REASONS TO BUY
Stable
Ample leg room
Cup holders
Bonus lounge seat
Flat large deck area
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Sluggish
Difficult to carry solo
Perception Hangtime Review
An exceptionally roomy, robust, and stable boat, clearly designed for laid-back fun-filled days on the water
The stable and robust Perception Hantime is unique for its secondary leisure seat at the rear of the kayak.
Credit: Sara James
RELATED: Best Kayaks of 2024
Our Verdict
The Perception Hangtime is a robust, family-friendly, sit-on-top kayak. With a bonus seat at the back, this versatile kayak is designed for lounging after a long paddle or bringing a friend along for a ride. Simple yet packed with useful features, the Perception is perfect for those who spend a lot of time playing in the water. That said, weighing in at 65 pounds, you better have a friend with you, as you will definitely need their help carrying this kayak back to the car.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Perception Hangtime | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Sit-on-Top Kayak |  Great Value for a Sit-on-Top Model | Best Bang for the Buck | ||
| Price | $949.00 at Dick's Sporting Goods Compare at 2 sellers | $1,119 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $800 List $799.99 at Dick's Sporting Goods | $550 List $510.99 at Amazon | $410 List |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A fun and quality family kayak if you want something stable and aren't worried about weight | Whether fishing, swimming, taking photos, or just exploring your favorite body of water, this kayak won’t let you down | If you are looking for a fun and safe kayak that the whole family will enjoy, then this boat offers a great bang for your buck | An entry-level recreational kayak that can keep you and your bank balance afloat | The Aruba is a stable and easy to paddle beginner's kayak that's easy on your wallet |
| Rating Categories | Perception Hangtime | Wilderness Systems... | Ocean Kayak Malibu... | Pelican Argo 100X EXO | Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 |
| Glide and Tracking (30%) | |||||
| Stability (20%) | |||||
| Maneuverability (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Transport (15%) | |||||
| Comfort (10%) | |||||
| Construction Quality (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Perception Hangtime | Wilderness Systems... | Ocean Kayak Malibu... | Pelican Argo 100X EXO | Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 |
| Measured Length | 10.75' | 10.50' | 11.42' | 10.00' | 9.83' |
| Measured Width | 33.6" | 32.0" | 32.0" | 28.0" | 30.0" |
| Measured Weight | 65 lb | 57 lb | 59 lb | 38 lb | 40 lb |
| Measured Height | 11.4" | 15.3" | 12.0" | 14.0" | 13.0" |
| Weight Capacity | 350 lb | 325 lb | 360 lb | 275 lb | 250 lb |
| Material/Construction | Rotomolded high-density polyethylene | Polyethylene | Singler layer polyethylene | Polyethylene | UV-stabilized Fortiflex high density polyethylene |
| Features | High comfort reclining seat system, additional padded stern seat, 5 molded cup holders, rigid side carry handles molded in bow and stern carry handles, bow storage well with bungee cord, behind seat storage, molded-in footrests, paddle storage bungee, flat padded deck area, scupper drainage holes | Quick-park paddle holder, rigid carry handles, SlideTrax accessory rails, magnetic water-bottle strap system, removable DryTec dry box, sectioned storage tray, phase 3 AirPro seating system, dog-friendly deck | Tri-form hull with an integral keel and sponsons, AirGo molded in seat and seat pad with adjustable AirComfort backrest, molded-in foot wells and calf rest, paddle holders, side/stern/bow carrying handles, molded-in oversized bow and stern tank wells with bungees, splash resistent QuickStash dry hatch, 2 molded in fishing rod holders, 3 water bottle holder, replaceable skid plate | Small front storage hatch, rear well with removable ExoChill 17-liter storage compartment, bottle holders, padded backrest with seat cushion, molded footrests | Adjustable padded backrest, rear gear compartment with bungee shock cord, adjustable foot braces, water bottle storage, carrying handles, paddle holder, padded thigh braces |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Perception Hangtime is a 10-foot 9-inch long, 33-inch-wide sit-on-top kayak with a cushioned primary seat and an additional rear-facing lounge seat at the back. There is a paddle/rod holder and multiple cup holders at your convenience. With lots of storage at the front and more behind the main seat, it is clear that the Hangtime is a recreational vessel designed to help you enjoy leisurely journeys on the water.
Performance Comparison
Leisurely floats are the name of the game with the Hangtime.
Credit: Sara James
Glide and Tracking
This kayak isn't winning any races. The length of the Hangtime helps to give it some glide once it has been brought up to speed, but the wide profile, flat hull, and heavy design mean that it takes some energy to get this craft moving in the first place.
Slow to start, this isn't a fast boat but it's still a nice ride.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Without a rudder or keel, the tracking in the Hangtime was not the best we experienced, but it was also far from the worst. The size and hull profile help prevent this kayak from getting pushed around easily by winds or waves.
The wide hull of the Perception Hangtime prevents it from floating anywhere fast.
Credit: Sara James
Stability
The wider hull of the Hangtime also contributes to increased buoyancy, allowing for better weight distribution and a higher carrying capacity. The 33-inch-wide, relatively flat hull makes this kayak exceptionally stable, outperforming almost all the other models we tested in this metric. Nervous kayakers were comfortable getting into and out of the Hangtime, and those confident on the water can stand or move between the seats without fear of capsizing.
The wide flat deck pad was comfortable to stand on and remarkably stable, even in gentle currents.
Credit: Sara James
This kayak continued to excel in moving water, and it would take quite a rapid to tip this beast over. We stood up on this kayak to take photos, paddled it like a stand-up paddle board, and brought our dog along for a rare capsize-free ride. We would even be confident to fish from this fortress of a kayak. The large flat deck area and advanced hull stability mean that if your dog is comfortable and the conditions are right, you can throw a PFD on your pup and bring them along for the float.
This kayak is so stable that even folks nervous about being in the water were put at ease.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Maneuverability
The large, sluggish body build of the Hangtime means that this kayak is not going anywhere fast; however, the flatter central hull design makes it turn with less resistance, helping you to move around obstacles along your journey.
The wide and sluggish Hangtime is not particularly responsive or agile.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Due to its large volume, if you do fall out and overturn this kayak, it can be a bit challenging to re-right it in deep water. Luckily, its open design and the multiple drain holes make it easy to climb back inside and allow the Hangtime to be drained easily, unlike quite a few of the other models we tested.
Turning the Hangtime takes quite some time.
Credit: Sara James
Ease of Transport
The main drawback of this fun-filled model is its weight. At 65 pounds, we did not want to carry this kayak anywhere alone, and loading it onto a car roof rack takes an extra hand.
We like the ergonomic shape of the front handle on the Hangtime and found it helped to carry the weight. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the rear handle, which is a weirdly-placed scoop under the bottom of the kayak. This is okay to grasp but is generally awkward to walk while carrying.
You'll need to a friend to move this heavy 65-pound kayak.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
We found it much easier to transport the Hangtime once we strapped it to a trolley. We would recommend getting one if you expect to move this kayak anywhere but the very shortest of distances. Lastly, the unique shape of this boat means it is not easy to stack with other kayaks.
The rear-scooped handle is awkward to hold and carry with.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Comfort
The padded seat of the Hangtime has the highest backrest of all the models we tested, extending to the top of the paddler's head to provide full back support. And, with three cupholders available, you can tell the designers wanted to ensure that your “essentials” are easy to access.
In gentle currents, we didn't notice the sturdy Hangtime wobble at all.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The open, large front deck area is comfortable for stretching long legs or storing extra gear close at hand and, overall, enabled us to enter relaxed kayaker mode with ease. That said, if you have a friend behind you, they may not be as comfy due to the placement of the scupper holes.
The rear seat has some padding, but the unfortunate position of the scupper holes means you may have a wet bottom.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Construction Quality
This kayak is made to be dragged around, which is lucky given its hefty weight. With a rear skid plate and durable, thick plastic, the Hangtime should survive the long haul, even if that haul is across a rocky beach.
Once installed, the seat doesn't fold fully flat, which was somewhat frustrating when transporting and storing this kayak.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Thanks to the simple design and robust plastic, we didn't hold back when using this kayak and were not worried about fragile features or over-flexible plastics. Although it doesn't have any dry storage compartments or a steering-enhancing rudder, the simplicity of the kayak prevents most forms of damage, particularly during transport. We would confidently lend this kayak to a clumsy friend.
The Hangtime is designed to be a robust craft.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the Perception Hangtime?
If you are not concerned with weight when carrying your kayak and want to enjoy both the journey and the destination, the Hangtime could be your perfect match. Just keep in mind that it's not for those looking for a fast or agile kayak; it is designed for comfort and recreation over performance. Additionally, while the “bring a friend” feature at the back of this craft is a fun idea, we recommend considering a proper tandem instead if you truly want to have a friend with you regularly.
If stability, comfort, and a leisurely ride are top priorities for you, this is a fun vessel to consider.
Credit: Sara James
What Other Kayaks Should You Consider?
The Perception Hangtime is hard to beat in terms of good, stable fun on the water. However, if you are looking for something to carry and load solo, this is not the craft for you. The Old Town Vapor 10 is a slightly lighter and cheaper option that is similar in its overall design. For those looking to go super lightweight, the Eddyline Skylark is a great option for those willing to invest more money in a higher-performing, lightweight kayak.
If bringing along a full-sized friend is your ultimate goal, there are tandem kayaks that are better designed for the job. That said, we had a lot of fun with this unique boat.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
—Sara James
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