The Ascend H12 delivers a unique blend of performance, storage, and rigging characteristics that makes it a great duck hunting kayak.
The Ascend H12 is a 12ft hybrid style kayak that is one of the most popular duck hunting kayaks on the market. I have been using mine for several seasons and love the features it offers at a reasonable price.
This kayak does a lot of things very well. Excellent storage capacity makes hauling gear easy. The stability makes shooting from the kayak comfortable (although I would not stand up to fish from it as they claim in the advertisements). The aftermarket blind turns this into a quick and easy layout duck hunting kayak.
This is one of the most versatile pieces of hunting gear that I own and I highly recommend it to most people who are looking for a duck hunting kayak.
The Ascend H12 has a unique tunnel hull design that sets it apart from other kayaks in terms of stability. The tunnel hull features two channels that run from bow to stern, creating a V-shape that provides exceptional stability on the water. This design also allows the kayak to draft in mere inches of water, while maintaining a level platform that is extremely steady.
At 76lbs, this kayak is not the lightest option on the market, but it is still manageable for loading in and out of a vehicle. The molded handles are well built and make it easier to carry or drag the kayak. If you have a short truck bed, it is worth considering an aftermarket bed extender. I have a 6ft bed and have no trouble with transportation. If you want a kayak to drag in to public land over long-distances, this might not be the best option, but for shorter drags or anywhere with easy access to water, the weight will be very manageable.
The Ascend H12 is priced affordably and can be picked up on sale at Cabela’s on occasion if you are a Cabela’s Club member. These kayaks are very popular and can be found on the second-hand market for a slight discount. However, they do seem to hold their value well due to their popularity. Overall, it is a great value and represents a nice balance between features and price.
The Ascend H12 kayak is designed to provide excellent paddling performance. When I first used the Ascend over my 10ft Pelican, I expected a bigger kayak to mean more difficult paddling. But with the increased stability and better tracking, I found that paddling was virtually the same, if not slightly easier, with the Ascend H12.
This kayak provides ample storage capacity for duck hunters, with a large cockpit and a storage hatch located at the bow of the kayak. It can easily carry a dozen loose decoys in both the front and back compartments and even more if bagged and stacked. I often load 3-5 dozen silhouettes and a bag of floater decoys in the back compartment and leave the front open for blind bags and other misc. gear.
Need help picking the best of the best? See poll results and an in-depth review of our 4 favorites here: 4 Best Duck Hunting Kayaks
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