There are a lot of advantages to using tandem kayaks. They are wide and, therefore, stable. Tandem kayaks can move fast because you have two people driving them along. But you can also power tandem kayaks with just one person. So you don't need to paddle all the time. This is great for people who tire easily, are lazy, or prefer relaxing on the water. 

So, here are 3 tandem kayak tips to make the most out of your tandem kayaking experience. 

Tandem Kayak Tip #1

Tandem kayaks have often been called divorce boats. That is because paddling adventures in a tandem kayak can become heated debates on the water. But that only happens when people go for a paddle without appreciating why the other person is on the water. When you understand what both paddlers hope to get from an experience on the water, you can adjust the paddling trip plans to accommodate that. 

For example, when I recently went on a trip with my wife, we planned what we wanted out of the trip. I like pushing myself to my limits while my wife prefers relaxing on the water. So if we had planned a long trip, she would’ve become overly tired, maybe a little cranky, and neither of us would enjoy it. Instead, I created a paddling trip that we would both enjoy and altered my expectations. We ended up having a wonderful experience.

Tandem kayaks do not need to be divorce boats. You can have an incredible experience with the people you love, on the water, in a tandem kayak. You just need to have the right expectations. 

Tip #2: Stronger Paddler Should Be in the Stern

There are a couple of reasons why the stronger or more active paddler should sit in the stern. If the person in the bow stops paddling, the person at the back can continue to paddle and keep control of the kayak. You can keep making good headway with only the person in the stern kayaking. On the other hand, if the person in the stern stops paddling, the person paddling in the bow will have more difficulty controlling the kayak. So the stronger and more active paddler should always be in the stern of the boat. 

Tip #3. Paddle in Unison on Same Side

Paddling in unison looks prettier when you are out on the water. But more importantly, you are less likely to clash paddles when you paddle in time with each other. Ultimately this will make paddling in a tandem kayak far less frustrating because you can take a clean and full stroke each time. By paddling in unison you will have a less frustrating and more efficient trip. 

When paddling in unison, it is important to note that the person in the bow of the kayak sets the pace. The stern paddler then matches the bow paddler's pace. Sometimes your natural stroke pace might be different from each other. To deal with this the stern paddler can always communicate and ask the bow paddler to adjust their pace. 

Tip #4 Use Opposite Sweep Stokes to Turn

The most efficient way to turn a tandem kayak is to use opposite sweep strokes on opposite sides. To do this the bow paddler does a forward sweep stroke on one side of the kayak while the stern paddler does a reverse sweep stroke on the other side. This turns the kayak very effectively. 

What is a sweep stroke? Well, that is a stroke where you hold the paddle low and sweep the paddle out in a wide arc. You are not propelling the kayak forward in this stroke, you are turning it as much as possible. 

Using these tips I enjoyed my last tandem kayaking trip a lot more than I expected. So I will be adding more tandem kayaking to my paddling trips in the future. 

If you're interested in this specific tandem kayak, feel free to read my full Wilderness Systems Targa 130T review as well.

PFDs/Life Jackets:  NRS Odyssey PFD (Touring and Rec)
Kayaks: Wilderness Systems Targa 130t
Paddle:  Aqua Bound Manta Ray Carbon 2-piece
Shirts and Tops:  NRS Guide Short Sleeved Men’s Shirt
Paddling Shorts:  NRS Benny Board Shorts
Sunglasses: Wiley X

The post Tandem Kayak Tips appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Types of Kayaks

When you are choosing a kayak there are three big choices you have to make. Do you want a portable or hard-shell kayak? Would you rather use a sit-in or sit-on-top kayak? Do you want a paddle or a pedal-driven kayak? 

Once you’ve narrowed down the options you need to decide if you want a recreational kayak, a touring kayak, or a sea kayak. While this blog post is all about touring kayaks, let’s break down the basics of the different kayak categories of kayak that exist.

Two big factors help determine what type of kayak you are looking at, and that is length and width. The longer and narrower a kayak is, the more effectively it will travel through the water.

Recreational Kayaks

These are kayaks that prioritize stability. This comes at the cost of speed and performance. Recreational kayaks are usually between 9’-12’ long. These kayaks are the widest kayaks available at around 30+” wide. This also means that they are the slowest because they are pushing the most water and therefore create the most resistance. 

Sea Kayaks

These prioritize performance. They travel as quickly and efficiently through the water as possible. Sea Kayaks are usually between 14’-18’ long and about 22”-24” wide. While these were originally designed to be used on the sea, they can be great on lakes, rivers, and ponds too. They are not exclusive to the ocean. 

Touring Kayaks

Touring kayaks fit in the middle of these two categories. They provide a great balance of stability and performance. They are kayaks that are still relatively stable but are also fun to paddle. Touring kayaks are usually between 12’-16’ long and 24”-30” wide. 

Which Different Touring Kayaks Are Available?

There are many different names for touring kayaks. But I typically categorize touring kayaks into three different groups:

• Recreational touring kayaks
• Touring Kayaks
• Performance Touring kayaks

The Recreational Touring Kayak

This kayak is in a class of its own. It is a kayak that is not designed for rough water but is designed to be a fun and efficient kayak to paddle in calm water. It gives up some stability for the “fun factor”. Recreational touring kayaks tend to be a little wider at around 26”-30”. 

You should not take a recreational touring kayak into rough water for a number of reasons. They tend to have big cockpits so that the kayaker doesn’t feel confined. This means that they can not take a kayak skirt. They also often only have one bulkhead in the back. A bulkhead is a wall in the kayak that separates it into different sections. These are important in rough conditions because without them a lot more of the kayak can fill with water if you flip. 

Recreational touring kayaks are also not designed to be rolled. So if you ever want to learn to roll then these are not the right kayaks for you. 

A great example of a recreational touring kayak is the Liquid Logic Saluda. 

Touring Kayaks

The basic touring kayak is a kayak for use in all conditions. They have two bulkheads, one behind the seat, and one just in front of your feet. So if you do flip it is only the center cockpit area that gets swamped. This makes rescues much easier. They also tend to have smaller cockpits that are designed to take spray skirts. You can roll a touring kayak. 

Touring kayaks tend to be a little narrower than recreational touring kayaks with a width of between 25” and 27” inches. 

A great example of a touring kayak would be the Pakayak BlueFin 142 which is 14’ and designed to handle both rough and calm water. It's an all-round and do anything touring kayak. 

Performance Touring Kayak

Performance touring kayaks are the next step up. And truthfully performance touring kayaks and sea touring kayaks are very similar. I tend to use the term interchangeably. 

Perfomance touring kayaks can perform well in any conditions. They travel very efficiently through the water and allow you to travel long distances with ease. 

How are they high-performance? Well, they have the same size cockpit as touring kayaks, they are designed to be used with a skirt and tend to have more conforming seats.

Performance touring kayaks are designed to be as rollable as possible. Usually, you can customize the hip and thigh hooks so you can get support in the right places. This helps with edging and rolling the kayak. 

They also have low back decks to make it easier to roll. 

Performance touring kayaks tend to be narrower, longer, and faster, in general just higher performance. But they do give up a lot of stability for that. Some of them can even feel a little tippy. 

To use performance kayaks safely in all conditions you need to have a guide with you or prior training. This is particularly the case if you are going to be traveling further from shore than you can swim. 

A good example of a performing kayak is the P&H Volan. It is a carbon Kevlar kayak that is a work of art! 

Who Are Touring Kayaks For?

To sum it all up the big question is, who are touring kayaks for?

Recreational Touring Kayaks

These are really for anyone who wants a kayak that will be fun to paddle. They need to be willing to give up some stability for a kayak that will travel through the water a little faster. But they will need to stick to calm conditions. 

Touring and Performance Touring Kayaks

Performance and touring kayaks can be used by anyone from novices to experts. These can be used in calm conditions by anyone looking to paddle a kayak that moves efficiently through the water. 

These kayaks also open the door to rougher water paddling, learning how to roll, and playing around in ocean surf. They allow you to enjoy a wide variety of calm and rough conditions and different paddling activities. But many of these activities will require training. 

The further you go down the road with performance touring kayaks the more opportunities you will have to push your limits and have fun. 

Find Your Kayak

There is a kayak out there for everyone: for each individual body size and shape and for every reason that someone might want to go paddling. Once you find the right boat for you it's amazing how much fun you can have on the water. 

Kayaks: Pakayak Bluefin 142, Wilderness Systems Pungo, Liquid Logic Saluda, Melker Rodloga, P&H Volan 160, P&H Leo
Paddles:  Aqua Bound Manta Ray Hybrid
PFD:   NRS Odyssey PFD (Touring and Rec)
Clothing:  NRS Short Sleeved Guide Shirt
Sunglasses: Wiley X

The post Choosing a Touring Kayak appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Wilderness Systems Targa 130T Specifications

Price: $1329 (USD)
Length: 13’
Width: 36”
Weight: 99 LBS (45 KG)
Capacity: 450 LBS (204 KG)
Best Use: Recreational

The Targa 130T features:

• A portable cooler
• An elevated stern camp-style seat
• A reversible bow framed seat
• A bow storage hood
• Adjustable footrests
• 4 carry handles

Keeping the Peace in a Tandem Kayak

Tandem kayaks are sometimes known as “divorce kayaks”. So when I took the Targa 130T out I was testing both the kayak and my marriage! I’m glad to say even after testing the kayak I am still happily married.

But let's talk for a moment about why people call tandem kayaks “divorce kayaks”. Paddling a tandem kayak can cause arguments between even partners and close friends. This is often because people do not recognize the different reasons why they want to take a kayak out. For some people, like myself, it is to push myself to the limit in various ways, whereas, for example, my wife gets on the water to relax.

To enjoy your time out on the water in a tandem kayak you need to make sure that you communicate with your partner about what you both want to get out of the paddle. That way you can stay on the same page and have a great day on the water! This is why when my wife and I took the Targa 130T out for a test paddle we went for a gentle, relaxing paddle and had a great day.

Portability

The Wilderness Systems Targa 130T is a 13′ kayak which is not very long. You can slide this into the back of a pickup truck. So it is portable in that it is short.

That said, it does weigh 99 LBS. This means it is not easy to carry around. Even with two strong people, my wife and I, carrying the Targa 130T to the water was difficult. For a kayak this heavy I would recommend using a kayak cart to make moving it a lot more manageable. What’s more, if you have to put this kayak on roof racks on your car you will need at least two strong people. It is a very heavy boat.

Stability

Despite having elevated seats, the Targa 130T is very stable. At 36″ wide it is a wide kayak so will provide a stable platform. Kayaks such as the Targa 130T are not designed to be edged, so you can see them more as giant floating docks that you can paddle!

Comfort

This is a big, wide, open platform, so is very comfortable. It is especially comfortable for your legs as the kayak is wide enough to sit in any position you want.

The seats in the Targa 130T are very comfortable. They are adjustable and have great lower back support. The fact that they are elevated and framed suspension seats also means that they conform to butts and are super comfortable.

A great aspect of the Targa 130T is that the bow seat can turn around. This means that you can float around on the water while facing each other. There are no more conversations to the back of someone's head in the Targa 130T. So when Nicole, my wife, got tired, she just turned the seat around, put it into lazy mode, and laid back whilst I paddled. This is a great feature to allow people to spend time together in a comfortable and friendly way.

Performance

Is the Targa 130T a performance machine? At 36″ wide it is not. This kayak has a pontoon hull that pushes a lot of water. It is very heavy and has a lot of drag. That said, there is a nice bow keel that slices through the water and helps the kayak track. So, for the type of kayak that it is, the performance of the Targa 130T is solid. It is not designed to be a performance kayak but it is still enjoyable to paddle.

Features

The Wilderness Systems Targa 130T has a few different features. One of the key features is the reversible bow seat, which we have already established is awesome.

The other key feature is the integrated cooler. This is a full cooler that sits in the stern of the kayak. It does take up a lot of the storage space that might be necessary when taking the Targa 130T on a kayak camping trip but is an excellent feature for people who want to use it for a day trip. One thing to note is that you should take the cooler out when driving with the kayak as it is likely to fly out of the kayak on the road otherwise.

The other feature is the bow hood. It is designed to shed water and keep stuff underneath it dry. This doesn't really appeal to me as it is such a thick piece of plastic that it dramatically reduces the space underneath the hood. It just isn't something that I get any value out of. But this is by no means a dealbreaker, it's more just personal preference.

Value

The Targa 130T costs $1329 (USD), but is that good value? Well, I think it is. This is about what you would expect to pay for a high-quality kayak with comfortable framed seats, foot pegs, and an in-built cooler.

Who Is the Targa 130T For?

This kayak is for a variety of people. First and foremost it is for people who want a stable kayak more than they want a performance kayak. It is for people who want a kayak that they can use as a single or a double kayak. Importantly, this is a social boat. It is designed to let you spend quality time on the water with friends and family.

I did a review of the single paddler version of this kayak last year. Check out The Wilderness Systems Targa 100 Review article.

PFDs/Life Jackets:  NRS Odyssey PFD (Touring and Rec)
Kayaks: Wilderness Systems Targa 130t
Paddle:  Aqua Bound Manta Ray Carbon 2-piece
Shirts and Tops:  NRS Guide Short Sleeved Men’s Shirt
Paddling Shorts:  NRS Benny Board Shorts
Sunglasses: Wiley X

The post Wilderness Systems Targa 130T Review appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Even though I'm singing the praises of all 3 of these kayaks, it doesn't mean that they're equally as good at all things. A kayak will excel in certain areas, and then it becomes a matter of if those strengths suit your needs/preferences. So let's run through the key categories and help you decide. Which of these three recreational kayaks is the best one for you?

Portability of Kayaks

This one is a no-brainer since the two Sea Eagle kayaks are inflatables. They are designed specifically to be portable and both fit in a backpack. The Wilderness Systems Pungo, on the other hand, is a 12-foot hard-shell that weighs about 50-pounds. Now, if compared to other models in its class, the Pungo is relatively manageable for a single person to carry. It just can't compete against inflatable kayaks. 

Durability of Kayaks

This time the tables turn in favor of the hard-shelled Wilderness Systems Pungo. This kayak is made of a durable polyethylene. Think sporty tupperware container. The Pungo can hold its own against those accidental abuses and keep coming back for more.

The inflatable Sea Eagle kayaks are surprisingly durable. It is a common misconception that inflatables can be punctured easily. That may have been true a decade ago, or for lower-end options, but the Sea Eagles are built to last and have demonstrated that across some pretty wild and remarkable durability tests.

The thing to watch out for is actually maintaining the valves. If you get a lot of sand or dirt in your boat and don't wash it away then that can cause a slow leak in the valves. The valves have to be replaced when you don't clean the sand or dirt. Compared to the hard-shell Pungo, the Sea Eagles don't measure up, but if you treat the inflatable Sea Eagles reasonably well, then you can still have confidence in their durability. 

Free kayak safety course online

I thought I would interject with another shout-out to the American Canoe Association (ACA) free online paddling course. Paddling is generally safe and enjoyable, but when things go wrong, they can go south very quickly. Often, a bit of key information can make the difference between an inconvenience and a disaster. And did I mention it was free? I highly recommend you click this link and take the course.

Stability of Inflatable vs Hard Shell Kayak

This is the first category that requires us to look past the inflatable vs hard-shell dynamic. The 39-inch-wide Sea Eagle 380x (explorer) is hands-down the most stable of the three kayaks. It was designed to be flip-proof until you get to about Class 3 or 4 water.

Next in line would be the much slimmer, 29-inch-wide Wilderness Systems Pungo. It's not top-dog in terms of primary stability (i.e. how it feels when sitting flat). What it does have is excellent secondary stability (i.e. how it feels when on edge). Since the 380x is so wide, secondary stability doesn't even come into play. This is one of those automatic stability vs performance trade-offs that come into play when selecting a kayak.

Obviously, that leaves the Razorlite 393rl in third place. This kayak is the slimmest of the three and therefore least stable. By no means is it an unstable kayak. This is simply a tiered breakdown. 

Performance of Hard Shell vs Inflatable Kayaks

In terms of each kayak's performance, I'm evaluating three things: speed, maneuverability, and the ability to handle rough waters.

Sea Eagle 380x

Since Sea Eagle 380x is the widest, and it has a flat hull. it is naturally much slower than the other two. It can, however, maneuver incredibly well for a 12-foot kayak. This makes it great for tight rivers, creeks, in current, and (to cover off the last criteria) whitewater. To further assist its rough-water performance, the 380x has 16 drain plugs to help manage those waves and big splashes. The 380x is a jack-of-all-trades boat that won't break records but it will perform well across-the-board. 

Wilderness Systems Pungo

Next up is the Wilderness Systems Pungo. This guy blends speed and efficiency exceptionally well. This race combo is one of the reasons why it is one of the  top-selling kayaks in the world. The Pungo travels efficiently through the water, especially for a 12-foot boat. On the flip-side, it isn't the most maneuverable thing around. Because of this, and the fact that  it can easily swamp, the Pungo is not suited for rough waters. I recommend capping your Pungo adventures at Class 1 moving water. 

Sea Eagle Razorlite 393rl

Finally, the Sea Eagle Razorlite 393rl is another zippy kayak, especially for an inflatable. It doesn't quite have the same deadly combo as the Pungo. But so far it's a triple-threat in terms of portability, moderate stability, and good paddling efficiency. What it does lack is maneuverability. It isn't designed for handling rough conditions. Because it is an inflatable kayak, that extra air volume, combined with some drain plugs can help the 393rl stay afloat even when faced with some water spilling into the cockpit. 

Final Scorecard: How to choose a kayak? 

The Sea Eagle 380x is for someone who wants a super-stable kayak and/or something that can handle the full spectrum of conditions, from flat-water to whitewater. The only catch is that it's a bit of a slow-poke. At the time of this review, the 380x has packages starting at $899 (USD). This makes it the cheapest of the three, and therefore the most appealing for price-conscious shoppers. 

The Wilderness Pungo is for someone who wants a fast, stable, and higher-performing kayak (in modest conditions). The Pungo isn't as portable as the inflatable competitors, but as long as you have somewhere to store it, transporting it shouldn't be too much of an issue. Right now, the Pungo retails for $1,189. This makes it the most expensive kayak on this list, but still within shouting-distance of the others, and super competitive in that multi-faceted, hard-shell market. The only thing to keep in mind is that prospective Pungo owners will have to purchase a paddle. 

The Sea Eagle Razorlite 393rl is also for someone looking for some flat-water speed and is willing to sacrifice a bit of stability to get it. This person might also need, or would certainly appreciate, the portability and stowability of the inflatable design. The 393rl has packages starting at $1,099, which like its Sea Eagle companion includes a paddle. 

So in the end, it all comes down to what you're looking for. All three of these kayaks share some similar attributes while also standing above the crowd in their own unique ways. I hope this review helped you make sense of those key differences, as well as some of the more subtle points. For more gear reviews, how-to videos, and adventures subscribe to our newsletter.

Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links where Ken Whiting earns a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you, but it’s a great way to show your support. Thanks!

The post How to Choose a Kayak: 3 Top Ranked Kayaks appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Background of the Targa 100 kayak

Wilderness Systems has been making high-quality kayaks for a long time. In fact, last year I gave one of their models, the Pungo 120, a Kayak of the Year award. Recently, they put out their first recreational, sit-on-top kayak (that hasn't been specifically focused on fishing), in quite some time.

Not only that, but this model, the Targa 100 kayak, dipped under that coveted $1000 mark. Now, Wilderness Systems doesn't typically just kick out boats haphazardly – they push boundaries. And so I was pumped to learn more. 

Here's a little plug straight from the horse's mouth: The Targa 100 is perfect for day trips. It offers the right balance of comfort, stability, and care-free spirit. 

Ooo, I like the sounds of that. But as always, I had to go splash around a bit and see for myself what this kayak is all about. Even though a 10-foot, sit-on-top kayak isn't my usual genre, I certainly liked the looks of the Targa 100, and needed to see how much value it packed into that sub-$1000 set-up.

ABOUT THE TARGA 100 KAYAK

Retail Price: $969 USD 

Length: 10′

Width: 32″           

Weight: 57 LBS (26 KG)

Capacity: 325 LBS (147KG)

The Targa 100 has four rigid handles; one at each end, and one on each side. In addition, it has a sling seat, a removable bow-hood, large foot-braces, an integrated/removable cooler, deck padding for comfort and traction, and stern bungees for stowing extra gear. 

How portable is theTarga 100 kayak? 

Even though 57-pounds might sound like a lot, for a sit-on-top kayak, that's really quite good. Sit-inside kayaks are inherently lighter because there's less plastic used in the hollow shell. At 10-feet, the Targa 100 is also a very manageable length. Wilderness Systems really helped the cause by adding those four grab handles. This makes carrying it tandem a total breeze. But you can also carry it suitcase style…it's just a rather heavy suitcase.

The other nice thing about the modest length is that you can mount it on any roof-rack, or even toss it in the back of a pickup. As kayaks get longer, they get harder to lug around and transport. So all things considered, this is a relatively portable kayak, just not exceptionally portable like an inflatable or folding model would be. 

Is the Wilderness Systems Targa 100 kayak stable? 

One of the selling-points for sit-on-top kayaks is that they are supposed to be stable. The Targa 100 did not disappoint in this department. I was actually able to do a little stand-up paddle boarding while cruising down some Class 1 current. Now, I didn't feel invincible doing this, but the fact is, I was able to do it without issue. So that's pretty cool. Some other models in this class are more stable than the Targa, but they achieve this off of a much wider design. The Targa 100 gets the job done nicely, while still being slim enough to preserve some decent performance.  

How does the Targa 100 kayak perform? 

Now, it again must be prefaced that a 10-foot, sit-on-top kayak has some inherent strengths and weaknesses. A boat of this nature is not going to break any records. That said, the Targa 100 surpassed my expectations. It did actually carry some reasonable speed. I attribute that to its slicey, V-shaped bow. This not only increases its efficiency, but it also helps it hold a line while paddling. This design transitions to a catamaran-style stern, which helps improve that stability we just talked about. So overall, the hybrid hull design is great for expanding this kayak's scope. 

I've mentioned that I took the Tagra 100 on some Class 1 rapids. It did fine under these conditions but I wouldn't recommend pushing it any harder. The wide, flat hull, because it prioritizes primary stability (i.e how sturdy it feels when just sitting flat), doesn't allow for much secondary stability, which is needed for putting the kayak on edge in those rougher waters. The Targa is primarily for flatwater use. 

Is the Targa 100 kayak comfortable? 

When shopping for the right kayak, it can be difficult to truly assess how comfortable something is. There's the initial acquaintance, in which case something glaring either jumps out or it doesn't. Ideally, you want to be able to spend some real time in the cockpit to see how things shape up. Better still, I got to test the Targa 100 over the span of six hours, and across some moving water. I'm therefore pleased to report, with confidence, that this is a comfortable boat.

Suspension seat

The suspension seat was the stand-out reason for this. It's able to contour to your butt as you shift around. This differs from your basic padded-seat, which really doesn't tailor to any particular butt, in any sustained situation. The Targa's seat is fixed (i.e. can't be adjusted into high and low positions), but Wilderness Systems picked a wonderful, medium height for it. It's elevated enough so that you don't get wet, and your heels are lower than your butt, which is naturally a more comfortable position for the long haul. An added benefit to the fixed seat is that you don't have to worry about losing it during transportation (which as much as it pains me to admit, I have learned the hard way…twice).

Other notable aspects of comfort include the Targa's wide open deck, which you can sit cross-legged on or, as I mentioned before, stand with relative ease. Plus, the foot braces are solid, and give good purchase while paddling. 

In terms of sizing, I'm 6′ 2″ and long in the legs. I had one free notch left for the foot pegs. Therefore, there's not much room left for a taller person. If you're north of 6′ 3″, then you might not have the same level of comfort that I experienced. I would also recommend a paddle length of between 230 – 240 centimeters (90 – 95 inches) for this kayak. That will give you the necessary clearance for the Targa's moderate width. 

What are the features of the Targa 100 kayak?

I took an inventory of the features off the top, but now let's dig into what actually stood out during my day-trip. The Targa 100 has some cool stuff to talk about, starting with the integrated/removable cooler. I dug this feature, and I appreciated that if you don't want/need the cooler, you can take it out and have another storage compartment (with scuppers for drainage). But…why wouldn't you want this? As far as I'm concerned, every good day on the water includes a fresh and hardy lunch. With a bit of meal prep, you're all set for whenever an idyllic picnic spot reveals itself. 

I already bragged about the seat and the foot braces when talking about comfort. But I also thought the padded deck was a nice touch for cushioning and traction. 

The only enigma, by my standard, was the removable bow-hood. This feature stands out, but to be honest, I just didn't know what to make of it. This is usually just dead space in a sit-on-top kayak, so it certainly doesn't hurt to have, but it's out of reach from the seat. Maybe it's something that an owner would come to appreciate over time. Let me know if you've come up with a good use for it across your own adventures.

Is the Wilderness Systems Targa 100 worth it? 

If you're just skimming for price, you'll find lots of kayaks out there that are under $1000 (USD). But that search window will narrow dramatically if you have an eye for quality. In my opinion, the Wilderness Systems Targa 100 gives you lots of bang for your buck. It's something that could easily be a lifetime kayak. As you progress as a paddler, you may want to invest in a higher performance model, but you will always be able to return to this boat, or put any of your friends in it, and it will be a fun and comfortable ride. 

Who is the Targa 100 Kayak for?

This model is excellent for anyone wanting a manageable-sized kayak that can be used for day trips. It just doesn't have the capacity for overnight outings. In terms of conditions, the Targa 100 is great for flatwater, and it can hold its own on Class 1 rapids. And finally, all ages, and most experience levels, will be able to enjoy this kayak.

Kids will have a blast just poking around close to shore (kayaking or paddle boarding) and adults will have all they need for a full day on the river (or at least long enough to utilize the cool cooler feature). This is a versatile boat, so it all comes down to what you want your own paddle tales to look like. 

A little note on safety before we sign off:

I wanted to give a quick mention to the American Canoe Association's (ACA) free online paddling course. I know these things are easy to bypass, but I highly recommend you take the time to check it out. Paddling is generally safe and enjoyable, but when things do go wrong, they can escalate quickly. Often, a bit of key information can make the difference between an inconvenience and a disaster. And did I mention it was free? If you're reading this blog then that means you're probably already at your computer, so go ahead and click this link to find out more. 

I hope you enjoyed this review. For more tips, shop-talk, and Paddle Tales adventures, check out PaddleTV.

The post Wilderness Systems Targa 100 Kayak Review: Under $1000 appeared first on Hazeadventure.