By Paul Lebowitz
Hobie has a pair of new boats on the block, the Mirage i12s single and the tandem i14t. The little letter i in the names signifies these kayaks are something different. They are inflatables that pack down to a tidy go almost anywhere size in their own rolling travel bags no less. Stuff them in a car trunk, the hall closet in an apartment home, or stow them away on a private boat or RV. Even check them as luggage for a flight to adventure. Serious kayaks can come in small packages. These are boats that shouldn’t be mistaken for a pool toy. They are built of tough PVC hull material and incredibly durable 1,000 denier fabric that inflates in a jiff. These kayaks are kicked up like every other pedal-powered Mirage Drive model. Hands free all the way, with an elegant kick-up rudder. And as full featured and elegantly engineered as any Hobie out there, with a below-deck storage area behind an 8-in Twist and Stow hatch, a rear cargo area with bungee tie-downs, even 4-piece paddles with on-hull storage. Options include a rod / accessory hold, a plug-in kayak cart, a cup holder for that all-important cool beverage, and even a sail package. The Hobie Mirage i12s and i14t
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