Old Town Twister

Size and Weight

The Old Town Twister measures up at 11’3” (3.4 m) and tips the scales at 46 lbs (20.8 kg), which makes it quite light compared with its competition. For reference, the similarly sized Perception Access 11.5 weighs 55 lbs (25 kg). Jackson Riviera, which is only an inch longer, is 58 lbs (26.3 kg).

This relatively low weight makes the Twister fairly easy to transport from the water to your vehicle. The boat’s molded bow, stern, and side handles also help when it comes to lifting it up to the top of your car at the end of a day of paddling.

Capacity

With a stated capacity of 275 lbs (124.7 kg), the Twister is on the lower end of carrying capacity for an 11’3” boat. For reference, both Perception Access 11.5 and Jackson Riviera are rated for 300 lbs (136 kg) while another similarly sized kayak, Perception Tribe 11.5, supports up to 350 lbs (158.8 kg).

Therefore, the Twister is better suited for smaller paddlers or for anyone that is looking for a small boat for short jaunts on the water. Ideally, it’s best not to exceed 80% of the maximum weight capacity of a boat, so this kayak is best for paddlers who, when combined with their gear, weigh less than 220 lbs (99.8 kg).

Features

One look at the Old Town Twister tells you that this is a unique boat. Featuring a sit-on-top design with a full-plastic construction, this kayak is made with durability and ease of use in mind. Due to its sit-on-top design and flat hull, the Twister is easy to get in and out of.

It also has a contoured seat with a backrest that’s molded directly into the plastic hull of the boat. Thanks to this contoured seat, the kayak can fit a range of different paddler sizes without the need to adjust the seat in between trips on the water. However, the lack of foam padding on this seat means that the Twister isn’t as comfortable as what you might find on other models, so it’s best used for shorter day trips rather than kayak expeditions.

For gear storage, Old Town designed this kayak with a decently-sized stern tank well and a bungee cord. This provides enough space to store some snacks, water, and even a spare layer for a few hours on your local lake or river even though there is no dry storage available on the boat. Plus, the Twister comes with a molded cup holder for staying hydrated as you paddle.

Performance

The Old Town Twister was crafted with the novice to intermediate recreational paddler in mind. It has a flat hull that offers superb primary stability. However, the very round hull and high amount of rocker of this kayak mean that it doesn’t offer too much in the way of secondary stability, especially in flat water.

This boat naturally provides decent tracking abilities simply by way of its 11’3” (3.4m) length, but it does not have a skeg or a rudder, so it can be challenging to paddle straight on a windy day. On the flip side, the rounded hull and high rocker of the Twister make it much more maneuverable than what you’d expect of a kayak this length.

Additionally, Old Town included molded footrests on the Twister, which allows for more control over the boat while maneuvering. In many ways, this kayak performs like a hybrid between a touring kayak and a playboat, which makes it an ideal choice for beginners looking to have a bit of fun while improving their paddling skills along the way.