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Viking Espri Review: The Best Recreational Kayak for Families and Beginners
Stable, Spacious, and Super Easy to Handle
One of my favourite things about the Espri is its stability. The seat is set nice and low, which drops your centre of gravity and makes you feel really locked in and connected to the kayak. And with that 80cm width, it’s rock solid on flat water — perfect for new paddlers.
Storage is more than enough for a day on the water: front hatch with access to the hull, centre hatch with a removable bucket, and rear space where I added bungee cords for a dry bag or gear crate.
Great for Families — and Surprisingly Fun in the Surf
My kids have spent loads of time in this kayak. When he was just 8, my son Alexander preferred the Espri over every other model. He’d load it up with gear and head out by himself — it’s just that easy to handle. And if you’re wondering how it performs in waves… the answer is: better than you’d expect! The Espri is heaps of fun in the surf and handles beach launches with confidence.
🐟 The Espri: Surprisingly Capable as a Fishing Kayak
While the Viking Espri is often seen as a recreational model, don’t be fooled — with just a few tweaks, this kayak transforms into an agile and highly effective fishing platform.
Its lightweight design and stable hull make it perfect for tight creek systems and shallow estuaries where bigger boats can’t go. In fact, I’ve set up my own Espri as a “creek bashing” rig to chase bass, mangrove jack, and trevally. Here’s what I added:
- Rear rod holders to manage multiple setups
- Flush mounts for rod parking when changing lures or handling fish
- Railblaza holders for trolling or holding lip grips
- Rear bungee to carry a small tackle box
- Rod tip protectors for pushing through low-hanging branches
- Spare paddle holders on both sides
And because the Espri tracks so well and paddles efficiently, you’ll spend more time casting and less time adjusting your direction.
Whether you're standing up to fish or sneaking through tight mangroves, the Espri handles it with confidence. It might just be the most underestimated fishing kayak in the Viking lineup.
Easy to Load, Easy to Transport
Transporting the Espri is simple. Flip it upside down and throw it on your roof racks — it’s light enough to handle solo, and if you’ve got two Espris, you can either use long bars or a J-cradle setup to carry both.
At the beach, I just chuck my Railblaza C-Tug under it and wheel it to the water. The trolley breaks down small enough to stow inside the front hatch, so you can take it with you on the paddle.
🎥 Curious to See the Espri in Action?
Watch Jason's full video review on YouTube — from detailed walk-throughs to real surf paddling and family adventures on the Viking Espri.
Want to see the Viking Espri in person?
We’d love to help! Book a personal demo, ask a question, or check availability — we’re based on the Sunshine Coast and happy to assist.
- 📞 Call us: 0410 520 267
- 📧 Email: dan@kayakandsup.com.au
- 📍 Visit: Kayak and SUP - By appointment only
