Loon 100

I love my red Old Loon 100 kayak. Small enough to shove inside my minivan to transport for quick after work paddles. No rudder or skag but does have foot rests to stabilize and easily maneuvers with paddles strokes. More roomy than it looks. Have used for 1-2 overnight trips where we had to pack in everything including water and camp fire wood. I'm getting another longer kayak for larger water ways but I will keep my little red kayak for quick fun!

This is a solid kayak. I borrowed this boat for a summer of fishing and it was well up to the task. For a 10ft boat, you are not going to find a faster better tracking ride. This thing had me loving the journey. For the inexperienced it feels a little tippy at first but trust the boat the secondary stability is good and the trade off is well worth it because its fast. The seat is only average but any stadium cushion from a dollar store will greatly help that. I would highly recommend and I was sad when I had to give it back. If I ever find a used one (old style has a hatch) for a good price I will most likely purchase.

My Loon 100 was my first kayak (always had canoes before), and it's my old faithful. It's probably fifteen years old, and still my go-to boat anywhere I've got room to maneuver it. It feels a bit tippy at first, but in my experience, both primary and secondary stability are excellent. I'm told you can roll the thing, but I haven't tried it. It's comfortable, roomy, referred to as "that damn fast boat" by most of my paddling companions, and just in general about my favorite boat ever. I've used it for overnights and up to short stretches of Class (barely) III - I got wet, but no spray skirt, so you can't blame the boat.

All in all, I highly recommend, if you can find a used one, grab it.

The Loon 100 was our first kayak. We thought it was tippy at first but once we went down a river we found it worked just great. I think it works better then most 10'. We now have 12' Vapors because we wanted the extra room plus the prices were right but we will keep our little Loon - it makes a nice spare boat.

We have had a Loon 100 for many years. It is the best of the small kayaks that I have seen. It tracts beautifully and is fast. However, it is small and I believe it has a weight and height suggestion on it. I am 5'7" and 145 lbs and that is about the limit. My son now 6'2" needs a new boat. But we will keep this one for the fun it is. Way better than the otter for speed and tracking ability.

This boat is very tippy. I have been down rivers and around lakes in rented and borrowed kayaks and never been so unstable. I bought this kayak after reading reviews of it being a good beginner boat, SO not true. At 225lbs and 5'10" I flipped this boat twice in the first 30 min and had to go back to camp and warm up, this boat totally ruined my trip.

This boat was riding very low with me in it and I think that's why it was so unstable, it should be rated for 200lbs max. Let me say again this is the 8th kayak I have paddled in and it is the worst stability by far.

perfect beginner boat for small rivers. This isn't a long haul boat, but it serves its purpose for me as a loaner for less experienced paddlers when a little maneuverability is the word of the day.

The 100 loon is a very good boat. It tracks "ok" and is perfect for rivers. It FEELS a little tippy for some newcomers, but the stability is actually very very good. It may feel like you could tip easily but it takes a lot of effort to overturn this boat. We have a few different kayaks, and though the stability isn't what the Dirigo or Otters are, it is still a great boat for river running, fishing, and lake cruising. I actually added deck rigging and more options and now I prefer this boat over any of the other ones we own, or that I have used. If you get the loon you won't be disappointed.

I took my Loon 100 out today for the first time today. It was surprising how well it performed for the price. It was stable enough for me to fish out of. This being my first time ever in a kayak and fishing from it I can say that it is not tippy. And its pretty quick. I would like a little more room but I cant complain I bought a 10' boat.

Quick to respond to turns. Seat that is extremely comfortable. Front bungees to far forward to put anything that you will need while paddling.
This was my 3rd kayak. And I was really disappointed in the stability. I like to paddle local rivers, running lots of small class 1 rapids. This boat had me working continuously to keep it upright. I felt like I rode to high up out of the water. Even my friends said I looked like I was sitting really high out of the water. I found myself swimming twice after encountering class 1 rapids.

After years of paddling. I expected a bit more stability out of this craft. It is getting sold and I am looking for something a bit more stable. I want to run rapids, but I also want a stable craft since I'm not a young kid any more. Way to tippy for me.

I just got a Loon 100 with the dry storage compartment. It rides faster than my old Lobo Kayak. Yet it is noticeably less stable. I weigh 185 lb and after 5 trips I am just getting confident in water that is slightly choppy. It really wants to start tipping and rolling instantly when I hit a little turbulence. The trick is gaining skill in balance.
First time out I would react instantly to tipping and the thing would be come more unstable. Now I balance the thing by shifting my weight just a bit and use the oar to stabilize. It takes practice.

If you are new to kayaking and lacking agility, I would suggest a kayak with a flatter bottom and thus more stable. The flatter bottom kayaks also require more work because there is more drag. (My non professional opinion) Unlike all previous Loon 100's, this new 100 has a great dry storage compartment with a quick release hatch. I now can bring my camera and wallet etc. The old Loons did not have this. For what I paid, about $500, I believe this is a good package. The boat has attractive chiseled lines and a handsome rise from front to opening. The adjustable Ergonomic seat is way way nice. Bravo Old Town! I can raise the soft rubber seat up and down and too and fro with the pull of some quick set straps. No tying etc.
The boat sides do not get in the way of Oar action, no hitting etc. And the giant opening is easy to get into.

I would recommend this for lake, quiet river and flat water ocean bays, etc. For large inland bays with afternoon choppy conditions and stiff winds, this is not recommended unless fairly skilled at balance and oar work.

Overall a pretty good kayak for what it is (a short, fat recreational boat). Not as stable as I had expected given its width, but still very stable even for absolute beginners. My old version has no flotation built in, so remember a bag or other means to stay afloat if swamped. It's slow of course, but tracks half-decently, is very maneuverable and only draws less than 2" of water with me (145lbs) in it. This makes it great for exploring shallow coves, wrecks etc. It also helps that it's plastic and cheap, i'd never have any fun in a fiberglass boat because i'd be afraid of smashing into a rock or a chunk of an abandoned dock or some other submerged maritime debris.

It makes a good platform for photography, but I've also gotten used to photography in a sea kayak without much trouble.

Wind isn't any fun, but I've managed decent waves and large wakes on large lakes without incident. spray skirts aren't necessary on flat calm small waters, but on a chop the bow throws tons of water at your face and the huge cockpit could swamp quickly from an unexpected wake.

I'm 5'9" 145, I feel the boat floats well with me on board, but despite the enormous cockpit, larger folks actually seem to make the boat less stable (I think it's only rated for 250lbs).

Remember though that you'll want a longer paddle for this WIDE boat than you'd want for a regular narrower touring hull.

I purchased 2-Old Towns Loons 4 years ago and have taken them extensively on camping trips. I have a Yellow Loon 100 for me, and a Green Loon 111 for my girl friend.

I use them on flat water inland lakes and love the comfort, speed, and stability. I have rigged an anchor system that works flawlessly for Fishing on both boats.

We usually have a 3rd passenger "Peaches" our toy Poodle who loved Kayaking as much as we do. These boats are easy to pull up alongside and pass her between us or grab a soda etc.

Talk about great video moments or Digital Photo memories. Extremely stable no camera glitter and crystal clear.

One word of caution, I purposely capsized Mr Loon 100 in 4 feet of water to see if I could flip it back upright full of water, unlike a canoe, it doesn't work. The best I was able to do was get the boat 1/2 empty and attempted to get back in, which I did with no problem. But at this point the boat became completely unstable and continually rolled on either side with paddle horizontal to water it dumped me out every time. I always wear a PFD, but incase of mishap I always carry 4 extra cushions I wedge 1 in the Bow and 3 behind the seat for extra flotation in an emergency. If you dump along ways from shore and want to stay with the boat until help arrives, it won’t sink just grab onto the bow or stern handle and just relax. The Cushion behind seats works great for throwing to a swimmer or boater in trouble as well.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GET BACK IN, and as for trying to Pull or Tow the boat to shore while swimming, just remember there is 400-800 pounds of water in it preventing this from happening.

I have had a loon 100 for about 4 years, and I have loved this boat the entire time. Many other people have commented that it is very tippy for a rec. boat, and while that is true, I also have been places with it that I would not go in other rec boats, such as my friends Perception Caspia. I have shot class 3 water and been out inlets in my loon, plus I’ve taken it surfing off the NC coast many times now.

If you are looking for a boat to grow in and improve your skills, this is def. the boat for you. I am looking to upgrade to a Necky Eloha DS, but I don’t feel any rush. And in terms of it being tippy; I can use a skulling brace and get the keel line out of the water, I also can do successful half rolls and have almost completed a full roll; I just need better hip pads.

If you’re looking to get into the world of kayaking and things like whitewater, touring, and surfing, this is the boat to learn your basics in. If you want to paddle with the kids, take pictures, or fish, then this boat may not be for you.

Loon 100 was too unstable for me. I am going to sell my loon 100 & upgrade to a loon 111.

I love my Loon 100. It handles class 1-2 rivers with ease. It also tracks well in flat water. It's a great all around boat. If you can only have one kayak, it's the one to own.

I'm new to kayaking, but not to canoeing/sailing. I wanted something easily transportable in the back of my Ford Ranger pickup. The Loon 100 was on sale at REI coop for $369, and I've been really pleased with it. I'm about 190 lbs and 5' 10". I use it in the marina at Marina Del Ray, CA and also out on the ocean for coastal cruising. It works just fine for that, although the spray skirt is necessary to avoid wave slops getting inside. Even though new to kayaking, I had little if any difficulty keeping it on an even keel. No spills of any kind so far, even in wakes from (slow moving) 90-100' motor cruisers and fairly heavy chop at the marina breakwater. In a word, I would say "ideal". REI advised I try a 230 paddle, and I'm very glad I didn't get something shorter. I would like, in fact, to try a longer paddle.

I have used the Loon 100 for 2 summers and love it. It is stable and tracts very well. Friends say that it tracks better than the Old Town Otter model. I use it for lake paddling and recommend it highly for begginers and intermediate users.

I LOVE my Loon and I agree with those who find it steady and sure. For me it tracks great and is the absolutely most comfortable recreational kayak I ever sat in. When I consider another kayak big enough to accommodate my big dog it will be another Loon. Plus it just looks great.

We bought a Loon 100 for my wife, I have a Necky Santa Cruz. The Loon 100 seems stable enough so far, although we have paddled mostly flatwater since purchasing it. Her one complaint is that the fasteners for some of the rigging stick through the shell a good 3/4 or 1" and are right where her knees brace under the gunwale/deck. I am going to try gluing some foam over it and see if the relieves some of the pain when bracing! Other than that one flaw, it seems well constructed.

I have taken my Loon 100 in San Diego harbor and on Lake Vincinte. I find it to be fairly fast and smooth. I did not find it any more tippy than the Hobie Pursuit which is 12 feet in length. It handles boat wakes with ease.I am 5'9" and weigh 180. The loon accomodates my 23 pound dog and myself with ease. I throughly enhoy the Loon 100.

My spousoid and I bought a Loon 100 after her brother took an icy swim Easter weekend, trying to borrow my Wilderness Systems Alto. We'd thought we would get a Wildsys Rascal as our guest boat, but found the cockpit too tight for big butts. I won't say who provided the test butt. The Rascal is a high-performance pumpkin seed, but the bigger cockpit of the Loon made our decision for us. The scary comments about stability in a couple of reviews here worried me. I have since checked the boat out. Here is my report: Initial stability is low for a small kayak. Bear in mind that this is really more of a partially-decked solo canoe. If you want the speed of a slimmer hull, you will lose tabletop stability. However, if you don't freak out at the initial tip, the secondary stability is adequate. After a couple of wobbles when I was purposely careless embarking, I found I could lean right over and dunk the gunwale without overbalancing. Ten feet is pretty short. This will compromise seaworthiness. A willing paddler can learn to make anything work, but a short, stubby boat with a big cockpit and catchy bilges is sort of the worst of both worlds, neither excellent in current nor born to big water. Appreciate the Loon 100 for what it is: compact, convenient, inexpensive and fairly versatile on small water and benign waves. If your paddling skill leads you to enjoy conditions beyond that, you have done well at mastering this simple craft. If you hate it after trying it, just try a different one. It's nobody's fault, not yours or the boat's.

This boat tips very easily compared with others I have used. My wife had the same experience. She was just turning in calm water and it flipped. I was reaching over to get the paddle from the dock and it flipped. We are (needless to say) very unhappy with this boat and will look for something more stable.

The Loon 100 is my first kayak. I wanted a beginner/intermediate kayak and although I'd tried a few others, I liked the Loon because I thought it was a little quicker. I use it mostly for river kayaking with up to Class 2 rapids. The only performance problem I've had is tracking in the wind. I gave the kayak a 7 overall due to some problems I initially had with its construction. The molding at the cockpit was not installed very well. Gaps allowed water collect inside the internal shell. I notified the dealer and Old Town, but did not feel their support was very good. I instead drained the kayak, replaced the original molding (which was cut too short on original installation and wouldn't fit properly), and sealed it with silicone caulk.

We almost bought one...until we put it on the water. A little wake and you could be in the drink. The Dagger Bayou or Delta and the Perception Aradia are a much better choice unless you will be on perfectly smooth water.

This is my first kayak. I am 6 feet tall 180 lbs. It fits well, is stable, easy to load inthe back of a pickp. I use it for fishing in calm waters and am not interested in whitewater or covering vast distances. as a beginner I can find nothing to complain about.

I am a woman in my late 40's who had the urge to try something new. I've had the Loon 100 for about two weeks, and although I hadn't paddled before, I found this kayak to be easy to handle on the lake where I live. From my first venture out to my now nightly excursions...it's just a great way to be out on the water!!! It does feel a bit heavier than I expected, so be sure to buy wheels to assist in transporting it on land. ENJOY!

Great on flat water, very good on rivers and streams. TRACKS better than most 12-15 footers. Can't wait for the Loon 111.