Coast XT

This is an ingenious invention which opens up a world of opportunities for the intrepid water based explorer! It is however a very lightweight vessel made from relatively fragile material which folds into the size of a suitcase, so its performance unsurprisingly comes with compromises compared to a hard shell kayak. I have the Coast XT which I've used on a couple of short sea trips off Lanzarote, one of which required a 1 hour hike there and back to a remote beach - try doing that with a hardshell! It handled nicely in calm water but felt a little unsteady in some wind and chop. That's not to say I don't think it couldn't handle rougher waters but i certainly wouldn't consider it without plenty of prior experience and robust emergency plans in place. Any risk of contact with rocks or shallow coral reefs should be avoided at all costs, and bear in mind there are no sealed bulkheads so the full length of the boat can flood. The inevitable compromises aside, I'm very pleased with my purchase and cant wait for a proper expedition - Norway here I come!