Adventure XL 125

I have been using this kayak as a tent for the past few days. It has been very stable, even in quite choppy water. I'm 6 foot 4, and 300lbs. and this kayak works wonders. Highly recommend it.

I have had this boat since 2006 and have taken it on many adventures. This kayak has gone with me on several rivers in Louisiana, the Gulf of Mexico (Holly Beach, Louisiana), Lake Michigan (Wisconsin), Lake Winnebago, and a variety of smaller lakes and rivers throughout Wisconsin.

I have a wide variety of experience with water sports including whitewater kayaking so I don't have the fear of tipping over. I have never tipped this kayak even in 5 foot swells on the gulf. I have a rudder on it and have added Rod holders. I hooked into a tuna and the stability of this kayak during the fight. This fish pulled me five miles through big waves and wind. Point is, this boat can handle a lot more than I ever expected out of it and would highly recommend it to people to give it a try. Always try before you buy though.

Me: 6'3" 240lbs.
I'm only posting this review just in case there is a large guy out there who for some reason (a great deal perhaps, maybe ease of transport) that thinks this is the one for him. DON'T DO IT!

Yes, the stated capacity is 280lbs or so but if someone that large were to use this kayak they would probably be capsized by a passing mallard! At 240lbs. I can technically fit in it but it is so unstable and slow that I just couldn't bring it back to the dock fast enough. What I've figured out is that manufacturer's weight capacity guidelines are usually on the generous side (expanding their potential customer base).

If you are a big guy, you are going to be happiest in a big boat. Buying a Kayak that is too small because it is cheaper or easier to move of the water is like cramming yourself into a pair of jeans that haven't fit you since college.

I bought the last Adventure XL 125 at the Old Town Outlet sale after doing a lot of online, & some on-water(demos)research.

I am 5'6" and 160 lbs. The Adventure XL 125 felt great from the first time I tried it, and I continue to be delighted with it. I have paddled every weekend in conditions ranging from windy chop to strong current to calm. I found it to be very stable in all conditions. This kayak handles, tracks and glides nicely, although it does "wander" in a breeze when you stop paddling.

The boat is well built. At 50 lbs., I struggle loading it on and off my Forester. Once I dropped it badly enough that it bounced, but it suffered no damage. Both bow & stern compartments remain dry. The twist locks on the hatches work well. I find the seat to be just as comfortable as my friend's Phase 3. I do plan to add knee pads to the cockpit coaming. This is why I gave it a 9 and not a 10.

I recommend using these valuable reviews for reference, but you must try before you buy. Enjoy!

Hey I just purchased a new XL 125 after paddling a Loon 138 for 5 years. Love every thing about the boat. Easy to load, tracks nicely for me. Just spent the entire weekend on the Current river in Mo. Had plenty of room for my share of the gear (group campout). It's just a smidge narrower than the Loon but took little if any getting used to. Like the high rocker feature, makes beaching and crossing obstacles easy. For someone considering a good cross between flatwater and class I water, this is the boat for you.

The XL125 is one of 8 Old Town boats we have for our family and handles very nicely. Some have noted in these reviews it is tippy, but we've not found that a problem with us. Most likely any 'tippiness' could come with a persons specific height or style of paddling. As with any boat, try before you buy. I've found Old Town quality to be great.

I just bought this Kayak this summer and have been disappointed with it. The tracking is not good. When you stop paddling the Kayak tends to go one way or another. Also the compartments leak so I must reseal them. I also own a Castine it is a much better Kayak for the money. It tracks 10 times better than the XL125. The larger cockpit is nice but the tracking of the Castine is far superior.

I bought this kayak in April from Spring River Outfitters in Rockville MD, and am very pleased with the boat. It's a nifty cross between a rec boat and a small touring kayak. Its 12'5" length gives you reasonable speed, and its 27.5" beam makes it pretty stable (not sure why the previous poster had such difficulty in that regard, unless he was much bigger than my 5'9 165 lbs). Moreover, the boat's high bow and raised cockpit rim keeps it quite dry. I paddled around Annapolis last weekend, and although there was some wind and chop out by the Naval Academy, the boat rode through it quite well (however, in such windy, 2-3 foot wave conditions it would be smart to wear a spray skirt and know how to roll; I'll take some lessons). Also, the sealed bulkheads in the bow and stern provide good built-in flotation, and the kayak floats high in the water when swamped. The previous weekend I intentionally capsized in a quiet tributary of the upper Potomac, and was able to climb back in (after a couple tries) and bail it out. However, I'll get a paddle float and practice re-entry to make self-rescure easier in the future. The boat has hatches over each bulkhead, with a cool "twist-lock" feature, so they're easy to open but also close securely. The storage compartments are pretty roomy, which would be great should I ever go kayak-camping. There's also a thin rubber gasket under the hatches, which hopefully minimizes water leakage (although a little water seeped in when I capsized). Old Town's "poly-link 3" material is a bit heavy, and the boat weighs about 50+ lbs. Still, it's relatively easy to pick up and manuever once you get the hang of it. I developed a system for swinging the boat off the wall of my storage room into an easy low-arm carry, and sliding it up the back of my car to the roof rack. Once I arrive I slide it backwards off the rack and heft it onto my shoulder to carry to the water (although the boat gets heavy pretty fast!) Overall, I think the Adventure XL 125 is a great boat. It has the sleek look and some capability of a small sea kayak but is small enough to be manageable. With a spray skirt, I'd feel confident taking this boat onto protected parts of Chesapeake Bay or other close-in coastal areas when the water warms up. I'd also give high marks to the folks at Spring River. They were extremely helpful and knowledgeable about the boats, and clearly wanted to help me find the right kayak for my needs. I'd recommend them for anyone looking to buy a boat.