Hobie Kayak Review

About Hobie Kayak

Hobie Kayak have carved a name for themselves by making some of the most trusted water sport vehicles in the world. 

They’re so esteemed that over 43k Instagram users ride the wave of the company’s stunning product photographs.

Our Hobie Kayak review will cover the company’s practices, philosophies, products, and other particulars so that you can make an informed purchase should you feel the urge to catch a wave.

Overview of Hobie Kayak

Hobie Alter started the company in 1950 in the American capital of surfing and water sports, California. 

Alter combined his love of woodworking with his passion for water sports and started making his own surfboards out of his parents’ garage. He soon found enough local success that his project outgrew the garage and moved into an actual storefront.  He eventually opened Southern California’s first-ever surf shop. Ah, the true American dream.

The company propelled itself into the surfing world’s limelight in 1958 by creating the polyurethane foam surfboard, a speedier and more acrobatic reinvention of the surfboard.

That’s not to insinuate that Hobie Kayaks stopped innovating after that. If you look at their product line you’ll find kayaks, fishing boats, and so much more. Seems like they couldn’t stop innovating even decades into their career.

The company’s enthusiasm translated into their craft. They were never content to just make surfboards. They wanted to give their customers out-of-this-world experiences, the types that make you yell “Cowabunga!”

It’s that philosophy that has kept them riding the waves of success, avoiding all the sharks in the water while continuing to progress as a company. 

Before we take a look at what the brand has to offer, our next segment in this Hobie Kayak review will inspect some of the company’s most notable highlights:

Highlights

• Offers an extensive product line of water sport vehicles
• Versatile and sturdy products
• Enthusiastic customer response
• International shipping available
• Free shipping on US orders over $99 (that includes the majority of their products)

Beyond kayaks and angling boats, our Hobie Kayak review enthusiasts were smitten by the brand’s offering of surfboards, pedalboards, sailing catamarans, apparel, and other accessories.

Hobie Kayak Fishing Review

The products featured in this Hobie Kayak Fishing section are designed to keep you mobile so you can chase down any lionfish, tiger trouts, or try out “bear” hook fishing with these bad boys.

Hobie Kayak Mirage Pro Angler 12 With 360 Drive Technology Review

The Hobie Kayak Mirage Pro Angler 12 With 360 Drive Technology can give users total control with its MirageDrive 360 and Kick-Up fins. You might be moving through the water like a shark, actually.

The product’s Kick-Up fins retract so shallow waters will not be a challenge, nor will fishing, as this item is powered by the company’s hands-free MirageDrive 360 pedaling technology. 

Coming in at 12 feet long and holding up to 500 lbs, this kayak can probably also hold the $5,300 it costs, too.

Hobie Kayak Mirage Pro Angler 14 360 Mike Iaconelli Edition Review

Now, this is one fearsome-looking angler. Forgive us for fawning, but we’ve got a soft spot for powerful fishing kayaks with eye-catching designs. 

The Hobie Kayak Mirage Pro Angler 14 360 Mike Iaconelli Edition was designed in part by professional bass angler and 2017 Major League Fishing Summit Cup Champion Mike Iaconelli. 

It features an explosive red camouflage paint job along with the company’s classic MirageDrive 360 and Kick-Up fins.

You can get your own Hobie Kayak Mirage Pro Angler 14 360 Mike Iaconelli Edition for $5,800.

Hobie Kayak Pro Angler 14 Review

Up next is a product that the company imagines you could live out of if, by happenstance, you find yourself stranded at sea. Hey, maybe that’s a challenge. 

Anyways, the Hobie Kayak Pro Angler 14 was built with utility and durability in mind. Its Vantage Seating system can ease tension on your lower back often associated with long periods spent sitting down.

That means you’ll feel nothing but the soothing waves as you cruise, angle, or fish from this 14-foot kayak. This product is big enough that there’s enough space for you to stand and cast off of it, too.

The Hobie Kayak Pro Angler 14 is available in orange, dune, and camo, and costs $4,450 (or $4,700 for the camo color variant, which, let’s be honest, looks pretty darn cool).

Hobie Kayak Outback Review

Just wait until you see what our Hobie Kayak review team has in store for you. Spoilers – it’s a crowd-pleaser. 

The Hobie Kayak Outback is the brand’s staple fishing kayak. It’s loaded with their Kick-Up Fins technology alongside a generous amount of standing deck space, a Guardian Transducer Shield that lets you inspect what’s going on beneath your vessel, and a Kick-Up Rudder system that can have you moving through the water like Michael Phelps in an Olympic pool.

This item is available in green, dune, or orange for $3,450, or camo for $3,600.

Hobie Kayak Eclipse Review

This section will outline an updated model of a Hobie Kayak classic.

The original Hobie Kayak Eclipse broke new ground as the first standing pedalboard in history, but the Hobie Kayak Mirage IEclipse takes that innovation to a whole new level.

This product is the world’s first inflatable and stand-up pedalboard. What does that mean? It means this puppy is as sturdy as the original Eclipse but loads lighter, making it a breeze to both transport and control in the water.

The Hobie Kayak Mirage IEclipse can be yours for a cool $2,550.

Hobie Kayak Compass Review

This next product is for those who want a scaled-back fishing kayak that doesn’t sacrifice power or performance. 

If you slot yourself into that category, then check out the Hobie Kayak Compass. It’s suited for all water types thanks to its supreme turning radius, already-installed fishing rod holders, MirageDrive 180 pedals, and the shallow water saints known as the Kick-Up Fins.

New to this edition of the item is a comfortable and supportive aluminum alloy seat.

It can be yours for $2,600 but if you feel like splurging on the camouflage color it’ll cost $2,750.

Hobie Kayak Passport Review

The Hobie Kayak Passport looks to do what a standard passport does, take you from square A to square B as smoothly as possible. 

This product is meant to be a relaxing pedal-driven kayak. As you probably expect by now, it has the company famous Kick-Up fins, so shallow waters shouldn’t ruin your lazy river cruising. 

Furthermore, the Hobie Kayak Passport features a simplified twist-and-stow rudder so that steering and navigation are as easy as combing your hair. This item can be yours for $1,650.

Hobie Kayak Mirage Pro Angler 12 Review

The next product in our Hobie Kayak review should keep you pursuing your prey through the water without anything blocking your way. 

The Hobie Kayak Mirage Pro Angler 12 is a strong and sturdy craft thanks to its Guardian Transducer Shield, so you can bang this puppy up as much as you’d like. 

It also features a retractable skeg that can keep you on your intended path with the might of God’s will. If that wasn’t enough, this precious piece of company product has enough storage space for you to retire on if you can deliver on your mortgage.

The Hobie Kayak Mirage Pro Angler 12 costs $4,300, but you can grab the camo color for $4,500.

Hobie Surfboards Review

The last product category we’ll cover today is the Hobie Surfboards, which are like the sportscars of the water world, except they’re a tad better for the environment. 

Hobie Kayak Endless Summer Model Review

The Hobie Kayak Endless Summer Model is a collector’s item of sorts as its name honors both the board’s innovator Mike Hynson and the late 1960s documentary, The Endless Summer.

You’ll be able to fulfill your own wanderlust with this 10-foot surfboard that recalls the sport’s glory days. This item is meant to carry the free-spirited philosophy of surfing in the 1960s alongside Hynson and Hobie’s esteemed craftsmanship.

It’s with great dismay that our Hobie Kayak reviewers inform you that this item is not currently available.

Hobie Kayak Retro Egg Review

Don’t let the groovy name distract you, the Hobie Kayak Retro Egg is one of the company’s best-performing mid-length surfboards.

The brand touts it as their optimal all-purpose surfboard because of its easy-to-maneuver size, sleek outline, and glossy finish. Surfing is oftentimes more complicated than it looks, but this board looks to demystify that process for you.

You’re looking at anywhere from $975 to $1,110 depending on which color you want to purchase.

Who Is Hobie Kayak For? 

Water sports are no longer for cottage-owning privileged families or distraught Californian youths. Anyone can get in on the action with Hobie Kayak.

More specifically, our Hobie Kayak reviewers think that their products best suit people who love the thrill of the open sea, as well as adrenaline junkies always on the hunt for life’s next big wave.

Lastly, Hobie Kayak’s are built to be stable, so they’re a great option for those who want their safety and enjoyment ensured on the water.

Hobie Kayak Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

What good is a kayak if it sinks? What good is a speedboat if it runs slowly? What even is a Hobie cat if it can neither Hobie nor cat? 

These are all questions that have no doubt crossed your mind while you read our Hobie Kayak review, but the most important question that probably popped up was, what do the customers think?

That’s why we’ve done the dirty deed of deciphering customer complaints, compliments, and criticisms, and organized them in an easy-to-read format.

We’ll begin this section by looking at what Amazon customers have said about Hobie Kayak. The Hobie Mirage Outback Kayak Olive holds an impressive 4.5/5 star average from 5 customer reviews.

Customers loved that this kayak was both stable and comfortable, making it a great vehicle for fishing. One customer said this about the item: “This boat is awesome. The mirage drive is fast and strong.”

The product’s high quality was enough to attract even those who thought it was too expensive. The Hobie Mirage Outback Kayak Olive doesn’t require any maintenance after purchase, unlike other fishing boats. 

Customers loved that they only had to pay a one-time fee and were nearly guaranteed a long-lasting kayak. 

Next, we’ll summarize what we found on ultimatekayakguide.net, as customers were, on the whole, very satisfied with the brand, rating them 9.7/10 stars.

High product durability was among the most common compliments fans wrote about the company.

We also peeped at the Hobie Kayak Facebook page, which holds a 4.6/5 star average from over 390 customer testimonials. 

Some fans went as far as to call the brand the best fishing kayak company on the planet. Others called it a match made in heaven for fishing and kayaking. 

One common point of praise our Hobie Kayak review team found across the internet was the ingenious advent of pedals in the kayak. These pedals freed up the user’s hands so that they could focus on fishing rather than having to paddle, put their paddle down and grab their fishing rod, only for the fish to swim away.

Check out what this excited customer said about the Hobie Kayak Outback: “The mirage drive powers thru every condition that would normally cripple a kayaker.” They also loved the “Vantage seat! I needed something that I’m comfortable in all day.”

The company’s innovative designs allowed users to explore new fishing and watersport avenues than they ever thought possible. 

This piece of consumer feedback proves as much: “Hobie offers an exceptional product that allows recreational paddlers and kayak anglers to cover so much more water in so many more scenarios than I could even imagine.”

Even more commenters said their expeditions were the smoothest they’d ever been thanks to Hobie Kayak’s pristine performance. 

Our Hobie Kayak review team found that many fans became brand collectors; once they had one product they were more likely to purchase more. This elated customer admits their Hobie Kayak addiction: “I have three Hobie kayaks a PA 12 and two Outbacks best kayaks in the world. Thank you Hobie for making an awesome kayak.”

As a whole customers loved the stability Hobie Kayaks offered along with the sheer amusement they got out of simply cruising around. 

Is Hobie Kayak Worth It?

Based on all the research we conducted for this review, we definitely recommend giving the brand a good look at the very least. 

They’ve been satisfying customers for over 50 years as well as constantly innovating their products to help connect customers with the majesty of the open waters. That’s about as fairy tale of a dream as a company can have. It’s safe to say that it’s smooth sailing (or paddling) ahead with Hobie Kayak.

Hobie Kayak Promotions & Discounts 

If you like saving money on shipping then this is the section of our Hobie Kayak review that’ll have you jumping for joy. The company offers free shipping on all US orders over $99, which covers most of their items, really.

Where to Buy Hobie Kayak

While the best place our writers could find for purchasing their items was their website, hobie.com, their products are available at retailers worldwide. 

They also host a Find A Dealer locator that will connect you with the nearest Hobie Kayak retailer.

FAQ

Who owns Hobie Kayak?

In early 2021, the company Maynards Industries and their CEO Taso Sofikitis purchased Hobie Kayak.

Does Hobie Kayak offer Warranty?

Hobie Kayak offers a 3-year warranty on all of their newer products. Newer in this case refers to any Hobie Kayak item manufactured after 2019. 

There’s also a 2-year warranty on all of their inflatable kayak products.

This warranty covers defects in manufacturing or any other error where the company is at fault. That means it will not cover product degradation due to time, usage, or trying to become TikTok famous through gripping stunt videos.

What is Hobie Kayak’s Shipping Policy?

Though based on the brand’s many international outlets that we can assume they ship internationally, our Hobie Kayak review will only cover the company’s United States shipping policies. 

Standard shipping costs $10 and arrives in 3 to 6 business days. Their expedited shipping option costs $25 and comes much faster, taking only 2 to 3 business days.

For more information on shipping times for other countries, visit the company’s website at hobie.com.

What is Hobie Kayak’s Return Policy?

Hobie Kayak offers a flexible 30-day return policy wherein you can exchange or return any item so long as they are in their original packaging and haven’t been used. 

So don’t even think about returning the kayak that you demolished on your last fraternity white water kayaking trip with the boys.

How to Contact Hobie Kayak

Wow, we were ever blown away by how many different phone lines and email addresses Hobie Kayak has. While our Hobie Kayak review squad recommends using the form found on their Contact Us page on hobie.com, there are multiple other addresses you can use to speak with a Hobie Kayak representative for your area:

• You can reach Hobie Cat North and South America by phone (1-760-758-9100) or by email ([email protected])

• You can reach Hobie Cat Australasia by phone (61-2-44418-400) or by email ([email protected])

• You can reach Hobie Cat Europe by phone (33-494-08787-8 OR 31-187499440) or by email ([email protected] OR [email protected])

• You can reach Hobie Cat Brasil by phone (55-47-3369-6096) or by email ([email protected])

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