{"id":4363,"date":"2022-03-18T13:36:17","date_gmt":"2022-03-18T13:36:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/?p=4363"},"modified":"2023-08-19T15:48:47","modified_gmt":"2023-08-19T15:48:47","slug":"old-town-sportsman-120-pdl-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/old-town-sportsman-120-pdl-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL &#8211; 2023 Review of This Pedal Fishing Kayak"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>After <strong>finally getting my hands <\/strong>on this little baby after the terrible<strong> out-of-stock issue<\/strong> that <strong>lasted 2 years<\/strong> because of the Pandemic\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m thrilled to be able to write this Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just read on to find out everything I like about the Sportsman PDL 120, as well as the few things that could be improved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[<strong>Spoiler alert<\/strong>: This baby really is as good, or even better than I had expected it to be.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.backcountry.com\/old-town-sportsman-120-paddle-kayak\" style=\"border-radius:15px;background-color:#fe4a49\"><strong>Get Best Deal<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Things to consider before buying the Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"330\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OT-Sportsman-120-PDL-705x330.jpg\" alt=\"Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL\" class=\"wp-image-4366\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OT-Sportsman-120-PDL-705x330.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OT-Sportsman-120-PDL-150x70.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OT-Sportsman-120-PDL.jpg 967w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Sportsman 120\u202fPDL is a great pedal fishing kayak, and there\u2019s not much to keep you away from buying one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019d say<strong> if you plan on kayaking in saltwater<\/strong>, then the Salty 120 PDL would be a better fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ll be paddling on super narrow rivers and needing to make sharp turns, then the Sportsman 106 is a bit more maneuverable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And finally, if you\u2019ve got deep pockets then just go for the best pedal kayak out there \u2212 the Hobie Mirage Outback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from these few reasons, the <strong>Sportsman 120 really is a superb kayak<\/strong>, and I\u2019ll tell you why below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[<strong>If you\u2019re in a hurry<\/strong>\u2026 I\u2019d recommend you <strong>just Grab this amazing boat<\/strong>. It\u2019ll be the best pedal kayak you\u2019ve ever had. Period.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-layout-2 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.backcountry.com\/old-town-sportsman-120-paddle-kayak\" style=\"border-radius:15px;background-color:#fe4a49\"><strong>Get Best Deal<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL Specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"412\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-120-PDL-705x412.jpg\" alt=\"Oldtown Sportsman 120 PDL \" class=\"wp-image-4365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-120-PDL-705x412.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-120-PDL-150x88.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-120-PDL-1536x897.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-120-PDL.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Length<\/strong>: 12ft<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Width<\/strong>: 36\u202fin<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Weight<\/strong>: 116 lb<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Load Capacity<\/strong>: 500 lb<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town fishing Kayak Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Material<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Like most pedal kayaks, the Old Town Sportsman 120\u202fPDL is <strong>made of high-density polyethylene<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This tough and rigid plastic is <strong>almost impossible to damage<\/strong> and requires very little maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even in shallow waters with rocks and dead trees, expect your Sportsman 120 PDL to<strong> last a lifetime<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Speed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>First of all, the Sportsman 120\u202fPDL <strong>isn\u2019t very long<\/strong> at only 12 feet, which as you know, automatically <strong>reduces top speed<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Second, this fishing kayak is meant to be <strong>stable enough to stand and cast<\/strong>, and that also <strong>makes it<\/strong> <strong>slower<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not to mention it\u2019s <strong>particularly heavy<\/strong> at 116 pounds and quite wide at 36 inches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Obviously, that\u2019s all compensated by the fact this is a pedal kayak, and since your leg muscles are much stronger than your arm muscles, you <strong>will still be able to get pretty good speed<\/strong> out of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should definitely be <strong>faster<\/strong> <strong>than <\/strong>any regular, paddle fishing kayaks. (Or else your friends will make fun of you \u2212 as they should)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If I go as fast as I can, I\u2019m able to coax 5.2 mph<\/strong> out of it. I couldn\u2019t sustain that speed for longer than 20\u202fminutes though (although I know some who might).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All that to say the Old Town Sportsman 120\u202fPDL\u202fis <strong>perfectly fine for day trips<\/strong> or short overnight excursions, but I wouldn\u2019t take it on a multi-day, 10-mile+ trip. For that, I\u2019d rather grab a longer, lighter pedal kayak, such as the Salty 120\u202fPDL. It\u2019s pretty much the same boat but lighter and narrower, I know people who get 6 to 7 mph out of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Maneuverability<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"451\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-SPORTSMAN-705x451.jpg\" alt=\"Oldtown sportsman 120pdl\" class=\"wp-image-4373\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-SPORTSMAN-705x451.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-SPORTSMAN-150x96.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-SPORTSMAN.jpg 767w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The maneuverability on the Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL is <strong>just great<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Granted, it\u2019s not as good as a Hobie, but I can still do a <strong>180 turn within about 15 feet<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unless you plan on needing to turn super tight in narrow rivers, the Sportsman 120\u202fPDL\u202fwill do the job pretty well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pedal System<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 <strong>pedals very smoothly<\/strong>. It takes little effort to go forward or backward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I must admit I\u202fprefer Hobie\u2019s pedal drive to this bicycle-like system, but that\u2019s because I\u2019m 6ft tall. What this means is if I try to pedal with the balls of my feet, then the heel will drag on the hull\u2026 So I have to pedal with the arch of my foot, which is a bit awkward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So for tall guys, I\u2019d say the Hobie\u2019s pedaling system is better in this regard. Still far from a deal-breaker though, and people under 5ft8 won\u2019t have this problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, the pedal drive is incredibly durable and backed up by a 5-year warranty. (More on that below)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Comfort<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"693\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-120-PDL-comfort-seat-705x693.jpg\" alt=\"Old Town Sportsman 120PDL\" class=\"wp-image-4368\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-120-PDL-comfort-seat-705x693.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-120-PDL-comfort-seat-150x147.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-120-PDL-comfort-seat.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Yet again another area where the Sportsman 120\u202freally shines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The seat may not be as good as a Hobie\u2019s, but it\u2019s still good enough. I\u2019ve gone <strong>fishing for hours <\/strong>with it and honestly never felt any discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019d say the comfort is similar to a Bonafide seat, so it\u2019s pretty much one of the best (again, not as good as Hobie\u2019s). It\u2019s the same seat as on the Autopilot which is a much more expensive boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, if you\u2019re on the taller side you\u2019ll still have<strong> plenty of room for your legs<\/strong>. I\u2019m 6ft tall and I\u2019m only on the 7th hole of the seat. It gives me pretty good legroom,<strong> I\u202fcan easily stand on the pad without being too close to the pedal drive<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I do wish the seat had a little bit more adjustment to it, but again, it\u2019s quite fine for fishing all day long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also worth mentioning that the Sportsman 120 manages to stay spectacularly dry. It has 8 scupper holes and I hardly ever see more than a few drops of water inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stability and Tracking<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"433\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OT-Sportsman-120-orange-705x433.jpg\" alt=\"Oldtown SPM 120 PDL\" class=\"wp-image-4375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OT-Sportsman-120-orange-705x433.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OT-Sportsman-120-orange-150x92.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OT-Sportsman-120-orange.jpg 996w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>With the included rudder, the boat tracks just fine \u2212 you won\u2019t have any problems going long distances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Stability\u2026 should I even mention it<\/strong>? This boat is just CRAZY stable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Not only can you stand and cast<\/strong>\u2026 but you\u2019ll never have to worry about tipping over, even if you TRY to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Case in point: <strong>I risked falling into the water for you guys<\/strong>. I tried standing on the nose of the boat, fully prepared to get wet. But guess what? It was a lot more stable than I thought, and there\u2019s no way I could fall even standing on the nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Durability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Now one thing you should know about the Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL is that it\u2019s <strong>built to last a lifetime<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Literally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like the hull literally has a lifetime warranty on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The pedal drive has a <strong>5-year warranty<\/strong>, which is better than Hobie\u2019s 3-year warranty. I think Old Town really put their money where their mouth is with this warranty, they\u2019re backing up their claim of making durable boats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing I\u2019d say though is that if you have a Hobie, the pedal drive is easier to fix on your own because there are so many tutorials online. That\u2019s because the Hobie has been around so much longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, a <strong>little-known feature<\/strong>: the lock for the drive is made to break off if you hit something really hard, so the drive comes up and you don\u2019t damage it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The pedal drive is built like a tank<\/strong>. I\u2019ve hit rocks going so fast I got thrown out of the seat, but the drive didn\u2019t get any damage. And if you break the drive lock, you can just buy a new one for cheap. Definitely beats buying a new drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Portability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that\u2019s where the Sportsman 120\u202fPDL may not be great for some.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While it\u2019s definitely MUCH lighter than the Autopilot (especially when you add the battery and motor), it\u2019s still<strong> fairly heavy <\/strong>at 116 pounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you plan on fishing solo and getting the boat to the water on your own, <strong>I\u2019d consider buying a kayak cart<\/strong>. The Boonedoxe landing gear isn\u2019t very easy to mount on this boat, although I\u202fknow some people who have managed to install one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For tandem carries, it has two handles \u2212 one on the bow and another on the stern, just like the Topwater. I personally prefer the ergonomic \u201cT handles\u201d, but honestly <strong>two people can easily get this boat to and from the water<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sportsman 120 PDL Features &amp; Accessories<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"186\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-120-PDL-top-view-705x186.jpg\" alt=\"Oldtown sportsman 120pdl top view\" class=\"wp-image-4376\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-120-PDL-top-view-705x186.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-120-PDL-top-view-150x40.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-120-PDL-top-view-1536x405.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-120-PDL-top-view.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Like most high-end kayaks, the Sportsman 120 PDL <strong>doesn\u2019t come with extra goodies<\/strong> to entice buyers. This is more common in cheap recreational kayaks or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/best-inflatable-fishing-kayak\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2429\">inflatable fishing kayaks<\/a>. A lot of these come with a cheap paddle or something similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, it <strong>does have a nice paddle holder<\/strong> (which is a definite advantage over the Topwater 120\u202fPDL) with a \u201cnice touch\u201d: it has added protection with a secure clip just to make your paddle extra safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town Pedal Kayak Fishing Ease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, for the part you\u2019ve all been waiting for\u2026 The Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 has <strong>AMAZING fishability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s<strong> incredibly stable<\/strong>, you won\u2019t ever fall while standing and casting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I love the <strong>Instant Reverse which allows you to stop on a dime<\/strong>, and to stay locked in without having a \u201cspot lock\u201d and a motor and a battery doing all that like on the Autopilot. So great for fishing structures like a bridge or piling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It has one forward-facing and two rear-facing <strong>flush-mounted rod holders<\/strong>. I also like the <strong>dedicated horizontal rod storage<\/strong> that\u2019s on the side and doesn\u2019t get in the way of the pedals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve got a storage pouch under the seat to put bait and tackle, a decent-sized storage hatch on the middle of the pedal drive, and a <strong>Humongous front tankwell storage<\/strong>. You can keep so much stuff in there. There\u2019s also a tankwell in the back where you can put your shoes, water bottle, backpack, additional rods\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can install any fish finder thanks to the <strong>universal transducer mount<\/strong>, and it has <strong>two 18\u201d tracks<\/strong> to mount lots of fishing accessories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It only has one cup holder which isn\u2019t amazing, but hey, many fishing kayaks still don\u2019t have any to this date so\u2026 I guess it could be worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All in all, when you consider the comfortable seat, the great pedal drive, the amazing stability and good speed, and the many customization options\u2026 I\u2019d say it\u2019s one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/best-pedal-kayak\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2047\">best pedal fishing kayaks<\/a> out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who Is the Sportsman PDL 120 For<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"648\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OTSPORTSMAN-120-705x648.jpg\" alt=\"Oldtown sportsman 120pdl \" class=\"wp-image-4377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OTSPORTSMAN-120-705x648.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OTSPORTSMAN-120-150x138.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OTSPORTSMAN-120.jpg 718w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Old Town Sportsman 120\u202fPDL is <strong>made for all of you out there who want a stable, fast fishing kayak<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll be able to cover long distances and stand and cast without a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019d say it\u2019s <strong>perfect for bass fishing or in-shore fishing<\/strong>. If you plan on fishing in saltwater, then I\u2019d consider the Old Town Salty PDL instead. Although the Sportsman is stable enough and you could use it in saltwater if you wanted to. (Here\u2019s the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/saltwater-rod-and-reel-combo\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5605\">best saltwater rod and reel combo<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, I\u2019d say<strong> it\u2019s really HARD to find a better boat for the price<\/strong>. It generally sells at around $2200, and honestly, for this level of quality I think it really stands out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for a pedal kayak under $2500\u202for under $3000, then the Sportsman 120 PDL is definitely the one I would pick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alternatives to This Old Town fishing Kayak<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town Topwater 120\u202fPDL<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"444\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Topwater-120-PDL-705x444.jpg\" alt=\"Old Town Topwater 120PDL kayak\" class=\"wp-image-4378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Topwater-120-PDL-705x444.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Topwater-120-PDL-150x94.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Topwater-120-PDL-1536x967.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Topwater-120-PDL.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-layout-3 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Old-Town-Topwater-Angler-Fishing\/dp\/B07SKWL14R?&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=happinessw0d5-20&amp;linkId=d751744a750b079ca4bca3b7fb282806&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" style=\"border-radius:15px;background-color:#fe4a49\"><strong>Check Price<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve mentioned the Topwater PDL 120\u202fa few times in this article, and there\u2019s a good reason \u2212 it\u2019s very similar to the Sportsman 120.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, <strong>the Sportsman is the upgraded, newer version of the Topwater<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It boasts a new high-quality seat, new premium floor pads, an expanded stern tankwell, and\u2026 that\u2019s about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, the only reason I\u2019d pick the Topwater 120 PDL over the Sportsman is if you can\u2019t find the Sportsman\u2026 or if you find a great deal on the Topwater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can read my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/old-town-topwater-120-pdl-review\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3415\">full review of the Topwater 120\u202fPDL<\/a> if you want to find out all the small differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town Sportsman 106 PDL<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"439\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-106-PDL-705x439.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of OldTown Sportsman 106 PDL kayak\" class=\"wp-image-4379\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-106-PDL-705x439.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-106-PDL-150x93.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-106-PDL-1536x957.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-106-PDL.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Sportsman PDL\u202f106, as its name suggests, is<strong> very similar to the Sportsman 120<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because the Sportsman 106 is shorter, it\u2019s also<strong> slower and it won\u2019t track as well<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The pedal drive is actually the same<\/strong> on both the 106 and 120\u202fversions, so you\u2019re still getting a great pedaling experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As is to be expected, the <strong>front tankwell storage is much smaller<\/strong> on the Sportsman 106, although the central and back storage areas are about the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>It\u2019s a little lighter<\/strong> at 106 pounds, with a total weight capacity of 450\u202flb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, if you don\u2019t mind losing a bit of speed and if you\u2019re aren\u2019t tall, then why not grab the Sportsman 106 PDL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Almost the same as the 120\u202fPDL<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shorter, slightly lighter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Less storage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And that\u2019s it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hobie Mirage Outback<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"205\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Hobie-Mirage-Outback-705x205.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of Hobie Mirage Outback kayak\" class=\"wp-image-4349\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Hobie-Mirage-Outback-705x205.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Hobie-Mirage-Outback-150x44.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Hobie-Mirage-Outback-1536x446.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Hobie-Mirage-Outback-2048x595.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Hobie-Mirage-Outback-scaled.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve been in this game for more than a few days, then you know there\u2019s no way to write a review on a pedal kayak without mentioning Hobie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Mirage Outback is Hobie\u2019s most popular kayak, and the golden standard to compare other pedal kayaks against. Although its price does match its reputation (expect to pay around $4K for this little baby).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because it\u2019s <strong>longer at 13 ft<\/strong> long and narrower, you can get <strong>better top speed <\/strong>out of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The H-rail custom system is better than Old Town\u2019s rails<\/strong>, although not worth the extra cost alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I love the handy little pockets near the seat, but again, not worth $2K.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite being longer, it has a <strong>weight capacity of only 425 lb<\/strong>, which is significantly less than the Sportsman 120.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned earlier, if you\u2019re a tall paddler then the Hobie pedal drive will be slightly more comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019d say the biggest advantage to the Mirage Outback is that it\u2019s <strong>great for ocean fishing<\/strong>. It\u2019s so stable that you won\u2019t have any problems going through waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All that said, I\u2019d only pick the Mirage Outback over the Sportsman 120\u202f<strong>if you want the absolute best and money is not an issue<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Lower weight capacity of 425 lb<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Great custom features<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Super stability for ocean fishing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expensive<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/hobie-outback-review\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2974\">Read my full Hobie Mirage Outback review.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL &#8211; Wrapping Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Overall, I love the Sportsman 120 PD<\/strong>L. It\u2019s got great fishability, superb stability, pretty good speed, and great comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At this price point, I can\u2019t think of a better pedal kayak, although the Salty 120 PDL\u202fis a strong contender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind that because it\u2019s so good,<strong> this kayak tends to be sold out<\/strong>. So if you can get your hands on one\u2026 just grab it before someone else does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>True story<\/strong>: I hesitated on buying this kayak just before the pandemic\u2026 and then I couldn\u2019t get my hands on it for over a year and a half! Needless to say I spent each and every sunny day regretting not getting it when I\u202fcould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-layout-4 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.backcountry.com\/old-town-sportsman-120-paddle-kayak\" style=\"border-radius:15px;background-color:#fe4a49\"><strong>Get Best Price<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After finally getting my hands on this little baby after the terrible out-of-stock issue that lasted 2 years because of the Pandemic\u2026 I\u2019m thrilled to be able to write this Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL review. Just read on to find out everything I like about the Sportsman PDL 120, as well as the few [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4377,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"After FINALLY getting it after waiting for 2 years \u2212 here\u2019s my HONEST Sportsman 120\u202fPDL\u202freview. Spoiler Alert: It\u2019s an AMAZING\u2026","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4363"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4363"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5619,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4363\/revisions\/5619"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}