Anything to Get Us on the Water with out Fuel, Just the Energy We have left in us. Great Video. From a Hobie Peddler, Our Legs will always be Stronger then our shoulders
I pick mine up tomorrow! I'm solely a rec user who will peddle around the bay here in San Diego. Im beyond excited! Thanks for the review, it really helped with my decision.
Welcome more Hobie reviews, like the 3 larger iTreks coming out next year or even their rigid Lynx pedalboard. Esp the larger sizes should benefit from the longer "turbo" fin option for even more power. Yeah, reverse mode is an available option but not needed.
I'm hoping to review it. I reached out to Hobie and they said they might send a review kayak... Feel free to send their customer service a quick email telling them they should! It makes a big difference when they hear it from paddlers/pedalers.
Pedals are great for fishing. I think they might also be good to get people who think it looks easier out onto the water. I think with a little coaching, paddling is just better than pedaling. This gave me an idea. Could you do a video on how to find classes on becoming a better paddler? Is there a certifying organization? I know I could improve my form, and I’d actually like to learn to coach. Most outfitters give people such basic instruction I think many people get frustrations or even minor skin and muscle sores from bad paddling form.
Yes, I go with you. Short term paddling is way different to long term paddling like 30-50 km per day multiplies by 2-5 days and more. Perhaps Ken have tips what to avoid to challenging ourselves for better balance between day paddling distance to energy and joy afford.
You're not giving the drive enough credit. Pedaling will always be easier in the right kayak. While pedaling, not only for fishing but you could be moving and taking pictures, eating, or just looking around. The effort is like a bicycle on a flat road. Be as leisure or aggressive as you want. I got caught in a bit of a wind storm and I pedaled and peddled at the same time. It was awesome.
@@kenp4464 Perhaps. I haven’t tried the latest and greatest. However, you are bound to lose energy through friction. Now, there might be a scenario where wind makes a difference, but most pedal power boats put the occupant up high, and that’s going to make a difference as well.
Hobie makes an MD180 that lets you reverse but is more expensive and is not included with this model although I think the cassette/cartridge receptacle is the same and an MD180 would work. I’ve seen another review where they popped the forward-only MD out and put it back in backwards and adjusted the pedals and were able to reverse. But do you really need reverse with the stability, existing maneuverability, and light weight? Sincere question. Thinking about getting one of these.
My guess is that when ordering, you can upgrade to the 180 and only pay the difference. Their other Mirage based boats usually have three levels to choose from. If I were going to fish from one in a current, it would definitely be worth the upgrade cost. Otherwise, every time you needed one, you'd be kicking yourself for not spending 200 more bucks on a $2200 boat to make it do what you actually want.
Honestly, I don't think there's any need for this boat to reverse. It's so maneuverable already... I would recommend bringing a paddle though. Not only does it come in handy the odd time you 'need' reverse, but it's an insurance policy if something happens to your pedal drive. The boat has paddle clips, and so it's convenient to bring one.
@@PaddleTV I agree that a paddle should always be there. However, having a reverse can help hold a fishing spot while you have a fishing rod in your hand.
I would argue you do need the reverse option. My 2019 i11s came with the 180 drive. If you're bass fishing around structure, trees, sharp rocks, etc. you definitely need it. Also when the wind picks up and you're fighting a fish, reverse has saved my butt a ton of times.
Noted! What I can tell you is that a paddle only really makes sense for turning the boat. It's too wide and you sit too high to make it an efficient boat to paddle any distance.
Hey Ken! Would love to see your take on the pakayak bluefin! On paper it seems like the perfect middle ground between the Oru boats and Trak kayak but would love to see if it holds up to it's marketing materials.
Hi Daniel, I'm excited to say that I heard from Pakayak last week, and they'll be sending me a review kayak at some point in the near future! Stay tuned.
It is interesting. A little tough if narrow waterways passing under low branches is your thing. Love the shallow draft. Which goes faster, this paddle board or the Sea Eagle 393RL?
Wow! I can only imagine, that you Ken, really drift that kayak-o-sup😉 drifting on water😁 what a steering piece of ... that thing Hobie. Cool!! My thumb is up before watching episode. 🧡
The word kayak has been stretched to include a huge variety of craft. I often feel like another word is needed, but probably easier to just go through the extra follow up questions when you hear someone talking about kayaking.
I really doubt it. You would have to be the most minimalistic fisherman, such a thing doesn't exist. It's bare-bones and you can't even rig it up. It's going to be a hard sale for any type of fisherman. Maybe some recreational users would really like this. But not if they're selling it as a fishing platform
The Mirage drive alone is about $400. The rudder assembly another $200 and the seat retails for about $200. Hobie's never tend to be at the bottom of the pack in pricing.
Definitely a niche boat... but there are a surprising number of people out there that want or need a pedal driven kayak, and there's a lot of recreational paddlers that need a portable kayak. I wonder how many they've sold...
very informative video. im considering either this model or the itrek11. is it possible to stow the transport bag on the kayak to go as I travel on public transport and everything has to be taken with me. I never do a return trip. I have the i14t which is great. bag rolls up to store on the kayak. only downside with that model is that its too heavy to take on the trains etc myself. on the water a child could handle it.
Not really. It's very much a flatwater kayak. It would work in the ocean on perfectly calm days, but then again, the weather can change so quick on the ocean... and so, no. Sheltered water.
I hear you... I paddled the new JK Knarr and Perception Showdown lately. Nice boats, but man they're heavy... How about a full carbon Pro Angler 360? :)
I still have a i11s hobie inflatable with 3 chambers and seems your hobie has only one chamber that I am worry to get this model. 3 chambers if one or two leaks you still have a chance to get back to shore but one chamber make me worry. How do you feel?
The minute you stop peddling is when you stop moving. Unlike the agility you get from sea kayaks that cut through the water. This isn't that and don't expect to have too much with these.
The two really aren't for the same use at all other than they both float. The Hobie maneuvers better, pedals, has a big seat, wide, stable, doesn't really require training....the length alone doesn't make it a sprinter. I wouldn't use the Hobie in waves or distance, then again, I wouldn't choose a sea kayak for ponds or protected waters.
I tried the Hobie Mirage kayak and found the pedal drive quickly wiped me out. I haven't found the same riding a bike or paddling a kayak. It's not for me. I will say, I have seen someone cut through a fairly strong current using the pedal drive. I would have had trouble paddling through that in my large bulky inflatable kayak, except I had a motor on mine.
I have an inflatable kayak from Boats to Go that has bicycle style pedals with a prop. It costs half as much as the Hobie, but I would be happy to pay extra if Hobie didn't have that pumping pedal drive. It's just not natural.
@@llebanoff8545 I know, I go back and forth, but the pedal drive on my Saturn is really efficient and I can go against pretty strong currents with a little effort. I really like the Bote Lono, but it's drive doesn't swing up if you hit an obstruction, and the rivers in South Carolina are full of dead trees. My current kayak is only two years old so I will keep an eye on the market and maybe something really compelling will show up in the next two or three years when this one is ready to retire, maybe even the next model from Hobie. Thanks for the response.
You should show the peddle system how it comes out and more in depth and let people make there own opinion. Can you take it down a river etc. Not worth the money really. Probably be a bugger to clean.
Noted for next time. I wouldn't agree that it's not worth the money if a pedal boat is what you really want or need, because the iTrek 9 is very comparably priced to other pedal boats.
I have to say that I disagree with you on this one. I've been impressed with every Hobie that I've tried. I agree that they're not cheap, but you get what you pay for!
Anything to Get Us on the Water with out Fuel, Just the Energy We have left in us. Great Video. From a Hobie Peddler, Our Legs will always be Stronger then our shoulders
I pick mine up tomorrow! I'm solely a rec user who will peddle around the bay here in San Diego. Im beyond excited! Thanks for the review, it really helped with my decision.
Happy new kayak day! Hope it's what you were hoping for!
Welcome more Hobie reviews, like the 3 larger iTreks coming out next year or even their rigid Lynx pedalboard. Esp the larger sizes should benefit from the longer "turbo" fin option for even more power. Yeah, reverse mode is an available option but not needed.
I'm really looking forward to trying the Lynx board/boat!
I couldn't imagine my i11s without the reverse function.
Love that turn! Can't remember where I heard the expression - turn on a dime & give you you 9 cents change!
May I ask the electric pump you used in the video that took the itrek to 10 psi?
I’d love for you to review a hobie lynx, it has reverse and is similar weight. My wife and I rented a tandem hobie pedal drive and it was great!
I'm hoping to review it. I reached out to Hobie and they said they might send a review kayak... Feel free to send their customer service a quick email telling them they should! It makes a big difference when they hear it from paddlers/pedalers.
@@PaddleTV I’ll see if I can reach out!
Hobie does make a mirage drive with reverse, just not supplied on that model, my 2021 compass has it
Great to know! Yet another boat I'll have to test! :)
Pedals are great for fishing. I think they might also be good to get people who think it looks easier out onto the water. I think with a little coaching, paddling is just better than pedaling.
This gave me an idea. Could you do a video on how to find classes on becoming a better paddler? Is there a certifying organization? I know I could improve my form, and I’d actually like to learn to coach. Most outfitters give people such basic instruction I think many people get frustrations or even minor skin and muscle sores from bad paddling form.
" Is there a certifying organization?"
ACA in the US. BCU in the UK. Canoe Kayak Canada in Canada.
Yes, I go with you. Short term paddling is way different to long term paddling like 30-50 km per day multiplies by 2-5 days and more. Perhaps Ken have tips what to avoid to challenging ourselves for better balance between day paddling distance to energy and joy afford.
You're not giving the drive enough credit. Pedaling will always be easier in the right kayak. While pedaling, not only for fishing but you could be moving and taking pictures, eating, or just looking around. The effort is like a bicycle on a flat road. Be as leisure or aggressive as you want.
I got caught in a bit of a wind storm and I pedaled and peddled at the same time. It was awesome.
@@kenp4464 Perhaps. I haven’t tried the latest and greatest. However, you are bound to lose energy through friction. Now, there might be a scenario where wind makes a difference, but most pedal power boats put the occupant up high, and that’s going to make a difference as well.
Love your videos. Always informative, always well done, always entertaining.
Thank you!
Hobie makes an MD180 that lets you reverse but is more expensive and is not included with this model although I think the cassette/cartridge receptacle is the same and an MD180 would work.
I’ve seen another review where they popped the forward-only MD out and put it back in backwards and adjusted the pedals and were able to reverse.
But do you really need reverse with the stability, existing maneuverability, and light weight? Sincere question. Thinking about getting one of these.
My guess is that when ordering, you can upgrade to the 180 and only pay the difference. Their other Mirage based boats usually have three levels to choose from. If I were going to fish from one in a current, it would definitely be worth the upgrade cost. Otherwise, every time you needed one, you'd be kicking yourself for not spending 200 more bucks on a $2200 boat to make it do what you actually want.
Honestly, I don't think there's any need for this boat to reverse. It's so maneuverable already... I would recommend bringing a paddle though. Not only does it come in handy the odd time you 'need' reverse, but it's an insurance policy if something happens to your pedal drive. The boat has paddle clips, and so it's convenient to bring one.
@@PaddleTV I agree that a paddle should always be there. However, having a reverse can help hold a fishing spot while you have a fishing rod in your hand.
@@wisenber "¿
I would argue you do need the reverse option. My 2019 i11s came with the 180 drive. If you're bass fishing around structure, trees, sharp rocks, etc. you definitely need it. Also when the wind picks up and you're fighting a fish, reverse has saved my butt a ton of times.
I don't know if you will see this, i know its an old post. Is love to see this compared to the Sea Eagle razorlight
Interesting... those are two very different kayaks! I will definitely keep it in mind. Cheers
Good review, very enjoyable ! I would still like to see it paddle, even if its not a strong point.
Me, too! And I would like to see how you use it as a SUP. Do you remove the chair and pedals?
You don't need to remove the chair, but removing the pedals reduces some of the drag they cause.
Noted! What I can tell you is that a paddle only really makes sense for turning the boat. It's too wide and you sit too high to make it an efficient boat to paddle any distance.
How well did the backpack work? I never see anyone use it in backpack mode, only roller and wondering how well it sits on your back.
Just a couple questions. do the paddles adjust to your height? You didn’t speak about durability?
Thank you
Hey Ken! Would love to see your take on the pakayak bluefin! On paper it seems like the perfect middle ground between the Oru boats and Trak kayak but would love to see if it holds up to it's marketing materials.
Hi Daniel, I'm excited to say that I heard from Pakayak last week, and they'll be sending me a review kayak at some point in the near future! Stay tuned.
Now I really regret the recently purchased AE Airvolution Kayak. This Hobie iTrek9 looks really neat / fun.
It doesn't look like the two are in the same class at all other than both being inflatable.
Both are more expensive than a rotomoulded sit on top.
Well... we can all use more than one kayak, right? :)
It is interesting. A little tough if narrow waterways passing under low branches is your thing. Love the shallow draft. Which goes faster, this paddle board or the Sea Eagle 393RL?
My guess is the 393 is faster, but ITrek9 is more maneuverable.
Not a kayak... it's a Sit Down Pedal Board.
Lol how about we just call it a fancy kayak
So is a sit on top kayak a fancy paddle board that you....SIT on?
Wow! I can only imagine, that you Ken, really drift that kayak-o-sup😉 drifting on water😁 what a steering piece of ... that thing Hobie. Cool!! My thumb is up before watching episode. 🧡
It's my new water go-cart! :)
How long does it take to inflate? How long does total setup take?
It's very quick to inflate and setup. 5 minutes does it, once you're familiar with it.
The word kayak has been stretched to include a huge variety of craft. I often feel like another word is needed, but probably easier to just go through the extra follow up questions when you hear someone talking about kayaking.
I got a name, let's call it a boat.
Can you fit a sun shade on this boat?
What kind of aberration is this? a kayak, a sup board? :D!
Thorough review as always.
9 1/2' length
40" width
250 cm paddle
$2200?
Perhaps it'll find it's niche...
I really doubt it. You would have to be the most minimalistic fisherman, such a thing doesn't exist. It's bare-bones and you can't even rig it up. It's going to be a hard sale for any type of fisherman. Maybe some recreational users would really like this. But not if they're selling it as a fishing platform
@@TheDcrocks1
I can't get past 9 1/2' x 40"
Nope...
The Mirage drive alone is about $400. The rudder assembly another $200 and the seat retails for about $200.
Hobie's never tend to be at the bottom of the pack in pricing.
Definitely a niche boat... but there are a surprising number of people out there that want or need a pedal driven kayak, and there's a lot of recreational paddlers that need a portable kayak. I wonder how many they've sold...
@@TheDcrocks1 My 2019 i11s is a fishing platform for me.
So will it support me ok at 200lbs? I know it says 350 in specs but still want to ride dry. Also what about the H-Box thing on the back? Any good?
No problem supporting you. I'm 195lbs, and was totally fine.
Lo venden en Puerto Rico
very informative video. im considering either this model or the itrek11. is it possible to stow the transport bag on the kayak to go as I travel on public transport and everything has to be taken with me. I never do a return trip. I have the i14t which is great. bag rolls up to store on the kayak. only downside with that model is that its too heavy to take on the trains etc myself. on the water a child could handle it.
Ocean capable?
Not really. It's very much a flatwater kayak. It would work in the ocean on perfectly calm days, but then again, the weather can change so quick on the ocean... and so, no. Sheltered water.
Just need a horizontal rod management system and I'd sell my heavy ass Pro Angler 360.
I hear you... I paddled the new JK Knarr and Perception Showdown lately. Nice boats, but man they're heavy... How about a full carbon Pro Angler 360? :)
I still have a i11s hobie inflatable with 3 chambers and seems your hobie has only one chamber that I am worry to get this model. 3 chambers if one or two leaks you still have a chance to get back to shore but one chamber make me worry. How do you feel?
The minute you stop peddling is when you stop moving. Unlike the agility you get from sea kayaks that cut through the water. This isn't that and don't expect to have too much with these.
The two really aren't for the same use at all other than they both float. The Hobie maneuvers better, pedals, has a big seat, wide, stable, doesn't really require training....the length alone doesn't make it a sprinter.
I wouldn't use the Hobie in waves or distance, then again, I wouldn't choose a sea kayak for ponds or protected waters.
Yup! I very different experience than paddling a sea kayak, that's for sure!
Well I gues price went up .... is about 2.5K now
I tried the Hobie Mirage kayak and found the pedal drive quickly wiped me out. I haven't found the same riding a bike or paddling a kayak. It's not for me.
I will say, I have seen someone cut through a fairly strong current using the pedal drive. I would have had trouble paddling through that in my large bulky inflatable kayak, except I had a motor on mine.
Yup. Pedaling is a different feel altogether. You can get some incredible power from it, but it definitely uses different muscles than a bike.
I would be worried about it getting destroyed. My dog, rocks, tree branches, or seaweed could all mess it up. 😢
You'd be surprised at how durable the boat is! Scary to mess with a $2000 boat though...
I have an inflatable kayak from Boats to Go that has bicycle style pedals with a prop. It costs half as much as the Hobie, but I would be happy to pay extra if Hobie didn't have that pumping pedal drive. It's just not natural.
Wow, you should try the Hobie drive! I am a bike rider and I love the pump action flippers! They r so efficient that I can create a small wake.
@@llebanoff8545 I know, I go back and forth, but the pedal drive on my Saturn is really efficient and I can go against pretty strong currents with a little effort. I really like the Bote Lono, but it's drive doesn't swing up if you hit an obstruction, and the rivers in South Carolina are full of dead trees. My current kayak is only two years old so I will keep an eye on the market and maybe something really compelling will show up in the next two or three years when this one is ready to retire, maybe even the next model from Hobie. Thanks for the response.
You should show the peddle system how it comes out and more in depth and let people make there own opinion. Can you take it down a river etc. Not worth the money really. Probably be a bugger to clean.
Noted for next time. I wouldn't agree that it's not worth the money if a pedal boat is what you really want or need, because the iTrek 9 is very comparably priced to other pedal boats.
My internal Grammar Nazi just has to...
Craft. The plural of craft is craft.
Oh deer.
Ha! Noted.
lol 2500$
Hobbie is 50% water craft and 50% rip off. Their performance is disgraceful. Too bad you can't always test it out before buying.
I have to say that I disagree with you on this one. I've been impressed with every Hobie that I've tried. I agree that they're not cheap, but you get what you pay for!
They are an industry leader so the market says you’re wrong.
Guys, the above poster has to be a troll. I have the Pelican Getaway 110- it's nice, but I sure wish I had that itrek 9!
neat product, but it seems to be really niche. Fun toy for the wealthy.