REASONS TO BUY
Very light and portable
Maneuvers well
Stable
Inexpensive
Large open cockpit
REASONS TO AVOID
No seat cushions
Hard to reach and adjust foot braces
Not a lot of weight capacity
Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 Review
This is a dependable option for beginner paddlers who aren't ready to invest in a high-performance boat
Sitting low in the Aruba, with a wide base, makes for a pretty stable paddling experience in calm conditions.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
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Our Verdict
The Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 is a nicely-priced introductory sit-inside kayak. It will help you gauge your interest in kayaking before spending more money on an expensive, high-performing kayak. It's very lightweight and easy to carry, and its compact length keeps it pleasantly maneuverable on the water. A stable and forgiving flat bottom hull lends confidence to the beginner paddler. The construction quality is on the low end, with the seat lacking any padding and the hatch seals susceptible to peeling away. Still, the Aruba 10 will get you out on the water at an affordable price and acceptable performance for most beginners.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Sit-on-Top Kayak |  Great Value for a Sit-on-Top Model | Best Bang for the Buck | ||
| Price | $477 List $479.50 at Amazon | $1,119 List $1,119 at Amazon | $800 List $799.99 at Backcountry | $550 List $579.86 at Amazon | $650 List Check Price at Backcountry |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | The Aruba is a stable and easy to paddle beginner's kayak that's easy on your wallet | Whether fishing, swimming, taking photos, or just exploring your favorite body of water, this kayak won’t let you down | If you are looking for a fun and safe kayak that the whole family will enjoy, then this boat offers a great bang for your buck | An entry-level recreational kayak that can keep you and your bank balance afloat | If paddling comfort and affordability are your priorities, then this may be a great option |
| Rating Categories | Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 | Wilderness Systems... | Ocean Kayak Malibu... | Pelican Argo 100X EXO | Old Town Vapor 10 |
| Glide and Tracking (30%) | |||||
| Stability (20%) | |||||
| Maneuverability (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Transport (15%) | |||||
| Comfort (10%) | |||||
| Construction Quality (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 | Wilderness Systems... | Ocean Kayak Malibu... | Pelican Argo 100X EXO | Old Town Vapor 10 |
| Measured Length | 9.83' | 10.50' | 11.42' | 10.00' | 10.00' |
| Measured Width | 30.0" | 32.0" | 32.0" | 28.0" | 28.5" |
| Measured Weight | 40 lb | 57 lb | 59 lb | 38 lb | 47 lb |
| Measured Height | 13.0" | 15.3" | 12.0" | 14.0" | 16.8" |
| Weight Capacity | 250 lb | 325 lb | 360 lb | 275 lb | 325 lb |
| Material/Construction | UV-stabilized Fortiflex high density polyethylene | Polyethylene | Singler layer polyethylene | Polyethylene | Single-layer polyethylene |
| Features | Adjustable padded backrest, rear gear compartment with bungee shock cord, adjustable foot braces, water bottle storage, carrying handles, paddle holder, padded thigh braces | Quick-park paddle holder, rigid carry handles, SlideTrax accessory rails, magnetic water-bottle strap system, removable DryTec dry box, sectioned storage tray, phase 3 AirPro seating system, dog-friendly deck | Tri-form hull with an integral keel and sponsons, AirGo molded in seat and seat pad with adjustable AirComfort backrest, molded-in foot wells and calf rest, paddle holders, side/stern/bow carrying handles, molded-in oversized bow and stern tank wells with bungees, splash resistent QuickStash dry hatch, 2 molded in fishing rod holders, 3 water bottle holder, replaceable skid plate | Small front storage hatch, rear well with removable ExoChill 17-liter storage compartment, bottle holders, padded backrest with seat cushion, molded footrests | Adjustable comfort flex seat, glide track foot brace system, stern day well, molded-in cockpit tray with cup holder, molded-in paddle rest, built in carry handles, thigh pads, drain plug, skid plate |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Sun Dolphin is probably one of the most recognized companies on the market due to their entry-level cost and availability in most big box sporting goods stores. The Aruba is 9 feet 8 inches in length and 30 inches wide. It has a storage hatch with a lid at the rear, weighs 40 pounds, and features a total weight capacity of 250 pounds. We were skeptical but then impressed by the Aruba 10's ease of transport and its respectable tracking and maneuverability.
The Aruba provides reasonable performance for beginner paddlers at a great price.
Credit: Sara James
Glide and Tracking
As an introductory boat, this inexpensive, stable kayak makes most beginner paddlers feel comfortable and confident paddling from day one. Sun Dolphin chose to go with a planed hull to promote better stability compared to the rounded hull or V-shaped hull of some of the other kayaks we tested.
The Aruba isn't designed to get you anywhere particularly fast.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
This flatter-style bottom doesn't do much to help the boat's glide performance. It has more surface area to push through the water than boats with V-shaped hulls, which slice through the water. To compensate, the designers added a semi-upswept, pointed bow and stern to help the kayak track, which translates to a smoother and longer glide. But even with these attributes, this kayak takes extra strokes to get and maintain glide.
In addition, the Aruba does not track that well compared to many of the other kayaks we tested. The kayak turns very easily, which can be annoying when you are trying to stay pointed at a distant target.
Due to its poor tracking, when trying to go in a straight line, you may notice the bow of the kayak wonder from side to side.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Stability
The Sun Dolphin really stood out in this metric despite not being very long. The flat, wide hull and low-to-the-ground seat keep this kayak floating along nicely, making it comfortably stable for paddlers of all abilities.
In a moving current, we managed to accidentally tip this kayak over, but only after we took it in conditions it wasn't really designed for. The Aruba shouldn't tip over on flat water, but if it does, it's a pain to reset. Once you have dragged it to the beach, the drain plug helps get most of the water out, but depending on how loaded it is, this can be a slow and tiring experience.
From the underside you can see how flat the hull of the Aruba is, helping to keep this kayak stable when on the water.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Maneuverability
Longer boats are better for tracking and gliding. In contrast, shorter vessels tend to handle better when turning. With the flat hull, you won't have to fight lateral resistance under the waterline when turning the way you do with longer kayaks. In addition, some vessels have a keel or harder chines that cause friction as their edges catch water when turning. This is not the case with the Aruba.
This Aruba is pretty quick to turn, thanks to its flat hull and short length.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
In our maneuverability testing, we were able to spin the Aruba 10 around 180 degrees remarkably well with just two fairly easy sweep strokes, making it one of the most maneuverable boats in our tests. It also carved up the slalom course, finishing with a high score. The angled bow helps the flat hull pierce through water and waves, aiding the kayak's ability to handle well while maneuvering through friction that would hinder the boat.
This is a great kayak for a pond or small lake and, at under 10 feet long, this boat is very maneuverable for even the youngest or most novice paddlers.
Credit: Sara James
Ease of Transport
For a sit-in, hard shell kayak, the Sun Dolphin is an extremely light boat. The thinner plastic construction, lack of heavy-duty quality outfitting, and the overall shorter length keep the boat's weight at 40 pounds. This makes it one of the most portable hardshell kayaks we tested.
This was one of the lightest kayaks in our line up, making loading and unloading a breeze.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
This lightweight boat is noticeably easier to pick up and shoulder than the others. It's also easier with two people — one on either side using the carrying handles. Testers were able to lift the kayak onto a car's roof rack and then take it off with little to no difficulty. Dragging the boat around rocky portages did not require much effort. We all agreed it was a boat we didn't mind carrying to the water's edge.
Weighing in at 40 pounds the Aruba is one of the lightest kayaks in our line-up.
Credit: Sara James
Comfort
One of the biggest tradeoffs when shopping for a lower-cost kayak is its outfitting — or comfort-focused features. Seating systems, foot and thigh braces, and other extra outfitting features are usually stripped down. When comparing the Aruba 10 to another, more expensive sit-in model, it's evident that you get what you pay for. It's not terrible, but your posture, comfort, and performance will suffer.
The foot peg bracing system adjusts so that you can alter it to suit your leg length - as long as you can reach it.
Credit: Sara James
The Sun Dolphin line offers little in the way of padding on their seats. You sit in a cupped plastic seat that is made from the same plastic as the boat. It's just raised up a bit off the cockpit in case you take on water. The only support and adjustability you get is a thin, padded back strap. The foot peg braces seem to be sturdy enough, but one of the downfalls of this design is having to reach in and under the deck plate and into the cockpit, all the way to the bottom of your feet, to move the levers. This can be a cumbersome and difficult process, especially for larger paddlers. It may knock you off balance.
Light, thin padding is provided in the cockpit to brace your knees and thighs. There is no additional outfitting to make it more comfortable. The Sun Dolphin includes a simple water bottle holder, bungee cord paddle holder, and carrying handle on the bow and stern for transport.
You'll find a water bottle holder and a carrying handle on the bow of the Aruba 10.
Credit: Dan Kramer
Construction Quality
Sun Dolphin's UV-fortified Fortiflex polyethylene build isn't as sturdy or well-built as some of the other boats we tested. The material used in the construction scratches more easily than most other kayaks, leaving lots of little dings and curly plastic pieces on the hull. These will increase drag and slow down your boat's glide.
The hatch does have a lid to protect your gear from water - however, we noticed the seal is quick to come detached.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
There is definitely less plastic used in the construction of this boat, which helps keep its weight low, but it can't carry as much weight as some of the other kayaks do. Some of the kayaks we tested were only six inches longer but about eight pounds heavier. Due to less sturdy plastic and less space, this Sun Dolphin is limited in its carrying capacity.
There is a carrying handle at each end made of thin rope. This isn't the most comfortable on your hands and we noticed that dragging the boat by this rope tends to damage the tips of the kayak.
Credit: Sara James
Should You Buy the Sun Dolphin Aruba 10?
The Aruba 10 is a good option for the beginner who wants to make sure they will enjoy flat water kayaking and still have plenty of fun for their money. Even after you become hooked on kayaking and ready to upgrade to a more advanced-model kayak, you'll have fun playing in your Aruba 10. Keep in mind, though, that it isn't as durable as the pricer boats, so you may end up wanting to spend a little more to make your kayak last for years to come.
What Other Kayaks Should You Consider?
If you are looking for the best deals but want a higher quality kayak, the Pelican Argo 100X EXO doesn't cost much more, has more frills, and offers great comfort. If you are willing to spend a bit more than that, the sit-on-top Ocean Kayak Malibu 11.5 offers superior performance and is likely to last longer as it is made from higher-quality materials.
The Sun Dolphin has a basic design with few frills, but is perfectly good enough to get you out on the water and having fun.
Credit: Sara James
—Sara James
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