IS THE HOBIE WORTH IT? Tested....3 Major Pedal Drives 

That knocking sound from the Hobie Mirage is the fins slapping off the hull because the pedals are adjusted at the wrong length!

Great video but the music was three times as loud as the voice portion. Kind of painful really.

If you're clunking the fins against the hull, that means you should shorten the pedal arms to shorten the stroke.

They didn't mention the seats -- the Feelfree seats are the most comfortable ones out there - especially with the new high-back seats. For those of us with bad backs, the comfort of the Feelfree "gravity seat" alone is worth it (IMHO).. Also, if you get tired, worn out, or just feeling lazy, Feelfree makes a motor add-on that slips in where that grey "tube" is between the pedals. It ain't cheap (nor is the Hobie), but it's a seamless integration... The power-add on to the Feelfree Lure puts the price about where the Hobie is, and allows pedal, paddle, or powered kayaking all in the same profile.

No Music Please!!!!!

I was curious about the mirage drive system and this was a great comparison, thanks. The racing was fun, also a good way to put each drive through its paces. Great video guys.

Well I'll add this , its very subjective which one is best. Each one has its own advantages. If you fish in deeper areas , lets say greater than 3 feet. Anyone of these kayaks will perform equally well on the drive part. Then it comes down to space and the design layout and accessory options. There is a ton of DIY projects online for most kayaks. However IF you fish in water that is 3 feet or less. If you want less hassle , you go with Hobie. The fin drives can operate in very skinny water , 6 inches or so. You flutter the pedals , do not do full strokes and it still goes forward. This is why Hobie is and has remained king in the Redfish Skinny water area. When I use my pedal drives , nothing sucks more than have to lift the drive and clean out weeds.

I bought my feelfree lure 11.5 in 2016 . I have loved it ever since . I do not use peddle drive . I had bought quit a few kayaks before the feelfree lure and was never quite happy with them .

Awesome video!

Love it , everything it says it was and more , very stable , easy to handle

If I was casting for a hit man, I now no who to see. Good review tellers.

One thing that should've been mentioned is the fact the the Mirage Drive used is one of the Gen 2 version of the drive. for those that are not familiar, Hobie does have 2 other drives that are reverse capable (hobie Mirage 180) and even diagonal and side to side (hobie Mirage 360). Hobies are definitely on the more expensive side, but they have been tried and true for so long.

The big fish 108 with a Hobie pedal drive much more stable fishing platform. Definitely worth the price, 108 needs flex seal reinforced bottom hull. With the I pilot everything is there. 3d printing for adapter & bam your there. The seat needs the swivel option too just in case you want to add a 2 or 6 hp motor.

This helped thanks guys

Hobie has 4 different drive fin's now and I never could get any of the forward only boats to work right for me when fly-fishing. I'd love one of their new pro angler 360 series boat but the cost is just insane IMO.

Adjust your stroke with the Hobie to eliminate those thunks. Also, they theHobie Lynx with Mirage 180. It has reverse and the boat is ultra light weight comparatively

I wouldn't expect the 10'6" boat to go much faster than it did. Hull speed is a thing.

Only other kayak I would've liked to see you test was the Jackson Knarr with the flex drive.

whats up with the banging noise on the Hobie...not liking all the noise when fishing, is that normal? Thanks for the Video!

Im from the netherlands whe cant test pedel drives here the only one maybe is hobie so its a gamble wich i buy thats why im here i can choose between hobie compass, outback or feelfree 11,5 or 13,5 im a big guy 170 lbs 6,2 ft I do think instand reverse is beter for fishing but im new i hear allot good things about compas and the 11,5 but i have a feeling thats im to heavy for them anyone has some tips

I dont use peddle drives , so the feelfree lure was best for me . I didnt like my hobie much . The seat was uncomfortable . The new seats look like they are pretty nice .

If the fins are banging the bottom of your vessel with every step on the Hobie, you have not adjusted the drive for optimum performance, based on your leg length and seated position. Moving should be virtually silent, and the stepping momentum if far more natural when properly set, therefore it’s even way better than you demonstrated.

If your knees are in your chest you don't have it set to your height.

is there a way to avoid the loud knocking sound when pedaling?

What the heck is the banging when you pedal

new sub good info

What brand trailer is that? Thanks

Seems like the first guy was pedaling with his knees in his chest. Was there a way he could have adjusted the seat to pedal distance? Looked really uncomfortable.

Funny you never said anything about all the banging on the bottom of the Hobie from the fins.

I want to get either a Hobie or PDL… I don’t own a kayak but I won an inflatable kayak from work and sold it. Figured for a kayak inflatable didn’t seem like it would be a good idea. Now I want a pedal kayak and wondering which is faster between the Old Town PDL or Hobie?

You don't have the pedals adjusted correctly. Didn't you the thudding at the end of the pedal stroke?

I thought Homie had a reverse, that’s what kayak dealers have told me, it’s the only fin drive with reverse, thanks for the reviews

Need to adjust the drive to fit your leg stride

Oldtown salty peddle drive is very fast, but hobie mirage drive has better stamina.

What that knocking noise in the Hobie

Adjust the hobie fins, you was smacking the bottom of boat making that slapping noise. Plus buy the 180 drive and get reverse

Put on some clipless peadals for 10mph

When you put a hobie up against the lower end kayaks of course the hobie is going to be better.

standard hobie gt drive has reverse...pull the drive out and turn it around.

Not supposed to hear all that clacking from the hobie fins, over extending the mirage fins and its hitting the kayak.

hobie makes very mutch noice

need to adjust ur peddle.... keep it from slamming on hull.

That clunking with the Hobie is terrible. It’ll scare the fish away.

According to the video the Hobie is faster but it’s actually biggest as well. It’s not made anymore either.

You thinks it's fun adjusting the volume all the time? Pls don't use music at all. Amatures

So a used hobbie it is.

Gorgeous lake

Damn,the Hobie is annoyingly loud

The noise from the Hobie is off putting.

Do we really need the cheesy music in between informational dialogue? It's frustrating to have to turn down the volume every 5 seconds. We don't need the posturing. Just deliver the information, please, the music is juvenile.

No

the music is absolutely atrocious and is 3 times louder than the rest of the video.. good video otherwise .. lol

Music's too loud, just skipped over the video and gave it a thumbs down