Wilderness Systems Aspire 105 Detailed Review

This video goes over every aspect I can think of for you to get to know the Aspire 105! I talk about stability, comfort, design, spray skirt, and the ability of this kayak to go through rapds. I also touch on the skeg system and how you can modify this kayak to have a rudder. I point out all the features that Wilderness systems wants YOU to know about this kayak. This video is PACKED full of information!
True-fit Spray Skirt: amzn.to/3rQOmKf
Aspire 105 Parts: www.wilderness...
Website: yakkelberry.wi...

[@PeteBarta]

Really appreciate this video. so much info and detail! Great job

[@octavggoga]

GREAT review and thank you!

[@321explore3]

Just bought an Aspire 105, had a few questions which you address completely. Great review!

[@debmaclyman2547]

Thanks for your video. I purchased this kayak yesterday based on your excellent presentation and I am very excited about it. I live in the Tahoe area with lots of lakes and this seems like a perfect kayak for me. Thanks again.

[@annawaybret940]

The board between the front and the back of the kayak can leak as you mentioned. I added more silicone to fix the issue. I'd also like to add that though I appreciate the front holders, the water bottle does indeed need to be small. Fortunately I have one that fits it perfect. When reaching for the bottle though, I find it awkward to reach and found I had to lean a bit forward to grab the bottle. For holding snacks or what not, it's great. I like to place my emergency paddle in the netting on the front. My emergency paddle also has a small float attached to it's handle to help try to keep it afloat if needed. I never would have thought about the space on the back of the seat or that a water bottle would fit fine between those two ridges. I love the foot holdings. It makes shifting your body in the seat very easy when needed. Thanks for the video, it made me think of a few extra things with it. My second season with it is about to begin and I initially watched this video for the spray skirt information, but this was great to find out as well. PS My bilge fits perfectly along the left side of the Kayak, on the inside, while I'm sitting in the seat. If you are not a tiny person, this kayak has lots of space for you as well. The 400 lb capacity is fantastic if you are over 200lbs. You can still bring some gear with you and not worry too much about the weight you are adding into the kayak.

[@rickburkhalter5448]

Great review. Really good information. I liked, subscribed, and just ordered the Aspire 105 from Amazon. Happened to catch a price drop as well. Thank you.

[@froshure5212]

VERY helpful, thank you! I actually just bought an Aspire 100 and can tell I'm going to love it. This video helped me understand all its features.

[@shanechenery7261]

Great video Adam - really well explained. It seems that you are at the "rapids" end of the spectrum somewhat, compared to the relaxing / recreation like many of us ......me included. I am interested to know your thoughts on how this would compare to the slightly bigger Pungo (120), which is 12 foot compared to 10 and a half. You mention that you might want to go for something a bit longer if going for "longer" paddles. Just wondering what your view of "longer" is. I am just looking to get back into it and will be using it in tame streams and rivers and in the harbour. Don't imagine I would go for more than 1 or 2 hours at a time. It seems it might be a bit easier to transport than the 12 foot Pungo but still be good enough on flat water thanks to the skeg. Any thoughts much appreciated.

[@thewindroad7794]

This was such a good review. Subscribed!

[@annavallentin4662]

Thanks for the very thorough review and advice.

[@sgockley]

I have a lifetime lancer 10 that I love I have a pungo 120 that I love Sometimes I choose one over the other and then miss the boat at home. I am hoping the aspire is a perfect blend of both so I never feel like I am missing anything.

[@stuartderham4620]

Love my Aspire 105, great kayak

[@christyrattay5213]

My understanding is that the grooves on the bottom also aid in tracking.

[@yakkelberry214]

I agree. It certainly does a good job of that!

[@jafojeff9577]

Yes the video was long but you provided allot of information. well done

[@dirtbikeadv]

Really great vid mate I love your real world experience :)

[@coupesandroadsters]

Great video. What is the purpose of the two bungee cords on the back of the seat shown at @12:25? I see that you have one connected to the bungee on the rear. I didn't see this mentioned in the owners manual so I'm just not sure if they're meant for something specific or not.

[@yakkelberry214]

Those bungees that have hooks on the end are there so that when transporting your kayak you can lay the seat all the way forward and hook those bungees to the front of the seat portion and it will hold the backrest down and out of the wind. Hope that helps! In the video you notice I have one of the hooks connected to the bungee on the rear deck and that holds the seat in the upright position which is very helpful when trying to re-enter your kayak. Nothing more aggravating when you are trying to get in and the seat keeps falling forwards when you are out on the water. :)

[@coupesandroadsters]

@@yakkelberry214 ahhh thank you very much!

[@richardjeffries7893]

Hey Adam, good video. We've briefly talked about this boat before. I'm definitely not a white water guy but I've moved past the pelican that I started with for fishing. I love my 105, and I know it's not a true ww boat. I'm about 250lbs and 5' 11" and it suits me most days. I've had it in class 3 and maybe 4 on the upper new river gorge, with overnight gear. I haven't tried to roll it, but probably will. Being a heavier guy the weight capacity is a plus. I drop my knees and can lock in pretty decent but a little hip padding wouldn't hurt. I've had the foot braces be a little stubborn when adjusting. I get a little water in my hatch. But my gear is in dry bags or the large muscle milk powder jars ( they fit nicely between the seat sides and hull too) . My skegg doesn't drop as far as yours and I'm thinking yours may be wrong but don't know. I have a seals 5.5 skirt that is a bear to get on the boat when I'm wearing the skirt but a friend definitely helps. I like this boat. I probably take it further than it should go but that's life. Thanks for showing the 105 some love.

[@yakkelberry214]

Wow thats awesome that you are able to use that to such a degree. Id credit that to your paddling skills im sure. As far as the skeg, if i didnt let the knot drop into the “catch” on the side it doesn’t drop out that far. I did have a 105 where the skeg flopped all over the place when paddling and made a terrible knocking sound for each stroke. I ended up adding a washer to the side of the pivot points between the skeg and boat and it helped. I also noticed a little water getting in the hatch. Just a fantastic boat. The last one we got was extremely hard to find. Im glad we have two.

[@richardjeffries7893]

@@yakkelberry214 I don't know how much skill was involved. Lol . I'd be a beater at best.

[@The2ballcane]

I purchased an Aspire 105 last May, and the only hiccup I found with it was the rear hatch still let in minor amounts of water. It was easily fixed by removing the hatch base and applying a bead of silicone around each bolt hole and a fine bead around the circumference of the mating area. I am a fan of redundancy, so as much as I do trust the hatch now I still tend to carry everything in dry bags.

[@neuregel]

on my aspire I bought a tub that fits in the rear storage. it reduces the amount of storage but the rear bulkhead passes water this keeps items more dry

[@HectorColon45]

hey i have to say thanks this introduction was amazing i have a question Im 5'11 @ 260 will that affect the ride im new but i like a bit off speed i have rented a couple of yaks and i can see the difference. my wife faster than me lol thanks.

[@CircleOf5ths]

Love this boat. Have two of them for my wife and I. Only complaint is the seat back straps don't hold position and the seat back gets stuck under the cockpit rim in the rear. Very annoying for what could be a very nice seat. If the seat back was a little higher it would rest against the rear rim instead of getting under the rim which is a real problem. I'm going to get some clamps for the seat back straps to see if I can limit the slippage. My other thought is to get a pool noodle to fit on the rear rim which the seat back can rest upon & prevent it form getting under the rim. Has anyone else figured out a solution?

[@angierodriguez5743]

Thank you for explaining!

[@craigharrell1372]

Aside from the Aspire skeg & the Pungo console, what’s seems to be so much better about the Pungo?

[@lt9378]

Fantastic review Hope to buy one today!

[@yakkelberry214]

Thank you! Good luck to you

[@12STONESADVENTURES]

Nice review Yakkleberry!

[@asbinstock]

TRying to decide between the Aspire 100 and 105. I'm 5'-8" and 185lbs. Any thoughts on which of the two are better suited?

[@addisonsteiner6473]

@Yakkelberry (or others) -- I'm really torn between the Aspire, the Pungo in 10 or 12.5 ft or maybe even a Tsunami in 12.5 ft. I have a 145 Tsunami and I just love it but I need a shorter boat for some group outings through winding rivers, Class I & II waters and sometimes with tight turns and often very shallow water ... I'm 5'10" and 240 lbs so I need a boat that can handle my weight.

[@GeezerWheelClub]

I might have missed it but what’s your height and weight? I’m 6”3 at 225 and am seriously looking at the aspire 105

[@jjellen5804]

How does this compare to the pungo 100?

[@FeWolf]

Great rec boat