Hobie Odyssey

Size and Weight

The Odyssey’s added length gives it more of a speed advantage over its cousin, the Kona. At a full 14’ (427 cm) in length and a width of 33” (84 cm), this kayak is undeniably built for speed. It is also slightly heavier than the Kona at a fully-rigged weight of 91.5 lbs (42 kg). The Odyssey is light enough for two people to easily handle, and is not quite as bulky as other tandem models on the market.

Capacity

The Odyssey provides plenty of seating capacity and room for extra gear with an overall rating of 550 lbs (249 kg). Many users report that the Odyssey does not sit lower in the water, even when weighed down with more than 500 lbs of total weight. For users looking to utilize the solo mode, the Odyssey allows for a considerable amount of gear to be packed onto the kayak, making it an ideal choice for long-range trips.

Features

There is no shortage of features on the Odyssey, especially for anglers who sometimes want to take an overnight trip on their kayak. Hobie does a great job of utilizing the full space of the Odyssey and including everything a serious angler might need on the water.

The bow and stern are both equipped with a molded carrying handle that make it easy to handle the kayak out of the water. Users will also appreciate the large bow hatch as it is capable of carrying a sizable amount of gear, keeping it out of the weather and dry.

The kayak features molded foot wells on the front and back seating areas, but there are added foot wells in the middle of the Odyssey for those who opt to use it in solo mode.

On either side of each cockpit are mesh stowage pockets that are ideal for stashing an array of tools and other gear that users might need to access quickly and effortlessly. In front of each front and back seat is an 8” twist-and-seal hatch where users can stash any valuables or other gear items that need to be kept dry when on the water.

The seats are not quite as comfortable as the ones offered in Hobie’s Mirage lineup, but the Odyssey does offer comfortable options with two adjustable deluxe padded seats. Each seat can be adjusted to provide added lower lumbar support, or moved to the reclining position.

One seat can be moved to the middle of the kayak to allow for users to operate the Odyssey in solo mode. Many users report that the middle area can also be used to seat a third user, often a child, which makes the Odyssey a great choice for families.

There are two molded-in rod holders located directly behind the rear seat that can be used for trolling as well as storage. The rear cargo well is spacious and offers bungee cords to help secure any added gear that users might need to keep in the back.

The Odyssey comes standard with two Hobie paddles that can be stored on either side of the kayak.

One of the only downsides to the Odyssey is that it is not transducer ready as some of the other Hobie fishing kayak models. However, users can add electronic equipment using the scupper holes on the front and back of the kayak.

Performance

The Odyssey is all about speed, and it is much faster than most other tandem kayak models on the market in 2020. It still offers much of the same performance that Hobie is well-known for and many users rave about the overall agility and tracking. The Odyssey’s overall hull design creates an experience where users can pick up considerable speed with just a few paddle strokes. The performance is also not hindered when the kayak is loaded down to nearly full-capacity. The overall stability is reported as being very good and both users are able to stand and fish, in most cases.