Wilderness Systems Kayaks Are Worth A Look

Now I don't claim to be a world expert on Wilderness Systems kayaks, but I have owned two WS boats (an Alto and a Cape Lookout), and I've spoken to a lot of WS paddlers over the years. And you'll be hard-pressed to find a more loyal and satisfied group of paddling enthusiasts on the water. Pound for pound and buck for buck, the Wilderness Systems kayaks stack up against any other brand, and often outperform boats costing twice as much.

Just as with any other kayak brand, we have heard a few complaints about WS boats, mostly regarding seat comfort and the tendency for the rubber hatch covers on some models to leak or even blow off in a stiff wind. But these negative comments have been relatively few and far between, and you'll find Wilderness Systems owners to be a loyal and happy bunch overall.

Wilderness Systems -- the company

Wilderness Systems has been around since the mid 1980s, and in many ways the company is a classic American success story. Started in a garage by two friends--Andy Zimmerman and John Shepard--the company quickly became known for its innovative, high-quality, hand-built composite whitewater kayaks. In the late 1980's, WS added touring kayaks to their lineup.

The company grew rapidly through the 1990s, and became known for their innovative designs, high-construction, and beautiful boats. In 1993, WS began manufacturing rotomolded plastic boats, which sold for about half the price of their composite designs, and sales increased accordingly.

Then they took the plunge into recreational kayaks, and sales soared again as more and more people were exposed to this rapidly growing segment of paddle sports. In 1998, WS merged with legendary canoe manufacturer Mad River Canoe and became the Confluence Watersports Company. Then the company acquired Wave Sports, a whitewater kayak manufacturer, and now markets their whitewater boats under that name. With these moves the company positioned itself as a leading paddle sport manufacturer, with hundreds of retailers and thousands of devoted customers world wide.

The Products

This review is primarly concerned with Wildneress System's touring and recreational boats (we will cover the Wave Sports whitewater kayaks in another review). The WS boats traditionally get high marks for their maneuverability and wave handling in all types of surf and weather conditions.

My Alto has been particularly stable in all types of conditions. It's shallow "V bottom" hull makes it steady even in rough surf, and many paddlers find these boats great platforms for fishing. The boat glides along with very little effort, and is easy for even novice paddlers to control. Not the fastest kayak on the water, but speed is relatively good for the size and hull design of the boat. And you'll be hard pressed to find a more comfortable boat than the Alto. Its padded, high-back seat is a joy to sit in, and the thigh braces provide a secure fit without being uncomfortable. One nitpick is that there is no front bulkhead on the Alto.

My former Cape Lookout--sold when I moved to Denver--was another very capable kayak. Again, the boat tracks well and is easy to control in almost any conditions. The seat and braces were a comfortable fit, and I had no problems keeping up with my buddies in their sleek Kevlar boats (much to their chagrin!).
If your new to paddling, or looking for a first kayak for your kids, the Pungo is a great choice. These boats are a little shorter and slower than most of the other WS models, but they're very stable and easy for a newbie to jump right in and paddle away. The large cockpit and comfortable seat are also attractive features. Some have reported that the Pungo's have a tendency to track to the right a little, but this is easy to correct with a little practice.

As mentioned earlier, we have heard some complaints about seat comfort and the Alto does tend to have a weathercocking problem if used without a rudder, especially in winds over 20 miles per hour. And the rubber hatch covers on the Lookout tend to leak, and can even come off in roll, so you'll want to secure them with a good set of buckle straps.

Conclusion

These few minor faults aside, we would still highly recommend a Wildnerness Systems kayak to anyone considering a new recreational or touring boat. The WS boats feature innovative designs, rock-solid construction, good accessories, and a fit and finish that's second to none.

Need a New Touring Kayak?

Is that trusty old touring kayak getting a little long in the tooth? Are you finding it harder and harder to keep up with your paddling companions? Are you finding that your current boat just doesn't have the storage capacity for those long, multi-day excursions? Or are you in the market for your first sea or touring kayak?

If so, you might consider purchasing your next boat from one of the online merchants. Retail paddling shops are great if you can find one, but most only carry one or two brands, and expect to pay the full retail price. Online merchants, on the other hand, often carry several brands and dozens of touring and recreational kayaks, and usually at very competitive prices. They have secure ordering systems, good warranty and return policies, and will ship virtually anywhere in the world. And you won't have to spend a weekend driving all over town in search of that perfect new boat.

If you've got a moment, check out one of our recommended merchants. You'll be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

Touring kayaks from Backcountry.com
Shop Backcountry.com for a great selection of name brand touring kayaks, including Perception and Dagger.

Tips & Tricks

Stuff those bulkheads

You may have noticed, but loading up the aft compartment on your touring kayak can significantly improve handling. The only problem is that gear in a half-filled compartment tends to shift when your boat rolls, which can cause real problems when you try to right your kayak. One solution to this problem is to fill that unused space with air bags. And if you really want to stuff that aft stowage area, try loading it through the cockpit instead of the hatch.