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Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak with Pump and Paddle

Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak with Pump and Paddle
The Air Glide Advance 385 is a full drop-stitch kayak from Bay Sports with a low profile for less wind effect and a unique hull shape – it’s unbelievably rigid, very stable and glides beautifully through the water. It’s much better (in my opinion) than the canoe-shaped 100% drop-stitch kayaks – faster, less wind affected, and WAY more stable (better for dogs, kids, fishing and easier to get in and out of).

oik check greenFull drop stitch – very rigid, great speed

oik check greenExcellent tracking – great hull design and deep fin

oik check greenLow profile – less wind affected than the Air Glide 385

oik check greenStable with a wide open cockpit– easy to get in and out of, good for dogs and kids

oik check greenCompatible with the ePropulsion Vaquita Propeller

oik check greenSimple set up – inflate 2 chambers, clip on the seat, insert fin, go!

oik check greenQuick to dry and pack away – just wipe down with a towel

oik check greenIdeal for travelling – bag comes with wheels and backpack straps

oik check greenQuality design and durable materials

oik check greenIf you are planning open ocean kayaking or multi-day expeditions, the AdvancedFrame Elite or AdvancedFrame Expedition Elite kayaks are less wind affected.

oik check greenIf 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.

oik check greenIf 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.

oik check greenIf 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 

oik check greenIf you are going to be doing a LOT of fishing and want rod holders, check out our fishing kayaks

oik check greenIf 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.

AirVolution-Drop-Stitch-Detail

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

oik check greenLakes, Bays and Inland Waterways
x mark Coastal / Open Water
x mark Reservoirs (Complies with ISO 6185-1)
oik check greenRivers up to Class I
x mark Whitewater
oik check greenDogs 
oik check greenFishing (no rod holder)
oik check greenBeginners
oik check greenTaking small kids 
x mark Self-bailing

Accessory Compatibility

oik check green RapidUp Sail
x mark  Spray Skirt 
x mark  Rudder Kit
oik check green ePropulsion Vaquita Propeller –  via SUP fin box
oik check green 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

AirGide Advanced 385 Instruction Manual

oik check greenPremium Quality Ballistic – weave nylon carry backpack with 2 x all-terrain wheels and padded shoulder straps.

oik check greenDeluxe Comfort Kayak Seat

oik check green4-Piece 2-in-1 Kayak & SUP Paddle

oik check green9″ Skeg (fin)

oik check greenRepair Kit (PVC patches, adhesive glue and valve replacement tool)

oik check greenGRI HP2 Double-Valve Hand Pump

Original price was: $1,798.00.Current price is: $1,398.00.

new check mark blank bg1 Stored at Sydney location, ships in 2-3 business days.
new check mark blank bg1 Qualifies for 90-day “Try it on the Water” Returns
new check mark blank bg1 3-year warranty
new check mark blank bg1 Free Shipping
x markCan NOT be shipped to New Zealand

Availability: In stock

Package Deal

  • air glide advance 385 full drop stitch kayak with pump and paddle
  • packlite roll top dry bag set
  • kayak paddle leash
  • flextail orange1
  • ultra compact inflatable life jacket pair
Total Price: Original price was: $1,714.00.Current price is: $1,665.00.
Save $49.00 when bought together
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AirVolution-Drop-Stitch-Detail

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.

air glide advance 385 full drop stitch kayak with pump and paddle
air glide advance 385 full drop stitch kayak with pump and paddle

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.

airglide advance 385 full drop stitch kayak with pump and paddle

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.

airglide 385 full drop stitch kayak with pump and paddle
air glide advance 385 full drop stitch kayak with pump and paddle

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

airglide advance 385 full drop stitch kayak with pump and paddle

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 with pump and paddle

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.

airglide advance 385 full drop stitch kayak with pump and paddle

The Air Glide Advance 385 Full Drop-stitch Kayak has a high-backed seat with adjustable straps.

airglide advance 385 full drop stitch kayak with pump and paddle

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.

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.

230g nylon cooper anchor

You can even put on a propeller – the ePropulsion Vaquita.

E propulsion Vaquita Propeller

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.

review advancedframe expedition elite AE1009 XE

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 thia 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:

AirVolution-Drop-Stitch-Detail

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).

air glide advance 385 full drop stitch kayak with pump and paddle

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.

air glide advance 385 full drop stitch kayak with pump and paddle

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.

air glide advance 385 full drop stitch kayak with pump and paddle

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.

air glide advance 385 full drop stitch kayak with pump and paddle

  • 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.

AirVolution Kayak

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

Yes!

We offer a package deal with a $49 discount, just underneath the Add to Cart button.

General information

Bay Sports products come with a 3-year warranty on all kayaks. You can find details of this warranty here.

Get in touch as we carry some spare parts and may be able to help out.

Our 90-day “Try it on the Water” Returns means that if the kayak is not what you expected, you have 90 days after delivery to return the kayak for a FULL refund, even if you have paddled it on the water.

Shipping is free for orders over $99 and $19 flat rate for orders under $99.

If the product is in stock, it will ship from Sydney location within 2-3 business days of ordering.

For more shipping questions, check out https://ozinflatablekayaks.com.au/shipping/ 

Experience our kayaks through real customers, talk to an owner.