This blow-up kayak is nearly as sturdy as the hard-shell kind,
and a lot easier to stow in your studio apartment
by
Matt Vella
Product Review January 12,
2007, 5:45PM EST
From Business Week
Editor's Rating:
The Good: Well priced, heavy-duty construction,
paddles like a regular kayak
The Bad: Carrying case has no backpack or shoulder
straps
The Bottom Line: The next-best thing to a hard-shell
kayak for travel junkies and those short on space
Reader Reviews
One of the few disadvantages of being an even moderately active gear
head is, well, all the gear. It only takes a few pastimes—say,
snowboarding, backpacking, and maybe mountain biking—to transform any
garage into a YMCA stock room-style nightmare. And if you're a
twentysomething living in a studio, forget stowing big-footprint items
like a kayak.
Unless you've got an inflatable kind, like Advanced Elements' folding
AdvancedFrame kayak. The AdvancedFrame is actually a hybrid boat that has
inflatable components built around an aluminum folding frame.
The result is rigid enough to track straight through water like a
traditional kayak but one that can also fold up into a manageable,
luggable package. I'm giving it a closer look as part of a series of
reviews on high-tech sporting gear (see BusinessWeek.com, 1/03/07,
"Nike + iPod Equals Smooth Runnings").
The $399 AdvancedFrame can serve as an attractive, affordable intro to
kayaking for a novice or as a second boat for the more experienced. It's
also a great choice for travel kayakers who want to bring their own gear
on vacation without spending a fortune on shipping.
Best Inflatable Yet
Inflatable boats have a deservedly sketchy rep. That's because most
inflatables actually float on top of the water, rather than cut through
it, something most hard-body kayaks do effectively.
But the AdvancedFrame is designed to mimic the characteristics of
classic boats. The bow is narrow, sharp, and raised, keeping waves from
breaking on the deck and reducing overall resistance. The stern is shaped
to act like a skeg—that fin on the underside of a boat or surfboard—that
keeps it moving straight without much wobble.
I tested the AdvancedFrame in the waterways of the Delaware Water Gap.
Paddling, it was hard to tell I was in an inflatable. The bottom offers
slightly more give for your backside than a hard-shell kayak.
Still, it's surprisingly rigid and, on flat water, largely
indistinguishable from a conventional setup. The aluminum frame is wrapped
with a triple-layer, PVC-coated polyester fabric. Nice detailing includes
rugged rubber handles, bungee deck lacing, and water-resistant zippers
that open up the hull for storage. The whole package exhibits quality and
sturdy construction—the threat of punctures never crossed my mind.
Easy Set-Up
If the thought of having to pump up your kayak conjures bad memories of
cheap pool toys or uncomfortable air mattresses, have no fear. With a
decent pump (Advanced Elements sells one for an extra $25), the process
takes a painless five minutes, thanks largely to heavy-duty seals and
easy-access valves. In fact, I was able to inflate and deflate the boat in
my apartment three or four times before ever taking it out to test.
Surprisingly, folding the kayak up isn't much of a chore either. A
double action pump makes sucking the air out a snap, and the boat's frame
provides an easily followed template for refolding it. Thankfully, the
included carrying case has enough give to negotiate even a rushed
repackaging. The whole thing weighs only 36 pounds, making it reasonably
portable.
The AdvancedFrame isn't likely to win over too many hard-core
whitewater fans. Indeed, Advanced Elements says the boat is durable enough
for Class 1, 2, or 3 rivers, but not whitewater graded above that. That
makes the AdvancedFrame a great tourer, but by no means your next rapid
weaver.
Still, thrills can be had in Class 3 waters. Without any problems, I
took my test unit on mostly placid Class 2 waters with a few easily
negotiated whitewater spots. I was surprised at how comfortable I was over
the course of a long, quiet, eight-mile paddle in the mountains near the
New Jersey-Pennsylvania border.
Toting Could Be Better
The AdvancedFrame comes with nice accessories like a repair kit and
inflatable seat. Advanced Elements sells a good deal of extras too,
including deck bags and paddles. These are particularly nifty since they
match the boat's orange-and-grey color scheme (it also comes in lime
green-and-grey).
The AdvancedFrame's major deficiency is its carrying case. A kayak
built for maximum portability should come with easy-to-tote packaging.
Instead the duffel-style bag is unwieldy and doesn't do a good job of
distributing the weight. Even a shoulder strap would go a long way toward
improving the situation.
But that's a minor quibble. All in all, the AdvancedFrame is perfect
for people looking for an easy-to-own, general-purpose kayak or for
space-squeezed city-dwellers who don't want to choose between a dining
table and their favorite water sport.
Matt Vella is a reporter for BusinessWeek.com in New York.
|
