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Kayak Overview

Advanced Elements has done it yet again, another rugged and durable kayak is here. The Straitedge Angler kayak is designed with serious anglers in mind. Just like the majority of Advanced Elements kayaks, this one also sports the patented aluminum rib frame. Tracks almost as straight as a hard shell, has plenty of options for additional fishing accessories and is also very stable. If you’re looking for an inflatable kayak that you can use for fishing, you’ve found it. The durable design has made the Straitedge Angler a popular choice for people looking to go down class 3 rapids as well.

The kayak is 9 feet long and has a carrying capacity of up to 300 pounds, total weight of the boat is 41 pounds. It’s made out of multi-layered materials, which makes this bad boy durable as few. The hull is actually so tough that it’s possible to take it down class 3 rapids, and no, scraping against rocks and other rough surfaces will not puncture it easily. It has abrasion pads on top, if any hooks, tackle or fish were to fall, you will have that added protection. To add to the security, it has multiple air chambers, if one were to fail, you still have the other ones intact, allowing you to safely paddle back to shore. Some handy features on the Straitedge include; stainless steel d-rings, and bungee deck lacing for gear.

The Straitedge is an open kayak and can be compared to a regular canoe. Unlike a regular canoe however, it’s super stable. The low center of gravity, wide body and the wide frame makes it a challenge to tip it over. Unless you actually try to tip it over, nothing’s going to happen. This is because they knew that bringing home the big catches is not always a walk in the park, since when did you casually sit down and reel in a big one? Never.

You’ll be sitting on a high-back seat with an inflatable lumbar support. A lumbar support will help people with lower back problems and reduce the amount of pressure put on it. On the backside of the seat you’ll find two simple rod holders.

At the front of the Straitedge, you’ll find the patented aluminum accessory frame. This is a truly unique feature which no other inflatable kayak has. With it, you’ll be able to mount all kinds of fishing accessories, fish finders, rod holders and loads more. It can even be used to mount smaller action cameras like the GoPro.

If anything were to fail on this kayak, like a leaky seam or a mysterious puncture, you got your back covered by the one year warranty. Advanced Elements are quick to respond and if anything is broken you will most likely get a replacement.

Features

• Has built-in aluminum frame in the bow and stern which makes for superior tracking and steering
• Plenty of space for accessories and rods
• A high-back seat with an inflatable lower back support
• Covered by a one-year warranty if anything were to fail
• Heavy duty and rugged hull that can withstand all kinds of abuse

Specifications

• Dimensions: 116 inches (9.5 ft) in length, 34 inches (2.9 ft) in width
• Weight: 41 pounds
• Carrying Capacity: 300 pounds
• Material: Multi-layer heavy duty PVC

Our Review

Every inflatable kayak we’ve tested from Advanced  Elements have impressed us in some way, and this one is no different. The Straitedge is an open kayak, meaning the deck is not enclosed. It’s more or less the same design as a canoe, but it behaves more like a kayak.

Built-in frame provides excellent tracking and maneuverability

Like all Advanced Elements kayaks with the built in aluminum frame, this one tracks very well and it’s also very stable. Thanks to the wide beam going down the middle there was no problem moving around, the kayak was stable and never were we worried we would tip over. We even gave it a test run with our dag in the back, he moved around a lot trying to find a comfortable position, same experience here, as stable as ever. When my wife gave it a test spin, she managed to catch a pike and right then we saw the true stability of the yak. If it hadn’t been so stable, my wife would have probably been in the water.

The inflatable lumbar supports makes longer days much more enjoyable

We have healthy backs so we never bother to use lumbar supports, but we figured we could give it a try since so many people have said good things about it. We cannot justifiably compare to other lumbar supports but from our tests it felt really comfortable. We decided to keep it on the whole day and had no problems what so ever, it wasn’t too hard or too uncomfortable, it was just perfect.

Drying the Straitedge is a pain, takes a lot of time

But as with all inflatables, there are drawbacks. The biggest drawback with the Straitedge is the amount of time it takes to dry. And boy, does it take a while. There are loads of small creases and folds the water can get into, the main floor chamber is one of those places. Even when we checked days later we still managed to find some water that hidden underneath the floor chamber. To dry it completely we suggest putting out on a big flat surface in the sun, shaking and turning it around every 10 minutes or so.

The accessory bar is neat, allows you to mount several different fishing accessories

The accessory bar is another feature we like a lot, even though it could been tweaked a little more. First of all, it feels like they’ve put it too far in the front. This made it hard for us to reach any accessories we had. We tried fixing this by putting on the accessory bar backwards, but no success there either., it’s shaped to be installed in one direction only. Other than that, the bar is really useful, we do not have any fancy fishing equipment, so we mounted 2 rod holders and a GoPro on it. It felt really sturdy even with heavier accessories installed.

Can take a beating without getting punctured or deflated

This thing is durable. We were told it’s possible to use the Straitedge for white water kayaking. We spent a day out on a class 3 river, we had a blast, even though we’re no pros. The kayak got slammed and scraped against multiple rocks, by the end of the day it had a lot of scratch marks but nothing had been punctured. Oh, the scratch marks disappeared with some soap water and rubbing.

Can hold up to two people without problems (it may get a little cramped)

This is a one person kayak only, but we like to push the limits and see how far we can take our testing. Turns out it will hold my wife and I just fine, I’m not gonna lie, it was a little cramped but it handled well and there was no sign of instability. While two full grown adults might not be the best idea, bringing your kid or dog along will work just fine.

Super portable, folds up into a very thin luggage styled bag

We almost forgot to mention, but another very impressive feature about the Angler is just how small it can get when folded. It’s comparable to a normal luggage bag in terms of size but the width is the best part, it’s only 10 inches wide when folded into the carrying bag. You could store it in a Smart cars trunk if you wanted to. Remember that it’s 9.5 feet when inflated, that makes the foldable size just so much more impressive.

Pros

• Tracks straight and is easy maneuver
• Durable, scraping and smashing against rocks will scratch the hull but not puncture it
• Plenty of space for fishing accessories thanks to the mounting bar
• Very stable
• Highly portable, folds into one of the smallest bags we’ve seen

Cons

• Mounting bar is hard to reach when sitting down
• Drying takes a long time

Conclusion:

If you’re a fisherman and want to purchase an inflatable kayak that is portable, versatile and suitable for fishing, the Straitedge Angler is just what you want. While it’s designed specifically for fishing, it can be enjoyed as a recreational kayak, you could even take into it class 3 rapids if you so wanted. It’s perfect for the type of fisherman that doesn’t like to fish in one spot all year long but rather like to challenge himself by trying new environments and such. You’re getting a lot of value for your money.