ASSEMBLY TIME
LENGTH WIDTH
MATERIAL WEIGHT
PRICE WEBSITE POR T ABILITY
SWING EX W
INNOVA
hen a compact FedEx parcel appeared on the back porch of the Adventure
Kayak office, I thought perhaps a new tent had arrived for review. Imagine my surprise when I unfolded the cardboard box to reveal a neatly bundled, 13-foot boat! The new Swing EX builds on Innova Kayak’s line of inflatable decked kayaks, which includes the shorter Swing I and the tandem Swing II. EX stands for expedition, and with this latest model the Swing gets a longer tour- ing waterline and increased storage capacity. Simple, intuitive set-up means I had the Swing EX out of the box and on the water in less than 10 minutes, without so much as
PERF ORMANCE
glancing at an instruction manual. In my de- fense, Innova rushed us one of the very first production boats from their factory in the Czech Republic for this review, and a manual didn’t make it into the mix.
An inflation chamber along each gunwale and a third in the floor quickly form the hull. Three aluminum arches slide into place fore and aft of the cockpit to elevate and tension the deck. Inflatable seat, deck bungees, gear net and carry handles round out the outfitting. The Swing EX feels a bit like a canoe with a spraydeck. It has a canoe’s stability with a deep, roomy cockpit great for larger or fidg- ety paddlers. The large-diameter air tubes on each side make it hard to flip—you can even sit cross-legged. On the go, you’ll want a longer paddle to clear the arched deck and
wide hull. Tracking is even-tempered thanks to a removable, fixed skeg. Gear stows read- ily in the voluminous bow and stern, where zippers in the deck provide easy access, but not watertight closure.
The Swing EX is an affordable solo with room for camping trips on protected waters. Optional extras include a spray skirt and a dry bag-style backpack for carrying boat, inflation pump, PFD and paddle.
IDEAL FOR…
Rec use; quick urban adventures; over- nights on small lakes and quiet rivers. DIGITAL EXTRA: Click here
to watch a video review.
ASSEMBLY TIME 30 minutes LENGTH WIDTH
13’8” 23”
MATERIAL WEIGHT
PRICE WEBSITE
Polyurethane/ aluminum frame
29 pounds $1,515
www.pakboats.com
5–8 minutes 13’6”
29”
Urethane- and rubber- coated polyester
28 pounds $999
www.innovakayak.com
POR T ABILITY
QUEST 135 P
PAKBOATS
akboats, based in New Hampshire, builds packable canoes and kayaks for both recreation and serious touring. Inspiration for the Quest 135 and its big sister, the 155, came from Pakboats’ existing XT touring kayaks line, with the goal of go- ing shorter, lighter and simpler. Weighing just 29 pounds, the 135 packs into a compact duffle for tossing in your trunk or checking in as airline baggage. A blend of folding and inflatable construction
56 | ADVENTURE KAYAK
PERF ORMANCE
offers the best of both worlds. The aluminum frame assembles like a tent: shock-corded poles clip together and slide into sleeves in the heavy-duty polyurethane fabric to form the crisp lines of a multi-chine, V hull. Inflatable tubes along each chine enhance stability, tension the skin and allow the boat to float upright when flooded.
On the water, the hull feels stiff and tracks well. Accelerating quickly and cruising at a comfortable clip, we had no trouble keeping up to sub-14-foot hard-shells. That speed comes with twitchy initial stability, but secondary stability rewards intermediate paddlers with nimble edged turns. Using full-length Velcro strips and inte- grated wrap-overs, the Quest’s peel-and-stick deck eliminates the weight and complexity of
hatches while providing easy access from both ends. Although we stayed dry in splashing waves, we did find some water crept in when the deck seal was immersed.
Pakboats’ sling seat is comfortable and supportive with an inflatable thigh riser. Standard outfitting on the Quest doesn’t include foot pegs or thigh braces. If you want to improve contact with the boat for edging or rolling, you’ll need to install optional backpack-style thigh straps. Foot braces are also available, and we recommend these to all paddlers to enhance efficiency and fit. With its unique hybrid design and svelte pro- portions, the Quest 135 shines as a light touring kayak for mellow journeys in faraway places.
IDEAL FOR…
Short jaunts and weekend trips on shel- tered waters; plane, bus and car travel. DIGITAL EXTRA: Click here
to watch a video review.
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