Old Town Loon 126

Size and Weight

At 12’6” (3.8 m) long, the Old Town Loon 126 is quite long for a recreational kayak. This added length allows for better tracking than what you’d find on a shorter boat, but doesn’t detract from the Loon 126’s portability.

The Loon 126 is 31” (78.7 cm) wide. It has a 17.25” (43.8 cm) deck height, so it’s spacious enough to comfortably accommodate taller paddlers.

With a weight of 59 lbs (26.8 kg), the Loon 126 is quite heavy for its size. For reference, the Jackson Tupelo 12.5 is just 49 lbs (22.2 kg) despite being precisely the same length. However, this kayak’s weight isn’t excessive and it is still totally manageable to carry, especially if you have a friend to help.

Capacity

One area where the Loon 126 really shines is its weight capacity. Able to carry up to 450 lbs (204 kg), the kayak is more than strong enough to support the majority of paddlers and a day’s worth of gear.

In fact, this kayak blows many similar options out of the water in terms of overall capacity. For example, the similarly comfort-inspired Old Town Vapor 12XT has a weight limit of 375 lbs (170.1 kg).

Features

The Old Town Loon 126 provides everything you need in a recreational kayak, thanks to its well-thought-out features.

This boat boasts Old Town’s Active Comfort System 2.0 Seat, which mixes functionality, style, and comfort into one package. In particular, this seating system is fully adjustable and is well padded so it can support your back and legs throughout a day of paddling.

Plus, the Loon 126 has plenty of gear storage space. It features a large stern bulkhead with a click seal hatch for storing larger pieces of equipment. In the cockpit, this kayak has a removable workdeck that even has a USB charging port. You can also strap down gear under the bow and stern deck bungees.

Performance

Although the Loon 126 was certainly designed with comfort and functionality in mind, it is also one of the highest performing recreational boats of its size. Old Town gave this kayak a sharp keel line, which allows it to slice through the water.

In the middle, the Loon 126 has a rounded hull. This allows for excellent primary stability. That said, any boat with a rounded hull will struggle a bit in choppy, windy conditions due to its lack of secondary stability.

Finally, this kayak’s rounded hull, when combined with its Support Track Foot Brace System, allows you to comfortably maneuver through tricky waters and shallow coastal areas.

While we wish that it came with a skeg for improved tracking in windy conditions, overall, the Loon 126 impresses in terms of performance for a recreational boat.