I purchased this boat last spring and used it all summer and let me say that I had way enough for the money! I paddled it almost everyday mostly at Lake William and Becancour River (province of Quebec).
It always delivered me a great performance from flat and calm waters to choppy lakes and even got me down rapids easily at multiple times! It has proven itself to be stable enough for northern pike fishing ('landed a seven pounder pike in that boat!) and tracks fairly when you get used to it.
The only concern I have 'bout the espirit is the rear hatch being wet but I don't think it was supposed to be dry anyway. Oh and the provided paddle works but is best suitable for spare paddle.
According to me it's a great all-around recreational kayak that really can suit every beginner paddler (by the way if there's any tall guys looking for it, good news I'm 6'2" 200 lbs and I love it). Great choice for those who want to start paddling without breaking the bank!
We are recreational kayakers, we have several large lakes nearby and some excellent calm to mild rivers. We needed another kayak for a growing family but didn't want to spend a mint.
Nice little kayak, easy to carry and it works great, very useable and surprisingly full of features, i.e., padded seat, drain plug, bungies, handles (front & rear), dry storage, spray skirt, and nicely decorated. The "dry" storage is wet, the paddle it came with was very lame (too short and leaks all over even with those little rubber washers), and after you stop paddling it always turns to the right. Put your stuff in a ziplock, buy a new paddle two days after purchase, and don't worry about the tracking... you'll get used to it. Otherwise, it works very nicely.
Don't let the cons deter you, it is one of the best deals going and you are sure to have a great time with it. Happy yaking!
This is my first kayak and I recommend it for each beginner. I used it on lakes and rivers in Mauricie area (Province of Quebec) and he was doing the job well. Very cheap, got it for 395$ CAN at Costco with paddle and skirt. Pros: Very stable, track well despite my beginner paddling skill and fast. Confortable seat. Cons: The paddle included with the kayak is really too short and too heavy for an intermediate use. And, of course, the storage hatch take water when waves become too high... Write me if you got questions!
Note: Costco model is named Esprit... not espirit