Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Sport

Size and Weight

The AdvancedFrame Sport is the ultralight weight version of the AdvancedFrame of the same size, measuring 10.5 feet / 320 cm in length and 32 inches / 81 cm in width. It weighs 26 lbs / 11 kg, a slight improvement over its original predecessor, the AdvancedFrame which weighs 36 lbs / 16 kg.

With a folded size of 30 x 17 x 8 inches / 76 x 43 x 20 cm, this small, super portable kayak is easily handled by one adult or even an older child. 

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Capacity

The AdvancedFrame Sport has a maximum payload of 250 lbs / 113 kg, which is a smidge under the original AdvancedFrame’s 300 lbs / 136 kg. 

Like many Advanced Elements kayaks, this one sits relatively low in the water and will start to lose its performance if it is loaded past 200 lbs / 91 kg. Nevertheless, there is still plenty of allowance for everyone but the largest paddlers and a decent amount of gear for a day trip. 

Features

The AdvancedFrame Sport features Advanced Element’s patented aluminum rib frame that gives the front and back of the kayak its rigidity and allows it to cut through water effortlessly and track like a dream. 

Like other Advanced Elements kayaks, the AdvancedFrame Sport features multi-layer construction for maximum durability. The hull material is a triple-layer PVC tarpaulin that is tough and is known not to rip even with rough use. 

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At the bow is a comfortable rubber-lined handle for you to lift the kayak. Further along the kayak is the bow storage area that can be secured with a bungee tie-down system for you to stash the stuff that you don’t mind getting wet.

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The large, open cockpit is larger than the original AdvancedFrame and can accommodate kayakers of almost all sizes. You might even be able to sit a small child or medium-sized dog in with you, which on the original AdvancedFrame isn’t likely to be possible. 

There is an option to purchase an adjustable foot brace separately if you need more support for your back. 

The contoured high-back seat provides plenty of comfort for long days, but there isn’t an inflatable lumbar support, unlike in some other Advanced Elements kayaks – the Convertible Elite and the Expedition Elite.

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On both sides of the cockpit are also neoprene padding to prevent your hands from getting chaffed if you tend to drop your hands after a long day and constantly rub them against the kayak. On both sides of the kayak, there are also Velcro fasteners to stash your paddle when not in use. 

Behind the seat is a few D-rings for you to add more bungee tie-downs to secure more gear. In addition, the AdvancedFrame Sport has a single valve on the stern to inflate the chambers in the inner tube. 

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Like the bow, the stern has a back carrying handle, a rigid plastic insert, and a back aluminum rib frame that acts as a kind of skeg or fin to keep the kayak tracking in a straight line. 

Performance

Like many top-quality touring kayaks, the AdvancedFrame Sport offers excellent tracking due to the included fin and patented aluminum rib frames that give the kayak superior rigidity and helps keep the kayak in a straight line.

The multi-layered PVC construction of the kayak will endure years of rough use with unparalleled durability for an inflatable kayak. The stability will make even new kayakers feel secure and despite being lightweight, the AdvancedFrame tracks well. 

However, the large, spacious cockpit means that you might not be able to use a spray skirt to keep out splashing water or cold winds, while the original AdvancedFrame was designed to accommodate the manufacturer’s spray skirts. 

The larger cockpit also takes up more deck space which means you have less storage to store gear for overnight trips. 

Overall, the AdvancedFrame Sport is a wonderful kayak for a paddler for day touring around lakes, calm water, and slow rivers of up to Class II.  Plus, this special construction is extremely easy to set up – just unfold, inflate and you’re ready to go! 

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced kayaker, the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame Sport can take your outdoor experiences to the next level.

However, if you paddle mostly in turbulent rapids or rough waves, you might want to think about the Advanced Elements Expedition Elite or the Convertible Elite models.