Season 3 | Sandbanks Style Optimal 2022 Inflatable Kayak | First Launch at Alderford Lake

[@elliottmcfadden6261]

I have this style kayak sold under another brand and I have some suggestions that will improve your experience. First, the back D rings for the seat are too low and close to give it the tension you need for the seat to stay in place and give you proper support. Try hooking to the first set of D rings on the back bungee deck and the seat will work better. I ended up upgrading to a Skwoosh seat for more back support. Second, the skeg box is a standard size for paddle boards so you can get different sizes and styles. I recommend the grass type if you are paddling in shallow water or where there is a lot of under water vegetation. Finally, Advanced Elements, who was the first company that sold this type of kayak, includes with their kayak an inflatable foot brace that looks like a pillow but will hook under the decking to allow you to vary your foot placement. This is important if you are paddling longer distances as you will get more power to you core by pressing your feet in a bent leg position on the brace. Advanced Elements does not list the foot brace separately on their web site, but if you contact them directly, they will sell it to you for 30 USD. Be sure to ask for the foot brace for their Airvolution kayak so you get the right one.

[@Ad-ventures-out]

Yeah its definitely too short, i catch it on the sides of the boat more than I would like.

[@TheKayakCrew]

Great explanation of setup and on the water tests. I have the tandem version of the Optimal, nice kayak. They track well and are stable. Quite a fan of the drop stitch kayaks.

[@Ad-ventures-out]

Thanks Carlos, yeah I saw you review, I pretty much agreed with everything you said.

[@adams8594]

Nice to see a good couple of vids of this one. How do you rate the paddle it comes with. Obviously it’s not going to be top end but would you happily use it or were you/are you desperate to replace it with something better immediately?

[@Ad-ventures-out]

Hi, sorry for the slow reply. I thought the paddle was better than expected, even the shop I bought if from said it wasn't great so I had low expectations. I think it could maybe do with being a few inches longer but it's generally fine for me. I will upgrade it at some point but I'm not in a hurry so I will maybe save up for a carbon paddle for next spring and live with this one for the rest of this summer and autumn.

[@elliottmcfadden6261]

I highly recommend getting an adjustable length paddle for this kayak before upgrading. The paddle they included is way too short for this kayak, 210 mm I believe. I’ve found 240mm the ideal length for me. Decathlon sells a nylon aluminum 220-240mm adjustable paddle at a very reasonable price. The paddle blade is much stiffer, it has rubber grips and drip rings, and despite being longer and having adjustable hardware, I believe it’s lighter weight than the included paddle. Getting the length you like before paying for carbon or fiberglass is important.

[@adams8594]

@@elliottmcfadden6261 good advice ta. I’d actually bought a couple of those Decathlon adjustable 220-245 paddles on offer a couple of weeks back when I thought I’d settled on an Aqua Marina Steam. Now ordered one of these so I was considering taking them back to save a bit of cash but I think I’ll keep them after all

[@Timburgess1812]

Great vid buddy, thanks very much. How wet did you get in the end?

[@Ad-ventures-out]

Thanks. Not too bad as far as wetness was concerned, there was a bit of water in the boat so I got a bit of a wet backside.

[@Timburgess1812]

@@Ad-ventures-out ahhh. I’ve been looking at this and the x500 and think I may prefer the x500 as I think it might be dryer. Although it was good to see in your video that the sandbank hasn’t got a to totally flat hull and there’s a slight v-shape to it which is good.

[@Ad-ventures-out]

@@Timburgess1812 X500 my my other main option too, it looks a very nice boat,. I went for this one as it looked a bit more fun in sunny weather and at the moment i am very much a fair weather kayaker. I may get an x500 too in the next year or so for some touring and less favourable weather but we will see.

[@LetsGoPaddling]

@@Timburgess1812, if you use a spray skirt with x500 then it pretty much stays dry.

[@Timburgess1812]

@@LetsGoPaddling awesome. I think I may need to see if there’s a decathlon near me to hire one and try it out!

[@wyndyrausenberger9052]

Did you need to order this from the UK (!shipping?!) or is there a Sandbanks Style dealer near you (Toronto?) I am in the US; shipping quote was $265 USD.

[@Ad-ventures-out]

I am in the UK, I am not aware of any dealers in the US I am afraid.