Based in Greenville, South Carolina, Perception has been cranking out tough and well-designed kayaks for more than 40-years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In our Perception Sound 9.5 review,<\/strong> we\u2019ll give you a thorough breakdown of one of the lightest hard-sided kayaks out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pros<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cons<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike most fishing kayaks, the Sound 9.5 is a sit-in kayak<\/strong>. While they don\u2019t have the deck space of a sit-on-top and can be a little tougher to get in and out of, this design does have a few advantages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The seat of a sit-in kayak can be set lower to the water, improving stability<\/strong> and allowing it to have a narrower design<\/strong>, improving paddling efficiency without increasing the risk of capsizing. They also provide more protection from the elements<\/strong> since your legs and lower torso are protected, especially if you wear a spray skirt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This makes them a good choice for those that live in colder or rainier environments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While not as easy to store as an inflatable kayak you can keep in a hallway closet, the Sound 9.5 is one of the smallest and lightest hard-sided boats.<\/strong> This allows almost any vehicle to safely transport them and storage is much simpler than their bigger and heavier competitors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Length<\/strong>: 9-feet, 6-inches<\/p>\n\n\n\n Width<\/strong>: 28-inches<\/p>\n\n\n\n Weight<\/strong>: 38 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n Load Capacity<\/strong>: 300 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like most kayaks that fall into the recreational or fishing category, the Sound 9.5 is made of polyethylene. This tough, molded plastic material gives the hull excellent rigidity and durability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While this material is heavier than other kayak materials like fiberglass, it\u2019s extremely durable and can handle most any drops or on-water collisions and keep on going, all while requiring minimal maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Sound 9.5 won\u2019t be setting any speed records<\/strong>. In most cases, a kayak\u2019s speed is going to be closely related to the length of the keel. The longer the boat, the faster they tend to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As one of the shorter kayaks on the market, you can expect your Sound 9.5 to fall behind your friend\u2019s longer models. If you\u2019re planning on short day trips, the slower speed probably won\u2019t be much of an issue for you. But if you\u2019ll be paddling with a group or looking to cover some serious ground, be prepared to paddle hard to keep up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The short keel comes in handy when it comes to the Sound\u2019s maneuverability though. The short keel handles well, allowing it to navigate tight bodies of water or squeeze into small corners<\/strong> that longer boats won\u2019t be able to access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no rudder<\/strong> included with the basic package and there\u2019s not an easy way to install one on your own. But for a sporty day boat, that shouldn\u2019t matter a whole lot since you shouldn\u2019t be taking your Sound 9.5 into dynamic and challenging water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A fishing kayak won\u2019t do you a whole lot of good if you can\u2019t get comfortable. Perception engineers some pretty comfy seats and the Sound 9.5 is no exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both the seatback and the bottom are well padded <\/strong>with an ergonomic material. No hard plastic edges digging into your back here. The seat can be adjusted vertically and horizontally and paddlers can do so safely and easily on the water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Footrests <\/strong>have been built on easy-to-adjust tracks as well, giving you something to brace against, improving your paddling efficiency, and taking the stress off your lower back. These are a little harder to adjust on the water since space is a little cramped. It\u2019s best to make sure these are properly adjusted before leaving the beach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Sound 9.5 is built with stability in mind<\/strong> which should give paddlers of all experience levels confidence when they push off from shore. The tri-hull design is built to absorb sudden shifts in weight and the excellent primary stability helps keep you upright even in minimal chop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, this is definitely a boat built for calm and protected waterways<\/strong>. Don\u2019t expect this design to handle more challenging water conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A big reason you should keep this boat on smaller lakes and mellow rivers is the subpar tracking<\/strong>. This isn\u2019t an indictment of Perception or the boat\u2019s design. Like a kayak\u2019s speed, tracking has a lot to do with keel length. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With no rudder, the Sound 9.5 is easily pushed off course by even mild wind and tide. Hopefully, this is just a minor annoyance, but in bigger water, it can be dangerous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I suppose it is possible to punch a hole in the tough plastic hull. But I\u2019m not sure how as long as you\u2019re being a little careful. I\u2019d still try to be careful when coming into rough beaches or landing in the surf so you don\u2019t dent the hull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The same goes for carrying your boat to and from the water. When possible, carry your boat instead of dragging it<\/strong>. Doing this too often over too far of a distance will cause the hull to scratch and peel. While it won\u2019t spring a leak, it will diminish your paddling efficiency and slow you down even more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If possible, store your kayak out of direct sunligh<\/strong>t. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can cause the plastic to weaken, bend, or warp over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hard-sided boats don\u2019t get much lighter than the Sound 9.5.<\/strong> Weighing just 38 pounds, many paddlers will probably be able to carry it safely on their own. While there\u2019s no central handle to grasp when you\u2019re moving it on your own, the edges of the cockpit serve as great handholds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For tandem carries, plastic handles have been molded into the bow and stern making longer portages easy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The short keel should fit in the back of most trucks and even in the back of some SUVs. For smaller vehicles, a simple roof rack should be more than enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like most fishing kayaks, there\u2019s not much in the way of extra goodies included<\/strong>. This is usually reserved for cheaper, entry-level inflatable kayaks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no dedicated paddle holder built into the design which is disappointing, especially in a fishing kayak. At some point, you\u2019ll want both hands free for your fishing pole and the last thing you want is to see your paddle floating away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a few bungee cords stretched across the deck in front of the cockpit though and you can use one of these to secure your paddle when it\u2019s not in use. It\u2019s not perfect but it\u2019s better than nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No fishing kayak would be complete without some custom features so you can outfit your boat to your precise specifications. It\u2019s harder to jam these into a sit-in kayak since there\u2019s less accessible deck space, but Perception snuck a few into the Sound 9.5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The dashboard in front of the seat provides two mounting points for Perception\u2019s Solo Mount Accessory System<\/strong>. From here you can install the mount base (sold separately) and easily bring along any number of extra features like a GPS, GoPro, extra cup holder, or whatever else you need for a good time on the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A pair of flush-mounted rod holders<\/strong> are also built into the hull and are easily accessible from the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It should come as no surprise that the Sound 9.5 comes with minimal storage space<\/strong>. The only large dedicated area is in the stern. This open, tank-well-style compartment has bungee cords stretched over the top to secure overly large items. Smaller paddlers may be able to cram some items into the space by their feet, but that\u2019s about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But with a load capacity of just 300 pounds,<\/strong> it\u2019s not a boat meant to be loaded up for anything more than day trips anyway. If you want to try more ambitious overnight journeys you\u2019re better off going with a bigger boat with more storage space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While the Sound 9.5 doesn\u2019t come with anything flashy, it\u2019s lightweight and easy to transport.<\/strong> Beginners will appreciate the excellent maneuverability, this combined with the tri-hull stability makes it a great choice for your first fishing kayak<\/strong> and it comes in reasonably priced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But if you\u2019re looking for something capable of something besides an afternoon on the lake, you\u2019re better off looking for something bigger with a larger load capacity and better speed. You\u2019ll pay more, but if you want something that can handle more challenging saltwater environments, it\u2019s worth the upgrade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While some sit-in kayaks are cramped with hardly enough room to move your legs, the Vapor 10 from Old Town is one of the most spacious in its class<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With room for paddlers of all sizes to sit comfortably, the Vapor 10 utilizes a streamlined design <\/strong>to coax the most out of its ten-foot-long keel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Add in the 325-pound weight capacity and this is a fishing kayak to meet all of your day paddling needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its shortcomings lie in the lack of customization options that the Perception Sound 9.5 has<\/strong>. At this price range not having a way to install a fishfinder is understandable, but just a rod holder or two would be nice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full review of the Old Town Vapor 10.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n As the name suggests, the Sound 10.5 provides a lot of the same features as the 9.5 model. The biggest difference is size. Measuring a foot longer<\/strong>, the Sound 10.5 has slightly better speed and tracking while maneuverability is about the same. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll find a lot of the same custom options<\/strong> with the mounting board, a couple of rod holders, and the same comfortable seat that Perception is known for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is it worth spending a little more to get a longer boat? Probably not in my opinion. I still wouldn\u2019t trust the 10.5 in rougher water conditions<\/strong>. If you\u2019re looking for an upgrade, find a longer boat with some more custom features. Just be prepared to pay for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our honest Sound 10.5 review.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another sit-in kayak from Perception measuring less than 10-feet long is the Swifty. I\u2019ll be honest, I don\u2019t see much difference between the Swifty and Sound designs<\/strong>. Speed, maneuverability, and tracking are all pretty much the same and they should be limited to calm, protected water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The only real difference is the Swifty doesn\u2019t have the custom options that the Sound does,<\/strong> making the Sound slightly better for fishing. The Swifty does come with a couple of rod holders and the stern storage hatch is watertight.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThings to Consider Before Buying<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Pic](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/PK-Sound-9.5.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSpecifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Material<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Speed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/PK_19_20_Sound_9.5_01_MMA-705x304.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nManeuverability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Comfort<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Stability & Tracking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Durability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Portability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Features & Accessories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fishing Ease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/PK_19_20_Sound_9.5_Console_Web-1-1.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nValue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Alternatives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Old Town Vapor 10<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/old-town-vapor-10.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nPerception Sound 10.5<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Pic](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/PK_19_20_Sound_10.5_Grasshopper_Top-705x167.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nPerception Swifty 9.5<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Perception](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/SWIFTY-705x177.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n