Posted September 29, 2016 – Narrated by Jim (updated October 2022)
Since we started full-time traveling in our Airstream, almost every time we launch our inflatable kayaks, we’re asked:
- Where did we get them?
- Who makes them?
- Do we like them?
- How do they handle?
- What do they weigh?
- Are they expensive?
- How small do they pack up?
We’ve been kayaking since 2004, and began with both personal and small-group instruction with the experts at Southwestern Aquatic Center at the Silver Strand State Beach in San Diego.
I’d recently had major neck surgery following years of muscle atrophy in my arm, and I instinctually felt that paddling would be good physical therapy.
After our second summer of classes in 2005, I’d gained strength, repaired nerve damage and we became enthusiasts, purchasing two Wildernesss Systems Pamlico 145T kayaks.
We liked that they could be set up as tandem two seaters or as solo crafts by moving the front seat back.
These boats served us well on the San Diego Bay where we regularly padded to lunch, breakfast, the fish market and to concerts on the bay.
But, at 14.5 feet and 73 pounds, these stable, sturdy, yet manuverable boats seemed to get heavier every year!
We continually looked at lighter weight crafts, but never made a decision … Then, came the bad news that I needed a second neck surgery.
I needed a new neck – and because of a great surgeon, I got one. A very good one, Thank you Dr. Jeffrey Lee:
Carmen and I decided to be kinder to this new neck and lighten up our lives in more ways than just our kayaks.
We began selling everything we owned including the Wilderness Systems Pamlicos, because by that time we could barely pull them on the hand trailer, much less lift them on top of our new tall Ram truck with a cap – even ultra-light boats we’re beyond our ability to manage safely at that height.
We needed kayaks that we could fit inside the truck … but with a generator, a ladder, grill, fire pit, table, tools, etc, there was simply no room.
New generation inflatable kayaks were intriguing, but we’d never seen one, didn’t know anyone who had one, and couldn’t find any in showrooms featuring them in San Diego.
We certainly didn’t want to buy kayaks without a water test.
Then, one weekend in March 2016 when we were staying at Campland on the Bay, we couldn’t believe that the folks in the space right beside us had two Advanced Elements inflatable kayaks – the very kayak brand we’d been coveting on the internet for months – and they kindly invited us to test them out on the bay!
By this time, we hadn’t paddled at all for about six months.
The video below shows Carmen taking a test run.
We decided on the Advanced Elements Advanced Frame Inflatable Kayak, model AE1012. Good for level one and level two waters.
The Advanced Frame kayaks each take about 10 minutes to get out of the bag, inflate and set it up.
We love these kayaks and have nothing but good to say about how easy they are set up and how nicely they handle.
As a bonus, while camping, they both fit under our Airstream trailer for quick and easy access:
Inflated, they are 10 feet 10 inches long and 33 inches wide. They fit into a small 31″ x 18″ x 10″ duffle bag and we store them in the back of the truck.
They weigh 35 pounds each including the seat and floor. Here are the included features:
- Rigid-formed Bow and Stern with Aluminum rib
- Integrated Tracking fin
- Military-style Air Valves and Twistlok valves
- Molded low-profile rubber handles
- Durable double PVC-coated nylon ripstop material with tarpaulin fabric
- Electronically Welded Seams
- Bungee Deck Lacing to hold extra gear
- Coaming area to keep out water
- Durable, lightweight and compact – inflates in minutes!
- Designed to be used in flat water to salt water.
- Adjustable foot brace system
- Ladder-lock straps on seat back to attach optional fishing rod holders
- AE2013HB High-back lumbar seat for the ultimate in a comfortable with an adjustable back rest.
- Carrying case
- One year warranty
- Repair kit and instructions
We also got the High-pressure inflatable 4-6 PSI dropstitch floor for extreme rigidity (we LOVE this feature and cannot recommend the high-pressure floor enough!)
To make inflating our kayaks easy, we got the Double action high-pressure 14 PSI hand pump with pressure-gauge
Since we knew we would be using these boats regularly in our travels, we bought two very light kayak paddles
We also bought two Advanced Elements Stowable Kayak Kart/Dollies so we could walk them to their destinations.
When we arrive to the water, we pop off the wheels and stow them behind the seats under the stern, then collapse the frame and stow it on top with bungee cords (you can see the dollie frame stored on top of the back with the wheels detached and stored underneath the zipper).
The only negatives is risk of mildew. When you deflate them for storage they must be dry – especially for long-term storage.
To avoid mildew, we drain them well and then dry in direct sunlight for a couple of hours, then towel dry before deflating.
If you want a tandem kayak
You like tandem kayaks? Here is a similar kayak to ours in a tandem format.
For months we paddled in the San Diego Bay until we started full-timing, then, Big Bear Lake, Mono Lake, South Lake Tahoe, Lake of the Woods in Oregon ….and much more will be added as we paddle there.
Happy Kayaking!!!!!
If you want to see our exact route, click here.
*photos in this post (unless otherwise noted) were taken and copyrighted by Living In Beauty.
