Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

There were a lot of reviews on you tube and various Yak sites for this Lifetime Kayak. The general consensus seemed to be that it is a beginner novice kayak. I reviewed several dozen kayaks before ordering the Lifetime and overall the only advantage with a $750 - $1,000 vessel is a better seat and adjustable foot rests. I transitioned from a sit inside that I made very useable but it was lacking in many areas. I have had the new SOT Lifetime out 3 times to date. I generally fish in a river but tried it on the lake today to see how it works in waves and boat wakes. I couldn't be happier with its overall performance. Extremely stable, tracks straight, lightweight, fast enough for my needs and holds all my tackle and gear. The waves on the lake were not an issue at all on a windy day. On the river it does no feel to fragile to scrape over rocks and gravel. I tried standing up just to see if I could and it was stable enough to feel comfortable. If you want to pay more for a cool paint job, a heavier boat and a stadium adjustable seat go right ahead. Or get the no bells and whistles Lifetime Angler and upgrade it according to your personal needs. An anchor trolley, milk crate, cushion PFD and some additional rod holders and you've got an extremely functional fishing vessel. Besides it's more fun to customize and make it your own.