As the proud owners of the Mustang 100X and the Argo 100XR, we were excited when we received the Sprint 106XP Kayak. While the other kayaks are comfortable and roomy, the Sprint 106XP kayak is actually known for its speed and its ability to track thru the water. So below are our unbiased opinions about this boat.
Stats:
Length: 10 feet 8 inches
Cockpit Width: 20 inches
Cockpit Length: 48 inches
Weight: 39 pounds
Max. Capacity: 300 pounds
Hull Material: RAM-X PREMIUM
Color: Chili Pepper/white
MSRP: $419.99
First impressions:
From the second Dustin laid eyes on the Sprint 106XP Kayak, he was slightly smitten with it. The beautiful red and black marbled finish, the small windshield, and the sleek shape of this kayak make it look like you mixed a torpedo with some sort of Star Wars pod racer. We know that it can only go as fast as your arms can paddle, but this thing looks like it was meant to go fast. We also noticed that when this kayak is sitting on the ground, it leans to one side or the other. This is due to its Shallow Twin-Arched V Hull.
I was very curious to see how it could compare stability-wise to our Mustang 100x with their Twin-Arched Multi Chine Hulls like the one below.
Features:
Adjustable footrests
We love this feature on our Mustang 100x kayak, so we were thrilled to see them here. This level of adjustability is great for ensuring that the kayak has a nice custom fit for the user. The footrests have a wide variety of adjustment levels that cover everything from less than 5ft to over 5ft 10.
Premium knee pads
This boat has the newer style premium knee pads that are made out of a wetsuit-type material. They are firmly attached to the boat so they won’t be slide around. These knee pads are super comfortable. Because of that, they definitely come in handy on long days out on the water.
Smartphone holder with bungee cords
The Sprint 106XP Kayak also has a cockpit table with a bungee cord that will give you a nice secure place to store your phone.
Cockpit windshield
The windshield did a great job of keeping the phone nice and dry. It also kept the sun off it. We have had our phones overheat in the past when it is in direct sunlight. However, that shouldn’t be a problem with the Sprint 106XP kayak.
Bottle holder with bungee cord
A perfect and easily accessible place for your water bottle
Storage hammock
A small hammock behind the seat where you can store small items that you will need to have access to during your paddle.
Ergonomic carrying handles
Comfortable carrying handles in front and back of the kayak
Front and back bungees for storage
There are bungees on both front and back of the kayaks for storage
Ergofit G2 seating system
Super comfortable seat with extra padding
Drain plug
Easily accessible. It’s located in a good spot to make it easy to drain.
Keel extension
This helps the kayak maintain its course, even on a breezy day.
Review:
Storage:
The Sprint 106XP kayak weighs as much as our Mustang 100X at 39 lbs, therefore, makes it pretty easy for us to get it up and down on the Jeep’s roof rack. 39 lbs kayak is very lightweight when you compare it to some of the other manufacturers in the industry.
When you first look at this kayak, you might think it doesn’t have a lot of storage. However, since the entire front and back of the kayak are hollow, you can put a lot of stuff in there. There are also bungee cords in the front and back of the boat for additional storage needs.
Just a note, since this is a V-shaped hull, there is a good chance that any water that gets into the boat will travel back and forth. This means that it will get everything inside the boat wet. We would recommend putting things that you don’t want to get wet in dry bags. We found the 20 Liter bags are perfect to stow under the deck of the kayak. If you prefer more space, then get the 35 Liter. Don’t forget the 4 Liter ones. They are the perfect size to store personal items such as phones, keys, chapstick, gum, etc.
One more added bonus is the storage hammock that is just behind the Ergofit G2 seat. It had more than enough room for Dustin’s camera and GoPro. This is nice because we know that they were elevated off the floor and would not be getting wet. It was also very easy to turn around and grab them whenever Dustin needed them. Don’t forget, this is a storage HAMMOCK and not a pocket. It is open in the back. At one point, Dustin pushed the Gopro a little too far in and it fell out the backside into the large cavity of the boat.
Performance:
When we first took the Sprint 106XP kayak out, Dustin excitedly slid the kayak about shin-deep in the water. As he hopped in, he was stuck. Neither of us had thought about this kayak being a shallow Twin-Arched V Hull. It seems to sit a little deeper in the water. Mix that with the fact that the keel extension sticks a little father out in the back. It had planted itself in the sand pretty good. We have to remember to push it a little further out in the water before getting in.
The name Sprint is very appropriate for this boat. It seemed to be very efficient as it glided through the water with ease. On one of our first outings, Vy brought the Mustang 100X while our sister and brother-in-law brought their Odysseys. With the Sprint, Dustin had no problem catching up with the rest of the group after staying behind to take photos.
The keel extension does a great job of keeping the Sprint going in a straight line. It even maintained course on a very breezy day. We were impressed! We wish there was some way to put a keel extension on the Mustangs as well.
The boat is very responsive. It can be thrown onto its edge pretty quickly. If you are inexperienced at kayaking, you might mistake this for a lack of stability. However, this kayak has great secondary stability that kicks in a little bit later. The learning curve is quick and easy. It will feel like second nature in no time.
In the beginning, the seat felt uncomfortable without the support of the rigid plastic of the boat behind it like the Mustang 100X. However, as Dustin tightened the straps that are attached to the seat, it firmed up and he actually thought it was quite comfortable. We love how squishy the bottom of the seat is. It makes for a really comfortable ride for a full day out in the water.
Cons:
There are a couple of negative issues we have with the Sprint 106XP kayak. One of them is how fragile the windshield is. The windshield on our kayak got a good-sized crack in it just from a couple of times out on the water. It is made out of a pretty rigid material and it could be an issue. Luckily, Pelican does sell a replacement, in case yours gets cracked.
Another issue that we have with this boat is how hollow it is. Yes, it will give you tons of storage space, but if the kayak gets swamped, the water will fill the entire boat. This will make it sink. There is a pretty easy fix for this though, we recommend buying flotation bags to put in the very front and back of the boat. They won’t take up too much space, and they will hopefully keep the boat afloat in the event of a capsize.
Despite its cons, the Sprint 106XP kayak is perfect for anyone that likes to cover a decent amount of ground. Pelican has once again raised the bar when it comes to quality and design.
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