For those that don't have the space or the budget for a nice fiberglass kayak, the Advanced Elements is the next best thing. I purchased this early this year for my wife (having purchased the Expidition model for myself) and I have had the opportunity to use it a few times this season. I continue to think it's one of the best purchases I've ever made. It's easy to store, easy to set up, handles well, performs well, and is very comfortable. All around a great recreational kayak.
Setup is pretty simple once you get the hang of it. This model has 7 chambers to fill, which sounds like a lot but it's really not. There are two main chambers which get filled up first, and then the floor and the deck lift chambers, and finally the combing for the skirt. The two first chambers take the longest - maybe 10 minutes total using the bi-directional hand pump. The rest can be filled in under 5 minutes, making the total time for inflation about 15 minutes.
Construction of the AF Expedition is excellent. All materials are sturdy, and the coating on the bottom (the gray part) seems to be tough enough for years of use. The top part of the construction (the red part) is a thick nylon that is not waterproof but which provides some protection from the elements. I would recommend using a waterproofing spray on the top part to ensure that there is minimal water absorption, since this makes drying it out before storage a lot easier. The material on this model is particularly nice - it has a sort of sheen and a subtle pattern to it that is very cool. Wish I had it on my Expidition, actually, but I think that might be a difference between last year's model and this.
Once inflated the AF is very sturdy and firm. It does not flex at all, and feels much like a hardshell kayak. In the water it is very stable, a product no doubt of its relatively wide stance (32 inches). The byproduct of that wide stance is that in the water it is a bit slower than a top-notch hardshell kayak (that generally run about 26 inches wide). It tracks well and is actually pretty fast -- my wife hasn't had any trouble keeping up with other recreational kayaks. Because the shape is rigid (reinforced with the aluminum bits in the front and back) it cuts through the water easily.
Paddling is comfortable so long as you use the right length of paddle; we use a 220cm and it seems to be the perfect size. I tried using a shorter paddle at one point and fount that it was not as comfortable and often found myself brushing the sides of the kayak with my knuckles. But with a longer paddle that's not a problem and paddling is a breeze.
The interior of the kayak is largely taken up by the inflatable chambers. There's a little room behind the cockpit to store things, but really not more than what you might take on a day trip. People looking for more storage should get a deck bag.
Deflating and storing is very easy to - the whole thing breaks down in about 10 minutes and is back in the case and ready for transport. This model stores in a bag about the size of a medium sized suitcase, and weighs about 30 pounds, which makes it quite easy to carry. The fact that it stores so easily is obviously the best "feature" of this inflatable kayak - it can be easily transported in the trunk of a car or even on a plane, and can be stored in a closet of an apartment. Being able to transport it for weekend trips without worrying about lashing it to the top of the car or having to go get it out of a slip somewhere just makes kayaking that much easier to do on a whim.
As for whether or not to buy this one or the larger AdvancedFrame Expedition model, I own both so I have some insight. I bought the smaller one for my wife after I had tested the Expedition model. The smaller one is even easier to inflate (since it has fewer chambers) and is lighter and smaller to store. But the trade-off is a smaller cockpit with less storage space. For me, at 6' 175lbs, the Expedition model seems just right or a little large. For my wife, the smaller one is a perfect fit. I think a person of my size might feel somewhat cramped in the 10' model, as she described it as comfortably snug. So if you're under 5'10" the smaller 10' model might be just fine, but larger folks should consider the Expedition.
Overall this kayak is a great purchase for someone looking for a first kayak to take on casual trips, or for a second kayak for those who might want to travel where they can't take their hardshell. Performance is on par with other hardshell recreational kayaks, but without the hassle of storage or transport. Highly recommended. Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Inflatable Kayak
We've been doing hardshell sit ins and sit upon kayaking, both touring and in the ocean for years. This year we thought it would be fun during a visit to Venice, Italy to kayak the canals and participate in the Vogalonga. After extensive internet research, it didn't appear that there were any kayak rentals easily available in Venice. A little more research and we stumbled on Advanced Elements 10 foot inflatable as a good possibility to take with us to Italy.
We've now tried it out locally touring on flat water 4 times and my wife wants to throw out all of our other kayaks. Warning, the first inflation takes about 20 minutes with the manual; after that it takes about 5 minutes. Fully inflated it tracks pretty well and can keep up a good touring pace with hardshell sit ins. It's comfortable to sit in; my wife keeps on asking if it's OK to inflate it and put it in the water just to nap in.
The take down is simple, quick and the reverse of inflations. We wipe it down with one of those super absorbant camp towels before stowing it in the carrying bag. Then off it goes into the back of the SUV and laughs at us while we spend the next 45 minutes hoisting and securing the remaining kayaks on top of the truck.
I would definitely recommend it as a well designed and constructed inflatable. It's not a pool toy. Let you know how it likes the Italian food.'
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