Buy Advanced Elements Advanced Frame Expedition Inflatable KayakAdvanced Elements Advanced Frame Expedition Inflatable Kayak Product Description:
- Good Stability: Low center of gravity design provides good stability and easy paddling.
- Multiple Chambers: 9 Chambers provide additional buoyancy, and unique kayak shape.
- Easy To Set Up: New twistlok valves and high flow Spring valves allow for quick setup time.
- Comfortable: Raised deck and adjustable lumbar seat provide comfort for hours of paddling.
- Hull Design: Built-in Aluminum ribs define the bow and stern and improves tracking.
Product Description
The Advanced Frame Expedition is a thirteen foot hybrid of a folding frame kayak and an inflatable kayak. There is plenty of on-board storage room for extended trips. It sets up in just a few minutes, and is compact enough to take along on a weekend adventure.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
45 of 45 people found the following review helpful.
Another high quality kayak from Advanced Elements...
By Jim
This is my third AE kayak (have the AdvancedFrame 10.5 solo & StraitEdge2 tandem) and after a 1 hour paddle, will probably be my favorite. The workmanship and high quality materials are top notch. I'm a decent sized guy at 6-2/215 and it fits very well. This kayak will work great for someone up to 6-6 or so due to it's large capacity and plenty of legroom. Tracking: very good.Stability: excellent. Speed: very good. Has a huge weight capacity of 450lbs so you can load it up with camping gear. Advanced Elements has some of the best kayaks in the market...regardless of price, and excellent customer service who will answer your questions immediately.
40 of 40 people found the following review helpful.
First time kayaker
By Bob T.
I've done a lot of small boating like canoes and rowboats, but never kayaking before. I received my kayak yesterday and stared it all day until the air pump arrived today. Just for practice, I inflated it on my deck. Once I figured out how the spring valves and the twist valves work, I didn't have any problem. Be aware that not all pumps have the proper adapters for spring valves, especially those made by Sevlor and some other companies, so I would recommend only Advanced Elements pumps for this boat. Although the kayak is advertised to have 9 air bladders, only three of them are critical...the first and second side bladders, and the floor bladder. The first side bladder valve is outside the kayak and very obvious, however, the second valve is inside the kayak and I couldn't find it until I inflated the first bladder. These three critical bladders are the only ones that require any significant inflation effort, although that wasn't really much at all. I am 62 years old with lower back problems, and didn't have any trouble doing it. The other 6 non-critical bladders each require less than one stroke of the Advanced Elements pump to get to 1 psi. I found that the twist valves are tricky because starting to pump air into them tends to make them close unexpectantly and causes the pump to resist. I found that opening the twist valves only slightly, rather than full open, prevents this problem.The only problem I had in deflating the kayak was in not being able to count to nine. Once I learned that, the kayak folded up neatly and fit into the canvas bag.Tomorrow or soon after, depending on weather I'm going to take the kayak out for a spin on the PotomacLike I promised, I took the kayak out on the Potomac River for a little over an hour today in 91 degree heat. Where I went, the Potomac is about a mile wide and very smooth. The kayak tracks very well and makes great speed. I tried to find some sports boats with big wakes, but there wern't any today. I guess the only problem I had was preparing the kayak in the heat. I had some trouble with the twist valves which caused me to spend a lot of time in the hot sun sweating bullets. I think that 6 of the 9 bladders could be inflated by mouth easier than by using a pump because the pump requires less than one stroke before the pressures reaches 1 psi. My 110 lb wife also tried it out and didn't have any trouble but says she wants to order the shorter version. So far, I'm really glad I got this product and can't wait to take it on a more turbulent river with rapids.I took my kayak out on the Potomac today for three hours in 93+ degrees heat. The worst part was setting it up and packing it in the heat. Out on the water, it was wonderful. Several people at the marina asked my why I would want an inflatable when rigid kayaks are much less trouble. I just told them that when I travel by car, I don't want to have a boat on the roof of my car. It doesn't always make a great impression with business clients.My wife got her 10.5 foot kayak today and we set it up on our porch. What a difference in weight! The actual differance may not look like much, but the smaller one sure feels a lot lighter when you carry it. However, I noted that the smaller kayak does not have anywhere near the internal storage room that the Expedition has.Also, I've established a method of getting the kayaks back into the bag which works well for me. First, fold the kayak normally and place it so that part to go in the bottom of the bag is up. Then pull the bag down over the kayak as far as you can. Then flip the bag and kayak over and pull the cover up to its maximum extent. Then here's the real secret...put the bag on its side and kneel on it. You will find that the zipper closes fairly easily.So far I've only done still-water kayaking (not counting boat wakes). I plan to take my Expedition on a river trip with class 1 to 3 rapids in the near future. I've done class 1 to 4 in rafts, so it should be interesting to see how it works in a kayak.Since the above, I've been on the Potomac several times in various locations in this kayak...but not whitewater yet. Since the top fabric is definitely not waterproof, I suggest using a heavy application of Scotch Guard on it...that worked for me. However even the Scotch Guard will not prevent water from coming through the zippers. I encountered some rough water last week which broke over the bow quite frequently. No water came through the Scotch Guarded fabric, but I had a waterproof pack fastened in the front bungee area which created a depression. Obviously, the water tended to pool there and came right through the zipper onto my legs. It was not a big problem, but it was cold and uncomfortable. In spite of the 18-inch waves and 2-foot swells, I never had any feeling that the kayak might flip over, even when I was sideways to the waves.I've also done some rigid kayaking recently and one big difference I've noticed is that my inflatable kayak has a much narrower cockpit because of the air bladders on either side. So if you've got a wide bottom, or simply like to twist around in the cockpit to access the rear storage area, you may want to stick to rigid kayaks.
23 of 26 people found the following review helpful.A review from a different perspective...call it 3 and a half stars.
By Kernman
I was prepared to write a long, in-depth and detailed review of this kayak and it's features but I decided to stick to the basics and provide real world conditions I have experienced in the month I have had the Expedition.If you choose to stop reading this review from this point forward, let me leave you with one thought...The Advanced Elements Expedition is never the same experience twice. In this case, that's a bad thing.First off, you should know I have no experience with any other kayak. I did not test any others and bought the Expedition site unseen from Amazon. My main reasoning for purchasing a kayak was for a unique form of fitness not for recreation. I wanted something that would allow me to increase my heart rate, strengthen my shoulders and core, burn some calories, and ultimately lose weight. I have taken this kayak out a lot in the first month - an average of 3 times per week for 4 weeks.The majority of my paddling has taken place on a large lake in both calm, glassy conditions and with a light wind chop. I have also recently taken it on a swift moving river with a small amount of white water - probably Class 2.The very nature of a folding kayak lends itself to great portability but each time you fold and unfold it something will shift or reposition. I spend a great deal of time during setup moving, squeezing, dragging, and turning the inflation chambers and floor to make sure it lines up just right. If you don't and it's slightly off center or the main chamber is kinked you will not track in a straight line. Other reviewers have praised how well this boat tracks but only 2 times I can think of did it move straight when coasting. Like a car with suspension problems the Expedition either pushes to the right or pulls to the left. Some days are worse than others. One day I can go out and have a nearly effortless time but the very next, following the exact same setup routine I end up working twice as hard trying to keep it straight with each stroke. Last Saturday after setup the kayak looked perfect, everything was aligned, inflation pressure was dead on, and the skeg on the bottom was straight - but for every stroke to the left I took two strokes on the right because it wanted to swing hard to starboard. It was so frustrating I quit after 15 minutes. Upon inspection I could see no visible reason for the drift. But on Sunday - same setup, same conditions, same everything and, you guessed it, straight as an arrow.If you're not committed to spending a little extra time when unpacking it to get everything aligned just right you could end up being frustrated. Personally I would rather have the same predictable ride each and every time. You won't get that with an inflatable and you need to know that going in.Expedition supporters will undoubtedly question whether or not I have been following instructions and I can assure you I have been. Not only have I committed the manual to memory but I have been an active participant on the Advanced Elements website and make use of their user group site regularly and I have talked with the company directly as well. Keep in mind, I'm not bashing this kayak, I'm just stating facts I have experienced. I still like it overall.Now having said all that, I don't think you can find a much better value. I bought mine the day Amazon just happened to be having an extra sale. I only paid $479. You would be hard pressed to find a 13' touring kayak for that price anywhere. But there is a big "gotcha." If you are on a budget and expect to become a regular veteran paddler expect that price to double once you factor in all the other gear you will need. By the time you add a class III life vest, waterproof jacket or shirt, water shoes, a paddle, dry bags, and a few other odds and ends like a spare paddle (if your main paddle slips away from you) you will be in for about $850. Some things you simply can't skimp on. Safety is important - especially if you start your paddling adventures in the dead of winter like I did. One spill in 35 degree water and you only have about 15 minutes to find safety and warmth before hypothermia sets in. Again, that's not complaining just something you need to be aware of when you start thinking about your overall budget.The Expedition keeps you warm and cozy though and the fact it's inflatable means it is comfortable - no hard spots. I continue to be amazed at how rigid this boat is despite that fact it's full of air.Okay, so where does that leave this review? For me it's easy. No matter how frustrating the setup process is (like others have described as well) and no matter ho much energy I expend inflating it with the hand pump all of the negatives are neutralized completely by the fact that you can fold it up and take it with you anywhere! I love knowing that I can store this thing in my car and spontaneously explore the local waterways wherever I am. You can't do that with a plastic kayak and have to plan ahead. Just keep you paddling gear and kayak together and you''re ready to explore. It fits in the back of my pickup truck or in my wife's Honda Accord.So despite the challenges, I would recommend this kayak to anyone wanting to have something easy to transport. It's a little more work to achieve a smooth ride but provides the freedom to explore that others don't.I hope this was helpful. Happy paddling.
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