Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL Review

By Kayak Scout Staff

Published on: April 19, 2023

Bottom Line:

The Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL gets great reviews from experts who are looking for an upgrade to the highly-rated Malibu Two (standard). This boat 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:

Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL Tandem Kayak - 2023

in stock

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Backcountry.com

Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL Tandem Kayak (Seaglass, 13 Feet 4 Inches)

in stock

as of June 7, 2023 5:29 am

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Amazon.com

7.2

EXPERT RATING

based on 3 reviews

Performance Ratings:

Handling
Stability
Comfort
Onboard Storage
Portability
Durability

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	7.7	7.8	8.3	7.0	7.5
Stability	8.0	9.0	8.8	8.2	7.2
Comfort	6.8	8.3	7.8	8.0	6.8
Onboard Storage	6.5	9.3	7.8	8.2	7.2
Portability	7.0	6.5	7.0	7.5	8.5
Durability	7.0	n/a	n/a	8.3	8.3

Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL Review

Reasons to Buy:

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

Reasons Not to Buy:

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 for one or two people. 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, though some reviewers 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.

Expert Reviews of the Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL

6.7John’s Fish TalesThis is a great family boat - I invested in it so the three of us can go out, paddle, and fish. With a few upgrades here and there, I managed to refit much of the storage to make it more convenient when out on the water, too. It tracks well and offers decent comfort for up to two adults and a child.Read more

7.2Aliex FolgueiraI bought this kayak to take my son fishing on, and it performs amazingly well. This is a "true" tandem kayak that's really easy to customize into a fully-fledged fishing vessel. There is a smaller, angling version of this boat available, but kitting out the XL with angling tools really worked wonders for me.Read more

7.3Outdoor VeteranI've tested both the standard Malibu Two and the XL model, and I seriously think the latter is a better choice for two paddlers plus gear. It's immediately roomier and more versatile, and despite being bigger, it's only three pounds heavier - making it nice and easy to carry around.Read more

Handling of the Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL

Expert Rating: 7.7

8.5John’s Fish TalesThis boat tracks like a dream regardless of the weather - I've paddled it in rough and calm conditions alike.Read more

7.0Aliex FolgueiraThis kayak paddles really well once you're out on the water. It's not a super-wide boat, but it's easy enough to handle.Read more

7.5Outdoor VeteranThis boat tracks really well on the whole, and while it's not going to break any speed records, I managed a fair amount of acceleration with a partner on board. It's really easy to paddle solo once you reposition the seat in the center. Avoid overfilling the boat too much, or you'll definitely feel the drag!Read more

Stability of the Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL

Expert Rating: 8.0

8.0Outdoor VeteranAs this kayak isn't particularly wide (though it's considerably longer than the standard Malibu Two), you get a good deal of stability on various waters. Again, this is despite the size - it performs well on the wobble test.Read more

Comfort of the Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL

Expert Rating: 6.8

7.0John’s Fish TalesThe boat's original seating provides lots of comfort, great for recreation and fishing. I've upgraded it significantly to make it easier to access storage and rod holders - it's extremely versatile.Read more

7.0Aliex FolgueiraThe kayak feels pretty ergonomic when you first try it on for size - and honestly, it feels much better than it looks! It comes with two seats, and while neither of them are as "fancy" as you'd expect from other brands, they do the job.Read more

6.5Outdoor VeteranThis boat carries around 100 lbs more than its standard version, which makes it a much better choice for those looking to paddle tandem with a stack of gear on top. The seating is nice and easy to configure and arrange however you wish.Read more

Onboard Storage of the Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL

Expert Rating: 6.5

4.5John’s Fish TalesWhile there's opportunity for storage onboard, I found the initial fittings a little difficult to get into - so I upgraded it to suit my tastes! The initial central hatch was also difficult to manage as it was tricky to store anything on top! Some of the original lids weren't watertight, either.Read more

7.5Aliex FolgueiraThe kayak arrives with some seriously strong hatches and seals, a mark of quality I'm familiar with from this brand - it'll barely let any water in. It's super-easy to fit out with accessories and various pieces.Read more

7.5Outdoor VeteranCompared to the standard Ocean Kayak Malibu Two, the XL has tons of space - personally, I'd choose it over the standard if you want to take lots of gear with you from trip to trip. Be warned, the boat could use a little more rigging. In fact, if you're taking two paddlers, I'd avoid getting the standard at all for maximum comfort.Read more

Portability of the Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL

Expert Rating: 7.0

7.0Outdoor VeteranEven though this is the heftier boat in the Malibu Two line, the XL is still pretty portable. That makes it pretty easy to move between two people - and the extra bulk is absolutely worth it for the performance and storage trade-off.Read more

Durability of the Ocean Kayak Malibu Two XL

Expert Rating: 7.0