An Affordable Recreational Touring Kayak To Grow With
Recreational touring kayaks are steadily growing in popularity because paddlers are realizing it's nice to have something that isn't just super stable, but also really fun and fast, and that works well for multi-day trips. That's where recreational touring kayaks fit in and that's also where FeelFree Aventura's line fits in. The question I’m here to answer is what kind of ‘bang for the buck’ do you get from it? Is it worth it? And how does the Aventura 125 stack up against other R.T.K.s on the market? To figure that out, I took the kayak on a 2-hour test paddle and here’s what I can tell you.
ABOUT THE FEELFREE AVENTURA 125 KAYAK
The Aventura comes in 3 sizes. You've got the 110 (11 ft.), the 125 (12.5 ft.), and the 140 (14 ft.). They all share similar design characteristics and features – they're simply different lengths. This review pertains to the Aventura 125, although most of my comments will be relevant to the other models.
Retail Price: $829 USD
Length: 12′ 6″
Width: 26″
Weight: 55 LBS (25KG)
Max Capacity: 350 LBS (159 KG)
Best Use: TOURING (All Conditions)
The Aventura is a roto-molded kayak. It has grab handles at both ends and perimeter lines/deck bungees on the front and back. There's a comfy looking seat with adjustable back rest, padded thigh braces, and customizable foot braces. It has sealed bulkheads in the bow and stern that divide the kayak into three separate compartments. There's a drop down skeg, and on the bottom, you've got a replaceable skid plate. All of this for only $829 USD seems like a great deal. But that's why I took it out on the water. Let's dive in and see whether this kayak is the spankin' bargain it appears to be.
How do you transport the Aventura?
At 55 lbs, the Aventura is a little heavier than most sit-inside recreational touring kayaks, but lighter than most sit-on-top recreational kayaks. Either way, it’s a very manageable size and weight to transport on the roof racks of a vehicle. As for getting the Aventura to the water, it’s not too heavy for a single, strong person to carry if you don’t have far to go. While the kayak does have a replaceable skid plate that makes dragging it an option, most people should expect to tag team carry it with a friend, or to invest in a kayak cart to move the kayak around solo.
Is the Aventura a stable kayak?
Simply put – yes it is. I got exactly what I was expecting from a rec-touring kayak. This does mean that some stability was sacrificed in the name of speed, paddling efficiency, and even fun! But the fact is, the initial stability (the stability one feels when sitting naturally) is very reasonable and the secondary stability (if you're doing any edging) is fantastic. The Aventura is a very stable kayak.
How does the Aventura kayak perform?
As previously mentioned, this kayak was designed with speed and efficiency in mind. Does that mean it’s a fast kayak? Well, I wouldn’t call it a speed demon, but yes, it does travel through the water quite well, and if you deploy the drop skeg, the Aventura 125 can hold a straight course in almost any conditions.
As for maneuverability, being only 12’6” in length, the kayak is much more maneuverable than longer touring kayaks. On top of that, since kayaks turn more effectively when they're held on edge, the fact that the Aventura has such good secondary stability (stability on edge) means that it is an easy boat to turn.
Is the Aventura 125 kayak comfortable?
The Aventura 125 is fairly comfortable. But is it the most comfortable kayak I've ever been in? No. The seat sure looks cozy, and it is under the butt…but one thing I noticed missing is support under the legs. Without it, my legs splayed out and their natural weight put pressure on my hips and lower back. This is inline with what I expected from a kayak in this price range. A more supportive seat is the type of upgrade you get from a more expensive model. That being said, sometimes a kayak’s thigh hooks can help to provide leg support, if they wrap around your knees. While the padded thigh hooks in the Aventura did keep my knees from rubbing up against the plastic siding, they didn't provide any of that extra leg support. Otherwise, between the adjustable backrest and the adjustable foot braces, you can really customize the fit for your body size. So, to summarize all of this – Yes, the Aventura is reasonably comfortable, but it does leave something to be desired.
Aventura kayak features
As is typical for recreational touring kayaks, the Aventura doesn’t have a lot of features. But the features it does have are practical and well designed. For starters, I’m a fan of the simple locking hatches on this boat. They’re easy to use and to secure. The sealed bulkheads in the bow and stern provide excellent, compartmentalized storage, and offer safety benefits as only the cockpit area will be swamped if you capsize. Although I didn't exactly put them through the ringer to test the waterproofing, I'm personally not that concerned about this. I always expect to get some water leakage into the other compartments, which is why I put anything stored in there in dry bags.
The drop skeg is like a daggerboard on a sailboat. When you drop that thing all the way down, it switches this from a good tracking kayak to an absolute arrow! It's great that it's adjustable because that way you can tailor the performance to your liking. Just note, turning will be a challenge when the drop skeg is fully deployed. You'd definitely have to draw it up to turn this boat around quickly.
Who is the Aventura 125 kayak for?
This Aventura 125 is an ideal kayak for anyone on a budget who's looking for a stable, yet efficient, paddling experience. It packs a zip but also comes with enough storage for a multi-day outing. Since the boat is designed to accept a skirt, it’s sea worthy enough to handle a wide variety of conditions, including rough water, although it’s important that you get professional instruction before taking things that far with it. The bottom line is the Aventura is a very versatile kayak, and not one that you’ll easily outgrow.
Is the Aventura kayak worth it?
The Aventura 125 is a solid kayak. I actually think it's priced perfectly at $829 USD. If that's your budget, then I certainly recommend this boat. Sure, it's not as comfortable and it doesn't paddle quite as well as those $1000+ models, but it's significantly cheaper, so I wasn't surprised. All in all, I think it provides great ‘bang for buck', and if this is the style of kayak you’re interested in, I can safely say that you’re not going to do better at this price point.
I hope you enjoyed this article. For more information, check out my gear reviews, tips, and adventures on PaddlingTV.
