We brought our double Sandbanks Style kayak in the January sale, picked it up from the shop on 02nd Jan and with the hour we’re on the water! So far we have used it in Poole Harbour and on the river Arun and have had great fun doing so! As the photos show we take our dog Scout with us, and my husband, I and Scout fit in the kayak easily with enough space for additional gear too. It is lovely and roomy! The kayak is also very stable on the water and when getting in and out of. It tracks well and moves through the water smoothly. Even where I am solo paddling the kayak I can get a decent speed and it doesn’t feel cumbersome. It’s so much sleeker and faster than the other inflatable kayaks we’ve had.
If there is anything I would improve it would be to do with the carry bag and to put the wheels on the other side. I’m only 5ft so when I was wheeling it I didn’t realise the accessory pocket was catching on the floor and has worn a hole. So it needs lifting high to wheel it along which is a bit tricky being so short! Also some handles on the side of the kayak itself might help with lifting it on your own.
We’re very excited about all our future adventures together on this lovely kayak!

After my review I was contacted by Sandbanks.
With a resolution to my issue, this was then resolved. I have bought products online for over thirty years and never had this kind of service.
100% percent recommend Sandbanks! Great Job Guy’s. 👏

Although we have only used the kayak once due to the weather. We were very pleased with the quality, stability and ease of inflation / deflation.

The staff at Sandbanks Style were great, when we met them at the Southampton boat show, they were very helpful and took time to explain all the features of the kayak.

As a bonus for us, we were able to try the kayak at the show.

Well done Sandbanks Style

Bought recently and used twice on a fast flowing river. As good as floated over the water and was so easy to paddle up stream and super quick down stream. Very very stable and with the skeg tracks straight. Only hard part is pumping up by hand but like anything easily fixed buying a electric pump

I'm a complete beginner, and had recently borrowed a TAHE HP2, and enjoyed it so much, I wanted to purchase my own kayak. The Optimal is every bit as good as the TAHE, but at a far better price. The staff at Sandbanks Style spent plenty of time with me, answering all my queries, and helping me make the right choice of style and size. I went for the Optimal Double, even though most my my kayaking will be solo. My first trip out was solo on the Beaulieu River. The optimal was easy to set up, and I had a great 3 hours out on the water. Very stable (more so than the TAHE), easy to manoeuvre, and comfortable. There are 2 very minor improvements that could be made, and I think Sandbanks Style are already looking at. A footrest and a carrying handle along the side. Neither are necessary of you are always 2-up, but as a solo in a double, they would make a difference. But neither would put me off buying from buying an Optimal again.