Nomad

Bought mine in 2005 (16 years ago) when my son was born, I figured I would would get away less to surf (as I had to travel) but had great local kayaking opportunities for a quick few hours out. So mine would be an “older” one! They later brought back the original design after it was changed to the Sport as the Roamer 1. So people seemed to miss it! Both have nice touches the others don’t The skeg is tiny but worth it and assists in tracking though you wouldn’t think it to look at it! Mine has been used and abused for years but remains stable and water tight. Used on rivers and sea (mostly sea) I have several kayaks but I always come back to this one, easy enough to move around and get on and off vehicles and get to the shore, trolley is an option for this one. Used it line fishing with good effect and surf is good fun though it’s a barge in the surf. Thigh straps help enormously as it locks you in nicely so you can bear down when paddling, you just get a better paddle and it’s less tiring. Grab lines are attached through solid parts of the hull so impossible to leak as no fixings, After all these years no complaints, and nothing but praise. I should worry about the lower hull after all the rock skipping it has done but still ok! The hull is soft and bad scratches / gashes fold over themselves and almost seem to self seal, certainly the best sit on top I have had!

I bought my Nomad to be a dedicated beach toy. It is a blast in the surf and really not that bad for straight paddling. I did a 6-mile ocean paddle in it and it wasn't exactly fast but it wasn't a total barge. But it really excels in the surf.

The inset attachment points that Feelfree builds in for the seat and thigh straps are really great for the surf. Nothing gets caught up in them - no danger of snagging a paddle leash, life jacket or bow line. The boat has the wheel in the keel which I'm not really crazy about - a good cart works better on the sand. The boat also has an attachment point for an optional rudder - I have not needed it. I had narrowed my choices down to the Ocean Frenzy or the Nomad. The Nomad was way more comfortable - it has a slightly wider seat pan, it just felt better.

I bought this kayak on a whim as a scratch and dent special to have as a spare when taking other people out on the river. After using it once I immediately fell in love. This thing is absolutely effortless to move through the water and even in 3-4 foot swells it begs for more. I'm actually looking at another one just in case something happens to this one. Whoever designed this boat really thought it through. There is nothing accidental here. My only complaint (and it's not that big of a deal to me) is the center dry hatch isn't all that dry. I'm not sure exactly how water gets in there, but it does. Just a dry bag thrown in there with my stuff solves this problem, but just something to be aware of.

I have a 12' and 13' SOT kayaks that I use in lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. They are stable and fast, but heavy to lift and cumbersome in the surf. I wanted a smaller light weight boat that was easy to transport, worked well in the surf, and would be large enough to fish from.

I have to say I have been pleasantly surprised with the Nomad. It has a lot of rocker (curved up front and rear) so it does pretty well in the surf. It is not as light as Feel Free claims (#48 vs #43) but it is so much easier to lift/load than my other boats it is not a problem. The wheel in the keel gets used often as a have a 0.2 mile round trip to the beach from my house. Load my gear in it and walk down the side walk....easy until you get on the loose sand. Also, the molded in side handles give you firm control when putting it on the SUV.

Although not as stable as my 13' it is pretty good and after adapting I have not had any issues. I agree with others that the tracking lacks some, but wh en I pay attention to my form and keep the paddle close to the boat it is just a small left/right wiggle. I did have one day when I really did struggle with tracking in the ocean. Winds kicked up to 20 knots while I was out and waves got up to 3 feet and from the rear quarter. The back end would tend to skid out unless you had the paddle firmly planted and under power to prevent the skid. I purchased the $45 removable skeg and have been out on equally challenging days and the rear end tracked like a razor.

The boat seems well built and does not leak at all. Two minor complaints: The seat is fairly low in the boat and your backside will be wet to some degree most of the time. 2nd, it seems a little slower to me than other boats of its size...my guess is the significant rocker and the the wheel slow it down some. Even so, that is a reasonable compromise for me. I am 5'9" and the boat fits me like a glove with my feet in the furthest position. It could be small for the taller folks.

I must have loved my Nomad... I wore the bottom out, did a lot of 2-3 rapids in it, I could charge through the wave and let the wave wash over me, fun on a hot day. I could take my beagle with me, he would stand on the front until he saw the rapids and then sit behind me in the well, he learned this after many swims. I have bought 3 more kayaks all sit-inside but with summer coming I think I need another Nomad.

I own 2 nomads and a tri yak. I can't say enough good about these boats. I paddle every day on Lake Havasu without any troubles. I have never had a problem with leaks. Boats have always been water tight. I like these boats so much I am considering a dealership here in Havasu.

Bought a Nomad 2 years ago, use it on Essex Coast of England, dealer recommended a canvas seat, this together with home made thigh straps can use in 12 ft waves.
I have been on the water 40 years, and rate this a better than usual buy

I bought a Nomad because I absolutely adore the Tri-Yak. The Nomad, however, is not all around what I was hoping for: a stable and dependable one person SOT.

Starting with the positives, the Nomad is super fast and fun. Tracking would of course be improved with the skeg, but with a boat of this size, it turns easily and quick. Paddle response is super fast and this might cause frustration to those who want to relax. The Boat is light and carries my weight well (260lbs), but admittedly a bit small for my stature 6'1 large build. All in all I will enjoy this boat on the inland rivers and flat water I cruise.

Negatives are serious, but require some knowledge and adaptation. The dry wells, aren't dry. This is where the water is coming in, not the molded grommets on the side of the boat. I too had water in on the first outing and took it home and filled the boat with water and watched for where it spills out. Read hatch was the culprit and one of the fasteners for the cargo straps. I silicone Gooped the strap fastener and the rear and front hatch. I believe the problem is that the frame for the hatch was poorly sealed. After removing it, the factory silicone was not properly and insufficiently applied. I corrected this and screwed it all back together. If this is not the fix, I will simply seal the hatch entirely, but it would be nice to be able to use it. Getting in the boat in water is tricky and took me about three tries, but the boat had taken on some water and made it even more squirrelly, stay low and slide.

I had hoped this would be my 2 day tripping boat, but it clearly will not be. I will take the Tri-Yak solo and have plenty of room for luxury gear that I would otherwise do with out.

In hindsight, I would pass on this boat for the trouble I have had to fix myself, but after the fix, it really is a nice designed hull and so very easy to load on top of rack and generally portable. I am still looking for my "right" boat, any suggestions would be appreciated. It is hard to find the boat to accommodate my size and over all function. I may have to settle for a 12 foot canoe in the end, or a small and skinny Jon Boat/pontoon to paddle.

I’ve had the Feelfree Nomad for a little over two months now and used it about 21 times now. The first time I took it out at Bass Lake in Central California. The kayak was very ziggy and I did not enjoy it too much. When I stopped paddling the kayak would turn immediately to one side. After a few more frustrating outings at Newport Harbor I decided to order the skeg from Feelfree. I installed the skeg and took it out at Newport Harbor again, what a big difference the skeg makes; now it tracks more truer and the ziggyness of it was greatly decreased. One note about the skeg it will snag kelp (seaweed) so bring a knife just in case. I enjoy the Nomad a lot more now and frequently take it out Dana Point, CA and go out about 1 to 2 miles out of the Harbor entrance. My average speed with this kayak is around 3mph (GPS). I give it an 8 because they should have included the skeg which cost $47.00 on eBay.

I bought this kayak to compliment my sit in side kayak and give me a little more freedom to venture further out to the ocean and to swim. First off the Nomad is just as fast as my Mainstram Streak. I think the raised bow out of the water helps some. The tracking is poorer but can be compensated by varying the paddling. One thing of note: The Nomad is not easy to re-enter due to it's tippiness. It requires some practice. I made a mistake of trying it first in too deep water and had to side stroke back in to shallower water with the kayak in tow.

All in all I am impressed with the abilities and quality of this kayak and I recommend it. I'll probably purchase the skeg for better flatwater tracking.

Great boat! I've paddled it about 20 times in 2005. It's very at home in surf and moderately moving rivers, but I've played a lot with it on lakes and even done weekends on it. The skeg helps tracking on flat water, but don't use it in surf. The Nomad's tough - I've taken it over rocks in whitewater and even done dry dock starts-using the thigh straps to ooch it off the dock. It's really stable but if I really try I can flip it, and I can even do T-rescues in it-if I'm upside down and someone comes over I can flip it right side up using the thigh straps. Don't expect to sit dry unless you get the scupper plugs...you can plug the water coming in under your butt...

I am 50yrs old, 5'10" 250lbs. I paddle this boat with the greatest of ease. It's easily driven, turns on a dime. Seems to paddle a lot like slalom kayaks I had in my 20's. I paddle it offshore at La Jolla and Coronado, and in Mission and San Diego bay. Works good in the surf, and handles great in the chop. I don't have the rudder attachment, but I don't feel like I have needed it. The boat tracks fine with normal steering strokes. It's also comfortable to sit or lay on if you want to just drift and take a break. You can scrunch down with your feet on the bow and your head on the seatback and float comfortably even in choppy water, and I weigh 250! Everybody who paddles mine wants to get one.

Greetings from South Africa! I bought this kayak after a lot of research, it seemed the first boat with all the right requirements for me. I needed a small and light(ish) boat for general exploration and some surfing. Please keep in mind I am a complete novice. The boat is great but as for build quality - I've had a few problems. Generally everything is OK except mine leaked through a tiny hole on the side of one of the drain holes (on the seam). I thought I had just bought a dud, but after getting a new one from the dealer (who switched it with NO hassles), it had a hole in exactly the same place. Both times I got the Lava colour. My friend also bought one - the lime/yellow one and he's got no leaks. So maybe it's a faulty mold on the Lava assembly line? The extra fin or skeg makes the tracking a lot better, but I don't think it's bad at all without it. Once again the hole to fit the skeg on mine was too small to get it in, but after drilling it open with an 18mm spade bit it fits like a glove. Oh ja! I've filled the tiny (2mm) hole with epoxy so now all is OK, seeing as the closest dealer to me is 450km (280miles) away I couldn't be bothered not to fix it myself this time. It still gets a tiny little bit wet inside, I suspect the hatch mounts might be leaking - it will take 5 minutes, a screwdriver and some silicone to seal that up. All and all not that serious, but when you buy something new you want it to be right. As I've said the dealer is far away so in this instance it's less hassle for me to fix it myself.

That said - I LOVE IT! My wife and I are on the water almost every morning for a pre-work paddle. I could lift it on to the roof of my car on my own (with a grunt or two), but with my wife helping it's a quick and easy lift.

As for surfing, I am new so have been dunked a few times, but the other few times I've managed to catch a swell, it's been fabulous.

Easy to paddle, comfortable to sit in and loads of storage space! Plus here in South Africa it is very well priced compared to other kayaks.

Where to start with this review? Well, I bought the Nomad on Ebay for a very fair price of a bit over $300. Quality and finish are very good. I knew I was buying a short and fun little boat, and that it is. They also claimed it was a fast boat for its class, and that it is not. It might be faster then a couple of other SOTs, but not many. That is the price you pay for a fun little boat.

I'm 6'4" and 220 lbs, and my butt sits in a puddle of water all day long. My feet sit in about 2 inches of water if I keep my feet in the footwell that is a bit too short for my long legs. Using the footwells means my paddle hits my knees. No worries, I have adjusted, and sometimes just put my feet on the bow deck. The day hatches seem to be updated on mine compared to some older Nomads I have seen, but mine tend to leak a bit. Worse off is that the drain is not in a position to get out the last bit of water from inside the hull.

While turns are a breeze in this boat, it takes a bit of practice to keep this one straight. It will teach you to control your strokes. On the plus, this poor tracking pays off in the surf zone. This is a fun little boat for mild waves. I currently use the boat in the ocean and on occasion a wave will completely fill the seat, footwells and tank. Even so, this boat is still rather stable, and a few strokes of the paddle will have most of that water drained out of the 6 drain holes. I have had the Nomad out in some pretty big swells and cross winds. While on the top of a swell, the boat likes to spin around, but is quick to turn back onto course with some quick paddle action. Steep swells will keep you wet though as the built in handle seems to provide a nice splashing. But this is not what this boat is really intended for is it? I'm already looking for another boat, but plan to keep the little Nomad in the collection. It is very friendly boat, and do not think twice about letting the kids take it out. A good recreational boat if you are looking for something small, plays in the surf, stable. Also a great first boat. After paddling for 2-3 miles I'm pretty much wiped out. Just depends on how fast you try to push it. Doubling the work load will result in only a very slight speed increase. Also, they make a big deal about it being a New Zealand product. As far as I can tell, it is 100% Tiawanesse. Not that it matters much, but let's be honest. Construction quality does seem high for a plastic boat.

Bought a ocean kayak for my son for his birthday, the place that I got the kayak at didn't have any leashes so stopped at UPS sports on P.C.H. Dana Point Ca. and knew my son would like the FeelFree Nomad style a lot better. Not knowing anything about kayaks the owner asured me that for children the other kayak (which has been returned) was fine but for a grown man the Feel Free would better suit him. Guess the owner of UPS Sports was glad the day I walked in cause now we are a family of three Nomads and just love them. My son got the cammie colored one and his girlfriend and I got the purple ones... There is a fin that for $30.00 helps with the handling (but handles nice without it too). We just love our Nomads. Now just need to find other fun places to go kayaking...

The weather in west Florida is generally warm, so most of the year SOTs are a comfortable ride. I like flat water rivers, often narrow and winding, with obstacles like fallen trees. So, I want maneuverability, comfort, and reasonable tracking. I looked at Wilderness Systems and Ocean Kayak, but when I found the Feelfree I knew that it was the one. I've played with it on the upper Hillsborough River and the Withlacoochee River, and have not been disappointed. It's well made, surprisingly dry, and easy to paddle - you don't have to expend alot of effort to have the kayak go and do what you want it to do. Consider it a well-made tool for traveling on water. I'm 5'11' and 180 lbs, and it fits me well. And, my wife feels the same and she's shorter and significantly lighter than me. Its a kayak we both can enjoy. I will not hesitate to recommend Feelfree Kayak, price, quality, features, it has it all.

What a spectacular ride!!!! I purchased my Nomad on a whim, and am absolutely delighted with it. I've spent most of my time in an Ocean Kayak Venus, which I thought was great until I stuck my butt in the Nomad. To me, the Nomad has all the best features of the sit-on tops I've tried.(Scrambler, Frenzy, Venus, Yak Board) I'm small (5ft 115lbs) and I am going over and through surf that would have had me catapulted in the Venus. I thought I wasn't going to like the molded handle, but it makes life easier in the surf. The performance is amazing, fast great for cruising with the dolphins and fun for riding waves.....It is 6lbs heavier than the Venus and 2 inches wider which makes it a bit more difficult for me to get on my car, but the performance outweighs the inconvenience.