Reviews written by thart

I've had the Body Glove 3T barefoot warrior, and tested it while SUP angling. The shoe is very easy to slide on compared to other "toe" shoes. The 3T system offers more comfort, and drains water efficiently. The shoe offers a built in mesh system which allows the water to enter and drain without picking up debris, or having that annoying pebble stuck in your shoe. The shoe is comfortable to wear while out on the water, and offers good traction.

The soles of the 3T Barefoot Warrior are somewhat slim without much padding, so when walking around, you'll feel every rock or obstruction you coming into contact with. This was cause for most of my displeasure with the shoe, as walking across a rocky area caused much discomfort. I believe on a flatter surface, or especially a water shoe to wear at the beach suits the 3T Barefoot Warrior best.

The Drainmaker from Columbia is by far the best shoe I've worn on my kayak and Stand Up Paddleboard. While the look like your average sneaker, the differences stop there. The Drainmaker is extremely light and comfortable, don't hold water and drain with ease. The Drainmaker has a strong sole for walking across the boat ramp, the flats, and structure such as oyster mounds without fear of slipping or losing traction. I prefer the lace up versus the slip on style due to its comfort factor. This shoe offers the utmost in quality and durability.

The Drainmaker can also be worn casually when not on the water, due to their comfort ability and stylish looks. I'd highly recommend this piece of footwear to all in the kayak fishing community!

Polaroid has always been synonymous with cameras, but have now entered the action cam market. The Polaroid XS100 is a simple to use, and ready to hit the water action cam. Easy on/off button, but you can also take a snapshot with the push of a simple button. The XS100 is fairly light and easily attaches to any camera mount, and best of all it's waterproof for up to 30 feet. The video is of a good quality, and I was impressed with the video that was taken in low light situations, such as at dusk. Videos are easy to download as well. Overall I've been pleasantly pleased with the quality and abilities of the camera. My complaint would be that it is not remote capable, and the angler has to manually turn on and off the camera. The XS100 action cam provides quality video out on the water regardless of the angle. The ability to simply shoot hi definition video, but also take still shots at 16MP is an amazing feature. The price point for this camera is what truly sets it apart from its competitors. At a retail value of just under $160, this action cam is priced to allow everyone a chance to record their epic catch while on the water.

Upon initial observation, I was really intrigued by the overall look of the Strike 120X Angler fishing kayak from Pelican. First glance noticed that it has a super clean deck which is appealing to me personally. Having a clean deck gives the angler a sense of not being cluttered. The kayak comes standard with 2 flush mount rod holders behind the seat and a swivel style rod holder in the forward area of the cockpit. There are 2 hatches on the kayak, a Quick Lock hatch at the bow, which opened very easily and provided adequate access to the inside of the kayak for storing gear, etc. There's a day hatch located behind the seat with a dry bag for storing and keeping smaller items free from getting wet and ruined. The rear storage area is large enough to handle a milkcrate or a cooler, but not both. The seat wasn't my most favorite accessory on the kayak as the cushion was thin, and the back rest was in the low range. My preference personally is a very cushioned seat and a high back rest for all day comfort. The seat on the Pelican Strike 120X Angler would suffice for short excursions, but for all day paddling adventures, I believe would leave the angler uncomfortable. The stability was very pleasing on the kayak as I didn't feel "tippy" at any point. The kayak is stable enough to stand in, but I would only suggest it to the more experienced anglers. The kayak paddles very smoothly and cruises through the water with ease. The kayak comes ready to hit the water with the rod holders, and also boasts several eyelets for adding extra accessories. Overall, I was very pleased with the platform that this kayak offers to the angler in the sport of kayak fishing. Pelican is known for providing great kayaks for the angler in an affordable price range, and this kayak proves that statement.

After meeting with the good folks at Pelican Kayaks at an event earlier this year, I was excited to test out the Elie Gulf 120XE fishing kayak. Initially, you see right off the bat; this kayak has a ton of features for the kayak angler. Several hatches allowing inside access, rod holders, and a rudder come with this kayak right out of the box! Designed with the kayak angler in mind, this kayak offers the kayak angler an affordable means to target their favorite species of fish.

First Glance

The deck layout of this kayak was very appealing to me as I favor an open cockpit on my fishing kayaks. This gives the angler a feeling of not being cluttered while sitting in the kayak. First feature I noticed is the rudder which comes standard on the kayak. A rudder helps with steering the kayak on those rough and unfavorable days, and also assists the angler when drifting.

Hatches

There are 3 hatches on the kayak, allowing for easy access to the “guts” of the kayak. The bow has a Quick Lock hatch which gives inside access in the front of the kayak for storing gear. In the center of the cockpit is another Quick Lock hatch. The last hatch is behind the seat and contains a day bag for dry storage. Each hatch was extremely easy to operate and provided the necessary access to the inside of the kayak for attaching such accessories as anchor trolleys, etc.

Cockpit

Easily one of my favorite features of this kayak, the cockpit of the kayak is clean and free of obstructions. It comes with a molded bottle holder and a Scotty swivel rod holder. Adjustable foot pegs allow for easy maneuvering of the rests to the angler’s desired position. The Elie Gulf 120XE Angler kayak also comes standard with eyelet attach points for additional accessories. The kayak also comes with two flush mount rod holders for the angler.

Seat

Elie uses the ErgoFlex Seating System, designed to provide all day comfort for the kayak angler. The cushion of the seat offered adequate padding to prevent fatigue, and the backrest is adjustable to fit just about everyone. I liked the seat cushion area, and the ability to adjust the seat height to fit my taller frame, but did not like how flexible it was while out on the water. I understand we’re all different in our preferences, but I prefer a stiffer backrest for support. Overall, the seat was comfortable.

Rear Storage

The rear storage area on the Gulf 120XE angler is enormous, with plenty of room to store an excess of gear. I was easily able to carry my milkcrate and cooler in the rear storage area with some room to spare. Bungee cords are there to assist in securing of any extra gear that the angler may wish to bring.
Stability and Performance

With a beam of 30”, this kayak does provide the stability for a smooth ride out on the water. I was impressed with how easily the kayak paddled without even using the rudder. Very receptive to paddle strokes and turning, and I was able to rock the kayak profusely from side to side with relative ease and negate the fear of tipping or turtling the kayak. The kayak paddles extremely well and with relative ease, and offers plenty of speed without an increased amount of exertion.

Overall

I was very impressed with the overall performance of the Elie Gulf 120XE Angler kayak. The kayak paddled very smoothly without the rudder, and even more so with the rudder deployed. The cockpit layout of the kayak is very clean and open allowing the angler plenty of room while sitting in the kayak. The features that come standard with the kayak allow the angler the ability to go straight to the water without the need to purchase and install additional accessories The performance of this kayak and accessories fit the newcomer to the sport as well as a seasoned veteran.