Alright, I bought this so someone could join me last minute to see the eclipse on the water. I let them use my basic kayak (old towne heron 9) and I took this bad boy since I have way more experience on the water.
For the money it's a great deal. It has some quirks but overall it's fiiiine.
If you understand what this is for you will not be disappointed.
It came well packaged and was very easy to set up. I did not read the instructions. You probably should though.
This came with everything you need to get on some water except a life jacket. $20 on Amazon.
The paddle is a bit wobbly but not bad enough for it to matter. It's just the nature of how it is made.
The material is pretty tough. I went over some
mud and sticks and did not have a problem. I even went up a concrete boat launch to get in and out of it. I think you should avoid anything like that. Eventually you'll get unlucky or wear it down enough to have an issue. So treat it like the inflatable that it is and avoid anything that might puncture it.
On the water I had the pump in the net bag that comes with it, a full backpack and stuff in the zipper seat pocket. At no time did I feel like anything would fall out. I rocked it back and forth and you would have to really lose your balance to tip it.
I was also able to completely lay down in the front part. (I'm 5' 8.5")
We went out onto a large reservoir and it handled surprisingly well. Just like most basic kayaks the wind sucked, waves were not great and going upstream against the current was not easy. Keep this thing in still waters with little to no wind and you're golden.
Since it is full of air it did expand after a few hours in direct sunlight. But it was not an issue.
Packing it up was also easy. Let the air out and roll it up. Wash it when you get home and let it dry. Take care of it and you'll have a fine kayak for calm waters. I would totally take this over my regular kayak on long trips if I don't want to deal with something on my roof for hundreds of miles. Or if someone wants to join me again and doesn't have their own.
Overall I'm very happy with this purchase.
| Brand | Bestway |
|---|---|
| Material | Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) |
| Color | 1-Person Cove Champion |
| Style | Cove Champion 1-Person |
| Seating Capacity | 1 |
| Weight Limit | 220 Pounds |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 23.6 x 16 x 8.8 inches |
| Package Weight | 8.85 Kilograms |
| Brand Name | Bestway |
| Model Name | Cove Champion X1 |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Bestway |
| Part Number | 65115E |
| Model Year | 2023 |
| Included Components | 1 kayak, 1 paddle, 1 hand pump, 2 fins, 1 carry bag, repair patch |
| Size | Medium |
| Hand Orientation | Ambidextrous |
