Field and Stream 12' Eagle Run Kayak

After looking around for a versatile kayak that I could use on camping/fishing trips and also do a little white water with, I took a chance and went with the Eagle Run. The result? I'm a happy camper. It handled some rough water very well, very stable. Good tracking, speed and the 500 pound capacity was a big selling point for me. Do a 3 day river trip and weight capacity becomes important. All that without breaking the bank (or having my wife smack me around for spending too much). The weight is only a problem when loading it on my truck, but I almost have my wife convinced that it's a new type of aerobic exercise, so she's not complaining as much any more as I watch her load it (I wish). The seat "is not" as comfortable as some reviewers would have you believe. If you're just using it for one day maybe, but after 3 days you'll wish you'd brought along some padding. The cup holders are worthless but that can be resolved (I purchased a kayak console to solve that problem). The rod holders are great if you're paddling out to a fishing spot, but since they're behind you, installing a rod holder up front is a good idea (easy enough to do). As for the camouflage color available; that's a great color if you don't want the boats and jet skis to see you on the lakes. I went for red and I'm glad I did. In short it's a good all around kayak that I recommend to a beginner or intermediate for fishing, camping and more.

Well, this is my third kayak and I love it….. There is no perfect kayak, and you do have to buy one for you are going to use it for. I fly fish a 400 acre private lake in Iowa with this kayak and have made some modifications to it to fit my needs. For a comfortable, stable, fishing kayak this one would be hard to beat. If it was available in a 10 footer I would have went for that. The extra 2 foot catches more wind on windy days but I will trade that for the stability this kayak has. My only knock on this kayak is the foot pegs are not very good. They fall off several times on each outing. I am going to figure something else out to remedy that problem, but don't let that keep you from this kayak for fishing. The seat is comfortable; the leg pads on the side are very nice and serve as a pad for your shoulder when carrying it by yourself. I see where some have criticized it for being heavy….. To me that is well made, wide, heavy load capacity, and stable. To get one thing you have to sacrifice another. I'll take the extra weight. I give it a five star rating.

I am a beginner and had borrowed other kayaks so I knew what to look for. I have used this kayak, so far, at the lake near our home and plan to visit nearby rivers. This kayak cannot be beaten in the comfort catagory. The foam seat and foam side pads were perfect. Plenty of storage in front of you and behind the seat. It tracks so well. I loved being able to remove the rear storage pod for a short 1-2 hour trip to remove excess weight I didn't need. In addition to the bungy cords in front and back, there are bungy cords with clips (to hold fishing poles) but I used them to clip myself to my friend's kayak during breaks.The large cockpit was perfect for being able to get in and out easily. It's heavy but not unbearable for loading and unloading. (I bought the red one to be easily spotted by boaters) The only negative I can find is the 2 drink holders are very shallow and won't hold a cup or bottle of water unless you use the one between your legs and hold it there. However, I consider that very minor compared to all the positives. Bottom line...I love it!

I bought this a year ago when it was more expensive. Now, its much cheaper than what I paid. Nice features include the removeable dry storage container in the back, and the built in rod holders. The rod holders have a bungie clasp to stop the rod from falling out too. It also has adjusatble foot rests. Don't underestimate how important these are. They make it much easier to paddle and steer. It is heavier than most kayaks though. The 2 handles front and back make it easy for my wife and I to carry it from the car to the water. ( I have another kayak for her. This one is mine) But, it will test your strength to get it back on the roof after a day of paddling. Its steady but a little slow through the water. I feel that this is due to the wider bottom, and rough texture finish. a smoother plastic glides easier. But it is a nice fishing kayak. For the current price, you wont find a better one. Just pick up a cleat and anchor trolley they are real easy to add to this kayak.

Over the weekend we did a 5 mile up river overnight trip to a lake. The kayak performed great and I love almost anything about it.

1. This has been mentioned but I will also comment - the foot pegs tend to come loose from their seats if you push hard on them. I'm thinking of picking a spot for them and tying them down so they don't move.

2. The removable dry storage tank is great but it could be better. I used it as a cooler. Put a bag of ice in there with some beers and a box of worms. It worked ok as a cooler even though it wasn't designed for that. The only grip is that there is no drainage hole so I had to shake it to get the water out then leave it in the sun to let the rest evaporate.

Overall I give this kayak 4/5 stars. It would get 5 if the above issues were fixed. I might try to drill a hole in the dry tank and put a plug in it.

As a beginner i did my research. New to kayak fishing and being a large person, 6'3" 245 lbs i needs something comfortable. i didnt want to break the bank so this worked out perfectly. holds myself, fishing gear and i've even taking my young daughters out one at a time and i never had a fear of flipping it. it weights about 60 lbs so its not terrible to move around. the paddle holder works great, cup holders are shallow so i wouldnt recommend a open cup. the adjustable foot pegs work great, just make sure you lock them in place. i didnt and while on the water i pushing one of the pegs completly off. put it slides back on which was great. it cruises on the water. i cant compare it to anything else since its my 1st kayak but im glad i got this one. so if your looking for a starter kayak for fishing and dont wanna spend alot of money i would recommend this.

♥ Liked it so much that I bought another for my son. He lives on the NJ Shore and takes it into salt & fresh water. (Lucky guy - easy access!) Most excellent all-around kayak...fishing, touring with friends, just cruising. He really likes it, except for the foot peg problem. (Just mark where you want the peg, remove the track(3 screws), and bolt, screw, or JB Weld the peg in place, screw the track & peg back in and move on. Not a big deal. Actually, just by looking at it, I would say that the factory trimmed too much material from around the peg assembly, that's all.)My earlier review mentioned the built-in console...I was responding to Zapata0001's picture, but now I think this is an aftermarket add-on and not what is described as the 'built-in console', so that is my error.♥Thank you. I'll be back.

Nice boat! Primary stability is good, secondary as I found out last weekend is excellent! Faster than my other yak by far. Took it out for a 4 1/2 hour maiden voyage last weekend and I really enjoyed it. Would definitely recommend a half skirt for it as the cockpit opening is HUGE! Comes in handy if you don't wish to get wet on those days when the water swells up a bit and water comes crashing over the bow. All in all, it's a great kayak. I have not had issues with the footpegs as noted by others. She is a tad heavy though when lifting it onto my Landcruiser by myself. Would have given it 5 stars if it was a little lighter. FYI, I'm 6'-2" and 210 in weight. Go get one and start enjoying your summer!

When I first stepped into a kayak, I fell in love with the outdoor sport. I was in a cheap kind that wasnt stable for a big 6'3 240 pound guy like me. The leg room wasnt great for me either. But overall, I had so much fun that I wanted to get one that was suitable for me. So when I first looked at this kayak, it was perfect for me. Its perfect for big guys. My dad is bigger than I am and he's love his. Very stable and lots of leg room. Its also fast. This is the Kayak for beginners. Like many other postings, the cup holders is the con. Its 60lbs but Im sure most people who are going to buy a kayak should have no problems with its weight.

Some friends and I have recently bought kayaks to go fishing and tour some of Michigan's inland lakes and rivers. They spent almost twice as much for their other brands. We periodically trade paddles and kayaks for an hour or two, sometimes more... because they like this one so much. They didn't get rod holders, knee pads, or removable hatch like I did. I still had to install an anchor trolley and 2 cleats, and a kayak cart because it is a little heaver . But who would want to carry a more expensive one with all your fishing and camping gear in it anyway? And BTW, It's advertised capacity of 500lbs is it's floating capacity... I don't think they engineered it to support your ice fishing shanty while you drag it across 20* ice:)