Lifetime Products Kayak: Made in America Spotlight

You know how you go all your life without ever trying something and then when you do, you wonder how you lived without it for so long? That’s me and our new Lifetime Monterey™ Kayak!
Being that we’re in MN we go to the lakes a lot. At great grams we have a canoe, a boat and a pontoon (not “us” but the family). So, I’ve ridden in those for years. The canoe was actually a lot of fun.
Here at home though, we don’t have anything to go out on the lakes with. When Lifetime offered to let me review their newest Kayak I pretty much became hysterically happy. Seriously though, who wouldn’t?
I was on pins and needles waiting for a couple of months for it to be ready. When delivery was confirmed I was actually bummed I was going to be at work. Guess what it was delivered in? lol An 18 wheeler! I think my boys were pretty impressed.
When I got home I ripped the plastic off and just sat in it. Yep, right there in my entry way. Then I proceeded to watch it rain pretty much every day this past week! I finally had Friday off, no rain and I told the boys to grab the life jackets cuz we were christening the kayak!
Doodle was maybe more stoked than me to try. He had the life jacket on before we even go to the water. He hopped in, I got the backrest snug around him and he paddle off…ok, not too far off because, well, if he tipped over I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of having to swim out to the middle of the lake to get him!
I could tell he was loving it!! And he was doing such a great job paddling. He figured out how to control it pretty much right away! I think he’s a natural.
Buddy seemed to want to go, but when he got ready to get in, he decided he wasn’t in the mood. =/ I was bummed, but what do you do?
 
I got in next and as soon as Doodle shoved me from shore…I was in heaven. I swear I found my bliss right there on the lake. Serene is the only word that would come close to justifying how it felt. It was early in the morning, there was only one family on the lake, and me in the peace and quiet of the lake in the kayak. Sigh…life is good!

I came back to shore and let Doodle go out again. One thing we will definitely have to practice is what happens if you fall out or are tipped over by a swell. Let’s be real here. On the lakes people can be pretty crazy fast with their boats and the waves could easily tip someone over. So, practicing will be the practical and safe thing to do.
No, let me tell you about the kayak itself.
The Lifetime Monterey™ Kayak is 8’ long. The back rest is adjustable and it fit me and Doodle perfectly. I loved how it wrapped snuggly around me. It has a nice padding that makes it comfortable!

I like the “foot rests” that vary in length. I put mine in the second spot while Doodle had his in the one closest to him. Up in that same spot you can somewhat see the paddle molds so you can rest it up there! I forgot to bring mine out to the lake, but there’s also a cup holder right at the first foot rest.
It’s only 38lbs so Buddy was even able to carry it a short distance! There’s a handle molded into the side for easy of carrying.

Inside the kayak there are holes called Scupper Holes to drain cockpit area, which definitely gets water in it! The lake was pretty choppy while we were out that morning!
I also love that if I want to carry anything with me while I’m out kayaking, I have a nice, large area behind the seat with shock cord straps to secure loose items. Who knows what I could imagine up to take out on the lake with me!
The Lifetime Monterey Kayak is UV-Protected – will not fade, crack, or peel! Hello durability and long lasting!! My goal is to make this baby last a LONG time!! It also comes with a 1 yr warranty!
Since this is brand spanking new, they’re still getting them out for sale!! What the kayak DOES come with, but mine didn’t is a sail kit! Yep, you read that right! On a nice windy day you can be seriously crusin’ along with the sail high!

Whenever you are in the water, please always do so responsibly. Never use a kayak, or any water craft, without a proper fitting life jacket!
Lifetime Products has been headquartered and manufacturing in Clearfield, Utah for over 25 years. Please be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and their blog!
*I received the kayak for review. The opinions expressed are my own and never influenced by the company.