Sport, Outback, or Revo. Which one??

Hi Everyone,
I'm hoping to purchase my first kayak fairly soon. I will be test paddling the Sport, Outback, and Revo this wednesday and would like to know before hand what I should be looking for besides comfort, and being able to handle it. First off, I'm 5'4" on a good day, and around 130 lbs. I will mainly be using the kayak to fish lures, some bait, and I also fly fish so not sure if standing on any of these is possible or needed. I will attempt to stand when I take a test spin on each. It seems that alot of people recommend the Sport for women, which is fine, but I'm thinking I would like to have a little more room in the back for stuff and to take either one of my son's for a spin sometimes. I'm hoping to get the family HOOKED on Hobie's and in time buy us each our own. Also, I really like the option of being able to paddle, so from what I've been reading, the Outback is like a barge to paddle and the Revo is much quicker! So, if anyone can chime in with any information I should be looking for while test driving each of these I would greatly appreciate it.
Lisa

Putting myself in your shoes , and wanting a kayak bigger than a Sport , I would surely go for the Revo .... You will have plenty of room to move around on the Revo at only 130 lbs ...You mention paddling and if that is the case , the Revo is WAY easier to paddle than an Outback .... The Outback is a little bit more stable , but not by much , and has the trays right there to mount things easier , but it's sides are also higher and would be harder to get back into should you flip ....It's also shorter than the Revo for storage ......Peddle, and paddle them both before you decide .....There's a lot to be said about trying before you buy .....Good Luck ...Jim

Putting myself in your shoes , and wanting a kayak bigger than a Sport , I would surely go for the Revo .... You will have plenty of room to move around on the Revo at only 130 lbs ...You mention paddling and if that is the case , the Revo is WAY easier to paddle than an Outback .... The Outback is a little bit more stable , but not by much , and has the trays right there to mount things easier , but it's sides are also higher and would be harder to get back into should you flip ....It's also shorter than the Revo for storage ......Peddle, and paddle them both before you decide .....There's a lot to be said about trying before you buy .....Good Luck ...Jim

My wife has the Sport & I have the Revo. The Revo seems to be the best all around of the Hobie Mirage drive kayaks based on the past postings on this forum.
The Revo is quieter than the Sport & faster. If you put the Side Kicks on the Revo & have them in the lowest position, you can stand up and be very stable for fishing.
If you want it mostly for fishing the the Pro Angler sounds to be a great kayak but I haven't tried one yet.
The Revo is a lot of fun to sail. I like having the side Kicks for winds above 10 mph.
If you purchase the ST Turbo fins, slow peddling is a great trolling speed.
I wouldn't trade my Revo for a Sport.

I also concur with synthnut posting.

Bruce

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Everything before 60 is just a rehearsal!

I've owned each one of those kayaks and I can tell you that if I had to choose between them again, it would be the revo. Its more versatile, paddles better, is smoother, faster, and lends itself to a wider range of usage scenarios. If you're thinking of taking the yak into open water, the revo will perform better.

In the end you're the best judge, so just go with what feels best on the water. Keep in mind, however, that complete newbies will most often have a better 1st impression of the OB if they are worried about falling out. But the fact is that not only is the revo very stable anyway, it never takes long for beginners to become intermediate, and that worrying about tipping the yak goes away for most users in no time at all.

There are very few reasons, if any, that makes the sport better suited to women. The only reason I can think of is making it easier to cartop on your own. But if you go about it the right way, car-topping a revo is just as easy anyway.

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Kayak Fishing Specialist: SLH
https://slhobie.com.au

Your doing the right thing by testing them to see what works. One thing to think about that is often over looked is landing fish. Some yaks afford more room than others. You will get used to casting while seated it's no problem with practice.

Lisa, it's best you try all the models out on the water and see firsthand what you're looking for. In many cases people are suprised at what they thought they were to expect.
Each of these models has it's little nitche, and one does not do it all perfectly...although they do come close.
After having experience in all of them there will be a personal favorite, but that's up to the end user. Naturally the guy owning one kayak will be biased to his specific model, getting input on model specific kayaks will tell you what each has to offer...but they are all different in many ways.
For your size the Sport meets many of your goals, and it will exceed at all expectations. I've used this Kayak fishing up at Montauk in harsh conditions, it does it all; surf launches are not an issue...and it paddles well. For touring however there are better options, the Revo would then come into play.
The Outback is a much more stable kayak, personally I think it's meets the need for a bigger kayaker. Make no mistake, the Outback is a fishing machine and laid out nicely for mounting fishing accessories. Touring however, steer twards the Revo; this kayak was designed for fishing....it also enables you to stack kayaks on top of eachother....very cool feature if you're transporting a few kayaks.
The Revo like the others will do it all, mounting space on this kayak is limited no matter what anyone tells you. To get that tracking feature if you want to paddle there has to be some sacrifice to design. The sleekness in design limits the space in which to mount accessories, it's a simple give and take ratio. Many of my friends own the Revo and love it. It too is a fishing machine.
Weight too is something to consider, especially after you rig the kayak for fishing. The vehicle you drive will have an impact on your decision as well. Weigh in all factors, demo them all if possible; and no matter what model you choose...a Hobie mirage drive kayak will change your life.

Hey Everyone,
Thanks so much for all your valuable info. I will test drive all three tomorrow if the weather holds out. One more question if you don't mind. I read somewhere that the mirage drive sits higher in the revo, and makes a drier ride. Does the height of the drive make a difference in leg length? Meaning your angle. I'm not concerned about getting wet. But, is a drier ride a buying factor. Or, is the lower angle of the drive in the outback/sport more comfortable. I guess I can answer my own question by testing them. Opps! One more sorry. Can you store a 7' rod in any of these thru the front hatch for transporting???? Thanks again, and sorry for all the questions, this forum is a great sounding board for all the newbies....... Lisa

Another two cents!!! I started with the Sport when my children were little, moved to the Adventure, and now have a Revolution. The Sport was by far the easiest to transport and handled like a sports car. At 5'10" and 160 pounds, I felt a bit large for it. The Adenture was a speed demon and very roomy, but just a little too long for me. The Revolution is a better fit for me. It's almost as fast as the Adventure, and with the sailing rudder it handles like the Sport. I tried the Outback once. It did not suit me at all. I have spent time in the Pro Angler also, and if I was fishing tournaments it would be my choice. Sooo........
Here's what I'd do if I were you.
Get your dealer to demo all three kayaks at the same time so you can make a fair side by side comparison. Peddle and paddle each one. Find what you like or dislike about each one and go back and forth verifing your feelings and opinions about each. You'll be better able to decide after being on each. Go back to your favorite and demo it for a while, then try the others again. Focus and verify.
One other thing. Make sure you are getting a 2009 model with the up/down control lines and the click and go Mirage Drive. You might get a better deal on a new old stock kayak initially, but in the long run, you'll be better off with the new and improved systems.
I went with the mid size Turbo fins. Keep the stock ones for spares. The longer Turbo ST fins were overkill for me.
My wife also has a Revolution. She manages the local kayak dealer and the Revolution is her favorite.

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2008 Revo Fish
Sailing Rudder
ST Fins
Hobie Rod Extensions
Eagle Cuda 168 FF
Up/Down Line/Cleat Rudder Upgrade

You will have to ask someone else about the 7 ft rod storage question , but I was the one who posted about the Mirage Drive sitting higher in the Revo .....When the chop gets going or the water gets rough, you are going to get wet in ANY of the kayaks , but if you are in calm water , it's nice to stay as dry as possible unless you like getting wet !!!.... When I went to the Hobie Day , I peddled the Outback, the Revo , and the Pro Anger....The Pro Angler was out because it was basically a small boat , but I have to admit after fishing with EZRider and seeing how much stuff he can carry in his Pro Angler, not to mention the ease of getting to everything , I am having 2nd thougts .....The Outback while primary stability was great , and the mounting trays on each side was nice , it did NOT paddle good for me, and actually seemed slow to me when compared to the Revo ...The Mirage Drive was mounted LOWER in the hull of the Outback , therefore I always had a couple of inches of water at my feet even in calm water .....The Revo was dry .....The angle is not that big of a deal between the two ....The Angle of the Pro Angler is much more different ....The Mirage Drive on ALL the models is adjustable for the length of your legs ....The Revo and the Outback you are basically sitting back, and down into the yak with your back at an angle ....The Pro Angler you are sitting UP in the seat and your legs are straight out almost to a downward position ...All of the Hobies are comfortable once you get into position and they are ALL adjustable for leg length .....Again , as far as having to PADDLE the yak , other than the Adventure, which is much longer and narrower , the Revo is by far the easiest to paddle .... As far as how much room you have to move around in the seat , the Pro Angler has the most , then comes the Outback , and with just a little less room than the Outback comes the Revo .....Again , I can't stress enough how much they differ in the way that they feel on the water ....They look a lot the same , but there are noticeable differences .....Try before you buy if possible ....Jim

Thanks again for a boat load of info. As luck would have it the dealer cancelled my test drives tonight due to earlier lightning strikes in the area. So, I had to reschedule for friday. This waiting is killing me. From everyones awesome replies, I'm liking the info I'm getting about the Revo. There will be days, when not fishing and I just want to go out and paddle. And in time, I think the sailing option sound cool, but again, the majority of time will hopefully be fishing. Does anyone have a picture of a revo with a child some where on the boat with them? Just curious how others have done it. Thanks, Lisa

I have a Revo and take kids with me. They sit in the front hatch on a PFD. There is plenty of leg room to sit facing front or back. Its deep enough they can't fall out. Just remember if the hatch is open and you roll, that is a problem. If there is any question about conditions or if I am the only one on the water I use my side kicks. Most of the time I do this on a small, calm lake with no side kicks.
Here is a friend, She is four. First time she wasn't sure but after five minutes it was FASTER, FASTER. You get the picture.

Bruce

[img][IMG]http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/7764/revokid.th.jpg[/img]
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Everything before 60 is just a rehearsal!

I have the Outback, 100% for fishing. The only time I paddle is to go backwards, and to land after I've removed the drive.......get the one that best suits the manner in which you will use it. Me, I peddle and cast, or drift with the wind casting. A little water in the drive well is of no consequence, and I stay very dry, the side trays are great for putting fishing gear for quick retrieval. With no foot controls for the rudder, it doesn't take long to see that they are made to peddle. If I wanted a touring kayak, then I would get an adventure. For fishing, an Outback or PA. A revo if you're not sure........

When I first tested them, I took out a revo and my wife took an outback. She kept up with me with no problem, but turned around in 1/2 the time it took me, whatever you get, get the sailing rudder on either............................ck

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Never argue with an idiot, they will just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

Lisa you seem to be reading my thoughts! I too am trying decide between the Revo and OB. I plan on buying this weekend. I haven't had a chance to try either of them but I'm leaning, based on what I've read and the dealer's recomendation toward the Revo. I'll be using it probably 50/50 for fishing and touring. I plan on paddling a fair bit too as part of my reason for kayaking is to get some excercise. With the peddles as well as a paddle I can get a full body workout. I'm also very excited to add the sail package in the future for even more versatility. I have small kids too and hope to bring them out on calm water, riding in the back behind the seat. I hadn't considerd the front hatch but it's and interesting option. Thanks for all the great replies everyone! Lisa please let us know how your demo goes and what boat you decide on. - Darin

The Revolution has about the same size cargo well 18" x 32" +/-) as the Adventure (shown here rigged as the Adventure Island). As you can see, there is plenty of room for kids. The Outback is about 1" wider and 6" shorter, but still adequate.





Yes, they fish with these too: http://www.yakabout.com.au/home/

If the kids are behind you, you can get a little rear view mirror for your sun glasses or tether them to the boat, depending on their age just to make sure they don't get away!