Check out our range of full drop-stitch kayaks:
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Sale!
Out of stockAir Glide 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak with Pump and Paddle
Original price was: $1,899.00.$1,598.00Current price is: $1,598.00. Read more -
Sale!
Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak with Pump and Paddle
Original price was: $1,798.00.$1,398.00Current price is: $1,398.00. Add to cart -
Sale!
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Sale!
Comparing our Full Drop-Stitch Kayaks
| Product Info |
 Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak with Pump and Paddle |
 Air Glide 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak with Pump and Paddle |
 AirVolution2 Kayak |
 AirVolution Kayak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 16 kg | 17 kg | 23.5 kg | 17.7 kg |
| Solo or Tandem | Solo | Solo | Tandem | Solo |
| length | 3.85m | 3.85m | 14’6″ (4.45m) | 13′ (3.96m) |
| width | 76cm | 77cm | 94cm | 83.8 cm |
| Stability | Stable | Unstable | Stable | Stable |
| Sit-on-top or Sit-in | Sit-on-top | Sit-on-top | Sit-on-top | Sit-on-top |
| Packed Dimensions | 86cm x 46cm x 28cm | 96cm x 57cm x 46cm | 98cm x 50cm x 28cm | 86cm x 48cm x 28cm |
| Maximum Capacity | 170 kg | 190 kg | 250 kg | 136 kg |
| Recommended Max. Paddler Weight (individual) | 170 | 190 kg | 150 kg | 136 kg |
| Recommended Max. Paddler Height | 6’2″ (1.88m) | 6’4″ (1.93m) | Unlimited | 6’4″ (1.93m) |
| Recommended for Coastal / Open Water | No | No | No | No |
| Max Whitewater Class | Class 1 | Class 1 | Class 2 | Class 2 |
| Self-bailing | No | No | No | No |
| Compatible with Spray Skirt | No | No | No | No |
| Compatible with ePropulsion Vaquita Propeller | Yes – via SUP fin box | Yes – via SUP fin box | Yes – via SUP fin box | Yes – via SUP fin box |
| Maximum Trip Length | Half day | 1-2 Hours | Half day | Half day |
| Suitable for Taking Small Children | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Suitable for Dogs | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Suitable for Fishing | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Rod Holders | None | None | None | None |
| Backpack straps | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Can ship to new zealand | No | No | No | No |
| Set-up Time | 7 minutes | 7 minutes | 7.5 minutes | 5.5 minutes |
| Warranty Period | 3 years from purchase | 3 years from purchase | 3 years from purchase date | 3 years from purchase date |
| Sku | AIRGLIDEADVANCE385-BLU/YLW | AIRGLIDE385 | AE3030 | AE3029 |
| Price | Original price was: $1,798.00.$1,398.00Current price is: $1,398.00. | Original price was: $1,899.00.$1,598.00Current price is: $1,598.00. | Original price was: $2,587.00.$2,397.00Current price is: $2,397.00. | Original price was: $1,997.00.$1,897.00Current price is: $1,897.00. |
| Kayak brand | Bay Sports | Bay Sports | Advanced Elements | Advanced Elements |
| Add to cart | Read more | Add to cart | Add to cart |
How to Choose a Full Drop-Stitch Kayak
Seams
Drop-stitch chambers get inflated to very high pressure, compared to non drop-stitch inflatable kayaks.
The seams are therefore under a LOT of pressure.
Whenever I have seen drop-stitch fail, it’s been the seam.
Find out whether the seams are glued or welded – glued seams do NOT last, especially in Australia.
Welded seams are more expensive because of the machinery required, so if it’s very cheap, they’re probably glued.
Design
Canoe-Style vs Kayak-Style
There are two basic designs of full drop-stitch kayaks – the canoe style with vertical side walls, and the kayak style, with a floor chamber and a deck chamber.
In my opinion, the kayak style is far superior in every way.
It paddles faster, straighter, and is less wind affected.
I find the high sides of the canoe style awkward to paddle over, and I find myself leaning.
I thought the booster seat would help, but I was so high in the kayak, the water was so far away and I felt unstable.
Hull Shape
For example, the AirGlide Advance looks the same as the AirVolution, it wasn’t until we took them out side by side that we noticed the differences.
You want a V-shaped hull when looking front-on.
You want very little rocker, if any.
You want chines that angle out.
Handy Features
Little things like handles make a big difference, especially on the canoe-style kayaks.
The AirGlide from Bay Sports offers a rudder, but I have found it to be more trouble than it’s worth.
Well for collecting water – you want it in front of you, not behind, so the water doesn’t have to travel through your seat to get to the well.
Size and Weight
Be careful with full drop-stitch kayaks – they are heavy!
There’s really no way around this because the amount of PVC required to make a robust chamber and all those tiny stitches, it all ads up.
Make sure you check the weight so you know if you’ll be able to lift it – be careful, a lot of kayak sellers give you the weight of the kayak only, not including seat, fin & foot rest.
I would also seriously consider getting solo kayaks over a tandem.
Tandems are great if you are always going tandem, or if you are paddling with small kids.
A lot of the tandem kayaks are marketed as also suitable for going solo, but it’s quite hard work carrying and setting up a heavy tandem kayak.
Be honest – is one of you going to like paddle and go more often? If so, get 2 solos. It might cost more in the short term, but I have so many customers that have purchased a tandem and then come back for a solo, it ends up costing more in the long run.
Madden voyage
“We wet the new AirVolution this week while staying on Great Keppel Island. The kayak has handled the variable conditions well. It was easy for Linda to get in and out of the kayak to go snorkeling above the coral, these kayaks are very stable. The padding position is very comfortable.”
– Kent B.
What is Drop-stitch?
Drop-stitch is a chamber that is stitched top-to-bottom with thousands of fine threads of a consistent thickness, usually 10cm or 15cm.
These threads are very strong, and it means the chamber can be inflated to high pressure, without losing it’s shape.
It’s what inflatable stand-up paddle boards are made of – the rigidity is remarkable.
What Does "Full" Drop-Stitch mean?
Full drop-stitch means the entire kayak is made of drop-stitch.
Drop-stitch is expensive to manufacture (to a good standard) and is high pressure and therefore takes a lot of pumping, so quite often it is used as the floor of a kayak, but not the entire kayak.
What are the Pros and Cons of Full Drop-Stitch Kayaks
The rigidity of full drop-stitch kayaks is exceptional, no matter what your weight. Rigidity translates into excellent speed and helps with tracking.
One downside of drop-stitch is the wind affect. Drop stitch is high pressure and therefore very buoyant. This bouyancy means a LOT of the kayak is above the water line, acting like a kite, catching the wind.
Another downside is the pumping. I would not buy a full drop-stitch kayak without buying an electric pump, otherwise you will be exhausted from pumping before you go kayaking.
And lastly, drop-stitch is more expensive to manufacture than regular inflation chambers, although this cost has come down significantly in recent years.
