Old Town Vapor 12 Angler Review

8.2
8.2 score
[Editors rating (9.4) + Users rating (4.6)] / 2 = (Gearweare.net) score (8.2)/10

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Editor rating: 9.4 / 10
User's rating: based on 3 user ratings
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Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
  • This is one of the few kayaks that I can honestly say has it all! With a length of 12 feet and beam of 28 ½”, this kayak is both exceptionally fast and reasonably stable due to the low seating position afforded by the sit-inside hull design. Also, weighing in at only 56 pounds, it is light enough that most anglers can lift it onto and off of a vehicle’s roof.
  • The Comfort Flex seat is very comfortable and the adjustable foot braces enable the kayak to accommodate different sized paddlers. Plus, there is plenty of standing room forward of the seat due to the extra-large cockpit opening and, like a sit-on-top design, this kayak features a molded in the tank well in the stern.
  • This kayak also features a paddle keeper to contain your paddle while fishing and an anchor trolley to enable you to position the kayak as you please.
Cons
  • Because this kayak has nearly everything an angler could possibly ask for, the only real shortcomings I see are the meager outfitting and the lack of dry storage space. However, the outfitting issue could easily be corrected with a few aftermarket mounts but, I see no way to create dry storage space in this kayak without installing a bulkhead and hatch cover.

Design

Now this is my kind of fishing kayak!!! Because my first love is high performance, British-form, sea kayaks and open ocean racing kayaks, I tend to have a distinct preference for long, slim, sit-inside kayaks as opposed to short, wide, sit-on-top kayaks and that extends to fishing kayaks as well.

As a general rule, sit-inside kayaks have more efficient hull designs than sit-on-top kayaks and thus, the Vapor series is well named because this is one fast fishing kayak!

Key Features

However, it has been designed in such a way that it retains many of the key features of both sit-inside kayaks and sit-on-top kayaks. For instance, it features Old Town’s Comfort Flex seat which consists of a molded plastic seat base and adjustable backrest with padded cushions so that it retains the low seating position of a sit-inside design and there is just enough of a lip on either side to engage with your knees which provides considerably greater control when combined with the Glide Trax adjustable foot braces and padded thigh braces. However, like a sit-on-top design, it also features a large, open, cockpit that provides plenty of room to stand in the kayak while fishing and a molded-in dashboard that provides a place to put small items such as fishing lures.

Tank well and storage

Also like a sit-on-top kayak, the Vapor 12 Angler features a molded-in tank well in the stern which is perfect for carrying a small cooler or live bait well. Another feature that I really liked on this kayak is the molded-in paddle rest with bungee cord retainer because it provides a convenient place to store your paddle when fishing and yet, keeps it close to hand for those times when you need to make minor adjustments to your position.

Additional Features

Last but not least, the Vapor 12 Angler includes an anchor trolley system which enables you to use a kayak anchor to position the kayak with either the bow or the stern facing into either the wind or the current depending on your preference and the prevailing conditions.

Thus, for those of you who like the many fishing specific features found on many sit-on-top kayaks but, like me, prefer a sit-inside kayak design, the Old Town Vapor 12 Angler is the answer to your prayers.

Bottom Line

Yes, I would definitely buy this kayak!!! In fact, I find that this kayak is one of my favorites because I happen to prefer sit-inside designs over sit-on-top designs and yet, most sit-inside kayaks lack the many important features of dedicated fishing sit-on-top designs. However, such is not the case with this kayak and in fact, if it were not for the meager outfitting and the lack of dry storage space, I could not imagine a more perfect design.

However, the lack of outfitting from the manufacture means that I can customize it as I please but, I have to admit that I am a little put off by the lack of dry storage space. But, all things considered, it is nearly the perfect fishing kayak and thus, due to its enclosed cockpit and the ability to add a spray skirt, this is an excellent kayak for fishing on just about any type of water that you would care to paddle a kayak on.