I agree with some of the shortfalls and encourage your to email them to Feelfree. Or just give them a link to this video. The cup holders, tackle storage and front hatch are three biggest gripes. The hatch I can work around but those cup holders are useless. Thankfully they sorted that out on the 13.5. Tracking is what it is for a short Fat boat. It absolutely needs a rudder. As far as comparing it to a Vibe that's a tough one. I sell them both and have spent a ton of time with both brands. The old saying is true, you get what you pay for. Quality and longevity is well worth the extra $ IMO. Love to see a review that is real life and not all rainbows and butterflies. Keep it up!

I like these kinds of videos. Every video you watch only talks the best points and never the negatives. When I used to do that on gun videos, viewers would get mad because I was talking bad about the gun they had purchased. No product is perfect. Good job.

I decided to purchase two 13.5 lures for my wife and I. You nailed it with the grip about the wheels. Thankfully the store where I purchased it had a demo day and let us test out both the 11.5 and 13.5. What a difference in tracking and performance. I am glad I went with the larger of the two. I purchased a two run kayak trailer with them and the wheel is great for a single person to remove them. The wheel should have been wider to stabilize the kayak when rolling.

My business partner and I purchased seven of these last year for rentals. Even with the hatches latched, they always take on water even in moderate rain. We've had major structural failures with every seat. Weld's breaking, the pin hinge connecting the backrest to the seat is a constant issue on all of the boats. We transport the boats and put our guests on the water. The boats aren't abused. They are way overpriced for the overall quality in my opinion. We already canceled our next order, (13 boats) and we are selling all of our feel free boats at the end of this season and going with Jackson.

Just bought one about a month or so ago, bought it brand new at gander and got 50% off so for the price I really can't complain it doesn't track that great but is really stable and agree with you 100% on the wheel mine always wants to lean to one side or the other, but I love it for what I got it for "fishing" and couldn't beat the price have other kayaks for river trips and stuff but this is my Stillwater kayak, thanks for the video

nailed all of my complaints, but still love it. can't wait until the weather clears up to get on the delta.

My mom has the 11.5 and it's great however like you said about your gripes, I agree for the most part, even though it's a great kayak

I do have the 13.5 and love every bit of it.

I put a rudder on my feelfree lure 11.5 , it made no real difference . I took it back off and sold it . Now , I have a beavertail rudder because I added a motor in the the pod . I have storage on top of the pod . I have been using this kayak for 7 years this summer . I still love it and wont change from it . I fish the snake river and more with it .

Thanks for this video! I do not own a kayak yet!

I've owned my 2016 Feelfree lure 11.5 since new. I agree with the hatch, cup holders, and side of the seat storage. I bought mine as a package deal. It had the rudder kit and anchor trolley. I just had to do the install. No biggie. The wheel in the keel could be improved upon. I don't mind about the single wheel. I think it could be a better quality wheel though. I would've rather it had a solid rubber tire on it for grip and smoother roll mostly. These are only small gripes. Overall I'm quite pleased with it. Now, the cost of accessories is another matter!

I'm shopping for a new kayak, and the FFL11.5 is on my short list. I do appreciate a video like this, as I'm kind of nit-picky, too. There is no perfect package.

I was on the fence and got the Sea Ghost 110. Tough choice especially​ because​ FF is based where I live. Paddled the Lure and didn't​ have the chance to paddle the Vibe but they are hard to come by. Good vids. thanks

I just got the 13.5 brand new on a clearance deal for $950. After a couple river trips im definitely lookong at getting the beaver tail. They're a little price gougy, almost $300 for the beaver tail kot for $300. One of the first things i got was a yak attack cup holder. I couldn't believe there wasnt any good spots to put a thermos on this thing

Yes , tackle storage , cup holder and wheel . Another gripe I have is nut and bolts on seat always loosen up . I have put lock tight on bolts on seat . I have added a cup holder and tackle storage . Now , building a double wheel system . Still the best kayak I have owned . I have set up tackle storage different . I also have added rod storage down the sides . I did make a seat riser, now the cup holders behind the seat are used all the time . There is no other kayak out there that I would trade this one for .

Yes I agree with most of was ur saying especially the cup holder I had just got a brand new 30 oz yeti cup put my seat down and put a huge scratch on it and right at the bottom rim has a lip so it doesn’t sit flush anymore I was pissed

Love my 11.5. I agree with most that you said. My first time out I had my coffee cup in the cup holder, 200 yards out and it was floating in the lake. 6:30 am and no coffee! Thats like 5 pm and no beer. The sea ghost was the first boat I ever looked at. Great price and features but put a Vibe next to a Feel Free and you will instantly see the difference in quality. I have a Moken 14 and a Lure 11.5 and bought them both at Headwaters. Great shop. Thank you for the video.

i own a Feel Free Lure 11.5. You hit every point spot on. It totally needs a rudder & better wheel. It's also kind of heavy which is really noticeable when you're using that single wheel & the yak wants to roll to the right or left as you drag it. I'm still overall very happy with mine though

good vid. I'm in a 13.5 and I agree, the Lures do need a rudder. I'm very happy I installed one. Having used the Sea Ghost 110 I think while it is a decent kayak for a fair price, the Lures are overall a better kayak. I have issues with my front hatch occasionally as well but having the 13.5 I store pretty much everything I need quick access to in the cooler area or behind me in a crate/tank well area. The worst hatch lid ive ever seen was by far in my WS Ride115x in the small deck hatch. I needed a pry bar to open that damn hatch. Again, good video.

I'm 100% with you on the storage aspect, the cupholder, and wishing I had bought the 13.5 lol

I don't own one but am thinking about buying it and this helped thx

for me it came down to the weight rating , price , and gear oom on the vide sea ghost 130 vs the feelfree lure 13. I wanted the feelfree. but the vibe won out with its 550lbs weight rating ( that's a ton of gear) and I'm 260lbs so having a bit extra was a big bonus. the transducer and all the other extras the was just icing

Thanks for this. I am debating whether to buy the Feel Free or the Jackson coosa HD? Did you happen to have any options on the Jackson?

Great vid, absolutely agree, fortunately when I purchased my 11.5 it came with a rudder, not sure if that's a new standard. I don't seem to have the same problems with the hatch latches. I totally agree about the storage, given my pod is full of battery for the sounder and maybe my car keys and wallet... It doesn't leave a lot of easy accessible storage., a in floor hatch would have been perfect. Those cup holders drive me nuts, I lost a very expensive thermos out of that bloody stupid design. Alas I whinge..... But still a great kayak that has yielded many a fish and even more hours of enjoyment. Mine gets along quite nicely with the addition of a trolling motor. Overall a great kayak ..... That I would easily purchase again.

I have the 13.5 and I have one major gripe you did not mention. The weight. This kayak is heavy! But I love it. I agree that the cup holders are totally useless. I have the rudder and have not had any issues. I sometimes put a trolling motor on it when I feel like lazy fishing. I only keep the seat in the highest position, even when paddling out. Very stable.

I'm new to kayak fishing but have used and been in kayaks often. I was wondering if maybe you could help in a decision. I'm stuck between the 11.5, 13.5, native slayer pro 12 and the big game prowler 2. I live on the coast up a creek from the ocean and my back yard touches the creek I will use to fish in and also make my way to more open water. I really like the fact that the 11.5 and 13.5 have the wheel and also the slayer. I will be putting a rudder on the feelfree if I get one of the 2 models. Love the videos btw.

I'd agree and add "pod design". It's OK as is but not really thought out. A flatter surface on the top to accommodate a wider range of bases would be nice. As would a deeper bottom to either allow mounting the transducer inside the pod (where it's protected and snag free.) That would also allow you to stand the pod up on it's flat bottom. Other improvements? Add hinge in the back to negate the need for side latchs. Now you could have 3600 box sized mesh pockets (an maybe a cup holder) on the side of the pod. Getting ready to rig my Lure 11.5 now. The pod is going to see some mods before it gets used.

I own the 11.5 lure and I agree with you. I hate how heavy it is, wish it didnt weigh as much. I also hate the cup holders with a passion. And the price is high , it should be under a thousand . I really want to try the new bonafide 117s .

I am looking for a new kayak, I want a sit on with a seat like the lure but keep hearing bad about the tracking and speed but beside that its a stable and comfortable, did they improve it this year or did they leave the kayak alone for now, thanks great video

ive watch many all ridy how does it compare to the pelican praetor?

1. You get what you pay for. There's a lot you don't see - engineering, durability, etc. If the price is different, THERE IS ALWAYS A GOOD REASON. 2. 11.5' kayaks aren't made to track; that's what a longer boat is for. Good paddling skill is way more effective than a rudder, and lessons cost less than a rudder. Also, this boat comes rudder-ready. Of course pay more, but installing one is a breeze. 3. Try putting the 3600 under your seat. 4. Try putting some 303 on your hatch latches. It will lube them up a little, and you should coat the entire boat with it at least twice a year. 5. I agree the wheel can be goofy on uneven ground, but that's what kayak carts are for. This wheel is far better than nothing, and a redesign will of course ... gasp ... cost more, and clearly you're not into that.

My gripe is that their is no access hatch in the back for when you want to add things like stabilisers

The cut out by the seat is for when you have stuff in your side pouches and lower the seat

I dabbed some vaseline on the latches underneath, and it now operates a lot smoother.

subbed, deff thinking about the either the 13.5 of the vibe 13 footer. I like the sonar pod idea and think that's got me leaning towards the feel free. Awesome videos for a POG. jk. where you stationed?

Mine is 3 years old.....my main gripe is.....it had a cracked hull when I bought it.....factory defect.....I've patched it 3 times.....overall I like it, bought it because of the seat.......

I love my Feel Free 11.5 Lure, but have totally different gripes. I agree about the hatch latches, and the fact that it does not track true. I've had my about 2 years now. My biggest complaint it the seat! I'm a big guy, 250 lbs. The mechanism to raise and lower the seat sucks. It rarely works and is eating itself up. The inserts that are in the molded plastic seat have tore out. I tried to repair the seat with dry wall inserts in desperation. The plastic has ripped in several places. The design to disengage the seat is flakey at best. Having a fixed seat with molded steps built into the kayak like Wilderness is a much better approach IMHO. Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS). I realized that they wanted to have the seat adjustable and wanted to keep the weight down, but it doesn't work long term. A replacement seat is $300. I do love this kayak, and the desired outcome of the seat in principle. They do need to redesign it - desperately!

Any short and wide kayak will not track well. For me get rid of the wheel I and most others use carts anyway so just dump the whole wheel thingy. I have a Moken 12.5 and what a nice kayak I cant wait to dive/spearfish out of it this year and of course rockfish too. "2017 kayaking....game on".

i think this kayak is more comparable to the Wilderness Systems Radar 115. I agree the price on both is too high---around $1300. Also i have heard that you have to buy the paddle seperate. So $1300 and no paddle?

Great boat but yes they could improve that! Right on!! Non of these are deal breaker if you want the boat I assure you!

I have noted similar gripes in one of my videos. you can loosen those latches by the screws inside the lid.. I hate the wheel in the keel..it's a joke.!

I dont think youre nit picking, I think you are being very fair in your assessment.

Man, you're making me feel bad. I just purchased a New Lure 11.5, but I did get it for 20% off holiday sale, and with the rudder kit for $1231.00 shipped to my house. I had a 4 year old Slayer 10 that I just sold. I liked the way the Lure is more versatile, where you can add the pedal drive, and even motor at a later date, and if I really don't like it I didn't lay out $2400+. The seat kind of sold me as I have had both knees replaced this year and sitting up higher will make it easier to stand up.

I saw another review where the guy actually removed the back wheel and made an axle out of pvc and a metal rod with a wheel on each end because he too said it wanted to tip when pulled, but he removed it before he went in the water which seemed kind of a pain. My answer is an easier idea, why not attach a metal bar inside PVC pipe to keep from damaging boat about 18" or so long and put a handle on each end to the front of kayak and pull kayak behind you that way you keep it level with your arms. Just a thought

I’m returning mine to the dealer for a refund. Major issue with the seats. Had to drive two hours back to the dealer because the seat would fit in the pocket. They had 4 other yaks where seats didn’t fit and it was reported. The other day the seat that they exchanged for me jammed and would adjust up or down. Then I started paddling back to the truck and it decided to fall all the way down. Almost fell out and really jarred my back. The wheel is a horrible idea. I also have screws stripped out. Now on the tracking, it’s the worst of any fishing kayak I’ve fished. Hell, my $278.00 Lifetime Tamarac out shines it. Picking up a new Jackson Coosa HD tomorrow.

I have the aqua blue one in 11.5. It seemed like great gripes to me bro. Check out the facebook owners page if you still have yours. People are modding them with 2 8 inch lawn mower wheels for stability lol. I think I'll be going that route soon.

I also run my tackle bag right over my useless front hatch and D-Ring it to my stand up assist strap for easy access.

Good to know the bad with the good...

That's what I will have to do put a hatch in the back seat won't lift up with the strap that your supposed to pull ass well don't now if all the seats are like that but this is my second seat

Looking at the vibe, yes, it comes with a lot more stuff for less money. However there is a reason. The 13.5 looks like a very nice outfit for the money. Some reviews of the vibe complain about the stability. Now Feelfree offers the overdrive pedal/motor system. That's worth spending a few hundred more on a lure IMHO, just in case, if one wanted, they can go with pedals or a motor. Overall the lure 13.5 seems to get very good reviews and probably all kayaks have their pros and cons. Thanks for the video, learned some things that need considered.

"It's short it's fat it's Danny devito" yeah nice one hahahaha

Because I don't own I feel free or vibe I don't have any skin in the game. On the same token, I have to disagree with you when you refer to the lack of storage as being a minor gripe. Lack of storage is one of the main things shoppers are either looking for, or don't care about. I guess what I am trying to say is that perhaps the lure was designed to not have storage, akin to the non propel slayer.

I was on the fence but now will not buy the Lure. Over a grand for a crappy cup holder. Heck no!

I agree with your gripes. I love my lure 11.5, but the things you mention also bother me. there is definitely room for improvement. also, the latches for the sonorous pod are terrible there could have been a better design for opening and closing it.

Only guy I've ever seen "gripe" about FeelFree.

You forgot to mention the weight. This thing is a tank. the only thing I like about my Lure 11.5 is teh stability. I can stand and paddle this thing like a SUP but the weight makes this boat very impractical, I can not put it up on the roof of my FJ Cruiser like I can with my Native Ultimate 12.

Would never buy one new, used they are a great price.

well what do you want, a fishing kayak that you can stand and be stable or track well stock? throw a damn skeg on there and shush your mouth.