“Because this boat doesn’t skimp on the fishing experience, you, for the first time, can truly go anywhere and fish everywhere!”
Among the highlights of last year’s Paddle Sports Show was the 2026 Product of the Year Awards, organized in partnership with KS Publishing and the Paddler’s Guide. Each year, the contest spotlights the best new paddlesports gear for the upcoming season. Hobie won Kayak Fishing Product of the Year for their ITrek Angler, an inflatable fishing boat that offers the convenience of a lightweight inflatable with the full features of a modern fishing kayak. It features MirageDrive 180 propulsion, H-Rails, compatibility with motors and electronics, and easy transport in a rolling bag. What’s not to like! We spoke to Hobie to learn more about their award-winning product.
Congrats on winning 2026 Product of the Year for the ITrek Angler at the Paddle Sports Show. Can you tell us a little about the product?
“An inflatable that is portable, easily stored, travel-ready, and that delivers the FULL Hobie kayak fishing experience.”
The ITrek Angler was introduced to help those who are challenged with space and those who want to be a lot more portable. Inflatable kayaks have traditionally been the answer to the space and portability issues, but none provided the user with the fishing experience a full-sized kayak would. One of our fastest-growing boats in popularity is the Lynx, and we took a page from that boat and created an inflatable that is portable, easily stored, travel-ready, and that delivers the FULL Hobie kayak fishing experience. MirageDrive 180, H-rails, set up for all fishing accessories and ready for motors and electronics!
Amazing. How long did it take to bring it to life, and what did that process look like?
This project began in late 2024. We took the development work done for the ITrek recreational series and added more strength to address the challenges of fishing and the gear anglers are relying on today. This project involved our leading engineers, a full ambassador team, and others across all departments at Hobie.
Does it grow out of ideas or designs you’ve worked on before?
This is definitely a marriage between the Lynx and the ITrek series. It also taps into years of experience in inflatable technology spanning into the SUP and other product sectors. So much has evolved with durability, weight management and the integration of pedal drives.
Was there a moment along the way when you thought this product was special?
Two instances actually. We received a video of one of our engineers testing out the ITrek Angler in the surf in California. Oddly it was the grin on his face as he motored through the waves. He was having the time of his life and with the durability and worry-freeness of the Angler out there in the surf that made some of us realize that this was a fun boat. The speed and turning ease also made it very fun. At ICast the demo boats were on the water 100% of the time with everyone trying them coming back wanting one.
What feature or innovation are you most proud of in this product?
“This is a comparable fishing experience to many of the top rotomolded kayaks.”
We, at first, struggled to find out how to incorporate the traditional ITrek/Lynx steering system with motors. The solution of installing 3 rudder positions on the boat at first seemed weird, but turned out to be amazingly convenient. We can now steer a motor without having complicated setups with pedal steering, keep the pedal drive in play, and add transducers to the other mounting areas in the perfect place. Simple solution, cool result.
Is this inflatable fishing kayak the first of its kind?
Not the first of its kind, no, but the first that doesn’t compromise as a fishing kayak. This is a comparable fishing experience to many of the top rotomolded kayaks.
Who do you think this product will be most useful? Do you think it will make kayak fishing more accessible?
The aim of this product is to introduce those who live in apartments, who have small cars and/or who want to take their kayak fishing internationally, a way to do so. This opens many doors. It also enables those who physically can’t deal with heavy kayaks. This boat is turning a lot of heads and will be the stepping stone to brand new kayak angling markets.
To learn more about Hobie, visit their website.