Gear Review: Wilderness Systems Pungo 120

Value Rating: 7 Durability Rating: 8 Overall Rating: 7 Location of Test: Ross Island Duration: 3 hours Product Name: Pungo 120 Product Brand: Wilderness Systems Best Use: Recreation Sizes Available/ Specs: Available in 100, 120, and 140. This review specifically talks about the 120. Comes in five colors: Lime, Mango, Midnight, Red, and Sonar. 12' long, 29'' wide, 49 lbs, max weight 325 lbs. The Full Review This past weekend I had the opportunity to try out the Pungo 120, the Carolina 12, and the Prodigy 120 back to back to back. This is my review of the Pungo 120. Look for the other reviews to see how they compare. First, I found the Pungo to be the easiest boat to turn out of the three. The boat was easiest to turn with sweep strokes while keeping the boat level but it would also carve a turn when leaned to it’s outside edge.| Another thing that I liked about the Pungo was that it had great secondary stability. You could edge the kayak one way or another with a little lean. Once the lean reached a certain point the kayak didn’t want to any further. This made it really easy to initiate a carve for smooth turns with speed. The Good: For me one of the biggest positives for the Pungo is the outfitting. The seat cushioning is made from a soft yet supple foam material covered in a very breathable mesh. In addition, all of the outfitting in this boat can be adjusted while you are sitting in it. There are two pull cords right in front of your lap. One controls the height of the back rest while the other controls the amount of thigh support. To the sides are the straps to adjust the lean of the backrest and little further up are the controls for adjusting the footpegs. The Bad: Out of the three kayaks that I tried this one was the slowest. I think this comes from the width of the kayak but this also adds to it’s stability. As a rule of thumb the wider a kayak is the more stable and the more slow it is. The Bottom Line: Overall this is a great recreation kayak that almost anyone can hop in. It has the stability to be forgiving yet it has the edges to carve a nice turn similar to a performance kayak. I recommend this kayak to people who prioritize good outfitting, carving turns, and ease of turning.