The Old Town Heron 9XT contains all the features you want a Kayak to have both when transporting it into the water (padded handles) and while you’re in the water (padded seats and backrests). Too bad it’s so expensive. Check out our best kayak list to get a sense of which kayak would be right for you!
Why We Like It – Old Town Heron 9XT
The Old Town Heron 9XT is a fantastic recreational kayak and can adapt to the needs of beginners and recreational paddlers who may have found some additional courage and want to experiment with a beginner kayak with a few more bells and whistles. With two rod holders, it can double as a fishing kayak too.
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- Seat and backrest contain additional padding
- Padded carrying handles
- Good customer service
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- Rear hatch has a tendency to leak
- Expensive
- Not available on Amazon
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Performance
The Old Town Heron 9XT features a click seal hatch on the stern of the boat. Some people have pointed out that it does tend to leak a little bit but only if you submerge the kayak underwater for an extended period of time. If not, you’re fine. The kayak also comes equipped with two flush-mount rod holders which means you can use it as a fishing kayak if you so please. If fishing is your primary niche, though, consider the Sun Dolphin Excursion 10 Kayak.
Design
One of the first things you will notice when you sit inside the Old Town 9XT is the comfort flex seat and backrest which both also contain additional padding. There’s also a cup holder to keep you drink close-by when out on the water. The carrying handles are also padded, and we all know how much of a difference a nice grip makes when lugging something around. It’s a one-seater kayak, so try the BKC TK219 Tandem Kayak if you want a friend in the Kayak with you.
Value
If you decide to visit the Old Town website and scroll down to the comments section, you’ll be happy to see that many customer inquiries are being directly addressed by customer service in a calm and helpful manner. Always a good sign. It retails for $550.00 which is obscenely expensive for a beginner Kayak as far as we’ve seen. You also have to buy it from the company site as it’s unavailable on Amazon. Try the Perception Sound 9.5 Kayak if you’re looking for something a little more affordable.
Old Town Heron 9XT Wrap Up
The Old Town Heron 9XT Kayak boasts impressive features for a beginner kayak and, because of this, is sure to tip you over the edge into the world of kayaking if you’ve been curious about it but too scared to take the plunge. Just remember these extra bells and whistles come with a price.
