Airfusion

I own a VW camper and this kayak fit's perfectly into the luggage compartment above the cab section of the van. I'll have to say I've got the best of both worlds in this kayak. Folds up and can be carried anywhere (travel case has shoulder straps) and you can store the pump in the back storage area of the kayak after inflation. I'd say it's 85% as good as a premium hardshell (better than a injection molded, closing in on a fiberglass but a carbon fiber you'd really notice the difference (if you've got that $$$$ money to spend)). BUT it fits in the trunk of your car or just about anywhere else and inflates to a really nice kayak. First time assembling took longer than anticipated but by third time out was quite acceptable when you balance the fact that you have a great kayak plus the MASSIVE convenience of not needing a rack or truck bed to transport it. So basically it's a go anywhere solid toy. Well worth the money if you can hassle with assembling and disassemble versus hassle of transporting, etc. Perfect for my VW Camper.

the pros are it handles nicely, I can keep up with friends in hard shell kayaks most of the time. At 32 pounds even with back issues I can load and unload. I wish the stern zipper was longer to use to store a few items and to be able to reach the stern to insert the pole. I use a deck bag on the rear because the attachments are there. The bungys on front deck are useful but limited by the center attachment. It is really hard to break the poles down after the paddle, they are wet and don't slide well. I will use for day paddles only, just not enough storage to camp for a multiple day trip. I am glad I purchased and friends may too.

Very well designed system. Very much like the lack of storage space required and easy transport. There is a learning curve on the assembly but have learned adjustments needed and potential mistakes. Good product and am looking forward to traveling with it.

The AirFusion EVO takes its award-winning earlier version even further with seemingly solid drop-stitch inflation chambers that improve tracking and structural integrity. Add the manufacturer's skeg, and the tracking now rivals the best hard-shells while removing any traces of lateral instability because the skeg also acts as a little keel. The EVO is fast, accelerates more quickly than any other kayak I have used (more than 60 so far), and seems almost to dance on the water with its light touch. Its light weight also makes it the perfect high-performance travel kayak, and I will take it to waterways all over the continent in my RV. It is simply a delight to use.

I did extensive reading into finding a lightweight, backpack transportable, stable kayak - and this Airfusion Evo came out as the top choice. I combined it with a top quality carbon fibre paddle (directly imported from China, 4 parts, approx $ 160 all incl) and it is a pure joy to kayak - just wonderful. It comes with a backpack like bag, though the dedicated backpack by airfusion is slightly better designed (I bought that, too). I found that the skeg is not necessary in calm water conditions.However, there are some downsides I would like to point out: (1) Unpacking and inflating does take considerably more than 10 mins - at least till one has the full hang of it. (2) Packing it all up, cleaning it properly and drying it is again quite time intensive - considerably more than I anticipated. If it is cold outside, you need some space in the house to do this - a fibreglass or wooden kayak doesn't require this type of intensive maintenance (3) the outer shell material - Polyurethane - is very thin - approx 0.5mm and not that robust. On my second long outing, portaging it over and around river locks, I carelessly dragged it a bit over the ground and managed to rip it! Another rip by a branch of a bush in the river. So one has to take exceedingly great care and avoid all grazing on any rough surface! I wouldn't go over any weir with it as I would be very afraid of damaging it yet again. That limits it's usefulness when kayaking on rivers - I am in the process of buying myself another fibreglass or wooden kayak! However, I still love the idea of having a kayak I can take as hold luggage on planes to travel around with.

I bought this evo a year ago, and like it a lot. The only negative is that the underbelly is very thin. As stated in a previous review, it can rip, or get puncture. I was taking in some water, nothing to worry myself about, but did find a small puncture. To remedy this, I used ‘Flex Seal Tape’. Problem solved. I also ran the tape almost all the way down to help protect the hull. It did not hurt the performance of the kayak. With this kayak, I can stay with all the hard body kayaks. One other thing, I don’t deflate the kayak. I just flip it over, and put it on the roof of my suv, and securing it. I find that it’s easier than breaking the kayak down. My garage is big enough to keep it fully inflated.

I had the air fusion elite the first version for many years and it was simply awesome. I am getting the evo hopefully in a few days and I’ll update when I do.Update (5/28/2019) I was slightly disappointed with glue coming undone at the stern side but they are replacing it right away. Prompt response and superb resolution. It seems the newer EVO is not as sturdy as Elite so I probably have to be a little more careful with it.