Hobie kayak in 2024 | What's changed?

Are you curious to what has changed with Hobie kayak in 2024? Well, today I go over what is new, new colors, new pricing, and my thoughts on what Hobie is doing and my opinion on where they are going with it. Hobie kayak remains one of the best selling fishing kayak brands but with the kayak fishing market catching up what is in store for them in the future?
Check out our inventory here!
ozarkmtc.com
Need polarized fishing sunglasses?
www.waterlandco.com
Use code "beardedpaddler" for 15% off
Intro - 00:00
Pro Angler XR - 00:32
Color options - 03:33
Pricing - 06:09
My Thoughts - 07:30
Buy me coffee: dashboard.stripe.com/payment-links/plink_1Mj7t4AbEw54VdCq1oO4sqKk

[@vibinwithlou8261]

I moved on to Oldtown, first thing I noticed right out the gate was the hull thickness/quality. And lifetime hull warranty is pretty sweet.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Old Town definitely makes a good yak! Keep in mind though, the lifetime warranty only covers defects and not normal wear and tear. I feel like most people understand that to an extent. Wording can get a little tricky though. Its still more than most companies do though.

[@chandlercole5156]

The amount of people in my local tournament trail that had problems with their Hobies baffles me. We had one guy that went through 3 hulls and 5 drives in a little over a year's time frame. Many had difficulties even getting Hobie to warranty the kayaks. I feel the "changes" they made are kinda lazy, "here we'll make it easier for you to fix instead of fixing the problem ourselves". I'm seeing so many people flock to other brands Native, Old Town, Bonafide, etc.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

It's definitely something that needs a little more work. But if you are having an issue and have a way ro NOT be stranded? It's a step in the right direction, but just a step

[@elcoach8931]

their prices do not justfie low end perfomance of the belt with all the risk and nuisance involved to the customer, so yeah lazy and the solutions are not substantial enough

[@killough71010]

Same man, my buddy sold his Hobie and isn't going back to the brand because of the issues he experienced. For the amount of money paid for their yaks, the should be Ironclad. Yet the have issues you see and expect from bottom of the barrel brands. And what baffles me is how the Hobie followers always are backpedaling and trying to save face for Hobie despite severe quality issues with their product.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@killough71010 I understand that. While I live the Outback, Compass, and Lynx. The Pro Angler really needs some work with the 360 drive

[@EJBMusic-uw6gy]

I have a Hobie PA14 with the 180 drive and I love it. I've never had a problem and I use it as much as possible including in tournaments.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

It's definitely what it's intended for. Glad you are liking it. Thanks for watching!

[@donovanstockton7081]

I fish, spearfish and hunt off a Bote Aero Rackham. It's very durable, easy to use and so far no issues. It's not fast but I usually don't travel too far - most trips are under 2-3 miles. And that's traveled using it in SUP form - excellent core workout. I've been really trying to fall in love with the Hobie PA14. But I'm really scared of that 360 drive and other quality issues. I've been trying to get more into offshore yak fishing, something that would be far beyond the capacity of the Rackham. I agree they've incrementally improved with the XR but I still have serious concerns. Alas enter the NuCanoe Unlimited and Bonafide PWR129. I haven't heard of catastrophic failures on those yaks. I get they are tradeoffs with any yak (wish the unlimited was faster, the PWR had a 360 swivel seat). Which of those measures up to or even exceeds the potential of offshore fishing capacity of the PA14 360?

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@donovanstockton7081 pwr129 is way faster. Swivel seats are nice but you would be surprised how little you use it. If you like the swivel seat then the titan X would be great or the new XTR from Bonafide

[@k954ever]

I've no personal experience of Hobie malfunctions but a fishing buddy of mine had a 360 drive break in his PA and the time it took to fix it was more or less last years season. Great to hear har Hobie are trying to adress the problem. But I will wait and see🙄

[@thebeardedpaddler]

True. The biggest problem has been getting the parts in the past. That's what I want to see fixed. It's tough to not be able to get an eta on parts

[@tamplain1]

I have owned numerous hobies over the span of years having owned a number of outbacks. But I found that after years I did not need all the bells and whistles but wanted something more of a blank slate. Enter the Compass. It also had the benefit of being much lighter and easy to handle by myself as I gotten older. I picked one up when they first came out for $1700 and thought this is great. Super great hull design, clean slate and minimalistic (Funny enough the compass with the new hull design was released before the new compass on steroids was released (What I call the new outback). Still fishing the Compass after all these years but its starting to show the wear and tear of years of fishing and kayak/camping trips. I have been pondering about getting a new Kayak and in years past it would have been a hobie in a flash simply because of the drive which I think is still the best drive system. But I would really have to think twice about a hobie now due to the cost. There is no reason the compass should cost what it currently does as they have done nothing to improve the kayak since its origin other than a 180 drive which I could care less about. The new seat is a complete downgrade from an already not-so-good seat on the original. It seems to me that they just came out with the Passport to kind of take the flak off of way overcharging for the compass. I have been thinking of finding a lightly used compass before the seat change if the price is right but likely would not buy a new hobie unless I see big changes without adding $$$$. Many friends have moved away from them going to things like the Jackson Yupik, Nucanoe and even going back to some old Wilderness kayaks.

[@user-xv5xj3zm7t]

I have fished out of the same hobie pro angler for over 10 years and not one issue. It's always inside when I'm not in it. I would like a new one for a second boat so thank you for this update.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

No problem! Thank you for your feedback!

[@julz3217]

Thanks for that great update and seems they are worki g in the right direction. Im in the market for a fishing kayak and i personally love the PA14/12 and the outback. Ill be roof roping the kayak on top of my truck cap so i dont wamt anything heavy. But saying that i do love the new colors amd that orange seems pretty interesting to see in person. Thanks alot for everything ypu do amd keep up the awesome work!! Cheers

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Outback in the sun camo is 🔥

[@julz3217]

@@thebeardedpaddler did you get one to see one. I'm still on the fence between those two. I love the space of the PA more then the outback though and those vertical rod storage. I'll be mostly fishing lakes, I love the stability also. I had a boat most of my life amd just sold it last summer . Miss the boat but wanna get into fishing amd also be able to bring it when we go camping. Cheers 🍻

[@TheZX11]

Kayaks are heavier to carry or lift than their weight numbers suggest. I'm not sure you would like loading the PA on a truck cap more than once. The Outback would fit a high truck cap better. For lakes, with plenty of standing stability, the Lynx is very light and easy to load up high. You just have to give up hull storage and "bring everything" ability of the PA.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@julz3217 honestly, if you have a truck I would put it in the bed instead of on the cab. Get you a bed extender and call it good. If you are roof topping it then you are better on the Outback.

[@MSmith-jf5wo]

So...! You have a couple of friends that are gonna help ya loading the PA-12/14 on the roof of that truck? Even the smaller 12 foot is HEAVY... UN-loaded, without the seat and drive, and just BARE Hull...! (A little "Note" to you...Don't EVER drop a Hobie in cold weather, even just a few inches! They BREAK easily! I've witnessed 2 of them!). Hobie makes a Good Quality 'Yak, but the still have their little "Quirks"...!

[@MitchellRoffer]

I wish you had discussed other changes other than the PA. No need to Outback’s? Mirage? Accessories? Any thoughts on power assist for Hobie. Thanks.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@MitchellRoffer no real changes for 2024 other than color and no upcharge for camo.

[@jasonrobbins7269]

In my opinion Hobie is still the best move. They weren’t getting bashed until they did away with pro staffers and then all a sudden they were junk over priced etc. the truth is they have the best drive system great styling pricing is on par with native, old town etc but why I stick with Hobie is their drive smoother and easier to pedal all day hip knee back don’t hurt at the end of the day doesn’t get tangled up in the So Cal Kelp and eel grass like prop boats I can get a Hobie in the thick kelp where the big yellows and Calicos are other boats struggle.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

I love the drive and a lot has been made of the 360 issues. It’s such a small sample of their overall lineup

[@fishinbite]

Thanks for the update! Are you aware of any changes to the Revo 13? Same or different colours and features?

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Same for 2024

[@SilverCymbal]

I think Hobie still thinks its Covid. They have priced small, stripped down models like the passport near $2,000 which is just sad. 4 years ago the same model was $1299. Other products have not seen these increases, I have also seen a glut of used PA and other models all just sitting on Facebook for months. There is definitely a loss of interest in these and raising prices of a Kayak, where Hobie owns the entire supply chain is a terrible move. I love Hobie but they are priced so high & heavy now they are just turning off a ton of buyers.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@SilverCymbal a lot goes into this but one of the biggest cost increases is the cost of raw materials. The resins are petroleum based so when the cost of oil goes up so do the plastics. There are plenty of well made, budget friendly options but with pedal drive kayaks the Passport at 1799 is one of the better values compared to others in that same price range. It's always important to look at the features on a kayak and ask yourself "Am I going to use that?" This will save you hundreds of dollars. No need to pay for features that you won't use. Thank you for your feedback

[@Drumguy48]

I had an Old Town 106 - sold it and bought a Hobie Lynx and I am not regretting this one bit. The Lynx is the perfect Kayak for me

[@thebeardedpaddler]

glad to hear it! The Lynx is a solid choice for sure. We really like ours

[@argentobrucia9763]

Lynx it’s amazing as design simplicity … I would love to have them come out with a rotomolded Lynx it would be best ever

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@argentobrucia9763 I would too!

[@515danny]

Getting a 2023 10.5 mirage passport r for a good deal. I'm pretty stoked for it. Thanks for the video though

[@thebeardedpaddler]

It's a great kayak for the price

[@TheZX11]

There will come a day, sooner than later, where someone calls Seatow or the Coast Guard for help, and when they are asked to describe their boat, they will say, "Sea Camouflage kayak." Seatow transmitting, "Did you say it's the color of the sea?" Kayaker, "Yes, and camouflaged."

[@thebeardedpaddler]

I'm sorry but this made me laugh out loud. Because it's funny but also some truth to it

[@hugobarreiras6652]

Good afternoon, in your opinion, which Kayak to choose, Hobie or Native? And of these 2 models, which is better, Native Tintan X 12.5 Propel or Hobie Mirage Outback? Thank you and greetings from Portugal.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

To me the Outback is the best all around pedal drive kayak. The Titan X is amazing and has a lot of features on it. Not exactly an apples to apples comparison but they are both very solid platforms. Titan has better stability and the Outback will be more nimble and faster

[@nytowl62]

I have a Passport and I love it even though it's pretty tippy. I chose it for a starter peddle drive my back could take and want to upgrade. So I was wondering if there are any changes to the Lynx and if they are worth it?

[@thebeardedpaddler]

No changes to the Lynx only that they no longer due the golden papaya color any more. We actually own a Lynx and love it. I think it is worth it, but it really depends on how much gear you want to take with you. I like it because of the speed and the turning radius is extremely tight on it.

[@nytowl62]

@@thebeardedpaddler Thank you

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@nytowl62 No problem at all

[@bkelley4443]

I went with a 2023 Native Slayer. I was scared off with all of the issues I've read with the 360. The instant reverse is what steered me over a Hobie 180 and the rigability is what steered me away from Old Town. Not knocking either, but I haven't regretted my decision.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

There's nothing wrong with that at all. Slayer is a great kayak.

[@caleb4015]

As someone who fishes around alot of structure and grass, there isn't another drive that can do what the 360 does in those environments. I didn't think I would like it as much as I do. There isn't another kayak manufacturer that doesn't have issues with their products; Old Town, Native, etc.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Very true

[@thenugget7288]

I haven't seen nearly the amount of issues with other kayaks (at least currently) that I see people have with certain hobie models and particularly the 360 drive.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@thenugget7288 have you personally seen all these issues or read about them online or social media? Just curious. The issue is there but it has been a bit blown out of proportion in my opinion

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@thenugget7288 again, are you "seeing" them or seeing them talk about it online? We sell a ton of Hobies and it's pretty small % of people. It's is there obviously.

[@thenugget7288]

@thebeardedpaddler I haven't gone through a hobie personally. However... when multiple people in my area in TX say they had issues and/or know multiple people that had issues with them... my family in Alabama says they know people that have issues with them. Maybe I am being lied to... but I see no profit they gained steering me away from a brand they are not sponsored by. On top of what people tell me of their experiences and people they know... there are more reported issues of hobie that I see vs. other brands. Is it because it is the popularity the brand had and so more people talk about it? Idk. I don't feel like I'm saying anything with malicious intent... I just want the conversation to be a honest one. Maybe make a video of flagship kayaks of various brands and compare the reviews (Written reviews and how many negative review videos there are)? You sell kayaks... how many complaints about each brand do you get?

[@louKYpb]

I think I've made this comment before, but they have prices that I'm not willing to pay. I have nothing against Hobie and actually really like their platforms, but the prices are turn off for me personally. --- As far as the fixes. Great job. I wish the belt was easier to get to so the average joe could replace the belt easier, but I come from an accounting background and I think what they did was a business decision and I have nothing against them using the rubber belt.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Prices are in line with the industry actually. Unless you are only focused on the Pro Angler 360 prices. Hobies aren't for everyone though. No kayak is. It just depends on what you need out of a kayak

[@user-bf5vf2vp1w]

Is a 2019 hobie mirage outlander much different feature wise than the 2024 model? Is a 2019 kayak worth $2200?

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Not sure. 2019 are quite a bit different than the newer ones

[@Bassinwithjesse]

I own a $400 pelican, so I don’t really have a dog in this fight yet. I’m doing my research on which pedal kayak to invest in. One thing is common amongst these types of “controversies”. From the amount of kayaks a brand as big as Hobie sells, you’re going to get the few that are having problems with their kayaks on every forum posting about it. But the exponential amount of people who haven’t had the first issue are not the ones posting on forums. You only hear about the bad. Not the good.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

They are top of the market for a reason and they sell something for everyone. Doesn't mean everyone needs one, but they are one of the most efficient pedal drives ever made

[@nathanielholleyfishing]

Trying to be patient waiting on a replacement Outback hull, really hoping I get something other than the Seagrass color! All the camo options look good!

[@thebeardedpaddler]

The Sun camo is absolute fire in my opinion

[@GOD719]

What happened to yours? I had my outback for over 2 years now. Still good. But should i be worried lol

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@GOD719 I still use it. I've had no issues whatsoever. I'll probably be on rivers more this year

[@nathanielholleyfishing]

@@GOD719 two splits in the hull, seat rest and right below the right side cupholder.

[@GOD719]

@@nathanielholleyfishing Do you take care of it? keep it out of the sun? I spray my kayak with the SPF stuff. 303 and star bright.

[@sergioabdilla4577]

Thanks for your informative video. Id like to mention also that Hobie have dropped the ball on their global supply of H -rail kits, in particular for the Lynx. Hobie mentioned to me after I contacted them, that they have issues with their third party manufacturer of H- rails. Begs me to ask.. how are they sourcing them for new PA's and Outbacks??? I had got sick of waiting for H- rail kits to become availble in Australia. I have moved on and re- designed my Lynx layout. The lack of support in accsessories of this kind for so long is disappointing at best.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Understand that. It took us a long time to be able to get the h-rail kits for the Lynx

[@bradbrockman1067]

When you first peddle a PA 14 with the 360 you feel like Ferris Bueller driving Cameron's Ferrari.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Lol Love the Analogy!

[@robswoodsandcustomsawmilli9940]

The fact that they took the plant to Mexico I would never buy one.

[@PizzaRatPicker]

To me it seems that too much of their attention is focused solely on the Pro Angler. The other boats go years without significant updates. I'd love to see the Compass get a better seat and a cavity on the bottom that can fit some of the bigger transducers. Maybe one that can be upgraded to a retractable Guardian type mount by the user at a later date.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

I get that. Some food for thought though, the Compass with a better seat and the Guardian transducer system is really too close to the Outback in my opinion. The Outback is their best selling fishing kayak by quite a bit

[@PizzaRatPicker]

@@thebeardedpaddler The Outback would still have all the built in extras over the Compass like the H rail sides, forward hatch and double sided steering. I'm sure they'll never do it for that reason but right now the Compass is too close to the rotomolded Passport which is cheaper. Which is a shame because the Compass hull design has its own strengths over the Outback. It's lighter, handles heavy chop better and the blank slate format gives the owner more flexibility to add only the things they want.

[@PizzaRatPicker]

@@thebeardedpaddler Just a thought... I'd like to see a future upgrade possible Guardian mount expand to all of the models that currently have the small Lowrance transducer plates. Hobie charges a premium over other brands and the Compass, Passport and Lynx are marketed for fishing but the current mount isn't compatible with sidescan. It doesn't even fit the Lowrance transducers that have it. Make the cavity bigger and sell them with basic, non-retractable plates and sell the Guardian hardware as an upgrade kit. Then market it as a Hobie advantage rather than an Outback/Pro Angler advantage.

[@randyprovost8426]

I have a Hobie Lynx and Native Falcon. I'm about to sale the Falcon so I can get a Nucanoe Unlimited. The wife will only let me have two kayaks at a time. I prefer the Hobie Drive because of a bad hip and knees but I don't think I'll buy another Hobie with the prices, build quality and warranty issues the past few years.

[@thenugget7288]

I have a unlimited... the Xi3 with spot lock and the quick connect rudder is the perfect combo (in my opinion)

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Unlimited is a great kayak. If you like the drive but dont want to mess with the 360 you can try the 180 drive. I ran a Pro Angler 14 with the 180 and I absolutely loved it

[@thebeardedpaddler]

facts!

[@mrb401]

Been waiting on a camo Revo for a long time. I’m a big fan of Seagrass but cmon Hobie, show your Revo some love. At least bring back Dune as a standard color.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Yeah the revo needs some options

[@fishingonthe_lo]

Damn. Maybe shouldve waited until this year to get an outback...

[@thebeardedpaddler]

No changes to the Outback other than color

[@fishingonthe_lo]

I wanted a camo but for +300 was def not worth

[@expomm]

I was about to buy an Itrek 9 but with this quality issue, I cancelled the idea

[@thebeardedpaddler]

What quality issue on the ITrek?

[@expomm]

@@thebeardedpaddler the drive

[@TheZX11]

@@expommThe drive on the iTrek 9 is the kick up drive. It isn't 360 or even 180. The 180 drive is an optional upgrade. The drive on the iTrek9 is bullet proof.

[@teetimeaz]

What might help is if Hobie had loaner drives and loaner yaks to keep us up and running. I know this is expensive, but their customer service is really hurting.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Customer service and loaners is a paddleshop service, not a manufacturer though. No different than a car dealership vs trying to deal directly to Ford or Chevy

[@teetimeaz]

@@thebeardedpaddler Normally I would agree, but the costs of doing this is too much for most kayak shops. And Hobie does have a customer service and quality service perception that needs to be improved. There are lots of Hobie haters out there. More than any other brand.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@teetimeaz very true. But as a paddleshop manager, it's important that we take the lead in the customer service dept. All manufacturers are like that. And yes, they get all the hate lol. They get a lot more love but the disdain is definitely the loudest

[@teetimeaz]

I went through 1 hull at 6 months of ownership. I probably had 50 trips, 8 hours each so it was used. Hobie replaced it for free. I am sticking with it. The cracks were on top near scupper holes. Hobie called it a defect. I am concerned about their perceived customer service. A increasing number of yakers are very vocal and negative.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Its still a minority of customers though. There are just a lot of negativity with Hobie because they have been on top for quite a while. The competition has gotten a lot better. All that being said, Hobie is not for everyone. It doesnt mean there aren't quality options out there.

[@williammiller735]

Why did you NOT discuss the new Quest 12.5? Super disappointed. There are many of us that still paddle.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

My apologies, we just dont have access to the quest due to the area we live in. I have sold and Island before but never had experience with the Quest unfortunately

[@NickFudu]

I dont know about the 100 bucks you say but today i was in my country's hobie dealer as i was going for the outback (we have only one here). FYI the outback has a 4.800 € (~5.200$) pricetag for the 2024. Last year was at 4.500 € ( ~4.800$) and the year before 4.100 € ~4.400$). So there is absolute nothing fine about hobie pricing the are very overpriced atm imo. OFC i didnt order it as they are overpriced as i said and now i am in the thinking of my next steps!

[@thebeardedpaddler]

I can speak to what retailers do in other countries unfortunately. Only thing I can think of is the cost of transport

[@KayakCrave]

With all the popularity in river fishing kayaks lately, it’s surprising to me that Hobie doesn’t come out with something. The fin drive is amazing in shallow rivers, but the PA is too big and heavy and the outback is too long and narrow.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Depends on the river. I would use a compass in rivers or the Quest

[@KayakCrave]

@@thebeardedpaddler can’t stand in the compass. I had one. My favorite smallie river kayak currently is the iTrek 11, but have to do a lot of mods to make it a fishing kayak

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@KayakCrave nothing wrong with the Itrek. It's a very underrated platform

[@KayakCrave]

@@thebeardedpaddler agreed!

[@nolefanx07]

Regardless of the brand, make, model, color or whatever you want to call it. For the price of these investments, you all need to just insure your kayaks. Things fail no matter where they were manufactured. Insure your investment for an extremely low amount and go enjoy your hobby.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

No extended warranties on kayaks. Most kayaks are covered under homeowners insurance as well

[@nolefanx07]

@@thebeardedpaddler no extended warranty I’m talking insurance. Not home owners . Boaters insurance. My kayaks have been fully insured for years. I’ve used insurance for in warranty and out of warranty claims no issues whatsoever.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@nolefanx07 boaters insurance or PWC insurance does NOT cover repairs from everyday use but covers for accidents. If you claimed something under that I assure you I would keep that to yourself. 10 years in the insurance industry.

[@TAHAAS10]

I’ve been watching a lot of KZbin videos the kayaks on the market as well as being new to the fishing aspect of it all. So yes I’m a straight up newbie. I am getting fishing lessons from my nephew. Hobie is not on my list for purchasing a kayak. When people started complaining about the warrantees along with the expensive cost of owning one, it wasn’t something I would consider investing my hard earned money into. My top 2 kayaks That I’m considering is the Native Titan 12.5 and the other is PWR 129 Bonafide. I’m not planning on motorizing these kayaks, I need to stay in shape. Maybe have a motor in case of emergency use. What are your thoughts about the Titan X 12.5 and the PWR 129 being used out in the ocean. Can those kayaks handle the waves. I know you put the Titan X 12.5 high on your list for stability and comfort. And what about the PWR 129? I live By the Gulf of Mexico. I plan to do saltwater and freshwater fishing. Looking forward to your thoughts are on this and what advice you’d give to a newbie like myself. Thank again.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

I think the PWR would be great. I love the foot controlled rudder and it does move in the water really nice. If you want to motorize something its one of the best options and values for the money

[@cloutmaster965]

Those don’t seem like ocean going kayaks to me. Those are bass boats. Hobie are some of the only kayaks designed primarily to be fished in the ocean. An compass, outback or revolution are great platforms for range and comfort after a long day.

[@Finch08]

I didn't plan on motorizing my yak when I got it either. Then I did and I wish I had done it sooner lol.

[@harley7311]

Replaced my Hobie with an Old Town Sportsman Bigwater EPDL+ 132. I’ll never own another Hobie.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

How are you liking the EPDL?

[@Finch08]

I'll probably never own a Hobie. Once you go motorized, you never go back, and I wouldn't spend that kind of money on a Hobie just to put a motor on it.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

That's understandable though. I would be the same way

[@FIZANJET]

Not worth it

[@thenugget7288]

Kristine Fisher lost all of my respect... not just because kf what she said... but because she REALLY showed her character when called out. People who can be bought and paid for to lie (and double down when caught) are not to be trusted.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Dont guess I’m aware of what you are referring to. What happened?

[@saltwaterdawgoutdoors2190]

My takeaway from her video was she was upfront that she receives support from Hobie , but also pointed out that other manufacturers offered her more money. So I have nothing but respect for her and her honesty.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@saltwaterdawgoutdoors2190 same here. She is a great ambassador for the sport

[@thenugget7288]

@thebeardedpaddler If that's how you guys see it... fine. I disagree. She is the only person I have seen deny hobie has issues... and we all know that is a bullshit (at least until proven otherwise). I'm not saying any more on this... we can agree to disagree.

[@DarrinBoggs-jh1vp]

Hobie is overpriced doo doo. I was interested in a lynx til I saw how charmin soft the hull is. No reason for it at that price.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

We own a Lynx and love it. That being said, its not for everyone.

[@michaelknapp3702]

Hobie Kayaks suck a little more than this stupid add, with extremely poor audio!

[@thebeardedpaddler]

Thanks for watching and for that feedback. You're the best

[@zlm2032]

Already moved on from Hobie. Their customer service is terrible.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

What happened? Just curious

[@zlm2032]

Hobie is a completely different company now. They have let go most of their technicians who actually know their products. As of November 2023, Hobie does not have a certified representative in the entire state of Texas! This is just unacceptable for a company like Hobie. I took my kayak to Fishing Tackle Unlimited (Houston, TX) a Hobie authorized dealer for minor work, and they had no clue on what they were doing. I had to contact Hobie myself to actually find out on what was going on with their dealers. Keep in mind, authorized dealers will sell their kayaks, but getting quality service is an entire different story.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

@@zlm2032 this is a bit of an issue. Not all kayak shops that sell Hobies are authorized repair shops.

[@Obxhatman]

The fix hobie has done is not going to work over time. It will still fail. Moreover , they need to find a fix for older craft. You drop 5 grand on a kayak , you expect it to last more than a year without problems , I'm thinking at least 5 plus years. As with anything else , the customers who buy this junk will be the ones fixing it. Not the company that made it. Far as colors , Hobie is the worst for colors , they have only ever offered like maybe 8 colors across the entire spectrum , and I'm sorry , adding black to give a camoish look does not make it a new color , it just camos an existing color. The same blue for what 15 years? That yellow puke color , that bland sand color. Those are all horrible , the red is just ok , that grey is horrible , it will be a hot ride , darker colors have a higher surface temp. The orange they had was okish. You look at companies like Jackson , Old Town , Native , Wilderness systems , and they have vibrant , colors , purples , pinks , aquas , lime greens , rich blues , turquoise , seafoam greens , bright yellows , oranges ............just tons of colors options. Hobie is just so boring for color schemes , and if thats all they ever do , then thats all they will ever do.

[@thebeardedpaddler]

So I take it you DONT like the Hobie colors? I'm just giving an overview here man. Not saying they are perfect or need improvement

[@Obxhatman]

@@thebeardedpaddler Over the years 15 or so that i have been kayaking , I have seen hobie , 50 percent higher in price to a comparable other brand models. I have also seen very little change in color of all models. The colors they have are drab at best. Mostly solid colors , no color molding techniques. What they have offered over the last 5 years is fraught with issues , issues they are not willing to help resolve, only attempt to fix with new models. They just want ya money again. I know you are giving an overview for what they have. No offense to you , more against hobie. I have a native slayer propel , wilderness systems radar , and old town autopilot , ALL of which look better and out perform the hobie and feature rich with molding techniques. No hull issues from the design itself. One issue where I put to much weight from a cooler and I got a small stress crack on the radar , to which I videoed , sent to WS , told them how it happened , and they sent a completely new kayak free of charge. Now , granted I was in two seas and heavy chop with a roughly 40 pound cooler in the back. So when I hear others stories about other brands , and all I see Hobie do is struggle to make a better drive system for the last ten years that is reliable. Hardly no good designs or colors , then yeah , they are horrible. Horrible price , horrible designs , horrible colors.