{"id":4544,"date":"2022-04-06T16:31:47","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T16:31:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/?p=4544"},"modified":"2023-04-27T20:22:57","modified_gmt":"2023-04-27T20:22:57","slug":"old-town-sportsman-106-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/old-town-sportsman-106-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Old Town Sportsman 106 &#8211; Updated 2023 Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you\u2019ve been following me for a while, <strong>you know much I love the Sportsman series<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you haven\u2019t, well just read my Old Town Sportsman 106 review below to see what I love about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course,<strong> it\u2019s not perfect<\/strong> and I\u2019ll also talk about<strong> its downsides<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, to find out exactly what this boat excels at, <strong>keep reading<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[<strong>Spoiler Alert<\/strong>: The Sportsman 106 is a beast of a kayak. IMHO, it\u2019s the best fishing kayak for under $1000. It has amazing stability that makes it literally impossible to flip. And what blows my mind is how fast it is, and how well it tracks despite its short size. The only downside is it\u2019s often out of stock. So if it\u2019s unavailable by the time you read this article\u2026 you\u2019ll have to wait until next year]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gpb-guten-popup undefined\"><div class=\"pop-btn\" style=\"text-align:center\"><button style=\"color:#ffffff;background-color:#FE4A49 ;border-radius:15px\">Get Best Deals (3 Shops)<\/button><\/div><div class=\"popup-wrapper\"><div class=\"popup-container\" style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"><div class=\"close-popup\"><span class=\"dashicons dashicons-no-alt\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"popup-content\"><div class=\"popup-heading\"><h4 style=\"color:#262626\">Deals for the Sportsman 106<\/h4><\/div><div class=\"product-image\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"496\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"product-image wp-image-4564\" style=\"max-width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106-705x341.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106-150x73.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106-1536x744.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/div><div class=\"product-list\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-gpb-single-product single-product undefined\"><div class=\"product-info\"><div class=\"product-title\"><p style=\"color:#262626\">AMAZON<\/p><\/div><div class=\"product-price\"><strong style=\"color:#262626\">$$$<\/strong><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-cart-btn\"><a href=\"\/\/www.amazon.com\/Old-Town-Sportsman-Fishing-Kayak\/dp\/B0869XTNSK?&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=happinessw0d5-20&amp;linkId=aa2c526328e19ce07a77007ad0b9873e&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" style=\"background-color:#FE4A49 ;color:#ffffff;border-radius:15px\">Buy Now<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gpb-single-product single-product undefined\"><div class=\"product-info\"><div class=\"product-title\"><p style=\"color:#262626\">BACKCOUNTRY<\/p><\/div><div class=\"product-price\"><strong style=\"color:#262626\">$999.99<\/strong><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-cart-btn\"><a href=\"\/\/www.backcountry.com\/old-town-sportsman-106-kayak\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" style=\"background-color:#FE4A49 ;color:#ffffff;border-radius:15px\">Buy Now<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gpb-single-product single-product undefined\"><div class=\"product-info\"><div class=\"product-title\"><p style=\"color:#262626\">MOOSEJAW<\/p><\/div><div class=\"product-price\"><strong style=\"color:#262626\">$999.99<\/strong><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-cart-btn\"><a href=\"\/\/www.moosejaw.com\/product\/old-town-sportsman-106_10519625\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" style=\"background-color:#FE4A49 ;color:#ffffff;border-radius:15px\">Buy Now<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Things to Consider Before Buying a Fishing Kayak<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106-705x341.jpg\" alt=\"Pic of Old Town Sportsman 106\" class=\"wp-image-4564\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106-705x341.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106-150x73.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106-1536x744.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If this will be your first fishing kayak, then you should <strong>know your priorities<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fishing in rivers isn\u2019t the same as fishing in calm water<\/strong> \u2212 and you\u2019ll generally need different boats for each extreme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, <strong>most good boats are quite versatile <\/strong>but don\u2019t expect to take the Sportsman 106\u202finto class 3+ rivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some boats also lack storage space and won\u2019t be good for <strong>big guys or for camping<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last but not least,<strong> fishing kayaks can get expensive<\/strong>. For a premium pedal kayak, you could pay from $2500\u202fall the way up to $6000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Paddle kayaks tend to cost less, and <strong>for a budget of $1000 to $1500,\u202f<\/strong>you can get really high-end stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Sportsman 106\u202fis one of these great value fishing kayaks<\/strong>, but I\u2019ll tell you more below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Word of Advice<\/strong>: please always keep your kayak<strong> out of the sun<\/strong> when not in use. The plastic hull can warp over time when exposed to UV\u202frays, and there\u2019s no warranty against that kind of negligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town Sportsman 106 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=\"199\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-top-view-705x199.jpg\" alt=\"Pic of Old Town DSportsman 106 top view \" class=\"wp-image-4565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-top-view-705x199.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-top-view-150x42.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-top-view-1536x433.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-top-view.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Length<\/strong>: 10 ft 6 in<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Width<\/strong>: 34.5 in<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Weight<\/strong>: 77 lb<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Load Capacity<\/strong>: 440\u202flb<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>By the way, for all of you wondering what\u2019s the difference between the Sportsman 106\u202fand the Topwater 106\u2026 it\u2019s actually the same boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Sportsman 106 is simply the newer, slightly improved version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, consider this an Old Town\u202fTopwater 106 review as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town Sportsman 106 Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Material<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Like most fishing kayaks, the Old Town Sportsman 106 is made of single-layer <strong>polyethylene<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This material is <strong>almost indestructible<\/strong>. You can hit <strong>rocks <\/strong>and submerged <strong>tree branches<\/strong> without issues, and the hull won\u2019t break in case of high-speed collisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Speed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Because it\u2019s so short at 10 ft 6 in, the Sportsman 106 definitely isn\u2019t the fastest fishing kayak out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, for a boat this short I was <strong>quite impressed <\/strong>to see I\u202fcould coax out a reasonable <strong>3 mph <\/strong>cruising speed with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You <strong>won\u2019t break speed records<\/strong>, but honestly considering everything else this kayak offers (more on that below), I find it pretty fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pro tip<\/strong>: Because this is a very wide boat, I recommend using a 240 or 250\u202fcm paddle. You\u2019ll find it much better to go fast and turn on demand.<\/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 loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN106-705x367.jpg\" alt=\"Old Town sportsman 106\" class=\"wp-image-4568\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN106-705x367.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN106-150x78.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN106.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>While not a whitewater kayak, the Sportsman 106 has <strong>great maneuverability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It steers pretty well, so you could take it in rivers without issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can do a<strong> U-turn relatively quickly<\/strong> if you need to, and avoiding obstacles will be easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I wouldn\u2019t take it on class 3 rapids, but on<strong> class 2 rivers<\/strong> it would be good enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, in really shallow water with vegetation, the boat was still pretty easy to handle. This is because it floats quite high on the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Comfort<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u202fown several Old Town fishing kayaks, so I\u2019m kind of used to the comfort they provide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In short, the <strong>comfort is excellent<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The seat has <strong>two positions <\/strong>\u2212 high and low, and it\u2019s quite easy to adjust by untying the straps, moving the seat, and tying them back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The seat in itself is <strong>breathable<\/strong>, super <strong>comfy<\/strong>, and <strong>wide <\/strong>enough for big guys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I like that the seatback is super <strong>easy to recline while on the water<\/strong>, thanks to the straps on each side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>foot braces <\/strong>are simply one of the <strong>best <\/strong>in their category. They\u2019re so easy to adjust with one hand by just pulling the lever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, I\u2019ve never felt any discomfort fishing for 10+ hours with the Sportsman 106.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stability and Tracking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The big selling point of the Old Town Sportsman 106 is its <strong>ridiculous stability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve done some stability tests in the pool just to see how far I could push\u2026 and even when <strong>standing on the nose I\u202fcouldn\u2019t flip it<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve walked all over the deck, leaned on one side with all my body weight and it still wouldn\u2019t flip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So <strong>if you want to stand and cast and you\u2019re a big guy<\/strong>, just go for it. It\u2019s one of the <strong>most stable fishing kayaks<\/strong> out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regarding tracking, I\u2019ve found it to perform quite well despite its short size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I suspect this is due to the \u201cdouble-U hull\u201d, which makes it go straight even in wind or current.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re planning to go fishing on super windy days \u2212 20\u202fmph or more \u2212 then consider installing a rudder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Durability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned before, the Sportsman 106<strong> can really take a beating<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve <strong>never heard any complaints<\/strong> about parts breaking down, so overall I\u2019d say it\u2019s pretty durable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, what makes Old Town a great company is their <strong>lifetime hull warranty<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So in the extremely unlikely event you\u2019d manage to punch a hole through the hull\u2026 you\u2019d get a brand new kayak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transportability<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"631\" height=\"451\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-106.jpg\" alt=\"Old Town Sportsman 106\" class=\"wp-image-4569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-106.jpg 631w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Old-Town-Sportsman-106-150x107.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 631px) 100vw, 631px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>At 77 lb this isn\u2019t the lightest fishing kayak out there, but it\u2019s still<strong> pretty light<\/strong> for most folks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unless you\u2019re skinny, you wouldn\u2019t have any problems <strong>loading it on top of your car or SUV<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re a woman, though, you might need to put it in a trailer or truck bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Carrying it to and from the water isn\u2019t too hard either<\/strong>, especially with the <strong>replaceable skid plate<\/strong> which means you can drag it without damaging the hull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, I\u2019d say it\u2019s a <strong>pretty transportable kayak<\/strong> \u2212 a lot more than my Autopilot, for instance (which is just ridiculously heavy).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sportsman 106 Features and 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=\"383\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLDTOWN-SPTSMAN-106-705x383.jpg\" alt=\"Oldtown Sportsman 106\" class=\"wp-image-4567\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLDTOWN-SPTSMAN-106-705x383.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLDTOWN-SPTSMAN-106-150x82.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLDTOWN-SPTSMAN-106.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town Sportsman 106 Fishing Ease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let me start by saying the Old Town Sportsman 106\u202fhas great fishability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I love the<strong> humongous rear tankwell storage<\/strong> that can fit a milk crate, a cooler, and there\u2019s still room to put some camping gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s also a <strong>huge dry hatch<\/strong> at the front, where I\u202fput some extra gear (dry pants, another tackle bag, and you could fit your kayak cart in there as well).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lab test<\/strong>: I\u2019ve <strong>flipped the kayak three times <\/strong>to see if the hatch was <strong>really watertight<\/strong>, and I must say some water got in there. I\u2019d say about 4 tablespoons of water. So\u2026 don\u2019t put your electronics in there without an additional dry bag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As said before,<strong> standing in this boat is ridiculously easy<\/strong> with its massive stability. Even big and tall guys won\u2019t have a problem keeping their balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, you\u2019ve got a non-slip EVA\u202ffoam padding deck to make sure you don\u2019t slip while standing if the cockpit is wet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve got <strong>3 flush-mounted rod holders <\/strong>\u2212 one forward-facing rod holder and two rear-facing ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also <strong>two rod stagers under the seat<\/strong> so you can keep them <strong>horizontally <\/strong>and out of the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You get<strong> two cup holders<\/strong>, as well as<strong> two side pockets<\/strong> where you can put tackle boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a <strong>universal transducer mount<\/strong>, as well as <strong>gear tracks <\/strong>on each side to mount all your fishing gear such as extra rod holders, camera, fish finder\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br>The only thing <strong>I don\u2019t understand<\/strong> is why Old Town didn\u2019t put gear tracks in the back as well. They do have them on the Autopilot, so\u2026 not cool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, some little details: you get a<strong> paddle clip<\/strong> on the side of the hull (which is always nice) as well as a <strong>custom tackle box<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who is the Old Town Sportsman 106\u202fSuited 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=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Oldtown-Sportsman106-705x172.jpg\" alt=\"Old Town Sportsman 106\" class=\"wp-image-4566\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Oldtown-Sportsman106-705x172.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Oldtown-Sportsman106-150x37.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Oldtown-Sportsman106.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>I think you\u2019ve understood by now \u2212 the Sportsman 106 is <strong>made for serious anglers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want<strong> amazing stability <\/strong>to stand and cast\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Paired with decent speed and good maneuverability\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And <strong>Tons of storage space<\/strong> for fishing all day and even go camping\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then the Sportsman 106 is<strong> hard to beat<\/strong>. Especially at this price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from its longer brother the Sportsman 120, there\u2019s just no competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gpb-guten-popup undefined\"><div class=\"pop-btn\" style=\"text-align:center\"><button style=\"color:#ffffff;background-color:#FE4A49 ;border-radius:15px\">Get Best Deal<\/button><\/div><div class=\"popup-wrapper\"><div class=\"popup-container\" style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"><div class=\"close-popup\"><span class=\"dashicons dashicons-no-alt\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"popup-content\"><div class=\"popup-heading\"><h4 style=\"color:#262626\">Deals for the Sportsman 106<\/h4><\/div><div class=\"product-image\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"496\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"product-image wp-image-4564\" style=\"max-width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106-705x341.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106-150x73.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106-1536x744.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/div><div class=\"product-list\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-gpb-single-product single-product undefined\"><div class=\"product-info\"><div class=\"product-title\"><p style=\"color:#262626\">AMAZON<\/p><\/div><div class=\"product-price\"><strong style=\"color:#262626\">$$$<\/strong><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-cart-btn\"><a href=\"\/\/www.amazon.com\/Old-Town-Sportsman-Fishing-Kayak\/dp\/B0869XTNSK?&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=happinessw0d5-20&amp;linkId=aa2c526328e19ce07a77007ad0b9873e&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" style=\"background-color:#FE4A49 ;color:#ffffff;border-radius:15px\">Buy Now<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gpb-single-product single-product undefined\"><div class=\"product-info\"><div class=\"product-title\"><p style=\"color:#262626\">BACKCOUNTRY<\/p><\/div><div class=\"product-price\"><strong style=\"color:#262626\">$999.99<\/strong><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-cart-btn\"><a href=\"\/\/www.backcountry.com\/old-town-sportsman-106-kayak\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" style=\"background-color:#FE4A49 ;color:#ffffff;border-radius:15px\">Buy Now<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gpb-single-product single-product undefined\"><div class=\"product-info\"><div class=\"product-title\"><p style=\"color:#262626\">MOOSEJAW<\/p><\/div><div class=\"product-price\"><strong style=\"color:#262626\">$999.99<\/strong><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-cart-btn\"><a href=\"\/\/www.moosejaw.com\/product\/old-town-sportsman-106_10519625\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" style=\"background-color:#FE4A49 ;color:#ffffff;border-radius:15px\">Buy Now<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town Sportsman 106 Alternatives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town Sportsman 120<\/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=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-120-705x172.jpg\" alt=\"Pic of Old Town Sportsman 120\" class=\"wp-image-4570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-120-705x172.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-120-150x37.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-120-1536x375.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-120.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Speaking of the devil\u2026 the Old Town Sportsman 120\u202fis the only real alternative to the Sportsman 106, in the sense that they <strong>both offer great value<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s honestly <strong>not much difference<\/strong> between the two\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Sportsman 120\u202fis 1 foot and 4 inches longer. As such, it also has even <strong>more storage space<\/strong> and a <strong>higher weight capacity <\/strong>of 500 pounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Obviously, being longer means it tracks a little better, is slightly faster\u2026 and turns a little less easily as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But overall, if you\u2019re hesitating between the two\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019d say get the Sportsman 120\u202fif you really need the extra space (which I doubt you will), or if you\u2019re a big and tall guy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/old-town-sportsman-120-kayak-review\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4638\">You can read my full Sportsman 120\u202freview here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town Topwater 106<\/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=\"206\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-TOPWATER-106-top-view-705x206.jpg\" alt=\"Pic of Old Town Topwater 106 kayak model\" class=\"wp-image-4571\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-TOPWATER-106-top-view-705x206.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-TOPWATER-106-top-view-150x44.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-TOPWATER-106-top-view.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>For all of you wondering what\u2019s the difference between the Sportsman 106\u202fand the Topwater 106\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, they\u2019re <strong>basically the same boat<\/strong>. The <strong>Sportsman is the newer model<\/strong>, Old Town decided to <strong>change the name<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only differences are<strong> the seat<\/strong> \u2212 which is more comfortable on the new Sportsman \u2212 as well as the<strong> lack of cup holders<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from this\u2026 again, it\u2019s pretty much the same boat. So, considering the Topwater 106\u202fisn\u2019t produced anymore, it\u2019s out of stock almost all the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do yourself a favor and get the new Sportsman instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(Unless you can get your hands on a cheap second-hand Topwater. In this case, it\u2019d be totally worth it)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vibe Sea Ghost 110<\/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=\"183\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Vibe-Sea-Ghost-110-705x183.jpg\" alt=\"Pic of Vibe Sea Ghost 110 kayak model\" class=\"wp-image-4572\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Vibe-Sea-Ghost-110-705x183.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Vibe-Sea-Ghost-110-150x39.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Vibe-Sea-Ghost-110.jpg 937w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>As many of you know if you read my reviews, I\u2019m a <strong>big fan of the Sea Ghost 110<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was my first \u201creal\u201d fishing kayak, and I <strong>was so happy with it for a long time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, now, years later\u2026 I just think the Sea Ghost 110\u202fis<strong> no match for the Topwater 106<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It just blows my mind how stable the Topwater is without sacrificing speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from that, the Vibe 110 has a similar configuration, with a dry hatch in front and a rear tankwell storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the rear tankwell storage is much smaller, and it only has 2 rod holders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I first got it years ago I\u202ffound the seat to be incredibly comfortable. But nowadays I just feel <strong>as comfortable <\/strong>in my Old Town seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All in all, these days <strong>I\u2019d just get a Sportsman 106\u202fwithout thinking twice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/vibe-sea-ghost-110-review\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1331\">Click here if you want to know more about the Sea Ghost 110.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town Sportsman 106 &#8211; Wrapping It Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve made it thus far, you know how much I love the Sportsman 106 (and the whole Sportsman series for that matter)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for <strong>unparalleled stability<\/strong> without sacrificing <strong>speed <\/strong>and <strong>tracking<\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Huge storage areas <\/strong>to bring everything you could dream of, and more\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With <strong>tons of great features<\/strong> that you just can\u2019t get on other boats\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then you really <strong>can\u2019t beat <\/strong>the Sportsman 106. I truly think it\u2019s the <strong>best fishing kayak under $1000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only <strong>downside <\/strong>is it<strong> tends to get out of stock<\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So if you can\u2019t find it anywhere \u2212 I\u2019m sorry. You\u2019ll have to <strong>wait until next year.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gpb-guten-popup undefined\"><div class=\"pop-btn\" style=\"text-align:center\"><button style=\"color:#ffffff;background-color:#FE4A49 ;border-radius:15px\">Check Availability<\/button><\/div><div class=\"popup-wrapper\"><div class=\"popup-container\" style=\"background-color:#ffffff\"><div class=\"close-popup\"><span class=\"dashicons dashicons-no-alt\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"popup-content\"><div class=\"popup-heading\"><h4 style=\"color:#262626\">Deals for the Sportsman 106<\/h4><\/div><div class=\"product-image\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"496\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"product-image wp-image-4564\" style=\"max-width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106-705x341.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106-150x73.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/OLD-TOWN-SPORTSMAN-106-1536x744.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/div><div class=\"product-list\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-gpb-single-product single-product undefined\"><div class=\"product-info\"><div class=\"product-title\"><p style=\"color:#262626\">AMAZON<\/p><\/div><div class=\"product-price\"><strong style=\"color:#262626\">$$$<\/strong><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-cart-btn\"><a href=\"\/\/www.amazon.com\/Old-Town-Sportsman-Fishing-Kayak\/dp\/B0869XTNSK?&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=happinessw0d5-20&amp;linkId=aa2c526328e19ce07a77007ad0b9873e&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" style=\"background-color:#FE4A49 ;color:#ffffff;border-radius:15px\">Buy Now<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gpb-single-product single-product undefined\"><div class=\"product-info\"><div class=\"product-title\"><p style=\"color:#262626\">BACKCOUNTRY<\/p><\/div><div class=\"product-price\"><strong style=\"color:#262626\">$999.99<\/strong><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-cart-btn\"><a href=\"\/\/www.backcountry.com\/old-town-sportsman-106-kayak\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" style=\"background-color:#FE4A49 ;color:#ffffff;border-radius:15px\">Buy Now<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-gpb-single-product single-product undefined\"><div class=\"product-info\"><div class=\"product-title\"><p style=\"color:#262626\">MOOSEJAW<\/p><\/div><div class=\"product-price\"><strong style=\"color:#262626\">$999.99<\/strong><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-cart-btn\"><a href=\"\/\/www.moosejaw.com\/product\/old-town-sportsman-106_10519625\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" style=\"background-color:#FE4A49 ;color:#ffffff;border-radius:15px\">Buy Now<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve been following me for a while, you know much I love the Sportsman series. And if you haven\u2019t, well just read my Old Town Sportsman 106 review below to see what I love about it. Of course, it\u2019s not perfect and I\u2019ll also talk about its downsides. So, to find out exactly what [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4568,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"Should you buy the Old Town Sportsman 106? I\u2019ll give you my HONEST opinion about this high-end fishing kayak. Spoiler Alert: it\u2019s one of the BEST\u2026","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4544"}],"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=4544"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4544\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5040,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4544\/revisions\/5040"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4568"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4544"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4544"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4544"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}