Hobie Kona

Size and Weight

The Kona is only 11’6” (351 cm) long and 34” (86 cm) wide, which is much more compact than most other two-person kayaks on the market. It’s compact design also makes it considerably lighter than other tandem models. Weighing in at just 78 lbs (35 kg) fully rigged, the Kona is ideal for anyone seeking a two-person ride that is easy to handle and highly portable.

Capacity

The kayak isn’t necessarily designed to be capable of handling larger users. The Kona’s full capacity is 425 lbs (193 kg), which is enough for two average-sized users when factoring in gear needed for camping or other activities. When outfitted to serve as a single-person kayak, the Kona offers greater capacity for a wide range of outdoor adventures. The kayak might be slightly limited regarding capacity, but there is no shortage of performance on the water.

Features

The Hobie Kona is not well-suited for fishing, but that’s not to say that users can’t use it as a fishing kayak. The Kona can be adjusted to seat a single user, who can then use the oversized bow and stern wells to hold a sizable amount of gear.

There are molded carrying handles located on the bow and stern of the kayak, making it easy to tote or handle for one or two users. The kayak also offers molded foot wells that allow any user to easily hop in and get moving without having to take time to adjust seating or foot pegs.

The cockpit areas provide plenty of room for users, and also feature a mesh stowage pocket that’s great for stashing a number of tools or small gear items that users might want to have at hand. On the left side of each seat is a molded drink holder, with an added drink holder located directly in front of the middle, single-user seat.

Both adjustable deluxe padded seats offer plenty of comfort for long trips. The seats provide ample lower lumbar support and are made of padded mesh material that’s breathable and allows users to remain cool and dry on the water.

In front of each seat is an 8” twist-and-seal dry storage hatch that’s perfect for stashing camping gear, raincoats, or just about anything else users need to keep dry on their journey.

There is also a sizable rear cargo area that is equipped with bungee cords to make sure any gear items remain in place, no matter how rough the seas may be. Also located on the stern is an optional space where users can have an additional dry hatch added that’s identical to the 8” twist-and-seal hatches in front of each seat.

The Kona comes standard with two separate two-piece paddles that can be fastened to either side.

The kayak’s hull design also allows it to be stacked on top of other Kona models, which is ideal for packing multiple kayaks onto one trailer or storing them in a tight, neat manner.

Performance

The Hobie Kona is designed to serve as a tandem kayak and it will offer optimal performance on the water as such. Users report that the overall design makes the Kona slightly difficult to handle in solo-mode, especially on longer trips. The Kona offers decent speed for a two-person ride and the hull’s molded skeg helps to keep it on course in both tandem or solo mode. The Kona is exceptionally stable and remains steady in any water conditions. Users report that the kayak is surprisingly agile for its size and the fact that it is a tandem model. The lightweight design makes the Kona fairly easy to cartop and carry short distances.