feb/March. Darren the owner knew his stuff and that's putting it lightly. His biggest tip I'll remember forever was "you're going to sit for hours in this, it needs to feel right to you" and everyone is different and every seat is different.
We got maybe 4 of the top kayaks I was looking at onto the carpeted floor and I just sat in them. Not for 5 seconds. Like minutes just chatting and seeing how it felt. How the seat adjusts, if it did, and how it felt. Some might make your legs fall asleep. Don't pick that one. Some might make you feel too reclined and not enough adjustment. The seat is 90% of the kayak and every seat and person match differently. You could have the nicest kayak around you and under you but if the seat doesn't fit...you'll hate it.
Personally I went with a Jackson Kilroy. It's a sit in, but I can stand in it which is rare. Most of the "stand-able" ones are sit on kayaks. I like to fish and paddle rivers and small lakes. Local kayak dealers here will rent or have demo days. Go to those, you don't pay anything and can try out 5-10 back to back. |
Kayak machinery?
