TEMPEST 170 BY WILDERNESS SYSTEMS

The Tempest is the best high performance solo kayak made in America! The Tempest series from Wilderness Systems is the kayak we waited many, many years for. Several high performance kayaks were being made overseas but all suffered from abysmal quality standards or terrible outfitting. Our patience was finally rewarded when the Tempest appeared!

The Tempest kayak series has taken the Greenland Inuit design philosophy to its utmost. These kayaks lend themselves most favorably for paddling in extreme conditions by persons with bracing skills. The Tempest 165, being the shortest, narrowest, and having the most pronounced rocker is particularly well suited for playing in surf and rock gardens. The Tempest 180 is best for packing gear on multi-day kayak tours. The Tempest 170 is the perfect compromise between them for those that can own only one kayak. Regardless, all Tempests are great for paddling in high winds, rips, and tidal races and your choice is usually made by how much gear you typically carry and/or your body size.

Adding to their ruggedness is constructed from high-density, extremely rigid polyethylene plastic. They are a few pounds heavier than fiberglass kayaks of a similar size but much lighter, stiffer, and smoother than earlier types of plastic kayaks you may have known in the past. You can crash land in the surf onto rocky shores or accidentally drop your Tempest from your roof rack without damaging it beyond a few scratches.

The most unique aspect of Tempests are their ultra-advanced seats. Their patented seats are without question the best in the world! They have two or three times as many adjustment points of any other kayak seat and nearly all can be changed nearly instantly while still paddling. The incredible fit virtually bonds your body to the kayak and results in the best balance and control you will ever experience in rough water. Advanced techniques such as rolling and bracing are made a great deal easier, too. Even if you avoid challenging waters, you will love paddling a kayak that features the most comfortable and hyper-adjustable kayak seat ever made.

Rather than being outfitted with rudders, the Tempest series is outfitted with a retractable skeg that can be adjusted for any type of wind or sea conditions. Both the Tsunami and Tempest solo kayaks include an extra bulk-headed compartment aft, with an additional “day hatch” for access. The cockpit outfitting provided by Wilderness Systems for both models is beyond compare with any other manufacturer – the patented Phase3 system. The comfort, adjustability, and control provided by the cockpit fitting system is unparalleled in the world of kayak design and has set the bar for all other manufacturers to aspire towards.

Both models of the Tempest kayak for sale are fantastic for paddling on camping trips with full loads, but their capacity is much more limited than our Tsunami kayaks. Tempests excel for day paddles and weekend trips. With the Tempests, you can also add advanced conditions such as surf zones, tidal races and rips, and rock gardens.