Today, we are going to be considering a highly popular kayak, the Hobie Mirage.
If you have been shopping around for a new kayak, you have most likely stumbled across Hobie products. They make incredibly high-quality kayaks with all sorts of different designs and colors. So, we will be specifically looking at the Hobie Mirage, to see if it is worth your money and time.
It can be really difficult to know what you should be looking at in a product like this, there are so many things to consider. We are first going to discuss what we will be basing our rating on, and then going over the features.
How We Rate the Products
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It is vitally important to us that our reviews are as honest and accurate as possible. To obtain this level of trustworthiness, we take a few additional steps in our research before writing the review.
First, we make sure to read and research customer reviews and testimonials thoroughly. This provides us with a few different insights. It allows us to get a wide, less biased view of each product we review, and a broader idea of what type of people like the item. On top of that, it allows us to pinpoint any widespread issues and complaints that may occur in the reviews.
We also make sure to research the product specifications thoroughly. This lets us know the exact size and dimensions of the item, as well as any extra features or accessories it may have. We want you to be able to purchase an item from one of our reviews and know exactly what you are getting.
One last aspect of an item we heavily consider is the reputation of the company that manufacturers it. It is important that a company has ethics, as well as excellent customer service and return/warranty policies. Customers like to know that they can trust the business they give their money to, so we research that as well.
For this particular review, we will be considering a few different specific features as well. Overall quality, pricing, durability, aesthetics, and sizing will all be aspects we discuss.
What is the Hobie Mirage and What is Unique About It?
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No products found.Now let’s talk about the Hobie Mirage, and what makes it unique.
This kayak is an incredibly strong, durable boat that is built for hardcore fishermen who want to spend all day on the water. It comes with the Hobie Vantage CT Seat, to ensure that you will be comfortable all day long. You are able to easily adjust it to make it perfect for you. Most of the time in a kayak, you run across the issue of just being too comfortable to stay in the boat for that long, but that is not the case with the Hobie Mirage.
While this is a boat that is marketed towards fishing purposes, it is also a fantastic choice for a recreational kayak. The boat has a maximum weight capacity of about 400 pounds, meaning you can bring quite a bit of gear with you if need be. It also has three hatches and two dry hatches, which allows you to pack any valuables you may need, as well as a rear bungee tie down area for backpacks and other big items.
This kayak is ideal for day trips in a lake or other calm areas, but it is also able to handle its own in choppy waters or the ocean. It is an incredibly durable kayak, but keep in mind that it does have its limits when it comes to really big, choppy surfs. It is still a small little boat after all and will perform its best in a calmer setting.
Some of the other features that come with the 2018 Hobie Mirage are:
- A large bow hatch with a detachable clip
- Mirage Drive 180 with ST Fins
- Carrying handles on the front, back, and middle of the kayak
- A sail mount that allows you to install a Hobie sail (must be purchased seperately)
- Rod holders
- 8” twist and seal mid hatch
- A mesh storage side pocket
- Rudder Up/Down control with twist and stow rudder
- A two-piece paddle
- Rear cargo well area
- Lowrance Ready System
Also, if you are someone who wants to customize their kayak, the Hobie Mirage is an excellent choice. There are a few different features you can easily add to the boat with no issues.
The first one is a fish bag. If you need something to keep your catches out of the hot sun or mouths of other animals, this is a great additional feature to include. You can purchase one from Hobie, as they have a large or medium sized fish bag, and the medium will fit in the front hatch of your Hobie Mirage kayak.
The large and medium bags come in a 70-quart size, and a 26-quart size. They feature D Ring Tie downs, a convenient drain plug, and carrying handles.
You can also add an H-Crate to your Hobie Mirage kayak. This is something you can build on your own, or purchase from Hobie. It fits in perfectly to the cargo well of the boat and comes with additional clips to attach to it as well. You also receive grid walls on the crate that will allow you to drill and add what you like to it.
Like we discussed before, the Mirage Sail Kit is easily attached to your kayak as well. This is a great additional set to have, in case you get too tired to peddle or paddle. Just like most of Hobie’s products, this kit comes with the options of many different colors, as well as a very durable storage bag for when it is not being used.
If you need a standing aid to get used to standing up in a kayak, or simply to assist you in getting up, Hobie also has the H-Bar and H-Rail system for your Mirage kayak. The system goes on each side of the boat and has all sorts of customizations of its own.
Lastly, you can customize with the Sidekick Ama Kit. This feature installs into your kayak and provides you with additional support while you are on the water.
Pricing
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This is a moderately priced kayak. You can purchase this item online for around $1800–$2000.00 depending on the retailer you choose. That is also for a brand-new kayak, you can easily find them used for a lower price as well.
Public Perception (Other Hobie Mirage Reviews)
Pros
- Stable and durable
- Excellent quality
- Spacious for any additional gear
- Customizable
- Comes with Mirage Drive, Lowrance Ready System, and Twist and Stow Rudder
- Beginner-friendly
- Vantage CT seat
Cons
- Pretty expensive
- One of the heavier kayaks
- Unstable in waters or winds
- Not easiest to unload by yourself
- Does not come with the H-Rail System
Now that we have gone over all of the Hobie Mirage features, let’s see what customers thought of them. There were quite a few positives and just a few negatives, so we will discuss the good aspects first.
Positive
The main praise that we saw among a wide variety of reviews was how stable this boat was. Many customers mentioned that even in choppy waters and inclimate weather, they never doubted that the Hobie Mirage would keep them upright and safe. This is an excellent quality to have in a boat, and it looks like Hobie got this one right.
Customers also loved how much room they had for any additional gear on the boat. Having all that extra space for a whole day of adventures makes it a much more convenient choice than other designs with less storage.
Having the option to customize pretty much every aspect of the boat was praised as well. While the stock boat itself is not bad at all, nothing is better than being able to take that and make it your own.
The fact that the boat comes with Mirage Drive, the Lowrance Ready System, and the Twist and Stow Rudder was a crowd favorite as well. Not having to buy these excellent features separately was a great convenience for customers.
Reviews also mentioned that this kayak can turn on a dime. This is mostly due to its design and the excellent Tow and Stow Rudder System. Even beginners who hadn’t been kayaking before mentioned that they felt safe and stable in this design.
Being given pre-drilled holes in the boat made it easy for customers to install a Fish Finder if they liked. Many found this to be incredibly convenient and thoughtful.
Lastly, buyers absolutely loved the Vantage CT seat. For those that wanted to sit in the kayak and fish all day, they have said that this is the best seat out there for the job. Customers loved that they could adjust it in many different ways to make it perfect for their backs and seating positions. Several reviews mentioned that they could fish for over six hours straight without any strain or discomfort to their backs.
Negative
Now as we stated before, there were a few negative features to consider as well.
The biggest complaint that we saw among customer reviews online was the pricing. While it isn’t the most expensive kayak on the market, the Hobie Mirage still has a pretty hefty price tag. Many customers mentioned that it was worth the money, but they did have to stretch their budget to pay for it.
Another negative feature that was mentioned is that it is one of the heavier kayaks. Fully loaded, the Hobie Mirage weighs 99 pounds. This can be difficult to handle, especially if you are by yourself. It can be challenging to carry, and to transport in a car. This won’t be a deal breaker for most, but it is an important aspect to consider.
While this is said to be a very stable, durable kayak, many customers mentioned that in extremely unstable waters or winds, the kayak can be incredibly difficult to handle or will even flip over. We did mention before that this is a boat that was made for calmer waters, so do keep this in mind when using the Hobie Mirage.
Buyers also mentioned that this was not the easiest kayak to unload all by yourself. Many stated that it will be much easier and less irritating if you have a partner there to help you unload it.
The last complaint we came across, was simply that this design does not just come with the H-Rail System like the Pro Angler 12 from Hobie does. While the Hobie Mirage has many excellent, additional features, there were customers that thought this design should also come with the H-Rail System automatically as well.
Our Final Thoughts
Overall, we absolutely love this kayak. It is strong, durable, high-quality, and comes with many amazing features that you would not see on another design for the same price. We love how it looks and how customizable it is. Overall, we are giving this a 4 out of 5-star rating.
The only features really keeping it at a 4 instead of a 5, is simply that it is rather steep in price, as well as a very heavy boat that can be difficult to transport.
If you have bought or used a Hobie Mirage before, what are your thoughts? Would you recommend it to others?
Last update on 2023-06-05 at 12:42 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
