I was just about to pull the trigger on an air expedition II until I stumbled on this video. A few phone calls later and I have a soar 12 on order. Can’t wait to hit the rivers in northwest Montana on this thing. Thanks for the great video!

I get so tired of being asked "what kind of boat is that?" and being looked at like I'm going to die. People act like I just started boating yesterday when I run it in whitewater. It's annoying. I've been running rivers since I was 12 and over the two years I've had this boat, I've found it handles whitewater really well!

I'm sure this is a great video but the music is annoying. To many highs in the music, ruin it for me!

"Cat", here! Hummmmm! In the outback wilderness in plastic inflatable whatever those things are with dogs what have a lot of sharp nails! I'm sorry, People! But, ain't very damn smart! Just more wilderness mishap statistics looking for place to happen! Deleted, blocked, unsubscrbed, forgotten! Idiot people?

Love it! Great video and a well told story!

What was your launch date

That's a really well made video..Thanks..I got the 16 foot version this summer...good boats.

I wish we could have Soar in the UK…

What is the round black pack you can see behind the seat at 6:33? Is that a cooler?

You should've mentioned in this video that you asked to get a deal on the boat in exchange for a review

awesome video thanks for sharing

This was fun a lot of work put into the editing kept me watching, 21:14 lol "Not now dog!"

This is really cool, I had no idea such a boat existed. I'm wondering though, how do you portage it? Is there some sort of yoke attachment you mount for the portage? Thats one problem I have with my big inflatable kayak. While the weight is fine, its just super awkward to portage because you can balance it on your shoulders. You almost have to have the thing balanced on your head which is awful for visibility because it means your head is "in" the boat. I'd also add, how does it handle against the current or into a heavy headwind on flatwater? That's the main reason I tend to leave my inflatable at home and bring a hard body canoe instead. The inflatable (even with a skeg) is great with current at your back or when going across still water but the second you are pushing into a strong breeze or trying to go against a light current the thing is infuriating because all it wants to do is spin around.

Any reason you don’t go with filters instead of bringing water?

Nice video. Hoping to do this year. This has a good amount of great info. I suspect easier as far as hanging up on rocks at 800-1000 cfs?

What is trailing behind the boats?

SOAR makes the best inflatable canoe/kayak/raft hands down. I know the SOARs are considered canoes, but I included kayaks and rafts simply because SOAR is better than any inflatable, period, hands down, end of sentence. Over the past 20 years I have owned 16 (yes, sixteen) SOAR canoes, both 14’ and 16’ models. Since 2002 I have outfitted and guided 39 week long river expeditions on the San Juan (goosenecks) in southern Utah, Desolation & Gray Canyons on the Green River in central Utah, and the Payette river in central Idaho. I am not a professional river guide, just a river rat who enjoys sharing the river multi-day experience with friends, family, youth groups, and Scouts. My largest group to date has been 24 people on the Payette this past summer of 2021. I have developed a catamaran bar system which allows me to put 2 SOAR canoes together using hammerhead 2” diameter PVC pipe and NRS 2’ straps, and the result is a 7’ wide x 16‘ long catamaran canoe that will hold up to 2,000 lbs., and is more stable than any whitewater raft on the market. I have canoed through class IV rapids that regularly flip rafts, and I have yet to be flipped in a 16’ catamaran SOAR. The center of gravity of the SOAR is much lower to the water than a whitewater raft. Lower center of gravity = greater stability. The lashing grommets on the SOAR are the best system out there for securing gear in a boat. I don’t understand why other inflatable manufacturers do not provide similar gear lashing system. If there was something out there better than a SOAR I would buy it. But there is nothing out there better than SOAR for river running. Some people say the SOARs are too expensive. I say you get what you pay for. If you want quality, durability, convenience, performance, you need to be willing to pay for it. With proper care and maintenance, a SOAR will give you 20 years of the best fun of your life. Glen Berry Eagle, Idaho

Great video thanks for sharing

That’s funny. We had alumacrafts that were like 76lbs.

Ohhhh I fuckin like it buddy.

Getting to be that time of year... you thinking about hitting deep creek this spring? Let me know if you wanna put together a trip.

What is material of SOAR? Its rubber or pcv? And what is pressure in chamber?

I own a Soar 14. I've had it for ... 7 or 8 years. I've used it in Virginia, Maryland, Florida (Indian River), and Idaho waters (St Joe and South Fork of Snake). I moved to Tennessee recently. Gonna have to take it out here too. BTW, you can use them standing up with a 10' 6" kayak paddle too. Pros: Easy storage; good in whitewater, versatile; great weight capacity; durable. Cons: Heavy, are tough to paddle in winds. Still, it maybe the most versatile boat on the market. You can even rig a motor on it.

Ben, great video. This run has been on my list for several years and I will plan to do it in 2021. Did you do any fishing or see Salmon or Steelhead? What was the name of the last big rapid in the video?

This is our kind of traveling. K&J

Well, that was lovely. Great music! Looks like a cool trip. Did you set shuttles yourself or was there a service that would run cars?

Great video. Thank you. I’m in Boise and a hard shell kayaker. Been looking at one of these. Would love to meet up sometime and check it out. I’m on the fence about which size. I’m also always down to join on some overnight trips. Email me Gwar17 at MSN dot com. Cheers

Great job showing the versatility, I have had my S-14 for 12 years it’s still like new and she has been all over the state of Florida from springs to being dragged on lava coral in the keys. They are special boats and always have a place in my life.

Great gear, I was a kayak-er back in Europe.

It's the Middle Fork of the John Day, there is no east fork of the John Day, it's North, Middle, Main stem and South.

Thanks for posting. I own 4 hard shell canoes that I have used for some extensive Alaska back country tripping. I am considering picking up an inflatable to extend my options for remote tripping that requires fly in drop offs.

Thanks for the review! Looking at the Pro Pioneer!

Loved the video!

I just picked up a SOAR Canyon, haven't gotten it out yet, but looking forward to it.

Love my Canyon had it for three years and gets used more than my Kayaks also just bought a Buffalo Canoe got to say it is nice sometimes not having to inflate

SOAR owner for 20 years here. I've run some bigger class IV with it unloaded and it handles it like a dream. Love this boat.

what brand kayaks are those?

Looks like a great trip,I’m envious

Ken Burns eat your heart out!!!

Nice video So many questions; Where did you put in at, Wiseman crossing? How did you get landowner permission? I assume you took out at Rickert crossing. What time of year? What was the water flow?

Nice, I have done that exact same float, except about 35 years ago.

Great job Ben!!!

Nice night photography! Thanks for noting the cfs.

What if I.....Just love the fact you went on a water adventure....and I was even more AMAZED, that your less experienced (girlfriend?) (WIFE?) didn't,complain,cry,bitch,piss,moan..........not once.......WOW....IF YOU DON'T MARRY HER I WILL

best video i have seen !!!! love the personality of you 4 except for kingsley. I have a cocker spaniel and i don't allow her to behave like that. like all cockers she is lazy and doesn't like the water but i take her with me because she cant be separated LOL. anyway i loved the trip, your set up and how you guys did it. i have a regular kayak but i am thinking about buying an inflatable one. i did a lot of research last night and the ones i read most people reported they deflated rather quickly and were a pain. what do you have and how was your experience. i am looking for something that will hold me and my girl, lucky (the dog) make sure you talk about your gear and cover a little more of the area you are in. i would like to duplicate your trip because it seems safe and secure and FUN and NO PEOPLE OR NOISY BOATS!. THANK YOU BOTH for posting. :)

Nice videos. I really enjoyed both river trips. Are you thinking of floating the Weiser again this spring/early summer? Currently flow is at 3200 and will be coming down into the 1500 to 2500 range soon. I would like to join you if you do. Nice to go down with someone who has done it.

Ben, are you thinking of floating the Weiser again this spring/early summer? Currently flow is at 3200 but will be coming down into the 1500 to 2500 range soon. I would like to join you if you do. Nice to go down with someone who has done it.

The world needs more of your videos

Fun!

Couple clarifications you might be interested in: "first to float at 350-400CFS" nope, not all that has been done is on the internet. On another note, Chinook (spring Chinook in the John Day), migrate into the river in spring to early summer, but spawn (i.e. breading season referred to in the video) from August through September up river from where you were floating. Also, June 2016 was quite low, but did not experience record low flows. Record low daily mean flows are in the 250 to 175 cfs for June based on the USGS Monument gage. Mid June was generally over 400 cfs in 2016. Also you refer to the East Fork John Day. There is no East Fork, that tributary on your left was the Middle Fork John Day. nice vid though, thanks for posting. J