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Although it may be useful to some to see a review from someone who has owned the boat for a length of time, I see those are already there and I'd like to give my impressions as a new solo canoeist.

I didn't spend much time shopping around for solo boats because Hemlock is so close to me and I could paddle them as often as I wanted at demo nights. My first time in a Peregrine I had no interest in even buying a solo canoe. I took it out just to go out for a paddle with someone else who was in a Kestrel. I was a bit underwhelmed by my first paddle in the boat but I quickly learned it wasn't the boats fault. I wasn't very proficient with a solo stroke or heeling a narrow boat so I found it a bit hard to get good speed and turn. That said, I spent a good two hours out in it and never felt compromised. I got around where I needed to go and was able to switch between kneeling and sitting. I had been in this boat for a short time before this and also paddled the Eaglet solo, a larger and wider boat than the Peregrine.

After a month or two I began to get the urge to seriously consider buying a solo canoe. I'd paddled my tandem solo and felt more comfortable doing so. The attraction was a lighter and sleeker hull that I could use on long carries without as much effort.

When continuing my testing, I decided maybe I should try a Kestrel. This was based on my lukewarm feeling for the Peregrine based on earlier paddles. I am a bit large for a Kestrel, weighing in at an average of 200lbs and standing 5'-1O". Dave assured me that larger paddlers than myself could handle the small boat no problem. After my first test with the Kestrel I was in love. The boat did everything I wanted it to! It turned, accelerated fast and handled wind and waves with ease. Because of my lack of experience in a solo boat I was urged by others to keep trying the Kestrel or consider a Peregrine for extra stability.

My next test day I soon found out why. I found it difficult to maneuver myself around the cockpit of the smaller craft and soon found myself in the water! It was then I decided to give the Peregrine another look.

I soon found that I had come a ways in terms of my stroke and confidence in a solo boat and the Peregrine seemed to do everything very well. I also found I could be quite aggressive with moving about in the cockpit and switching between sitting and kneeling with no concerns of falling in... this was an added bonus.

Another day of testing with the Peregrine and I decided I would buy one. It is a very good beginners boat I would say. When you are a bit green it won't bite you too hard and it rewards you when you push it a little farther. I thought the boat was slow at first but it is actually rather quick as has a sick glide. It is, as others have said, secretly fast.

All in all, an awesome solo boat for any ability level and for those who are larger and/or want to carry a big load. Not quite the sports car that the Kestrel is, but a sleek cruiser none-the-less. I opted to pick up a new-old-stock Kevlar hybrid weighing in at 33lbs that Dave had listed on his website.

I tried one of these out a few weeks ago on a small pond. It was about the easiest thing I have ever paddled. I had never used a double blade before or paddled a kayak-like boat but it took off like a rocket with a few strokes and tracked fairly well. Turning was a breeze, I don't know the terms for a double blade but either sweep to one side or drag and rudder and it would change direction easily.

The seat was extremely comfortable and the position was great. Easy to get in and out of as well. The placement of the thwarts was nice as well and gave the boat a nice, stiff feel at the gunnel. Overall a nice boat for a beginner or someone who wants the speed of a kayak but with the convenience of a canoe.

I have to give this boat a 10 because that is what I gave my Swift Keewaydin 16, and I feel it is every bit as good or better than that boat. Mine is a Deluxe fiberglass layup weighing in at 65lbs. We bought it as a compliment to our Kevlar Fusion Swift - the Eagle should be a fair deal tougher and is noticeably stiffer.

The workmanship is excellent and the wood trim makes the boat look a treat. It is an extremely comfortable and sturdy craft as well. The generous radius on the ash gunnels feel nice when you push your knee against them or your hand brushes them with the paddle. This is in stark contrast to the harsh aluminum trim found on many lightweight canoes.

The Conk double contoured seats are excellent; extremely comfortable and properly placed. Every little detail adds up to be an amazing paddle. The hull shape is very similar to the Keewaydin and features the 'bubble' sides found on the Curtis Northstar, the current Swift Keewaydin, and the Eagle. The result is a boat with superb secondary stability and narrow paddling stations. It's no surprise both my boats have these - they make for a great hull.

The Eagle seems to have a bit of a magical quality about it though. It glides and tracks fantastically, yet turns very, very nicely. My only slight complaint is it's seaworthiness. For some reason, it seems the Keewaydin is a bit drier. We tested both back to back in some moderate waves and had more splash with the Eagle. It wasn't a major concern and a little water never hurt anyone.

Overall a fantastic tandem boat that anyone could paddle with ease.

I was hesitant to get one of these and had considered using a bare external frame and lash system to carry my dry bags. I decided to bite the bullet and order one to see what it looked like, and then if I didn't like the way it looked or worked I would return it. No pressure.

I am happy to say the issues that had been previously reported with this product failing at the top strap look to have been resolved. The top strap is looped and double stitched to prevent separation from the 'frame' section of the system. I won't say for sure if it won't fail but it doesn't look as though it will. NRS claims to have solved the problem with this design change.

Fitment is OK. The system could benefit from a torso adjust for the shoulder straps. It fits me fairly well (I'm a medium to medium/small on the Lowe system) but I would like the torso to be an inch shorter or so. Not a big deal though. It isn't uncomfortable to wear.

I loaded up a 55L OR dry bag which is what I plan on carrying my gear in and fitted it up to the system. Adjustment was quite simple and the clips and adjusters are of decent quality. I wouldn't call it amazing. For instance it doesn't feel as nice or as easy to adjust as my Lowe bags, which cost over 3X as much. Anyway the bag fit on there fine with plenty of extra space in the adjusters to fit something with more height and more girth.

There is a strap system for which one could attach a single bladed paddle on the back panel. I see how this could work in theory but I didn't try it yet. It looks as though the shaft might just whack you in the head. Nice idea but I don't know how practical it will be.

On the back panel there is also a bungee system and and lash points to tie on other things. Once could bungee a sleeping pad back here or the like. I'm not sure exactly how I want to orient my sleeping pad... I was thinking horizontally across the top as long as it doesn't mess with me carrying the boat.

There are two side pouches on the waist belt which I have no idea what use they may be. They are very small. Like pocket change size. One could put their keys in them but the system doesn't float (or at least I don't think) so if you flip, your keys along with the system will be sitting on the bottom of the pond.

The waist belt itself is pretty weak. The padding only about 1/4" thick although the width and the wrap are sufficient. It has a nice large clasp up front although the cinching was not as nice as a real backpack. I could get it tight but it was a bit fussier and didn't feel as nice as a backpacking bag. There are no load control cinch webs on the side of the waist belt but there are on the shoulder straps. The shoulder straps themselves have minimal padding and are a bit fiddly to adjust, just like everything else. It isn't horrible but it doesn't scream quality.

Onto the frame itself.
It had a molded foam and mesh pad built onto some sort of rigid plastic. I felt around on the plastic and there is something stiffer running up the spine. Either the plastic is thicker or reinforced there or there are some struts in there. Either way it is fairly rigid I suspect can support as much load as waist and shoulder straps can.

Seen as how I don't plan on wearing this for more than a mile at a time I don't see it as being a bad system. All in all it is lighter and more compact than a barrel setup AND/OR my backpack. The dry bag and the NRS system together weigh about half of what my pack does. It also folds up pretty compactly due to the thin padding on the belts.

My hope is to keep all my gear dry in the boat via the dry bags but also have an acceptable, and somewhat comfortable portage system. So far it looks promising.
Total: the NRS system with a 55L Bag: $100

The only other comparable product I found was the ULA Epic. Reviews on this one are mixed. It does come with a 65L Sea to Summit Dry Bag (I don't like them as much as the OR bags).
Cost on this one is: $275.
The ULA weighs about 1/2 pound less and has similar features. The padding looks similarly thin as well. Other features are somewhat similar. The ULA would have to be really comfortable to warrant that extra $175 because it doesn't look as though it would be any more durable. It does come in different sizes which would probably help the comfort.