Pilgrim Expedition

Pilgrim Expedition NDK Sea Kayaking UK
  • Best for: all-round activity including expeditions
  • Sizing: up to 1.6m/5’10” tall. Slim build
  • Max shoe size: UK9/EU44
  • Length: 519 cm
  • Width: 50 cm
  • Depth: 30.5 cm
  • overall volume: 283 litres
  • front hatch volume: 72.5 litres
  • cockpit volume: 130 litres
  • day hatch volume: 38 litres
  • rear hatch volume: 42.5 litres

What’s it like?

Another model that’s been specifically designed for the more slender among you, this is a real greyhound. It’s fast as a result of the long waterline and narrow hull. Once again, this is a very easy boat to roll. Just like the Pilgrim, knee bumps just forward of the cockpit provide extra wriggle room. The shorter Pilgrim cockpit rim is usually chosen by the more petite paddler. If you’re taller and find this cockpit a little restrictive you can specify the long cockpit version. It’s much easier to get in and out. In either case, the comfortable thigh braces that are integral to the cockpit rim will always be in the right place, providing excellent control when you find yourself in bouncy water.

It will swallow up all the kit you take on multi-day trips. It’s been used by paddlers to carry out extended expeditions lasting several weeks. Strong and sleek, this is a sea kayak that will get you there in all conditions. It will suit leaders and coaches too, offering speed, acceleration, solid stability and predictable handling in rough water. Women and men alike find this a highly rewarding choice, but you do need to be of slender build to get the best from it.

The Pilgrim Expedition can be  fitted with two sizes of seat designed specifically to work with the reduced width of this kayak.  One is a slightly smaller version of the high-performance seat than fitted to the other sea kayaks in the range. The second is much narrower and has a different profile.

My opinion?

I haven’t spent more than an hour in the Pilgrim Expedition but that was all I needed to understand why this kayak is so popular. It’s very slender and figure-hugging. For me, it was like wearing “too-tight” jeans. I got into it but could hardly move! However the result was outstanding connectivity and I was able maintain very good edge control. I did find it very easy to roll, probably due to the low deck and narrow hull.

Is there a downside? Yes – even if you are able to physically fit into this kayak, it won’t paddle well unloaded if you weigh more than 70kgs. The back end of the kayak will immerse too much and it will affect speed and handling. It’s possible to overcome this by loading extra weight into the front compartment but if this is the case you’ll be better off with a Latitude.

How the designer describes the Pilgrim Expedition

  • The Pilgrim Expedition is a slim, fast kayak with increased carrying capacity for camping expeditions. The kayak is specifically designed for the smaller paddler and the taller/slimmer kayaker at the same time. This multiple-fit option is due to a raised area either side of the cockpit.

Price: from £3378 for standard construction. See the price list for options