Ascend 10T Review

Overview

The Ascend 10T/12T comes in fairly high up in our poll in terms of popularity with duck hunters. The lower sides make it easier to get in and out, and the open deck leaves plenty of room for gear.

Personally, I think it is a very heavy kayak for the size, coming in at 67lbs for the 10ft version. If you read the reviews, it seems to have issues with leaking. And overall, I am just not a huge fan of sit on top kayaks for hunting. There is nothing to hunker down in to, making camouflage and blind building more of a challenge.

I certainly won’t discredit the hunters who use and love the Ascend 10T, but for me, it just doesn’t seem like the best option. Now, if you are specifically looking for a sit-on-top style kayak as a multi-use hunt/fish kayak, it might be worth considering this as a budget option.

Ascend 10T Check Price

Stability

This has the same tunnel hull design you will find in the Ascend H12. It is a little smaller, coming in 1 inch narrower. It is also 2ft shorter in length. That will contribute to a little less stability, but overall, it should be very manageable for most hunting situations.

As long as you don’t try to stand up in this kayak as the manufacturer alludes, it should be just fine when it comes to stability.

Weight

For a 10ft kayak, this seems heavy to me at 67lbs. Granted, it is a sit-on-top style kayak so those are going to weigh more than a hybrid or sit in kayak. Going up to the Ascend H12, you only add 9lbs which isn’t much considering the size increase.

When it comes to the smaller 10ft kayaks, for me, weight becomes a very important factor. If I am in a situation where weight is a concern, meaning I have to drag the kayak a fairly long distance or unload it over a steep or rocky shore, I want to have a lightweight kayak that can make the process easier. 67lbs doesn’t meet that definition of light weight for me.

Price

This kayak comes in as a middle of the road option for a sit-on-top kayak. If you are really set on a sit-on-top kayak, I think you will find the price reasonable.

Performance

This is where I start to want to steer away from this kayak. Reading reviews across the internet, you will find many people who love their Ascend 10T’s, but also, many who end up returning them because they leak, or don’t paddle as easily as they had hoped.

Storage

For a 10ft kayak, this has plenty of storage capacity. The open deck helps maximize space. However, it is still a 10ft kayak and there is only so much you can fit on it. Additionally, with this style of kayak, you don’t have tall sides to help contain things, so you need to make sure to strap stuff down if you decide to pile it on.

Alternatives

We asked duck hunters what their favorite kayaks were. See how they voted:

Read more kayak reviews or see our top picks for the best duck hunting kayaks

Final Verdict on the Ascend 10T

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Verdict: This kayak is a popular pick among duck hunters and so I think it is worth considering. Especially if you want a cheaper sit on top kayak for multi-use hunting and fishing. It is not my first choice even though I really like the Ascend brand, I think the Hybrid style design is a better fit for most hunters.