Recreational Kayak Gear Review | FeelFree Aventura 125 Touring Kayak
Вставка
- Опубліковано 26 лип 2024
- Designed to be a great beginner kayak and intermediate kayak, the Feelfree Aventura 125 recreational touring kayak combines stability with performance, and is one of the least expensive kayaks in its class. The question is, how does it compare with the other, more expensive mid-range recreational touring kayaks, like the best selling Old Town Loon, the Wilderness Systems Pungo, and the Jackson Kayak Tupelo? That's what I'm going to find out in this comprehensive kayak buyers guide and gear review.
Shop the gear I'm using:
Gearlab Deck Pod: bit.ly/3Eee4hb
Aquabound Manta Ray Carbon Paddle:
NRS Guide Long Sleeve Shirt: bit.ly/3yVID8j
Take a free online safety course for canoeing, kayaking, and stand up paddling (SUP), brought to you by the American Canoe Association and the U.S. Coast Guard: americancanoe.org/education/r...
Other paddling gear I use and recommend:
NOTE: These are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you, but it's a great way to show your support. Thanks!
PADDLES
Aqua Bound Manta Ray Carbon Paddle:
Aqua Bound Tango Fibreglass Paddle: bit.ly/3iaGleJ
Aqua Bound Whiskey Carbon Bent Shaft Paddle: bit.ly/3z1kiOH
FOOTWEAR
NRS Kicker Remix Shoe: bit.ly/36F1B6Y
NRS Boundary Boot: bit.ly/2TaCMgl
PADDLING SHIRTS / TOPS
NRS Guide Long Sleeve Shirt: bit.ly/3yVID8j
NRS Guide Short Sleeve Shirt: bit.ly/3dkDYaD
NRS H2Core Silkweight Shirt: bit.ly/3xF43pX
NRS H2Core Silkweight Long Sleeve Shirt: bit.ly/3yZGbO2
NRS Hydroskin Short Sleeve Shirt: bit.ly/3wCvoI3
NRS Riptide Splash Jacket: bit.ly/3BbAZZJ
NRS Flux Dry Top: bit.ly/2U3Pvlw
PFD’S
NRS Odyssey PFD: bit.ly/3ibIk2n
NRS Zen PFD: bit.ly/2VCfrF3
NRS Chinook PFD: bit.ly/2TaEAG9
OTHER PADDLING GEAR
Zoleo Communicator: bit.ly/3zw7gw1
NRS Drylander Sprayskirt: bit.ly/36z5BG6
WRSI Current Helmet: bit.ly/2Te6KA6
PADDLING SHORTS/BOTTOMS
NRS Benny Board Short: bit.ly/2VIbK0L
NRS Hydroskin Shorts: bit.ly/3hCXPl2
SUNGLASSES
WileyX: bit.ly/3NtJQKR
FOLLOW KEN
Facebook: / gopaddle
Instagram: / paddle365
Twitter: / gopaddle
Blog: in4adventure.com
MADE POSSIBLE with the Support of:
Ontario Creates: www.ontariocreates.ca/
Bell Fund: bellfund.ca/
PRODUCED BY
Heliconia: www.heliconia.ca
Contact: info@heliconia.ca
#PaddleTV #RecreationalKayak #FeelFreeKayaks #TouringKayak #AventuraKayak - Спорт
I like that, even as a recreational (ie, short) boat, it has a front storage hatch and hence good front buoyancy. My pet peeve with many recreational kayaks is the minimal, or even completely absent, front floatation. It's a serious safety issue when the boat gets swamped with water.
I wish you would address it in all your rec boat reviews.
Ken, great video review. I purchased the Adventura 125, partially based on your detail review. Thank you, and keep the great content coming. We appreciate you 🤙🏻
Not many reviews of these boats out there. Thanks for showing it some love! I have an Aventura 125 with that exact gearlab deck pod.
It's a great combo! I'm surprised I hadn't heard more about this boat. It's super value.
@@PaddleTV agreed. I got my wife the pungo 120 but I actually chose the aventura over the pungo for myself. I really liked that it had the skeg with both front and rear bulkheads. Saved some money in the process and invested it in excellent paddles instead.
@@dankraus4959 exactly what I’m looking to do. I want the 140, and get a ~2# paddle. Deck bag, pump, some clothes and a skirt. I’m still looking at $1250, all in. I think it’s the best bang for the buck in this class of kayak.
Always love your reviews I paddle the 110 and feel your review was spot on my biggest complaint is under thigh support and this seat doesn’t have any but I cut some pool noodles and slid them up under seat cushion which in turn raised my legs up into the thigh hooks …keep up the great work !!
Thanks for the review! It sealed the deal for me on this one. I was able to grab the Aventura V2 125 for $700 at a local shop last week. It's my first kayak, and I love it so far! Thanks again for the great content on your channel!! :)
Hey Thomas! Great to hear you're loving it! Happy paddling this summer!
I've never met an Aventura owner that wasn't enthusiastically happy with their boat. There's a lot of 'em.
From what I see, they're great camping boats!
As for future boat reviews:
Epic V8
Epic V7
Eddyline Caribbean
Eddyline Sitka LT
Swift (anything)
I'll email them, but I may receive
*the finger* ...
Ha! I'll be reviewing a Swift boat soon, and looking forward to it, as their packboats and canoes are amazing. Would love to try one of the Epic's and Eddyline's too. Hopefully soon...
Ken - insightful and realistic as always. Watched this months ago while researching and you definitely helped check all the boxes… it is tough to find all these features from anyone else at this price point. We just found our new Aventura 125’s this weekend and wanted to say thanks.
Great to hear! Happy paddling!
I love my feel free 14’ and have been looking to down size a bit.
Thank you this review.
My pleasure!
Just bought the feel free 125 because of your video! Can’t wait to get it out on the water!
Awesome! Would love to hear how you like it!
enjoyed the review. will be watching all boats you test in the 12'-14' range.I am in Wisconsin and some of the rivers I explore can be a bit rough,rustic,tough on the boat.I paddle a Delta 16'[x22"w] with drop down adjustable skeg that is a joy on bigger rivers,Lake Winnebago system and Lake Michigan,the Bay[GreenBay]and Superior.If there is anything in Deltas line that is suitable for the tougher[on the boat]conditions I would love to get a review form you Ken on PaddleTV and will watch all other similar boats you review.I look forward to more! p.s.passed the word on your reviews and channel to paddling friends and they are very impressed and pleased. Great job!
I love your reviews and I would love to see a review on wilderness systems tsunami 145 and compared to the Dagger Stratos
I’ve been paddling my Aventura 110 for about a month now, mostly on lakes and class 1 & class 2 rivers. I am very happy with it! It handles well, it is maneuverable, very stable (I’m 6’ and 220lbs and i have never once felt tippy or wobbly, I can really lean in this boat and it hangs out on its secondary no problem), but it is not a light boat lol Not the fastest boat either. I find it to be “relatively” comfy myself.
If you’re on the fence about this, I’d say it’s absolutely worth the money and as long as you understand it’s limitations, it’ll be a good vessel!
Thanks for sharing! Great to hear from someone with lots of experience in it.
You should test more cross over kayaks on white water. “Which cross over is best for white water” I wrote the title for you, that’s half the work lol
Ha! I agree... I'm looking forward to testing some crossovers for sure.
Dagger Katana would be great :)
Liquid Logic XP10 should be in there too. Though I consider mine to be more of a white water tripping boat than the cross over boat it's advertised as.
@@philschaefer4651 I had one of those but it felt like an aircraft carrier on class 2 White water. I now have the pyranha fusion, I find it to be a lot more maneuverable
@@rbeto1 I'm coming from a canoeing background and use mine for multi day trips. So to me it feels very maneuverable compared to a 16' canoe. It's all what you're used to.
I just used my Gearpak for the first time this past weekend and I love it!
A simple, but great addition, isn't it?
@@PaddleTV Sure is!!
Absolutely great review! Will be buying this because of this. @FeelFree support this channel :)
Thanks for sharing! Hope you love the boat!
Would love to see you review the Kokopelli Moki 1. There's literally no videos out there for it. It looks like a solid inflatable boat that a lot of people would like but no one knows about it.
Love your videos. I'd be interested in seeing a review of a crossover kayak like the Dagger Katana or the Pyranha Fusion 2 for paddlers that want a boat for flat water, but one that can also handle some white water river running too.
Thanks John! I would love to review the Katana, and I have a 4-day river trip in mind for it. Just need to get my hands on one... stay tuned.
very good review I will choose to buy 140, thank you.
Great to hear!
I tried the Aventura 125 on a 130 km river trip. First time using a hardshell kayak on multiple day trip, and it worked almost perfect. Back compartment more than just leaked. Next trip was a 7 day sea kayaking trip in the Aventura 140. Really impressed with the luggage capacity. Did very well. But I fell head over hills in love when I tried the Sea Emotion 505 from FeelFree. THAT boat is nothing short of fantastic.
Interesting to read this! Any idea why the back hatch leaked? Just purchased a new 125 and completely swamped the rest bulkhead. I've been leak testing it, and I think it wasn't sealed properly, but unsure. Wondering if you ever figured out why it leaked.
@@wrightclick We never got a clear cut answer, but our conclusion was, that the hatch is indeed not tight enough, and it seems random which one. That said, the trip where my back compartment got totally flodded we had totally calm water and no rapids, to it remains a mystery. Rubber hatch is a different story. Never had issues.
I would love to see a review on the Point 65 Modular kayak from Sweden. Thank you for reviewing kayaks
Thanks for the note. I would love to review that kayak as well. I'm hoping to hear back from them soon!
Love my feel free aventura 125! This is my first kayak.
Great to hear!
Question from a beginner regarding my first kayak. Skeg line snapped recently and is stuck inside my kayak. Is replacing it a DIY project, or do I need to take it to a kayak service place? If DIY, what type of nylon line do I need, and where can I purchase it? I live in Nevada City, about 60 miles northeast of Sacramento, CA. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Looking at deck bags and this one was on the list. Pricey though. Not sure the review swayed me but thanks for doing one on it.
Cheers!
Love a review of the crescent kayaks,about12ft model.and a review on pfds as well
There's been a number of calls for Crescent kayak reviews... I don't know much about them, but look forward to trying them. I know Dan at Headwaters has reviewed a number of them.
Hi Ken, thank you again for this video. I also saw the one where you review the Pongo 120 and I am not sure yet which one of this two i am going to buy. This will be my first Kayak and I like all what you and other people have said about this two kayaks. I live in Ontario-Canada, and I planning to use it primarily in calm waters just to spend the day. Do you have any additional comment beside what you said on your videos? Thank you.
Review the riot escape 12 ! Best kayak for the price !!!
Love your show ! Keep it up ❤
Ok... you caught my interest with that claim! :)
@@PaddleTV at 919$ cad tax in for a 12' , rudder, great loading capacity but 300lbs , super stable, never felt like i was going to capsize and I kayak with transport boat in the st-Lawrence river even when im anchor down (still they are far but the wake.. 😅) and surprisingly fast for what the boat is, there is 2 models, 1 "normal" and one is more for fishing
is on my demo list for explore kayaking, looking at 110 v2. We run alot of very small rivers and creeks, some no more than 6 foot wide.
Hi Ken, I would love to see on-water reviews of the Old Town Heron 11XT and the Old Town Vapor 12XT, 2 kayaks that have little to no recognition here on UA-cam.
I’d love to see a comparison of this Aventura with the Riot Enduro 13. Or edge 13. Also, would foam wedges (wedge for adjustability) under the thighs scratch the itch? Also, what Ksyaks hit the $1000 mark with these features? I’ve seen several in the $1200-1500 range. Riot and Feel Free seem to be lonely in this price point. Thanks!! Love your videos.
It would be helpful for those considering doing actual touring with one of these to see a few bags of gear loaded in the hatches to see capacity, how well the hatches work and such.
Discussing skirt sizes and options would help as well even if you don't have one. Along that thought, covering the cockpit dimensions would give paddlers and idea of the ease of entering and exiting.
It's sad that fishing kayaks, 200 dollar boats and SUPs have consumed so much of the oxygen around paddling. Nothing wrong with those, but they've crowded out the market. Most paddle shops don't even carry composite boats to see first hand, let alone anything approaching an array to choose from. Sea kayaks are rare to see anymore, and forget about a Klepper or Featherlight.
I imagine you'd enjoy taking a Kruger or an Epic 18x to their limits on an extended trip over paddling a plastic boat for half a day. Never mind, looks like Kruger went under too. :-(
Good points... I'll have to remember them next time.
Another great review!
I’d love to see a review of a touring kayak for a 6’5”er, male, sit inside, fall out if it rolls over, knee pads & under leg supports.
I know I’m not asking for much, but I have limited mobility and I’m desperate to upgrade from my inflatable.
I'm not sure if it's what you're looking for, but the Jackson Tupelo and Wilderness Systems Pungo both should fit you. They don't have over the top thigh braces, but they're comfy and you'd fall out if you flipped. I did review videos on both recently that you'll find on the channel.
@@PaddleTV thanks I’ll have a look at the reviews.
Thanks so much for your review, Ken! I'm trying to determine if this is the kayak I should buy or if it's worth it to spend a little more for something like the Riot Edge 13 or Enduro 12 for $1000. These three seem to be the only kayaks I can find around $1000 or under that feature a drop skeg, thigh braces, and both stern and bow bulkheads with storage. The Old Town Sorrento 126SK seems to be just missing a thigh brace (just has padding). Ultimate goal is for leisure rides along rivers and Lake Michigan and/or Superior, and some kayak camping. Any insight from you or others here is greatly appreciated!
Comfort seems to be a theme here, Ken. You'd think that every kayak manufacturer would start with the seat first. Thanks, again. 🙂👍🚣♂️
I couldn't agree more... happy butt, happy paddler!
i just found this channel - love the reviews & lessions...but on this one the music is a little loud. keep up the awesome content!
Thanks! Noted about the music.
Ahoy Ken! Nice review 💚🛶
May I plea for testing:
➡️Perception - Carolina 14, Expression series
➡️Pelican - Sprinter 120, Argo 100
➡️Aquarius - Trek, Traper
➡️Kayaks for 2 persons, or more
Possible topics: How to kayaking two in one kayak? Or how to deal kayaking 2 person kayak by one kayaker 😉
Kayaking with family or friends.
Realy nice job Ken! PTv is awesome!
Best wishes, fan from Poland - Tomek.
Hey Ken, would like to see you review the old town loon 120. Take care enjoy your show.
Thanks Tomek!
I would love to see the guide 17 by seaward. Let's see the higher end boats
Can you please review next time, any pelican recreational kayak, specifically the Argo 12ft?
I love your reviews and trip videos. I was wondering if you have reviewed or could review some Old Town Kayaks specifically the Loon 120 and the Sportsman 120. Could the Loon 120 work for an overnight camping trip or a weekend escape? Is the Sportsman the best option as a fishing machine?
I would LOVE to review some Old Town Kayaks. I have had more requests for those than any. Hopefully I can get my hands on some soon. They have been sold out all season, and so I just haven't been able to get my hands on one yet. Those videos are coming though.... Stay tuned.
Eddyline Sitka, Wilderness Systems Tarpon, Dagger Axis or Liquid Logic Remix XP are just a few of the kayaks I would like reviewed. And if you happen to get a review unit, I would gladly take it off your hands :)
I'd love to see you reviewing the Pakayak Bluefin 142. Just wrote them an email, asking them to hand you such a boat for a review.
Thanks Ronny! That's awesome! I would really love to review that boat, and so hopefully we'll hear from them. Cheers!
I would love to see the Wilderness systems tsunami 145 with rudder in action love to see how it rolls how it handles all sorts of water conditions etc.
I own the tsunami and would like to see how it rolls as well. Haven't tried it yet.
Still hoping that you gonna test my Perception Expression. I bought last month the Epic v7 as well. Yesterday i heard from my dealer that in August my Vagabond Marimba will arrive, waiting from November 2020. Looking forward to it.
Wow! That's a nice quiver of boats!
I would love to see a review of the Riot edge 13 and anything else in the recreational touring kayak category. Reviews are sparse for most models
Please review the Dagger Stratos 125L... Or better yet, a comparison with Wilderness Systems Tsunami 125, this Aventura 125 and any other boat in the performance touring 12 foot class.
I'd like to see a good review on the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120. Wondering if it tracks similar to the Pungo. I like everything I hear about the Pungo but am leaning toward a sit on top.
Roger that! Hope to test a Tarpon 120 soon!
The Katana or the Remix XP please. Great channel.
I'm dying to review those too! Hope to soon.
Have you reviewed the Perception Expression 14.5? I’d like to see that one if you haven’t yet.
Same
A few people have requested the Expression... I'll have to check it out.
Have you done any reviews of Eddyline kayaks or Delta kayaks? Thanks for this great page and the work you do!
Unfortunately I haven't had a chance yet. I would love to, but both companies have decided not to send me kayaks to review at this time. Feel free to send their customer service an email telling them that they should! :)
@@PaddleTV I emailed them, but with stock limitations these days, I don't know what will happen. Thanks again. :)
@@PaddleTV Figured I'd share the response I received from Eddyline below:
Me: Hello, I know this may seem a bit odd or random, but have you ever considered sending out a kayak for Ken Whiting of PaddleTV to review? Thanks!
Eddyline: Hi Bill,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, we’ve been considering it strongly and trying to figure out a way to make it work. Due to the unprecedented levels of demand that we’ve seen since the start of the pandemic, every single kayak that we’re manufacturing now is already pre-sold to one of our authorized dealers for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, this means that we don’t have any wiggle room in our production schedule to make an extra kayak for Ken anytime soon. However, we’re very aware of his UA-cam channel and think that he does great work over there, so our sales manager has been in contact with him to try to figure out how we can get Ken in an Eddyline kayak. Since he isn’t close to us physically, it makes things a little more complicated but we are working on it. We appreciate you reaching out.
Cheers,
Eddyline Support
Two boats I would like to see reviewed are the Wilderness System Tsunami 145 and the Pungo 125 (the big brother to the one you have already reviewed--pungo120.
I agree... I'd love to try the Tsunami, and compare it against some of these other touring boats.
@@PaddleTV Excellent, would love to see a review of the Tsunami 125! Dimensions-wise, looks almost like a head-to-head competitor with the Aventura - and they are the two units I'm really wrestling back and forth with for a purchase. The Wilderness seems to be the 'Cadillac' between the two of them, but would love to hear your impressions.
BTW, outstanding channel and content. I'm a new subscriber and new to the sport, and your videos have been an incredible source of information and advice!
EDIT - I should add, the Dagger Stratos 12.5 is the 3rd contender on my list - a 3-way "shoot-out" would be fantastic (with any other 125 rec-touring competitors). =]
Thank you for your great reviews. If I was willing to pay a little more what would your recommendations be? In your experience can I find this boat and demo it somewhere?
I don't believe the Loon or the Pungo have drop down Skegs?
Can you review the Bonafide ex123
I'm running 6hr + down a slow river with some class 1/2 ww looking for a crossover type Touring kayak that can play on the rapids and surf but be fast enough to keep up with 12f plus boats in the flats. Currently using a 10f pelican clone which I have taken up to class 2/3 but it's not at all built for it and slow vs my friends touring boats.
Have you ever tested a old town loon 126 love to hear your thoughts on that kayak
Would love to test that one too. I've been trying to get my hands on one... Hopefully soon.
Great video, again, thanks a lot! Could you name an example of a Kayak that provides really good support under the legs from your point of view? Just a starting point for comparisons while looking for a Kayak to buy
Sure thing! In the same class of kayaks as the Aventura, the Wilderness Systems Tsunami has their Phase 3 AirPro seats, which has adjustable under-leg support. So does the Old Town Castine series. Here's a link to a video about their seat system. ua-cam.com/video/7o8Rjo0azm4/v-deo.html
@@PaddleTV Wow, thank you so much for this blazing fast answer, Ken - took you no longer than 15 minutes to react - I'm blown away; thanks a ton, really. Big thumbs up for all your videos, not only very helpful but also really entertaining, each one of it.
Hi, great video
I am actually looking for a sit on top kayak and fancy the nomad, also from Feelfree.
Have you ever tried to Feelfree Nomad and if so, what is your general impression on it
Thanks !
I haven't tried the Nomad, but looking at it, I would suggest considering the small upgrade to the Feelfree Moken (not the Moken Lite). You get two things with the Moken - a framed, elevated seat, which will be much more comfortable, and you get real foot braces instead of the molded foot wells. Adjustable foot braces are much more comfortable and make paddling better. You also get a bunch of other features for the $100 upgrade. One of the big 'costs' is that the Moken weighs 65 lbs instead or 45 lbs.
@@PaddleTV Thank you for your detailed reply.
Here in the UK the Nomad is £489 but the Moken 10 (V2) is £729 .. quite an increase, almost 50% extra.
That weight increase is quite high too.
There's actually a Feelfree Roamer, for £399, so I'll have to see how the Roamer and Nomad differ.
Regards from the UK
I need that boat ! Cant buy them anymore
Unless of course you wanna sell that one 😂
Great honest review i thank you for that and for showing me once again i was right its my fav kayak for the money
I'll let you know if I decide to sell it. :)
Can you review the crescent ck1
Hope to soon!
Anybody paddled both this boat and the Perception Conduit 13? Any comps on those?
The 125 looks like my next boat I’m sold on my thigh braces how would you say a taller paddler would fit, around 6’2” thanks dan.
Yup. It's hard to paddle a kayak without them, once you get used to them.
Woodprix has very good designs and plans.
I'm not familiar with Woodprix.
@@PaddleTV Woodprix comes with very useful plans with all the details you need. Woodprix is full of amazing tips. It helped me a lot. I made all my kayaks with these plans
I'm very interested in the Aventura 110, but would love to demo it first. These are very hard to find.
They sure are! You might have to wait until the fall to demo one...
I'm glad you were honest, but talk about "damning with faint praise" ;-)
Did that feeling like a 'damning' review? It wasn't meant to be... I do like the boat and think it's a great value.
you should review the fiesta islander
Don't know that one... I'll have to check it out.
@@PaddleTV sorry, meant islander fiesta
i would like to see a comparision video between liquid logic remix dagger axis/katana and feelfree aventura looking to but in the next few months for camping on big lake and river with up to class II
This is a video I would love to do as well! Hope to get my hands on a Katana and Remix this coming year!
@@PaddleTV this was my first year kayaking and i love it so now i am looking for a good all around kayak
@@PaddleTV thank you for informational videos i have learned so much between you and headwaters kayaks videos
Wish I had a FeelFree dealer in my area. I went with a WS 145 which cost significantly more ($1350) and doesn’t have skeg or rudder.
How are you enjoying that boat?
With this sort of kayak, where you're not closed in, would I need to have learned how to roll before using it? Or would i just fall out if the boat rolled?
The cockpit is very big, and so you would simply fall out of the kayak if you flipped. There's no feeling of 'confinement' in the Aventura. I'd put my mom in it. :)
All of my sea kayaks from high volume to Greenland kayaks you will come out easier than you think. Especially if you're not wearing your spray skirt. I wouldn't be afraid of getting stuck.
It's pretty hard to accidentally roll this kayak over, it's very stable. I've done 50+ tours and over 1000km in it, and never had an accidental rollover. But bear in mind I do paddle on relatively calm seas
@@asfdestroyer Hey! Question, do your hatches leak with this kayak? Had some leaking in my new 125 on the rear hatch, trying to see if this is common and any solutions. :) Thanks for the help!
@@wrightclick my hatches only leak a few drops so I never thought it was an issue. I would check the seal and the rubber gasket, or otherwise your bulkhead might be leaking, which is also an easy fix
No whitewater run on this one? Damn. :D
:) Sorry... I should have.
Where can i get one????
I wish I could help you there... I would send FeelFree customer service that question. Let them know you saw the review at PaddleTV! :)
".... support under the legs...." .. Oh you mean like a Pungo?