I rent out Hobies, both solid hull and inflatable, and these inflatable hulls have a 3-4 year shelf life, here in Florida the salt watr eats everything, and once the adhesive wears out, they pop.
I have been researching inflatable SUP boards for the last two days and this is the single most useful piece of media I have seen in that time! The 11 seemed the obvious winner before watching this, but you have provided insights that have convinced me on the 9, improving my experience AND saving me a bit of money! Thank you!
Don’t know how many videos I’ve watched in the last year, but none more wholesome than this. Hobie should give you commission on the one I know decided to buy.
Same here, after some deep research this is the best and most detailed comparison between the iTrek 9 & 11 I could find. I also really appreciate a review specifically from a non-anglers-perspective aka where transportability and every bit of saving weight is key and speaks for the iTrek 9. The only thing I wasn't able to find online so far is someone trying to cary the iTrek 9 in a backpack while riding an ultralight folding bike (like a Brompton) for short distances and then packing it folded up behind the seat. Maybe we are still a year or two away from this capability, but it would be my ultimate bike-pedal-sup portability dream🙂
TV quality video, this video should run on Hobies platform. We were trying to figure out which one to buy 9 ft seems like the right choice as we are in it for fun. The comment on the turbo fins was exactly what I had thought but not one review ever mentioned it, thanks.
Hi Adriel, I really love your video. I have watched it at least a dozen times. Great footage, very clear explanations and an overall entertaining video. Just one additional question because I can't decide between the 9 and the 11. Which boat is more tilt stable? The wide single chamber of the 9 could theoretically be more stable, but the side chambers of the 11 could also provide more stability. Thanks for your work! Best greets from germany
Coming from a sea kayaking and sailing background, the Hobie 11 waterline would make it faster. Also the sponsons or outer bladders I suspect will give it more stability. We put two of us on the Hobie 11 totallying 400#. It's not easily packable as mentioned, but if kept inflated it's easy to throw on roof or even double cartop or truck bed it. The fins or rudder do not like weeds. Made a sail out of two large broomsticks like a baidarka sail and put a RTIC dry pouch on front of seat for phone, sunscreen and small binos. The drink holder is the cat's meow...morning Joe or evening G&T. Next summa will fly a kite from it.
Great review and video. Loved it. Thanks for making it. I was leaning towards the 11 and now knowing it is really only one foot difference, I'll go with the 9. Thanks again.
Phenomenal production quality and story-line. Keep up the excellent creative efforts and your subscriber base will explode. Thanks for the review as well. Been wondering how these handled going upriver.
Thank you so much for the wonderful comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the review! On flat water these are great boats going upriver, working through some wind chop can get a bit splashy. The Mirage Drive GT units are very efficient, and really power this boat well - I can pedal all day!
What an interesting video! You all captured so much beauty and fun in a memorable day together. Thank you for your thoughtful, applicable comments as I have been trying to decide between these two myself. Your video reminded me of a Rick Steaves program and that’s a good thing. I’ve watched many reviews of these boats but yours helped me make my decision! 😊😊😊
@@AdrielHenderson I have the flextailgear. max pump pro 2. rechargeable. fits in the palm of your hand. I can inflate my i14t and seyvelor Hudson off one charge with power left for deflating.. as the other guy said you can install other things while waiting but it's fast. on mine I have to quickly change over to the hand pump.
I noticed that in your video at 6:30 a wheel kit shows up on the back of your daughter's iTrek 9. Is it a Hobie accessory? Can you describe how it is installed and used on the iTrek 9? Is it necessary, considering how light the iTrek 9 is to carry? You obviously chose to purchase and use it; I'd just like to understand why in your particular circumstances. Thanks for a GREAT, informative video!
Oh yes, we picked up Hobie's 'standard plug-in kayak cart' wheel kit which makes it a breeze to tote these boats around even when loaded with all the extras needed for most outings. Eliminates multiple trips down to the water - in one go take the boat, drive, water, snacks, jackets, and whatever other gear can fit on the deck down to the river. The cart fits into ready-made slots below the drive opening and tucks nicely under the bungees when on the water.
Nice review and great vid. I have an Outback and love it but looking at a more simplified yak. Thinking of the Itrek and the Lynx. Have you tried the Lynx to compare?
Thank you, Ken. I haven’t personally tried the Lynx, but they share much of the same DNA. In fact the rudders for our iTrek 9’s have an inventory sticker showing it is compatible with the ‘Lynx/iTrek 9’. I believe the same for the seat. The iTrek 9 seems to be the inflatable cousin of the Lynx. Both boats would be fantastic as a simple-to-use kayak.
wow, what a thorough review! I'm a fly fisherman and prefer to stand while casting. Supposedly, you can easily stand on both the 9 and 11. By chance did you guys do a "stand test"?
Thank you so much for the kind comment! Yes, I have stood on these a few times and they are very stable. With the rudder in place they also work fine to paddle while standing, but as a bare SUP they just spin in circles as there is no skeg. (A good opportunity for someone to market a skeg that drops into the rudder slot for SUP mode!)
Hello, I'm 6'3" tall and thinking of buying one of these boats especially the 9. Do you think that I'd have trouble using the pedal drive being so tall? Great video by the way.
I have a very tall friend and the pedals have adjusted just fine for him. I'm 6 foot myself with long legs, and even I don't use the longest pedal setting. Also, unlike a bicycle, the 'stride length' can be as short or as long as you like, small kicks or long kicks, which makes these pedal systems very comfortable for all sizes and shapes!
My wife and I have the 9 & 11 respectively. Or at least we HAD. I'd suggest not taking these down a river with rapids. She lost hers in a CAT 2 rapid on the Sandy river and nearly drowned. Flat and easy rivers they are great.
Oh no, that sounds like a harrowing experience! With the high center of gravity, and little protection passenger protection, these are certainly best for flat water.
Really still struggling between the 11 and the 9. just can’t decide if I maybe will need the slightly more space for my backpack when I want to stay somewhere over the night. But I don’t see really the point as it doesn’t seem to have really that much more room to store it anyways. You think I might get a 40 liters backpack on the boat together with a crate better on the 11 or not really that much difference at all ?!
Do you have a local Hobie dealer where you could try packing your bag and a crate on the boat? I would think a 40 liter backpack, stuffed inside a dry bag, would fit horizontally very nicely on the floor between the back of the seat and the crate with either boat. The 11 didn't impress me much in the way of having additional usable cargo capacity.
@@AdrielHenderson yeah I thought so too. Only thing might be the one chamber „issue“ and maybe if you ever stand up fishing which I usually won’t do the better stability. With the 9 I saw even on a slim girl the board was giving in and making a slight U shape where she stood at. Don’t know if this is much better on the 11 but I guess I wouldn’t stand up much anyways so should be quite pointless. Yeah should really go to our dealer here it’s 70 kilometers away and just try them both out. Not that far away. There are almost no dealers for hobie here in Europe and in my case Germany. So very glad about your great Video comparison! :) thanks for that!
I haven't have any issues with the high pressure chamber, it works like any other SUP. Since shooting the review I have stood up multiple times and had a very pleasant paddle and don't feel the boat is bending under me (I weigh in at just above 200lbs). Personally I would give a nod to the iTrek 9 being a more stable boat - the high pressure chamber is full width which gives both more footing and more side to side stability. The 11 won't add any more rigidity, in fact less so as the side chambers are not high pressure and the rigidity comes only from the high pressure chamber which is significantly narrower on the 11. That said, a pound lower pressure would make a big difference - maybe that's where some are having issues?
It is a big "investment", I would definitely suggest getting hands-on if at all possible and getting that purchase confidence up as much as you can. I know the struggle, I was in the same place and thus the reason for this video!
Yes, I would think so. It would be difficult to sink a hook into the shell of the kayak, the 'skin' is hardy. There are a few RUclipsrs who have reviewed these boats specifically from the perspective of flatware fishing.
I rent out Hobies, both solid hull and inflatable, and these inflatable hulls have a 3-4 year shelf life, here in Florida the salt watr eats everything, and once the adhesive wears out, they pop.
I have been researching inflatable SUP boards for the last two days and this is the single most useful piece of media I have seen in that time! The 11 seemed the obvious winner before watching this, but you have provided insights that have convinced me on the 9, improving my experience AND saving me a bit of money!
Thank you!
Don’t know how many videos I’ve watched in the last year, but none more wholesome than this. Hobie should give you commission on the one I know decided to buy.
Same here, after some deep research this is the best and most detailed comparison between the iTrek 9 & 11 I could find. I also really appreciate a review specifically from a non-anglers-perspective aka where transportability and every bit of saving weight is key and speaks for the iTrek 9.
The only thing I wasn't able to find online so far is someone trying to cary the iTrek 9 in a backpack while riding an ultralight folding bike (like a Brompton) for short distances and then packing it folded up behind the seat.
Maybe we are still a year or two away from this capability, but it would be my ultimate bike-pedal-sup portability dream🙂
TV quality video, this video should run on Hobies platform. We were trying to figure out which one to buy 9 ft seems like the right choice as we are in it for fun. The comment on the turbo fins was exactly what I had thought but not one review ever mentioned it, thanks.
Absolutely stellar review here! Exactly what I needed to know. Thank you so much. I appreciated the great time you and your daughter had as well.
Hi Adriel, I really love your video. I have watched it at least a dozen times. Great footage, very clear explanations and an overall entertaining video. Just one additional question because I can't decide between the 9 and the 11. Which boat is more tilt stable? The wide single chamber of the 9 could theoretically be more stable, but the side chambers of the 11 could also provide more stability. Thanks for your work! Best greets from germany
I have the I-trek 9 and I love it ..I even used it during a bass tournament!
Then we have something in common! (Though I haven't fished from mine)
This was an amazing video Adriel! Amazing camera work and editing, and super helpful for us thinking about these kayaks!
Thank you so much, Justin!
Coming from a sea kayaking and sailing background, the Hobie 11 waterline would make it faster. Also the sponsons or outer bladders I suspect will give it more stability. We put two of us on the Hobie 11 totallying 400#. It's not easily packable as mentioned, but if kept inflated it's easy to throw on roof or even double cartop or truck bed it. The fins or rudder do not like weeds. Made a sail out of two large broomsticks like a baidarka sail and put a RTIC dry pouch on front of seat for phone, sunscreen and small binos. The drink holder is the cat's meow...morning Joe or evening G&T. Next summa will fly a kite from it.
Fantastic review!!
Great review and video. Loved it. Thanks for making it. I was leaning towards the 11 and now knowing it is really only one foot difference, I'll go with the 9. Thanks again.
It'd be cool to see a comparable video between the iTrex 11 and the Lynx 11.
Great video and nice in-depth comparison! Do you think either of them could carry occasionally carry a light passenger?
Phenomenal production quality and story-line. Keep up the excellent creative efforts and your subscriber base will explode. Thanks for the review as well. Been wondering how these handled going upriver.
Thank you so much for the wonderful comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the review! On flat water these are great boats going upriver, working through some wind chop can get a bit splashy. The Mirage Drive GT units are very efficient, and really power this boat well - I can pedal all day!
What an interesting video! You all captured so much beauty and fun in a memorable day together. Thank you for your thoughtful, applicable comments as I have been trying to decide between these two myself. Your video reminded me of a Rick Steaves program and that’s a good thing. I’ve watched many reviews of these boats but yours helped me make my decision! 😊😊😊
That is so kind, thank you, Janna. Glad you made a decision and I hope you love the iTrek. We have continued to delight in ours!
I find by using the 12 volt inflater I can install the seat and rudder thus saving more time when heading out on the water.
That is a great point! I think I will be adding one to my Christmas wish list.
@@AdrielHenderson I have the flextailgear. max pump pro 2. rechargeable. fits in the palm of your hand. I can inflate my i14t and seyvelor Hudson off one charge with power left for deflating.. as the other guy said you can install other things while waiting but it's fast. on mine I have to quickly change over to the hand pump.
super video-work,Adriel~
Many thanks!
I noticed that in your video at 6:30 a wheel kit shows up on the back of your daughter's iTrek 9. Is it a Hobie accessory? Can you describe how it is installed and used on the iTrek 9? Is it necessary, considering how light the iTrek 9 is to carry? You obviously chose to purchase and use it; I'd just like to understand why in your particular circumstances. Thanks for a GREAT, informative video!
Oh yes, we picked up Hobie's 'standard plug-in kayak cart' wheel kit which makes it a breeze to tote these boats around even when loaded with all the extras needed for most outings. Eliminates multiple trips down to the water - in one go take the boat, drive, water, snacks, jackets, and whatever other gear can fit on the deck down to the river. The cart fits into ready-made slots below the drive opening and tucks nicely under the bungees when on the water.
Fantastic video!
Great video Adriel!
Thank you, Paresh. Glad you liked it!
Nice video production
Nice job on the review and video!!
Thank you, Joe. I appreciate you taking the time to comment!
Great review
Nice review and great vid. I have an Outback and love it but looking at a more simplified yak. Thinking of the Itrek and the Lynx.
Have you tried the Lynx to compare?
Thank you, Ken. I haven’t personally tried the Lynx, but they share much of the same DNA. In fact the rudders for our iTrek 9’s have an inventory sticker showing it is compatible with the ‘Lynx/iTrek 9’. I believe the same for the seat. The iTrek 9 seems to be the inflatable cousin of the Lynx. Both boats would be fantastic as a simple-to-use kayak.
wow, what a thorough review! I'm a fly fisherman and prefer to stand while casting. Supposedly, you can easily stand on both the 9 and 11. By chance did you guys do a "stand test"?
Thank you so much for the kind comment! Yes, I have stood on these a few times and they are very stable. With the rudder in place they also work fine to paddle while standing, but as a bare SUP they just spin in circles as there is no skeg. (A good opportunity for someone to market a skeg that drops into the rudder slot for SUP mode!)
Sold!
Great Review!!!
Thank you!
It can fit for fishing too😊😊😊😊 what’s the MSRP?
Indeed, quite a few folks are buying these for flat-water fishing. Head to Hobie's website to lookup MSRP.
Hello, I'm 6'3" tall and thinking of buying one of these boats especially the 9. Do you think that I'd have trouble using the pedal drive being so tall? Great video by the way.
I have a very tall friend and the pedals have adjusted just fine for him. I'm 6 foot myself with long legs, and even I don't use the longest pedal setting. Also, unlike a bicycle, the 'stride length' can be as short or as long as you like, small kicks or long kicks, which makes these pedal systems very comfortable for all sizes and shapes!
My wife and I have the 9 & 11 respectively. Or at least we HAD. I'd suggest not taking these down a river with rapids. She lost hers in a CAT 2 rapid on the Sandy river and nearly drowned. Flat and easy rivers they are great.
Oh no, that sounds like a harrowing experience! With the high center of gravity, and little protection passenger protection, these are certainly best for flat water.
Really still struggling between the 11 and the 9. just can’t decide if I maybe will need the slightly more space for my backpack when I want to stay somewhere over the night. But I don’t see really the point as it doesn’t seem to have really that much more room to store it anyways.
You think I might get a 40 liters backpack on the boat together with a crate better on the 11 or not really that much difference at all ?!
Do you have a local Hobie dealer where you could try packing your bag and a crate on the boat? I would think a 40 liter backpack, stuffed inside a dry bag, would fit horizontally very nicely on the floor between the back of the seat and the crate with either boat. The 11 didn't impress me much in the way of having additional usable cargo capacity.
@@AdrielHenderson yeah I thought so too. Only thing might be the one chamber „issue“ and maybe if you ever stand up fishing which I usually won’t do the better stability. With the 9 I saw even on a slim girl the board was giving in and making a slight U shape where she stood at. Don’t know if this is much better on the 11 but I guess I wouldn’t stand up much anyways so should be quite pointless.
Yeah should really go to our dealer here it’s 70 kilometers away and just try them both out. Not that far away. There are almost no dealers for hobie here in Europe and in my case Germany. So very glad about your great Video comparison! :) thanks for that!
I haven't have any issues with the high pressure chamber, it works like any other SUP. Since shooting the review I have stood up multiple times and had a very pleasant paddle and don't feel the boat is bending under me (I weigh in at just above 200lbs). Personally I would give a nod to the iTrek 9 being a more stable boat - the high pressure chamber is full width which gives both more footing and more side to side stability. The 11 won't add any more rigidity, in fact less so as the side chambers are not high pressure and the rigidity comes only from the high pressure chamber which is significantly narrower on the 11. That said, a pound lower pressure would make a big difference - maybe that's where some are having issues?
It is a big "investment", I would definitely suggest getting hands-on if at all possible and getting that purchase confidence up as much as you can. I know the struggle, I was in the same place and thus the reason for this video!
@@AdrielHenderson thanks a lot I will definitely do that :) and thanks again for your help :)
Durable and tough enough for fishing?
Yes, I would think so. It would be difficult to sink a hook into the shell of the kayak, the 'skin' is hardy. There are a few RUclipsrs who have reviewed these boats specifically from the perspective of flatware fishing.
Awesome video!
Thanks!