The Sojourn series is very different from the Tampicos that it replaced and a big step up for Hurricane. The first thing that strikes you is the beauty of the deck in the finish and the shaped architecture, which adds considerable stiffness to the deck. Hard chines give it more stiffness on the sides. Best of all is the new hull shape.
I’ve owned 7 thermoformed kayaks from 5 different manufacturers. The Sojourn 135 is the keeper. Along with the Deltas, it is the most stable kayak I’ve ever paddled due to the large volume in the bow and stern which gives it buoyancy in waves. The hull shape and stability are very similar to Delta’s and the opposite of Eddyline’s very low bow and stern. This translates to a safe, dry ride even for less skilled paddlers as the kayak naturally wants to remain upright in side waves and wind. Despite its stability, the Sojourn 135 has very reasonable speed and excellent maneuverability, making lean turns in a small radius. Tracking is perfect and no rudder is needed. This kayak is suitable for everything from twisting and turning marshes to large lakes and protected coastal waters. (It’s not suitable for white water, but that’s true of all thermoformed kayaks, and you do need to be careful with all thermoformed kayaks in very cold air and water temperatures.)
This is a great touring kayak. The large volume in the bow and stern makes for easy packing. I can even bring a Helinox cot, chair, and table––camping comfort doesn’t get any better.
The seat is quite good with real thigh support and a stable seat back that adjusts easily up and down. For me the padding is a bit hard and I added a cushion under the seat cover, which can be lifted up at the front.
The one drawback of the Sojourn is that the bottom is a bit thin, which accounts for its lower price compared to its competitors, the Eddyline Equinox ($500 more) and the Delta 14 ($700 more). But the Sojourn 135 has better stability and speed than the Eddyline and a more comfortable cockpit than the Delta. Its beauty is on par with both. For the first time, Hurricane is offering a well-designed product that has advantages over the thermoformed competition. With the Sojourn series it becomes hard to justify the higher price of the competitors. And the Sojourn is only a couple hundred dollars more than a rotomolded kayak, but weighs 10 lbs less.
Hurricane’s customer service is top notch. They are very responsive to questions and problems.
I gave up a 15.5’ thermoformed kayak for the shorter, lighter Sojourn and have been very happy with that exchange. I lost nothing in speed and gained a tremendous amount of stability, maneuverability, much more volume for camping gear, more comfort, and easier loading and storage.
ACTUAL MEASURED SPECS
Depth, floor to underside of coaming, at front of cockpit: 13”
Cockpit, internal dimensions: 16.5 x 34 (dimensions at website are external) Weight: 43 lbs on my scale; 45 lbs published"
