Full drop stitch – very rigid, great speed
Excellent tracking – great hull design and deep fin
Low profile – less wind affected than the Air Glide 385
Stable with a wide open cockpit– easy to get in and out of, good for dogs and kids
Compatible with the ePropulsion Vaquita Propeller
Simple set up – inflate 2 chambers, clip on the seat, insert fin, go!
Quick to dry and pack away – just wipe down with a towel
Ideal for travelling – bag comes with wheels and backpack straps
Quality design and durable materials
If you are planning open ocean kayaking or multi-day expeditions, the AdvancedFrame Elite or AdvancedFrame Expedition Elite kayaks are less wind affected.
If you are small or not confident of your strength, consider one of our lighter kayaks, such as the AdvancedFrame Sport Elite, which is only 13kg.
If you want to be able to put on a spray skirt to stay warm and dry, consider the AdvancedFrame Elite or the AdvancedFrame Expedition Elite kayak.
If you are taller than 6’2″ (or you are in that range and have long legs), you will need the extra leg room in the AdvancedFrame Expedition Elite kayak
If you are going to be doing a LOT of fishing and want rod holders, check out our fishing kayaks
If you are doing whitewater above class 1, the StraitEdge kayak can do up to class 3 rapids
Under 7 minutes from in-the-bag to on-the-water!
The AirGlide Advance 385 kayak is a 100% full drop-stitch kayak.
It is super tough and rigid.
FAQs – Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak
Dimensions
Length: 3.85m (12’8″)
Width: 76cm
Height: 35cm
Kayak Weight: 16 kg
Kayak + Pump + Paddle + Bag + Fin: 22 kg
Deflated and Packed Dimensions: 86cm x 48cm x 28cm
Paddler Suitability
Maximum Capacity: 170 kg
Recommended Max. Paddler Weight: 170 kg
Recommended Max. Paddler Height: 6’2″ (1.87m)
Suitabilty
Lakes, Bays and Inland Waterways
Coastal / Open Water Reservoirs (Complies with ISO 6185-1)Rivers up to Class I WhitewaterDogs Fishing (no rod holder)BeginnersTaking small kids Self-bailing
Accessory Compatibility
RapidUp Sail Spray Skirt Rudder Kit ePropulsion Vaquita Propeller – via SUP fin box Railblaza Starport Rod Holder with Railblaza Starport Adhesive Mount
Materials
Kayak: Full Drop-Stitch
D-Rings: Stainless-Steel
Seat: Thermo-formed Padding & Corrosion Resistance Brass swivel buckles
More About This Kayak
Set-up Time: 7 minutes
Pack Away Time: 6 minutes
Warraty: 3 years
SKU: AIRGLIDEADVANCE385-BLU/YLW
Premium Quality Ballistic – weave nylon carry backpack with 2 x all-terrain wheels and padded shoulder straps.
Deluxe Comfort Kayak Seat
4-Piece 2-in-1 Kayak & SUP Paddle
9″ Skeg (fin)
Repair Kit (PVC patches, adhesive glue and valve replacement tool)
GRI HP2 Double-Valve Hand Pump
Original price was: $2,079.00.$1,578.00Current price is: $1,578.00.
Stored at Sydney location, ships in 2-3 business days.
Qualifies for 90-day “Try it on the Water” Returns
3-year warranty
Free Shipping
Can NOT be shipped to New Zealand
Package Deal
Explore more
100% Drop-Stitch Construction
Very rigid, right up to the 170kg weight limit, no sagging in the middle.
Speed and Tracking
Tracks straight and fast thanks to a unique hull design and included slide-in fin.
Minimal Wind Affect
The AirGlide Advance 385 has a much lower profile that most full drop-stitch kayaks on the market, so it is much less wind affected.
Spacious and Stable
The wide-open cockpit is easy to get in and out of, in fact, it’s so stable, you could just flop in and out if you needed to.
The AirGlide Advance 385 is also a very stable kayak, so it’s great for kids and dogs.
Compatible with Propeller
The Air Glide Advance 385 kayak has a SUP fin box on the bottom, which means it is compatible with the Vaquita propeller.
Simple Set-up
There are only 2 chambers to inflate, but they are both quite high pressure, so I strongly suggest getting an electric pump for the Air Glide Advance 385.
Once inflated, you clip in your seat and fin, and away you go!
Done in 7 minutes, using an electric pump.
Quick Pack Up
The Air Glide Advance 385 is full drop-stitch, which means there is no fabric on the body of the kayak.
You can simply wipe it dry with a towel and then roll it up.
If the seat is wet (the seat is fabric), you can dry it separately and then add to the bag later.
Easy to Transport
The Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak comes with a HUGE bag. You can fit the kayak, pump and paddle easily in this backpack.
Although the bag has wheels, the wheels are on the same side as the straps, so the straps get caught as you are rolling. Bit of a design flaw, but manageable if you can clip the straps up high.
Durable and Reliable
Hi-back Kayak seats with a booster cushion for superior comfort and support
Made with Thermo-formed Padding & Corrosion Resistance Brass swivel buckles
Well collects water and allows for easy draining and cleaning
The D-rings are made from stainless steel.
Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak FAQs
Performance
It’s very fast, as long as there’s no wind…
The wind affect of the Air Glide Advance is actually much better than most full drop-stitch kayaks with high sides.
But drop-stitch still is a LOT of air and is therefore very buoyant and catches the wind more than some of our other sit-in kayaks like the AdvancedFrame Sport Elite kayak.
The Kayak tracks straight and fast thanks to a unique hull design and included slide-in fin.
The high-pressure drop-stitch construction plays a big part in this. The enhanced rigidity helps the kayak glide through the water smoothly.
The wind affect is moderate on the Air Glide Advance 385, and is significantly better than with most full drop-stitch kayaks that have side walls (eg the Air Glide 385).
But it’s still more noticable than our AdvancedFrame line of sit-in kayaks (eg the AdvancedFrame Sport Elite kayak)
Comfort
The seat (included) has a high back, but the straps connect to the kayak down on the floor, so it’s hard to get good support for a long period.
The Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak has a high-backed seat with adjustable straps.
There is no foot brace, but if your legs are long enough, you can move the seat forward and use the front of the cockpit to brace.
What is the Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak good for?
Yes, the Air Glide Advance 385 Kayak is excellent for taking dogs.
The drop-stitch material is extremely tough and the cockpit is wide-open.
The wide flat base makes it extremely stable.
The only issue might be if you are big and your dog is big, there might not be enough space. But most people and most dogs will be fine.
Yes.
The wide flat hull means the kayak is very stable so you can focus on fishing and relaxing.
There are no rod-holders included, but you can use the Adhesive Starport Mount to attach the Rod Holder II.
The drop-stitch material is extremely durable, giving you the confidence that neither fish nor fishing gear will cause a puncture.
Optional kayak anchor if the fish are biting and you want to stay where you are.
You can even put on a propeller – the ePropulsion Vaquita.
Yes.
The Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak is excellent for taking kids, as long as they are not very big.
It’s super-stable, so the kids can have a nap and muck around without tipping it over.
A small child with an average sized adult works well, but if you or the child are very big, there might not be enough space in the cockpit for you both to be comfortable.
Yes, it’s a very good choice for a tender.
Note that it is quite long at 3.85m… will you have room to set it up on your deck?
It’s got the high-pressure drop-stitch floor which makes it easy to step into and out of.
The open cockpit also makes it easy to step in and out of.
There is still quite a bit capacity (170kg) and deck space for gear if you are using it to transport your stuff to and from shore.
**Caution – do not leave the kayak inflated on the deck of the boat. The heat will cause the pressure to rise and you could damage the kayak.
NOTE – The Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak is NOT recommended for open ocean because you can not put a spray skirt on it, but ultimately it’s going to be up to you to make a safe decision.
Up to a half day.
There is a decent amount of front AND rear deck space for loading up with gear, but if you are thinking of a multi-day expedition, the AdvancedFrame Expedition Elite kayak is less wind affected and more comfortable.
Not really…
The cockpit is oversized so you can NOT put a spray skirt on. This means any water that comes into the cockpit is staying in there with you! For open-ocean kayaks, we prefer you take something that can protect you from swamping waves.
The Air Glide Advance 385 is also a bit more wind affected than our other open ocean kayaks, and doesn’t flex with the swell so much (‘cos it’s so rigid), so you tend to get spray coming over from the bow slapping against the chop.
No.
The Air Glide Advance 385 kayak is fine for class 1 and 2 whitewater, however it is really designed to paddle in a straight line, and therefore not recommended for rivers above class 2.
Who is the Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak good for?
Yes, but there are a few points to consider.
The key feature for beginners is stability and the Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak is wonderfully stable, so no dramas there.
It’s easy to paddle, but a little more wind affected that our other kayaks, so not as easy to control.
It’s also a fairly heavy kayak at 16kg , which means it takes a bit more strength to get going than our lightweight kayaks.
And it’s quite long. This is what makes it go nice and straight, but it also means it takes a bit more technique to turn. Not difficult to learn, just something to consider.
In my experience, seniors are looking for a lightweight kayak, and at 16kg, the Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak is NOT the lightest solo kayak we sell.
The other key features for seniors are stability and ease of getting in and out – the Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak ticks both of these boxes.
No, the Air Glide Advance is not the first choice for a child paddling alone.
It’s quite heavy and long and takes some strength to get the momentum going and coordination to manouvre.
You would be better off checking out our lightweight kayaks if you were looking for something for your kid.
Yes, very!
The Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak is an open deck sit-on-top style.
You could pretty well fall in and fall out of this kayak and you would be fine!
It is very stable, the cockpit is wide-open and the sides are nice and firm. Easy peasy.
Depends what you call ‘really tall’…
The length of the cockpit is totally fixed, and the maximum recommended height is 6’2″ but this depends on your leg length and how you like to sit in the kayak.
The maximum capacity is 170kgs according to the manufacturer.
We haven’t yet tested this kayak on the higher weight ranges, but I don’t anticipate ANY loss of rigidity, it is that solid.
About the Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak
The kayak is high-quality drop-stitch which is extremely tough:
The Air Glide Advance 385 is a sit-on-top kayak.
You can NOT put on a spray skirt because the coaming around the cockpit is too wide.
It is NOT self-bailing – any water that gets into the cockpit is staying in the cockpit (unless you get a bilge pump).
The Air Glide Advance 385 is a solo kayak – this means it has seating for only 1 person.
Although it is spacious, you could NOT fit two adults in it.
Taking a small child or a dog with you is totally viable though.
Deflated and packed dimensions are:
86cm x 48cm x 28cm
The weight of the kayak is 16kg.
At 16kg, the Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak is lightweight compared to a hard-shell kayak, but not our lightest kayak.
Most people can carry it down to the water by themselves.
But if you are not feeling strong, it might be better to look for one of our lightweight kayaks.
It’s very stable, you can even stand up in it!
The Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak comes with a 9″ Skeg (fin) that uses a SUP fin box.
It is NOT compatible with a rudder.
Yes, the ePropulsion Vaquita can be used with the SUP fin-box connection.
- 100% Drop-Stitch Construction
- Military Grade PVC
- Lightweight at 16kg
- Compact & portable
- Stable
- Two-way Military Valves
- High-back seat
- Soft grippy handles
- Stainless-steel D-Rings
- Drainage well
- Bungee deck lacing
- Injection moulded nose-caps for optimal performance
The kayak consists of two main chambers made of drop-stitch, an extremely tough and rigid high-pressure material.
The Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak is manufactured by Bay Sports in China.
Learn more about Bay Sports.
How to use the Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak
Take a look at the setup video:
It should take you around 7 minutes, once you have got the hang of it.
It’s about 7 minutes, once you have got the hang of it.
Remove the fin and seat.
Take off the valve covers and set the valves to deflate.
Then just walk away for a few minutes and it’s done.
You can use the deflate function of the pump if you want to, it sometimes helps with drop-stitch which can be stiff.
Takes about 6 minutes.
The pack away takes about 6 minutes.
Pull out the fin and the seat.
Use a towel to wipe down the kayak.
Release the valves to let the air out (you can use the deflate function on the pump if you want).
Fold the kayak up and put everything in the bag.
What to buy
- 1x Premium Quality Ballistic – weave nylon carry backpack with 2 x all-terrain wheels and padded shoulder straps.
- 1 x Deluxe Comfort Kayak Seat
- 1 x 4-Piece 2-in-1 Kayak & SUP Paddle
- 1 x 9″ Skeg (fin)
- 1 x Repair Kit (PVC patches, adhesive glue and valve replacement tool)
- 1 x GRI HP2 Double-Valve Hand Pump
You need to purchase a life jacket at a minimum.
You can also purchase a paddle leash so you don’t lose your paddle!
We also recommend a dry bag for keeping your gear dry.
Check out our Fishing Gear section if you want to do some kayak fishing.
The Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak comes with a 4-Piece 2-in-1 Kayak & SUP Paddle.
Check out our range of featherable, collapsible kayak paddles.
The Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak comes with the GRI HP2 Double-Valve Hand Pump.
If you want to speed up the process, I recommend the Flextail Max Pump 2 Pro
General Information
Bay Sports come with a 3-year warranty on all kayaks. You can find details of this warranty here.
But if you have any issues after that period, still get in touch as we carry some spare parts and may be able to help out.
Our 90-day “Try it on the Water” Guarantee means that if the kayak is not what you expected, you have 90 days after delivery to return the kayak for a FULL refund.
Shipping is free for orders over $169 and $9 flat rate for orders under $169.
If the product is in stock, it will ship from our Sydney warehouse within 2-3 business days of ordering.
If you have a deadline, please get in touch and we’ll check if it’s going to make it in time.
For more shipping questions, check out https://ozinflatablekayaks.com.au/shipping/
For Advanced Elements kayaks, check out our list of retailers.
