2023 Hobie Compass Review | Is the seat good?

[@ByronTeaHill]

FAR OUT! This guy just keeps hand chopping the air for 20mins.😂😂 big shout out to James and Ryland for the support behind this video! Give them a shout out!

[@MrAlGault]

Papaya orange is my pick. I like wearing bright flashy wetsuits when I surf as well 😂 probably says a lot about me! I’ve moving into our first house in the new year so will be close to Barwon heads and I’d love to get into the skinny water and tackle some bream. My cheap anaconda kayak is definitely not comfortable or dry after even an hour so if I am lucky enough to win this I’d be elated!

[@chasej556]

I love the camo color! If I won this kayak, I would take it down the road to the pond I grew up at and still live by, at least once a week. I've been dying to get a kayak, I'm on the fence about an ascend 12T so I can finally fish the other side of the pond or save up for a compass. I'm also going to South Dakota this July to see Mount Rushmore and to fish. I would love to have this kayak to take with me. Either way, I plan to have a good time while I'm there. I'll get a Hobie eventually, hopefully sooner than later. If I won, I could use the money I have saved up to get other gear, like a cart, life jacket, a rod holder, stuff like that

[@craig5147]

Compass are fantastic, love them! I’d use it to fish off of Perth WA. Great content on the channel

[@SamDewing]

Another great video! Camo is my favorite colour.

[@ByronTeaHill]

Good choice!

[@Navsh26]

Great review on the new Compass. Papaya Orange would be my colour pick. I like how it's bright and visible so other kayakers and boaters can see where you are. I'd use the kayak to explore areas that cannot be fished land based in rivers and estuaries but I'd like to also take it out to the bay and come out of my comfort zone and kayak in open water. Keep up the great work!

[@aaronwoolnough8591]

The compass is a fantastic kayak. I really like them in the orange. There's a couple of spots along Gippsland I still need to explore, but first trip in a new compass would be to lake tyres 🙂

[@kenoconnor3513]

Love to use one of these in the sea grass green colour in Botany Bay. I’m always taking my mates out fishing in my old Jackson and would love to join the hobie club.

[@bengillespie1978]

Nice cameo from Ryland, I’d love a blue compass for the missus. I bought the outback a while ago from your reviews and loving it. Been testing out the waters around Pittwater and Berowra waters

[@ByronTeaHill]

Blue is underrated imo! tight lines legend

[@westhamcam2769]

Love the impromptu hotel set, working with what you have! I think the Camo is my favourite model, would love to rig up the compass or fishing the Swan River for estuary species and also trout/redfin in our south-west rivers and lakes. Would love to win, my old outback has cracked near the mirage drive and am struggling to keep it watertight.

[@mightykayakgeek4299]

My dream Kayak. Love the Camo as it has the better pedal drive system. Would use it on Lake Macquarie as well as some ocean fishing in NSW. I would definitely get HWS to put in the rectangular hatch and move the circle hatch to the top.

[@alexgrubb7446]

Green or camo look the goods 😎👌 id be hitting the very back ends of the feeder creeks at the calliope river (gladstone qld) for jacks,barra and salmon. Also flattys in the shallow of the wild cattle system.

[@Pablohiri2]

Love the camo. Had a PA And sold it.. big regret. Using these kayaks for camping down kangaroo valley was alway my favourite way to use these so that’s what I would do

[@Andz_88]

Awesome review as always Byron! Open and honest, esp. around the seat that has a bit of side-by-side issue, really informative. I’ve put my eyes on the camo hobie compass, always love the camo coloured kayak. What I feel a bit lacking from compass is the amount of space for the gear track (compare it to PA or Outback) this one is considerably small. I’ve been into kayak fishing mostly in Port Philip Bay and some local estuary systems, so hoping if I can win this Compass, I can get a nice upgrade to the fishing platform, especially for the drier hull aspect, as my current kayak is not that well handling the splashes and overtime it could collect water and annoying.

[@duanesfishn]

Seagrass would be my preferred colour, hopefully those pesky bass boats will see me on the estuaries 😂 Thanks mate 👍

[@ByronTeaHill]

Good luck!

[@joelcrosbie8996]

Yellow (papaya) every day of the week. Maybe I could put the bixby on it to do donuts around other competitors at the start of a Hobie round.... also James is a very good looking rooster!

[@stevebaker8138]

Great review! Question about the square hatch. Do you recommend the vertical or horizontal hatch as a replacement for the round hatch? Thanks

[@Notinserviceij]

Camo colour, if I'm honest I'd use it first for the hobie tournaments, and then second let my girlfriend use it while I fish in my old school PA so we can kayak together ❤️

[@jimm244]

I bought a Compass Camo last summer and went on a 4-day, followed by a 3-day fishing trip where we paddled in with all our gear. Also did a bunch of short stents in local waters. The Kayak was well worth the cost for the memories! I had a great time with the boat and the others on the trip! I agree, It’s not ideal for standing, but overall I did not want the added bulk of the Outback. I also do some leisure cruising for which the compass is much better suited.

[@daro6245]

Love the hull design on the compass, zippy but still stable. Fisherman and Camo color for the win

[@troutnbassinkayakfishin]

Just had to add my two cents about the new Compass seat. I had a 2018 Compass. My experience with that seat was awful. I am 6 ft 3 in. 250 lbs. The first problem with the 2018 seat was the crossbar hitting my tailbone. The bigger problem was the way it attached to the kayak. In just under 3 years of use the straps connecting to the side of the yak... The padeye pulled out of the hull. It cracked the hull! The hull was just a few days from going off warranty. Hobie honored the warranty with a 2022 Compass hull. The new hull required a new seat. I love the new seat. Hobie redesigned the padeyes, and the problem with the crossbar hitting my tailbone is fixed. Much more comfortable than the 2018 seat ever was. My new seat has no side to side movement when installed correctly.

[@xvtch1397]

Camo looks cold. I live in SA so would probably use it in the resis to troll for natives or 50m off the rocks chasing salmon/squid just out of casting distance for landbased fishos.

[@robmather1009]

I like the camoa Hobie compass I think it looks quit shuttle and nice. I live hobart Tasmania and love fishing for Australian salmon and flathead but it can be a bit difficult because I don’t have a boat and I’m only young but a kayak would be perfect for the bay I fish in.

[@jamesrussell9077]

The camo is the colour for me! Fishing east gippsland in particular Wingan inlet would be where I head first!!!

[@simonanderson6335]

I love the blue kayaks and would fish the rivers around Coffs Harbour for flathead, bream & whiting

[@pjmack75]

The tested colour would be perfect for the local lakes here in Canberra. Getting into the smaller south coast lakes and estuaries. Flattie hunter.

[@Hooked.on.Fishing]

camo would be my colour of choice, would use it to fish around wave break and all the rivers around the pin and gold coast canals

[@guihongsun7750]

Camo colour for sure. Match the hatch since i'd fish with it on the Georges river Sydney

[@boris3513]

The camo is preferred for me. My current target zone are flats and mangroves. This would be perfect

[@jackwhite4170]

Cheers for the Video Byron, hope the US is treating you well! Would love a Compass in Camo, I'm from Tumby Bay on the Eyre Peninsula so would be hitting up flatties and KGW down the front and at ski beach.

[@danh4782]

Another great video Byron, good job mate. I’m a sucker for the papaya orange, just pops I reckon. If I was lucky enough to win I would be using the Hobie Compass from HWS out on St George’s Basin on the South Coast chasing bream and Flathead. Cheers 🤙🏼

[@ByronTeaHill]

Cheers Dan!

[@ringboypunk]

Hey dude! Hope you are enjoying yourself over in the US and not working too hard. Great review. I still think overall hobie charge way too much and ill never be in a position to buy one 🤪 but if i did get to buy one it would be the camo seeing as they dont do hot pink hahaha. And i would use it everywhere! Lakes, rivers, estuary, bay, flooded streets... 🤣😂😅 Keep up the top notch content.

[@ByronTeaHill]

hahaha hot pink! legend, hope you're well

[@pasichnyk]

I like the camo color, or the papaya as a close second. I’d use it to take friends/family out fishing for salmon on the Puget Sound around Seattle, WA, USA.

[@ByronTeaHill]

Good choice!

[@kealc002]

I would love to rig out a Papaya Orange compass for offshore fishing and get it out to Glenelg Tyre Reef chasing some King George Whiting. Would also be nice to have it to enter the Bream Fishing tournaments here in Adelaide!

[@ByronTeaHill]

That would be cool! have you competed in SA yet?

[@Bluewater-fever]

Camo colour just to be low profile when I'm on the flats. I'll be using it nsw mid north coast area where the rivers meet the bays where it can get a little choppy and I'll also drift along the mangrove lines skip casting plastics for bream.

[@ByronTeaHill]

Nice!!!

[@bencarter7328]

I love the classic papaya for visibility. Would love a compass for my son to fish with me at Jervis Bay/ Huskisson to chase flatties together

[@ByronTeaHill]

Sounds great!

[@edemup44]

Thank you for this review. I am wanting one so bad. I would use it for bass fishing in VA. There are so many amazing water ways here that require and kayak to get to them. I really apricate your attention to detail in your review.

[@brendonprice6550]

Awesome video again 🤙.. my favourite colour would be camo but I would love to see one in the dune .. I’d fish locally in corio bay .. will you get a hobie in the states?

[@ByronTeaHill]

Good choice!

[@TobysHardEnduro]

I would use the hobie compass around lake tyres chasing black bream and my favourite colour is the camo colour.

[@ByronTeaHill]

Great!

[@noahkc]

Hey Byron, my name is Noah and I am a 16 year old fishing enthusiast. I have been saving up to get a fishing kayak for over 2 years and regularly go surfing on gumtree and facebook marketplace to look at a good deal for a kayak but whenever I try to buy one, someone beats me to the chase. I really love fishing but it is pretty hard because the only form of fishing available to me is land based fishing and everyone knows how troubling it can be at times. Last week me and my mates took some inflatable rafts out to kakarook park to try and fish but we were out of luck and one of the rafts popped right when we were in the middle of the lake so we had to swim back to shore. I have been looking at the Hobie brand of kayaks for a while now because I want to upgrade my style of fishing from landbased fishing to kayak fishing. My favourite colour for the Hobie Compass is the camo colour. I am based in Melbourne so I would be mostly using the kayak to fish in Port Phillip Bay with my mates and to take my dog out on the water and perhaps go fishing with him too. Winning this kayak would mean the world to me and I have been a fan of the channel for a long time. Keep on making good content. Thanks!

[@simonmcguire5294]

Sweet review @byron. I’d go camo and fish those really tight waterways on the south coast.

[@ByronTeaHill]

Good choice!

[@nedflanders4158]

Papaya orange is the only way to go. I'd use it for fishing off the beach near Adelaide or recreationally in the newly opened reservoir. I've wanted a hobie for years but have never had the money, even the compass (which is a great entry level) is just out of my budget as I have young kids.

[@roguefishing]

I wouldn't look past the camo because it looks tough. I would take it in every estuary around the Coffs area chasing anything from bream, flathead and jew, and even up into the hills chasing Bass in the rivers (spots to remain secret). I would do my best to catch a fish big enough to pull me out of it!

[@roguefishing]

Ps your excitement catching your first largemouth bass and peacock bass was epic. The move is treating you well so congratulations on the scenery change.

[@ByronTeaHill]

Thanks mate! first largemouth felt pretty good. nice to get the monkey off the back

[@natol833]

Hey Byron, Another great review. I would have to say that I like to Hobie Compass in the Camo Colour. It would be great to take it into botany bay and try to get myself into some Flathead and Possibly jewfish. Great to see the support you receive from HWS. Keep up the good work.

[@saddmon386]

Just wanted to say James and his team at HWS are absolute legends , bought a kayak from them a couple of years or so ago and they went far and beyond to deliver it all the way to Canberra for no additional cost back then.

[@brendantroy7400]

Any colour but camo. For fishing on Sydney Habour.

[@ByronTeaHill]

Good choice!

[@SpregioCheeks]

I just got this kayak for $1065 at REI. It was returned for a drive malfunction, so REI sent the drive back to Hobie, and then were delivered the standard drive with kickup fins rather than the 180 drive. So they deducted the 875 from the kayak, but also open box, however, it was marked with a 40% off sticker as it was sitting there for a week, so, just got the standard drive, which I think i'm gonna upgrade with turbo fins.. But yea.. I'm pretty excited, but worried about my build... I'm a bit of a bigger guy, but great mobility. Pushing that 275 mark, if not over. So im looking at putting some foam to go under the seat area, as I realized it's pretty hollow under where it locks, and sure enough saw that ppl were getting cracked hulls where the seat clamps are. So hopefully some foam blocks under, maybe somehow drilled in, will help me get out on the water now, rather than 3 months when I drop 20-40lbs lol.

[@darrengibbs2290]

Always great content Byron. The Compass in Camo would be my choice, working my way around the oyster racks in and around Forster/Tuncurry also our holidays down south around Narooma and Batemans Bay.

[@mickcapilli]

Darren,I'm always after someone to fish with, let me know if you're keen... I'm in Taree

[@anthonyvespia6662]

I love my 2023 Hobie Compass. I have allot of PA Accessories on her. I do run my PP-768, J2 Bixpy, on the power pole mount. Im 5ft 7" 156 lbs, so i can walk all over it. I was getting tired of the 100Lb empty hulls, on my three previous boats. I do keep it on a trailer, from harbor freight, with a few mods, and it's stored in my garage. I have all my batteries, lights, battery box to charge my accessories, phone, drone, and thru holes installed. With two volt meters into the hull, to monitor my batteries. For me i love it. 💯 🛶 🎣

[@mjau0374]

Would love a camo conpass for Christmas to fish the Hawkesbury, Lake Macquarie, and specifically to get into tournament fishing

[@FoxtrotGear]

I owned a 2018 Compass and 2021 Outback and loved them but when the 2023 Compass came out I jumped ship. I purchased 4 of the 2023 Compasses for the entire family. As far as stacking seats the new version is really bulky but the comfort is 10x better. The biggest complain of the old seat was the rear bar that hit you right in the rear. My wife complained about this constantly. This seat dries faster and is way more comfortable. I don't see any cons of the Compass. I've customized the crap out of them with marine mat to PA paddle holders and no drill trolly systems. Another big deal is the arc drive comes standard. The ARC drive is 100000% better than the previous version. My son now wants a Compass too bad I couldn't win in the USA. It would be used for fishing in the Florida Keys!!!

[@jacobhall8120]

Awesome stuff Byron. Can't go wrong with the timeless camo tint. If I was lucky enough to win, I'd be using the yak down the far South Coast of NSW chasing some bruiser bream up in the racks. Hope the transition is going well for you and the family, also HUGE shoutout for coming 3rd in Angler of the Year. You deserve it mate. Thanks for all you do.

[@ByronTeaHill]

Dude, thanks for that! the guys who were one and two were just tooo good!

[@blairhuttonfishing]

Nice video, is the camo still the one which has the better drive or are they all the same now? It’s a shame with the seat that hobie wouldn’t try and have one like the outback or the older compass seats. The sliding seats would be very annoying but an easy fix (that shouldn’t have to be done) All hobie kayaks are great though and my favourite colour would probably be blue I fish off shore in the south west of Western Australia

[@Kidndjwkx]

Hey Byron I snapped my rod today so I am looking for a replacement. The rod was a daiwa infeet 6101. Any ideas for what I should buy? Budget of around 300 take or give a bit. Probably an all rounder because I fish both plastics and hardbodies. Cheers

[@Willitwillikiwi1]

I’d love an Orange Papaya so I can wrap the top half of the kayak in white and make it look just like my favourite Double Clutch Colour Takasagi! I’d love to fish around Sydney for bream! I would like to take Ryland out to the Hawkesbury so I can show him thow to stay away from the big ferry wakes in the harbour before he gets himself absolutely soaked wet! 🙂

[@zoommaster7253]

Great review

[@acoucou]

Hello, we are Acoucou Battery. Really like your videos, especially your previous one about testing LiFePO4 batteries, we understand that there are many places in outdoor life where batteries are needed, so on behalf of our users we need to ask a question? How do you go about choosing? Do you have a recommendation? There are quite a few batteries on the market, so would it be helpful to your video enthusiasts to make some videos about this?

[@stephencyster]

Awesome video, I wish I wasn't too lazy to kayak fish 😂. Will stick with my renegade and keep piling on the weight through lack of exercise 🤣 🎣🔥👍😎

[@cavernouscoot4831]

Would have to go with the camo colour, so while fishing the calliope river in central Queensland, the fish wouldn't be able to see what's coming. Found your channel a few weeks back, loving the videos, mate.

[@remyp8563]

Another particularly interesting video as I can't find on the French utube channels. Thanks I was just looking for an objective review of the compass seat. I really like the slate blue but it seems that it is no longer produced, so I like the camo.

[@AlanWoo]

Camo colour. Would def use around Melbourne. This would be my first kayak and allow me to join my friends Snapper or bream fishing in port Philip bay or maribyrnong river.

[@oliversharp2100]

Great video Byron, my favourite colour compass would be the cameo one. I would use it here in south west Victoria a river called the Hopkins river fishing for bream perch and hopefully my first mulloway.

[@JeremyTheOtter]

Thankyou so much for the video. I want to get a real nice fishing Kayak and I’m really leaning towards Hobie and it’s good to hear from competitive anglers that’s it’s a great product. I would use this in some back water fishing or offshore runs for snappers or big game fish for sure.

[@wingitmissionfishingoutdoo6647]

Shoutout to your missus mate, I'm not allowed to leave a reel on the dining room table let alone line em up on the living room cabinet. If that's your man cave even better. Great review buddy, cheers

[@Nardinator2340]

I love the orange papaya as I love the west tigers 🐅. It would be a dream to be able to go out on from little manly and cruise around hooking up on squid flathead kingys and many more species. Love the work keep it up!!!❤

[@cafebayer]

I think if you could support the near extinction level population of the Compass anywhere on the Manning Catchment, that would be a huge benefit to the few breading pairs sighted last summer.

[@sambeazley3900]

Would love to get my hands on this kayak. It would see a lot of use around the Hawkesbury and Nepean in search of bass but I’m about to head north to the Nambucca river and I’m in need of a way to get out on the flats to chase top water whiting. Favourite colour of hobie is definitely the papaya orange.

[@narikki]

Love the camo compass but the papaya orange would be amazing. id be using it in the hawksbury but would love to try offshore fishing such as out botany etc!

[@waynebrown731]

The papaya orange 🍊 works for me albeit I would fish any colour. Perfect for fishing the lakes around Forster Tuncurry

[@caska669]

Hey Byron, I've never used a kayak but I'm keen to try one out. I'm a sucker for anything in camo, so the Compass in camo would be my choice. I would definitely use it for fishing in the rivers and bay down in Vic, it opens up a great opportunity for me instead of just fishing land based. Great video once again!

[@alexmarti7684]

Again another amazing video on some quality products and awesome interviews. Good luck to the lucky winner!!

[@orricmclsanky]

I've got the Camo compass I love that it doesn't show the scuffs. In terms of outright style tho the papaya with the HWS nose cone wrap is slick. If I was all about the photos that is what I would choose to be scooting about lake mac and Dora creek

[@fleahillzy2604]

The sea grass green is my favourite colour for the Hobie compass , I would love to own a kayak and I would take it out on my local ,the swan river chasing some bream and flatties and small soapies cant afford a member ship

[@dennismageropoulos652]

Nice work mate, has to be camo!! I would keep this down Sussex Inlet, that way we will always have the Yak down there for the family to play with.

[@jamesleadbeatter3632]

The papaya orange kayak would be great for squidding in the waters around Albany wa due to being highly visible to boats. The light weight means it would be easy to transport and take to bucket list fishing locations such as shark Bay and dirk hartog Island for snapper

[@scottschmierer7075]

id have to say camo ..id use it around the rivers/creeks in the hunter valley chasing bass...and head to the local dams as well...possibly take it further north chasing cod and yellowbelly as well

[@mickos4472]

If this review doesn't sell 100 yaks I dont know what can. Another excellent video. This would be handy so i could be like all the cool kids with a Hobie

[@dougsmith1619]

Great video, camouflage colour is my choice and would mainly be used fishing the dams around S.E. Qld.

[@harrisonsfishing9763]

Another great video/ review byron! Id have to go with camo and i would use it around my local, the pine river in Moreton bay even up into the dam as well as tin can bay and 1770 areas

[@garethrendell-goodhew3529]

Camo would be my choice to help hide all the marks I find on my kayaks over the years. Iwould love the compass to get me on the water more often, especially on the days it been tough at work and want to get out on the water with ease to relax and regather myself. It would also be great to take out friends and get them interested in the sport. Tight lines

[@rexb3415]

Great honest review, I like the Camo and I would use it in lake Illawarra and also take it down to shoalhaven river and the basin. Cheers mate. Forgot to mention I would use it for fishing.

[@vickykork7910]

Wow what a giveaway this will make someone’s year my husband always talkes about the compass kayak he loves the camo colour he’ll love to use it in the bay and port hacking river all the best in the new year and thanks for your reviews keep up the good work

[@zcatch8926]

Great vid and very useful information- i hope i 🥇

[@pudgek9]

Would 100% use it to chase Murray Cod in the king river get into to some really nice water that is only accessible with a kayak!

[@leighpartington7231]

Love the camo colour! Would use this bass fishing up on the Bellinger river exploring 👌🏻

[@alberthicks8758]

Great video as usual brother....me if I had it , it would be hunted and fished out of .... basically be my second home..

[@MushroomMastersAustralia]

I just Gita yak from a competitor and I think I’ve made a big mistake. I love any colour.

[@rorygibbo6206]

Yeah I reckon the camo green one that you are using in the video is so sick… a brighter colour might be a bit safer in the ocean. But I reckon the green one would be a bit more stealthy in the lakes and river in the dirty water, and mainly it looks cool as shit haha

[@BeninjaCow]

Sold my tinny. Would be great to get back on the water with a hobie in my local lakes in Canberra just for fun!

[@justpat6332]

Great vid mate. Camo colour for sure. Would see weekly action on the swan but would love to take it down the blackwood w/ my mates.

[@_divitz]

Adventure around Lake Macquarie find some new spots and hope to jag some great fish this summer season !!

[@Gaulz12]

Another great video and review, I've used both the compass and outback and apart from a bit of bling these are such a great kayak. I reckon the Camo colour is the pick and would use this up in East Gippsland 🎣

[@mehmetkimp]

Lime is best for me, I’ll do everything with this jigging trolling and spearfishing ofc

[@robc7875]

With compass being so much lighter than the pro angler, makes it much easier to load! Get the camo and I'd be on the lakes!

[@jonathonhunt935]

Hey Byron, thanks for yet another highly enjoyable and informative video. I learn so much. Great stuff! I’ve recently bought a Compass and couldn’t be more chuffed with the kayak (a special thank you to James and Andrew at HWS for their support and advice). As an ‘old mate’ I’ve found the Compass to be simply a positive experience: strong, light, fast, manoeuvrable and stable. Standing up while fishing Lake Mac and the Hunter river hasn’t been a problem…if you trust your balance it’s hard to tip. Cheers

[@deanricho1967]

Love the camo tint, I would use it for fishing on Wallis Lake Forster NSW

[@codprodderfishing9314]

Seagrass green kayak looks nice as, would love to go Murray cod fishing in it!!!

[@martins.7175]

Hobie quality has been decreasing over the years and so has the thresholds in production overall.

[@vjarmon3536]

The camo color I think looks the best on the compass. The kayak would be used in some ponds near my house and also inshore.

[@nikola1971]

Amazing video! I have been looking at a fishing kayak for the last 12 months but it’s been out of my budget. I was previously looking at the Pro Angler, but this video has really opened my mind to other options. Camo would be my colour of choice. I’ve recently moved down to Lake Conjola and It is amazing fishing on the lake, but I need a kayak to access the really great spots. I want to start entering competitions, but only once I’ve mastered Lake Conjola and surrounding waters.

[@andrewcox7179]

I have a old town predator pdl and a hobie compass. I choose to take the compass every time because of its low weight. If i were to buy a new yak, I would buy a compass 100%