I bought my 10' ELIE Sound as my 1st kayak. It handles very well in came waters for beginners or someone who is around lakes most of the time. I did take it out on the river when there were 2' waves and it handled them very nicely but I would recommend buying a spray skirt when doing that. I did have a little water in the cockpit but it loved the waves and responded nicely. I would highly recommend this kayak to anyone who would like to go out and just relax on the water. It is easy for most people to carry by yourself
The cockpit is easy to get in and out of. The only downfall is that it is slow.
