Sea Eagle 380x Explorer
Bottom Line:
The Sea Eagle 380x Explorer lives up to its promises as a one-size-fits-all kayak for waters up to Grade IV. It’s amazingly stable, takes a beating, and is extremely spacious.
Price Comparison:
Specs:
| Brand | Sea Eagle |
| Size (length x width) | 12'6" x 39" |
| Weight | 40 lbs |
| Capacity | 750 lbs |
| Material | 1000 Denier |
Comparison to Similar Kayaks:
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| Sea Eagle 380x Explorer | Advanced Elements Expedition Elite | Advanced Elements Island Voyage 2 | Sea Eagle RazorLite 393rl | Aquaglide Chelan 120 | |
| Expert Rating | 7.9 | 8.3 | 8.1 | 7.9 | 7.7 |
| Size | 12'6" x 39" | 13' x 32" | 11'2" x 37" | 12'10" x 28" | 11'3" x 32.5" |
| Weight | 40 lbs | 42 lbs | 31.5 lbs | 35 lbs | 28 lbs |
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| Comfort | |||||
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| Durability |
Sea Eagle 380x Explorer Review
- Tough construction - will barely get scratched
- Compacts down neatly into a carry bag
- Offers lots of safety and confidence in various waters
- Could benefit from side handles
- Some accessories wear down easily
- Tempting to overload and harm handling
Performance of the Sea Eagle 380x Explorer
The Sea Eagle 380x Explorer is marketed as an all-around kayak; one you can easily take on calm waters and on whitewater rafting adventures. Experts tend to agree that this boat more than ticks the boxes it promises in this regard!
Experts agree that this is an impressively robust kayak that will withstand years of regular use without much damage. It reportedly offers a lot of confidence on the water, with many kayakers claiming it’s near-impossible to capsize.
Storage on-board is reportedly fairly impressive, with options for expansion thanks to D-rings along the side. Reviewers love the huge amount of space on board, very roomy for single riders and still comfortable for duos.
Experts also note that it’s surprisingly easy to compact down and carry. It’s noted that the kayak could benefit from extra carry rings when fully inflated, but most riders shouldn’t have problems packing down and carrying via car.
Some note that this kayak tends to perform better on the calm than the choppy, but that it fares well on both. Ultimately, this appears to be a hard-wearing kayak that will easily take the place of having to own two boats for two separate purposes.
Expert Reviews of the Sea Eagle 380x Explorer
PaddleTVThis is a superb all-around kayak that doesn't excel in any specific areas, but is worth the money for its versatility! I found it to handle rough and choppy waters exceptionally as well as flat, smooth rides. While it doesn't outcompete any specialist kayaks elsewhere, it's excellent value for money. It's a great choice for paddlers who don't want to buy multiple kayaks.Read more
Big Sky FishingThe Sea Eagle 380x is amazingly durable and packs down neatly into a bag (we found it easy to carry with us on various adventures). This kayak is likely better for flat water rafting than whitewater, but it still performs well in most conditions. It has a huge amount of space - we found it easy to stretch out and enjoy the ride. What's more, after over a decade or so of constant use, it still hasn't taken a scratch!Read more
PaddleAboutThis impressively spacious kayak is very easy to pack down and pop in your trunk - and it'll take a generous beating from choppy waters. We find the Pro package is a great investment for extra storage and comfort, though it already ticks plenty of boxes - it'll paddle well regardless of where you take it.Read more
TrailspaceWe love the stability of the 380x - it will keep you safe and stable regardless of the waters you travel on. Its design is rugged and it'll withstand years of stormy and choppy traveling. However, it is a little slow to handle, and some of its accessories wear out quickly. Read more
KayakingJournalThis stable, hard-wearing kayak is great for multiple riders and stacks of cargo. It will keep you upright and riding confidently on rough waters, but overloading puts you at risk of poor handling even on the flat. Few other kayaks of this size compact so neatly!Read more
Handling of the Sea Eagle 380x Explorer
PaddleTVIt's not an ideal length for whitewater trips, but it performs great and is a lot of fun to handle. It doesn't perform as well as whitewater-specific rafts, but it gives a ton of confidence. It also tracks well on the flat with a skeg.Read more
Big Sky FishingThe Sea Eagle 380x performs admirably on both whitewater and calmer spots, but it's arguably better suited to flat water. Its fantastic weight capacity makes it easier to handle in choppier waters, but the more you load it up, the more sluggish it'll get.Read more
PaddleAboutIt's very easy to paddle the 380x in a straight line, and the skeg adds a lot of control if you're on flat water. Overall, this boat tracks well in most water conditions - no complaints here!Read more
TrailspaceThis is a well-behaved kayak that will track and move nicely even on choppy waters, adding a nice feeling of safety. It's a pleasant ride that won't fight back.Read more
KayakingJournalThe 380x is generally pretty easy to handle, but don't be tempted to fill up the storage too much if you're looking for a smooth ride. It's great for evasive maneuvers, should you need to make them.Read more
Stability of the Sea Eagle 380x Explorer
PaddleTVThe 380x is super-wide and super-stable - I really had to try to get this kayak to tip over! I even found it easy to stand up while riding - and it'll handle calm and whitewater journeys without complaint.Read more
Big Sky FishingThis kayak lives up well to its reputation as an all-around kayak for the most part. Its large capacity makes it ideal for trips with multiple people on waters at varying speeds and strengths. However, we'd recommend you use the detachable skeg for added control and stability.Read more
PaddleAboutWe find this three-chamber kayak super stable, allowing us to stand up if needed. It's also really easy to climb in and out of, and if you need to re-enter the water at any point, it will barely tip.Read more
TrailspaceAs with handling, the 380x performs well on a variety of waters and currents, and we love the fact that it feels difficult to roll out of. It's even remained stable and sure in storm conditions.Read more
KayakingJournalA great boat for tackling gentler waters - it really does provide you with its money's worth on choppy waters. You can really feel that this is a Stage IV kayak - and it will barely shift on waters with heavy current - you can't roll in this boat! Read more
Comfort of the Sea Eagle 380x Explorer
PaddleTVIt's a roomy boat, even for two people! Upgraded packages offer a super-comfortable seat that keeps your back nice and high. However, there are no foot pegs, which can leave your legs unsupported.Read more
Big Sky FishingThe huge capacity of the 380x means there's lots of legroom! You can house two people and their gear comfortably on the boat, but it can be all too easy to overload it. Avoid taking advantage of this extra space if you're going whitewater rafting.Read more
PaddleAboutThis is an extremely roomy kayak, nice and comfortable for family trips or even if you're just taking your dog out! We recommend checking out the Pro version of the Sea Eagle 380x purely for the super-tall, padded seats - ideal for keeping upright regardless of where you paddle.Read more
Onboard Storage of the Sea Eagle 380x Explorer
PaddleTVThe seat pocket is a nice touch - but there are no separate hatches or holds on the boat itself. The pocket's great for a handful of items, but they won't stay waterproof!Read more
Big Sky FishingThis kayak is massively expandable meaning you can easily store extra kayak accessories if you wish to over time. We recommend looking into attaching extra D-rings if you want to clip more onto this boat. However, the 750 lbs capacity offers a huge amount of space for a single paddler.Read more
PaddleAboutThere's an impressive amount of covered storage that helped with most of our carry-on gear, and the sheer room on board this kayak also means you can make the most of it if you're paddling alone. Check out the D-rings, too, if you want to attach more gear along the sides! Upgrade to Pro - we did, and got two extra deck bags for beneath the bungee.Read more
KayakingJournalThis vessel can hold over 750 lbs of cargo, all told - which is impressive given how small the kayak compacts down.Read more
Portability of the Sea Eagle 380x Explorer
PaddleTVThis kayak is generally very easy to move around, however, it lacks grab loops on the sides. It does have them on either end which makes the kayak easy for two people to carry, though. At just 40 lbs for a 12-foot kayak, you're looking at a very portable investment.Read more
Big Sky FishingAt around 38 lbs and with a mid-sized carry bag, this kayak is pretty easy to carry with you and pop into the trunk of the car. We found it easy enough to carry down various trails on route to paddling, too.Read more
PaddleAboutFront and rear handles on this kayak make it really easy to move around with two people. This kayak handily folds down into around a suitcase size, easy to store away at home and put into the trunk when you need it. We really recommend it for families.Read more
TrailspaceThis kayak compacts down very easily into a small package that you can likely store in a bag. Simply put in your car's trunk and you're ready to go. It's easy to manage as a single kayaker as well as part of a duo, with front and rear handles making this easier if you're moving the kayak fully-inflated.Read more
KayakingJournalThe 380x will easily roll back up into its own duffle bag - you can barely believe the whole boat can fit into it!Read more
Durability of the Sea Eagle 380x Explorer
PaddleTVThis is a well-made kayak that's going to handle smooth and rougher rides alike - it gives you a lot of confidence.Read more
Big Sky FishingWith the benefit of a 1000 denier hull, this is a super-tough kayak that will handle much of what nature has to throw at it. Over a decade plus of riding with this boat, we can safely say it's barely taken a scratch. It's a fantastic choice if you want extra confidence on rockier trails.Read more
PaddleAbout1000 denier equals a good level of durability, and it goes against all the myths about inflatable kayaks being super-easy to puncture! We took this on a few adventures - and the fact it's Class IV rated means it'll withstand a variety of challenges.Read more
TrailspaceThis kayak holds up fairly well after several years of use, and offers a rugged design that copes well in many conditions.Read more
KayakingJournalThis kayak barely takes a scratch! We've bottomed out this kayak multiple times and it's still holding up. It'll withstand heavy use and will support heavier riders in most weathers.Read more
