Profile
Name: guest-paddler
Most Recent Reviews
My first kayak was a Hurricane Santee 116 with a wide beam, but I knew I’d eventually outgrow it and want a boat that I could learn more advanced kayaking techniques. I spent a lot of time researching other brands, but settled on Eddyline because of their reputation, the quality and craftsmanship of their boats, and they're just beautiful kayaks.
With COVID and people wanting to get outdoors, a lot of local paddle shops had sold out of their boats. I began looking for a shop in Northern California to demo a Eddyline Skylark and an Equinox. Headwater Adventure Company in Redding, California had both so I was able to paddle them back to back on the water. Plus they were the only shop that actually had an Equinox in stock. I chose the Equinox because it has a keyhole cockpit with thigh braces and I could push the boat a lot farther when edging. I also wanted a longer boat with a bit more storage.
Having owned my Equinox now for almost a year, I love it!. It has a long waterline and amazing tracking and glide. It accelerates pretty quick and doesn't take a lot of effort to maintain speed. With the width of the beam and the hull design, it’s a very stable boat which makes it great if you’re taking photos of wildlife or using binoculars. My wife and my 13 year old daughter have both paddled it and don’t feel it to be twitchy or unstable.
As far as weight, I can load it on my Subaru Outback by myself, but I can see where it could be a bit much for some people. I think the Equinox is a great first boat for a beginner or even a more advanced paddler. I also see it as a great transition boat that you can grow into, learning various kayaking techniques, honing your skills and eventually move up to another kayak. I’m 5’ 9” and 170 lbs. The fit and seat is comfortable with enough leg room to not feel cramped on long paddles. This is a fun kayak. It makes me want to get out on the water!