Pelican
Argo 100X
The lightest rotomolded 10-footer that most humans can lift by themselves. A great first sit-in for smaller paddlers, apartment dwellers, and anyone who solo-cartops.
Specifications
- beam
- 28.5"
- type
- Sit-in
- length
- 9' 6"
- weight
- 36 lb
- capacity
- 275 lb
- material
- RAM-X Polyethylene
The Pelican Argo 100X takes a real hardshell hull and shaves it down to just 36 pounds — light enough that a 130-pound paddler can throw it on a roof rack without help. That single number is why it earns a spot in our top five.
The RAM-X hull
Pelican uses their proprietary RAM-X polyethylene, a lighter, thinner variant of rotomolded plastic. The trade-off vs traditional HDPE is a hair less stiffness — you can feel the deck flex slightly if you press on it — but the weight savings is dramatic. For lakes and slow rivers, you won't notice the flex.
Cockpit and comfort
The Argo 100X has a large open cockpit with a padded ERGOFORM backrest. It is a sit-in kayak, not a sit-on-top, so you'll stay drier and warmer — a real advantage in shoulder-season paddling.
Storage
- Rear tank well with bungee
- Small dry storage hatch behind the seat
- Molded-in bottle holder
Real-world compromises
- Not stable enough to stand and cast (fishing anglers should look elsewhere in this list)
- Cockpit is roomy but not sealed — big waves will fill it
- 275-pound capacity is fine for one adult with gear
Bottom line
If storage, weight, and solo-loading are your constraints, the Argo 100X is the kayak that says yes.
Pros
- +Only 36 lb — a genuine one-person cartop
- +Real rotomolded (RAM-X) hull, not inflatable
- +Comfortable ERGOFORM padded seat
- +Great value under $600
- +Great for smaller paddlers (under 5'8")
Cons
- −RAM-X flexes slightly under load — less stiff than premium HDPE
- −Not stable enough to stand and cast
- −Cockpit is open — bigger waves come in
Best for
Solo paddlers who need to cartop by themselves, and anyone with limited storage.
Who should skip it
Larger paddlers over 250 lb, or anglers who need standing stability.