Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL Review
Bottom Line:
The Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL sit on top kayak for 2 persons gets great reviews from experts who are looking for an upgrade to the highly-rated Ocean Kayak Malibu Two (standard). This kayak arrives with lots of extra storage space and accessorization potential.
The XL gets high praise for its versatility and its stability, and it appears to be surprisingly light despite its size. One thing’s for sure – it’s a roomier choice over the standard line if you want to take two people out fishing.
Price Comparison:
Specs:
Brand | Ocean Kayak |
Size (length x width) | 13'4" x 35" |
Weight | 90 lbs |
Capacity | 581 lbs |
Material | Polyethylene (single layer) |
Comparison to Similar Kayaks:
Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL | Ocean Kayak Malibu 9.5 | Eddyline Caribbean 14FS | Perception Hi-Life | Feelfree Nomad | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Expert Rating | 7.2 | 8.2 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 7.6 |
Size | 13'4" x 35" | 9'5" x 33" | 14' x 29" | 11' x 34" | 9'6 x 29.25" |
Weight | 90 lbs | 54 lbs | 50 lbs | 55 lbs | 46.2 lbs |
Handling | |||||
Stability | |||||
Comfort | |||||
Onboard Storage | |||||
Portability | |||||
Durability | n/a | n/a |
Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL Review
- Highly versatile
- Lots of storage compared to standard version
- Reasonably comfortable and ergonomic
- Easy to add and remove storage to and from
- Tracks great despite its size
- Some may find the storage options a little clunky at first
- Isn't likely to reach high speeds
Performance of the Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL
As a recreational kayak, the Malibu Two XL is never likely to challenge any speed records, but experts agree that it’s a great choice for a fun, stable fishing trip–whether you want to paddle solo or for tandem paddling with a buddy. In fact, it gets high praise for its tracking potential despite its fairly cumbersome build.
The storage capacity onboard is a huge upgrade from the standard Malibu Two line and the kayak features bow and stern bungee systems as well as paddle holders. Some reviewers, however, preferred to invest in third-party fittings for easier access and handling. It’s also a reasonably lightweight boat that users don’t seem to struggle moving around.
This appears to be a fairly comfortable ride on the whole, perhaps surprisingly so (as some experts claim it’s comfier than it looks!).
Reviewers agree that this version of the Malibu Two is likely to be a better choice if you’ll regularly paddle with a partner and want to carry gear on long trips but you can also choose to paddle solo.