I picked up an Express after owning 5 other kayaks over a 12 year period. I bought it sight unseen and without paddling one beforehand. I chose this kayak after carefully considering what I wanted a kayak for. I wanted a rough water boat that does good in the surf and paddles through wind and chop with ease. I wanted a boat that was easy to roll. I was not too sure about buying a boat that didn't have bulkheads or hatches but after using this boat for the last six months I feel that the bulkheads and hatches I have on my other boats are just added weight with no real use. I use full sized float bags coupled with a sea sock and I have found this system works great and makes loading and unloading a breeze. The more I paddle this boat the more I like it. I am 5-11 and 215lbs. and the boat fits me perfectly without any additional outfitting. Any bigger and this might might be too small.
I wanted a tough boat and Matt talked me into his fiberglass hull. Makes a tuning fork kind of noise when it comes crashing down off the top off large waves. It is sub 50 lbs and I like it. This boat feels great in windy conditions. As controlable as any other I have paddled. It is not particulary fast in my hands but it aint slow either. A very happy medium would describe it's speed. It makes me smile when I paddle it. But then again I smile in an inner tube.
