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The key word to think about with this kayak is leisure. This is a small, light, easy to maneuver boat for one person who's not in a hurry. If you're paddling along, you move at a leisurely pace. This kayak was on sale when I got it, so for the money I'm giving it a 10. That doesn't mean it's perfect; it means the cost/value ratio is in my favor.

What it's not:
It is not a speed demon. But it's not supposed to be fast. Remember to take it easy and accept the fact that a longer, more narrow and pointed kayak is going to out pace you. But you're on the water for leisure, not racing. It is not a great sport kayak for fishing. There are no built in rod holders or anything like that. I suppose one could fish from it, but it's not designed for fishing. It's not for long trips. The cargo capacity is very small, no built in cargo holds, just some bungee cords and a small flat spot behind your seat. The longest trip I've made in mine is a shade over 7 miles, but that was all done in an afternoon. I've not attempted even an overnight trip downriver because I have doubts I can pack everything I'd need. But again, it's for an afternoon of leisurely day trips, not a week's voyage.

What I like about it:
It's small and light. I can carry it with one hand, and I'm a girl at 5'4" and 175 lbs. It's fairly flat and stable in the water. The flip side of it not being fast means it's probably wider than it needs to be. It won't track as straight as longer kayaks, but you can turn it in tight places, like some of the small creek backwaters I frequent. The stability makes it feel very safe. I've not had it in anything like rough water, though. The small size means I can actually fit this thing INSIDE my Buick Rainier.

The executive summary:
good value for the money, especially if you can catch it on sale. Good kayak for beginners or anybody else who wants to spend a leisurely afternoon paddling along in calm waters.

We bought this kayak early this summer on sale for our 11 year old. We paid $99 for it. We go kayaking at the lake quite often and she has no problem tracking right along with the adults. The weight limit says 130 lbs but I got on it and it did very well (I am 175 lbs). I would say my daughter has about another year on it until she could become too tall for it but we will just pass it down to our 4 year old!

If the rear passenger (typically the heaviest) can synchronize their strokes with the front passenger, the 330 moves through the water surprisingly fast and straight. I give it a 9 for the price. It's much, much stronger than a pool float, inflates easily, the valves work well, it paddles better than expected, is ten times more portable than my canoes, and (most importantly) is tons of fun. It's a little extra work but I always re-inflate when I get home, spray it out, and let it dry. This thing will probably last for years.