Melker Kayaks is a Swedish kayak company that has made it their mission to change the kayak industry by producing kayaks that don't only look and perform great but have less impact on the environment too. But have they managed to do that? I tested the Melker Rödlöga, a gorgeous-looking solo kayak made from a flax weave instead of the more traditional carbon kevlar. So let’s see how it fared in another in-depth and unbiased Melker Rödlöga review.
Melker Rödlöga Specifications
The Melker Rödlöga comes in a high and low volume version. I tested the high-volume version which has the following specifications:
Price: $3900 (USD)
Length: 16’ 7”
Width: 21 1/4”
Weight: 54 LBS (24KG)
Capacity: 175LBS – 230 LBS
Best Use: All conditions
The Rödlöga features:
- A skeg and a rudder
- Aggressive thigh braces
- An adjustable, ergonomic seat
- Four hatches
- A recessed area between the bow hatches
- 190 liters storage space
Portability
This is a 16.5’ long kayak that only weighs 54 LBS. That is very light for such a long kayak. This means it is very easy to throw on your shoulder and move it around.
When transporting or storing a kayak like this you need to make sure you have a padded space for it. Otherwise, you can cause damage to the boat.
Stability
This is 21 1/4 inches wide. That is a very narrow kayak which means that it is designed for speed but not necessarily stability. However, across the center of the kayak, the hull is quite flat, with a hard chine or edge to the side walls. This means that it has surprisingly good primary stability. At the same time, it easily rolls from edge to edge and into good secondary stability.
All in all, for a 21 1/4” wide kayak, designed for speed rather than stability, it does have both good primary and secondary stability.
Performance
Usually, stability comes at the cost of performance, so is that the case with the Melker Rödlöga? Well, the answer to that is maybe a little. There is a slight reduction in speed in this boat. But that is also because it is designed to be used in all conditions.
The Melker Rödlöga is Melker’s “play” touring boat variation. It has a lot of rocker bow to stern which makes it very maneuverable. You can use it for all sorts of kayaking. But you do lose a little bit of top-end speed when you have a kayak with that much rocker. However, it also makes this a more playful and versatile kayak to use. Exactly my sort of kayak.
In terms of maneuverability, the Rödlöga turns incredibly well. When you hold the kayak on the edge it starts to turn already. That makes it a lot of fun to play with. Yet, when you drop the skeg down it tracks very well, which is exactly what should happen.
The Rödlöga has a great combination of stability, speed, and maneuverability which makes it a very comforting boat to take into all conditions from white water rapids to rough conditions on open water. I was very impressed by its performance in the rapids and on flat water. It is a great all-round boat.
Comfort
I am 6’2”, 195 LBS with about a 34” inseam and I had plenty of room in the Melker Rödlöga. But, as a size 10, I did not have a lot of foot room. So it is worth noting that for people who are slightly taller and have bigger feet than me, you might start to feel a little pinched in the foot area. That being said, if you are much taller than me you will probably be over the weight limit fairly soon anyway. And then this is not the right kayak for you anyway.
The cockpit of the Rödlöga is very simple. But sometimes simple is enough. There is a contoured seat pan with a thin foam pad on it and some aggressive thigh hooks that also come with foam pads that you can position yourself. The back band on the seat is non-adjustable, but you can move the position of the seat. So all in all it was adequately comfortable.
It doesn’t come with hip pads, which wasn’t a problem for me as the seat fit me perfectly. However, some people with different-sized butts might miss these.
Value of this Touring Kayak
The Melker Rödlöga retails for $3900 (USD) which is a lot of money for anyone. But that is what you expect to pay for a composite sea kayak of this nature and quality. In fact, you would expect to pay between $3000-$6000 for a kayak like this, so the Rödlöga is very much in-range.
You would often expect to pay a little premium for a kayak that looks so good, performs so well, and is environmentally friendly. With the Rödlöga it feels like you are getting all these things without paying that premium. So this is good value for what it is!
Who is The Melker Rödlöga Kayak For?
The Melker Rödlöga is for somebody who wants a playful, all-condition kayak. You don’t need to be a hardcore paddler to enjoy paddling this boat, but it is great for people looking to progress into paddling in rougher waters. This boat really is an all-round kayak.
In my opinion, the Melker Rödlöga is a lifetime kayak. If you get this you will probably have it for a lifetime. So the fact that you can grow into this kayak and really use it in any condition is awesome.
In the big picture, this is not a stable kayak compared to recreational or touring kayaks. So while some beginners could use this boat, however, it is geared toward people with a bit more experience. People who know a little more about what they want out of a kayak. People who are ready to lose a little bit of stability to get some performance.
Kayak: Melker Rodloga
Paddles: Aqua Bound Manta Ray Hybrid
PFD: NRS Odyssey PFD (Touring and Rec)
Clothing: NRS Short Sleeved Guide Shirt
Sunglasses: Wiley X
