“The reason we purchased the Air Glide 410 was because of flexibility and ease of use. We have had one outing and the ease of unpacking and repacking was easy and efficient. The 410 met our expectations on the water. It tracked well, was quite stable and changed directions with ease! We were pleasantly surprised at how dry we were after 45 minute river-bay-river paddle. Looking forward to many more paddles at home and on our holidays.”
Wayne, thank you for your wonderful review of the Air Glide 410! We’re delighted to hear that it met your expectations for flexibility and ease of use on your outing. It’s great to know that you found unpacking and repacking efficient—and staying dry on a river-bay-river paddle is definitely a bonus! We hope you have many more exciting paddling adventures both at home and during your holidays.
Best,
The Bay Sports Team
“I recently received this Kayak after a long wait and just had the opportunity to try it out at Eden. Being a reasonably experienced kayker i found it easy to use despite a bit of wind and choppy sea. For less experienced users it was a bit tippy and took time to get used to. Being an inflatable it did tend get blown of course a bit so need to the bow faced into strong wind but moves quickly with the wind. Also the seats take some time adjusting and getting the right position.
But Overall I'm very pleased with it as its quite quick to set up /set down and also travels through the water at speed. The grab handles make it easy to lift onto my shoulder and carry back to the car.
I've done a lot of research and i don't think at this stage there is a better inflatable for the price and design.
I had a lot of interest and comments from onlookers and other kayakers asking me about it and how good it looked so I think it sells itself.”
“Great kayak!! VERY fast delivery, especially at Christmas. Only one complaint, my wife and I both found the seat backs quite uncomfortable, no matter how much we adjusted them. Our old Hobie seats far better.”
“From the Murray River to the Canadian Wilderness
It's has been around 12 months since I took the plunge and purchased my Airglide 410. After 2 decades of paddling hardshell kayaks and canoes I longed for a craft that could travel with me on my regular trips and be taken on adventures while visiting family in Canada and around Australia.
For along time I had written inflatable kayaks off as no more than overpriced pool toys but with more recent advances in material and construction these boats had started to catch my eye.
After much research I decided to settle on the Airglide 410. It seemed to strike the balance of performance, portability and durability that I wanted in a kayak.
First trip out I decided to head for quick paddle on the Port river in Adelaide. The Day had 50km wind gusts and I had read in other reviews that wind was not this kayaks strong suite. Like most inflatables, the crafts tend to sit on top of the water and become hard to control as they have not as good ability to track and cut through waves unlike a hardshell. This was apparent at first with the Airglide but after some trim adjustments with me sitting further forward and fitting both the skeg fin and optional rear rudder the Airglide was able to negotiate the 2 foot chop and handle (although not very graciously) the paddle.
But the ultimate end game for me was to use this kayak on multiday camping trips on the Murray River and also in the Canadian backcountry. I also wanted to occasionally fit the second seat and bring my partner along for a day on the water.
My first multiday trip was in the Chowilla game reserve in South Australia. A 3 day trip along the Murray then into the backwaters carrying all my gear ready for a fun adventure. I had been their a number of times before in hardshells and new the perils of all the hidden underwater branches and obstacles, so I was a bit nervous at first taking an inflatable into this mine field of hidden sharp branches. After the first day of bouncing a scraping my way along my confidence grew with the craft and it was already proving itself to be more than my preconceived notion of a mere pool toy.
After 2 days and 60kms of paddling the kayak proved itself and I was confident in taking it regularly out for paddles with the comfort of not having to strap it to the roof of my ute everytime I wanted to transport it.
Jumping forward 8 months and after a good 2 dozen outings with my Airglide, I decided it was time to pack it up and check it onto a flight to Canada with the intention of 3x weeks of back country trips in Ontario's vast wilderness while in-between visits to my Canadian family and friends. Although the travel bag that came with the Airglide seemed adequate for close to home transportation, I decided to replace it with a more durable 120litre waterproof backpack that I could pack the Airglide in for transit and then use the backpack for my camping gear in Canada. Once I worked out how to keep the bag under the standard 23kg checked luggage limit it was a pretty straight process transporting the bag overseas. The only other thing I didn't take with me was the bulky seat cushions which I replaced with sea to summit inflatable cushions which proved to do the same job with less bulk. I also did not use the included paddles as I feel my 4x piece carbon fibre paddle I had previously purchased was far superior in use and weight.
Once arrived in Canada the kayak again proved its worth alongside hardshells and I completed a 10 day back country trip into Algonquian provincial Park and another 10 day trip with the Airglide into Superior Provincial Park. During both trips I was able to portage the Airglide like a canoe between waterways using a makeshift yoke constructed from the footrests. The Airglide also swallowed all my camping gear effortlessly and allowed a few extra luxurys on my extended trips.
The biggest advantage I feel I had with the Airglide was I could effortlessly check it onto a long haul flight then throw it into the back of a rental car on the opposite side of the earth where more adventures could begin.
So after 12 months of ownership and paddling the Airglide on opposite sides of the earth. I can successfully say I have had yet to have a puncture and the only damage the craft has sustained is just a few heavy scrapes from underwater hidden rocks and branches. I have taken the Airglide down class 2 rapids which it certainly didn't like but handled and in rough offshore conditions which I don't recommend but I can say is achievable if you have a little bit of previous experience under your belt. I believe the Airglide to be a great Allround kayak. It didn't particularly do anyone thing perfectly and people new to kayaking may find it's narrow beam a bit tippy at first if not use to being in a craft of that width before.
To summarise I wouldn't hesitate in recommending the Airglide if you are after an inflatable that paddles similar to a hardshell, is highly portable and is of a pretty durable design.”
“The kayak was delivered within 5 business days from the order and was exactly as expected. Detail provided on the Baysports website and with the kayak in regard to unpacking, setting up and using was accurate and helpful. An issue arose with the carry bag and that was dealt with by Baysports very quickly and a replacement sent the very next day. We have only used the kayak on one occasion so far but it appears to be very well made, was easy to set up, paddling was comfortable and it tracked well.”
