The Hobie Mirage Passport is a sit-on-top pedal-powered kayak designed for fun and relaxation on the water. The MirageDrive Classic pedal system lets you travel hands-free, with a roomy cockpit and comfortable ventilated seat that converts to a camp chair for use anywhere.
It is easy to operate, with a push-pull rod for steering, and a rudder that raises and lowers to prevent unwanted contact. It is also accessory-ready, so you can easily upgrade by adding a sun shade or even a sail kit.
Casual anglers will love the Hobie Mirage Passport, because it is incredibly stable and comfortable, and has two fishing rod holders. It’s a fantastic kayak for kids and adults to relax, cruise, recline, and even catch a few fish on your favorite flat water.
Overview of the Hobie Mirage Passport
Specs
- Type: 1-person sit-on-top pedal kayak
- Size: 10’6” x 34”
- Fully rigged weight: 75 pounds
- Height from floor to tallest point on the kayak: 12.5 inches
- Weight capacity: 325 pounds
- Materials: Thermoformed plastic
- Seat type: Removable aluminum frame with mesh suspension
- Color: Seagrass
Construction and build
The Hobie Mirage Passport is built for fun and recreation. It has a unique stackable design, with a recessed hull space for the MirageDrive and a removable seat, so the low profile makes it easy to store and transport, perfect for cartopping. The Hobie MirageDrive Classic pedal system propels you forward with a comfortable, back-and-forth, walking motion.
The dual underwater fins propel you forward with the power of your legs, and the patented square tip fin design provides more powerful surface area while maintaining a low mast length for greater speed. You can also upgrade to the Turbo fins for increased speed and efficiency.
The recessed hull design makes it fast and easy to remove or upgrade the MirageDrive, reduce clearance in the shallows, and make transportation easy. The wide hull design is a stable platform that is safe and easy for kids, lounging, or fishing.
The Hobie Mirage Passport has a simple push-pull steering system with a stowable rudder. The rudder is manually raised and lowered, and automatically deploys after it has cleared any contact point, for improved tracking. The hull has generous bow and stern bungee cargo areas, with an 8 inch Twist-n-Seal hatch with a hinged lid that never gets lost, a sealed gasket to keep your items dry, and simple one-handed operation. It also has two fishing rod holders.
The Hobie Mirage Passport seat is a lightweight, removable aluminum frame with durable mesh suspension that is breathable for cool comfort. The seat and pedal crank are adjustable to fit paddlers of a wide range of body types with ease.
The Hobie Mirage Passport is also upgrade-ready, so you can easily drop in an upgraded MirageDrive Turbo, use the vertical accessory tube to add a sail or a sunshade, and built-in cargo scuppers made for a Hobie Cart or Hobie Livewell. It also has two accessory mounting tracks for all your fishing needs.
About the brand
Hobie is one of the original garage-based startups. In 1950, Hobie Alter started making surfboards in his parents’ garage, and a legend was born. Hobie soon opened Southern California’s first surf shop, and in 1958 he and partner Gordon Clark invented and launched the first polyurethane foam surfboard. The Hobie Surf Team was an integral part of California’s thriving, Beach Boys surf scene in the 1960s.
In the late 60s, Hobie introduced a lightweight, easy to sail catamaran based on Polynesian twin-hulled designs. Hobie Cats took the world by storm, and they remain the bestselling catamarans in the world, with active racing fleets across the globe. With his many inventions and innovations, Hobie revolutionized the way people play in the water, and he was inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2011.
Hobie is still headquartered in California, but distributes their incredible line of catamarans, boats, SUPs, kayaks, and other watercraft worldwide. Their history of innovation and love of the water still informs every design.
Pros
- Fun, versatile, easy, and safe for paddlers of all ages and ability levels
- Accessory ready for greater speed, more lounging, or more fishing accessories if desired
- Stackable design is perfect for transporting by car or storing in the off season
- Wide platform is stable and beginner-friendly
- Removable seat can be used as a camp chair
- Hobie MirageDrive is an incredibly intuitive and comfortable way to power a kayak
- Drive and rudder can both be stowed for shallow clearance
- Low mast height for improved speed
- Bungee cargo storage
- Secure hatch is watertight and easy to operate
- Plenty of space for upgrades and accessories
- Adjustable seat and drive pedals fit wide range of body types
Cons
- Heavy
- This kayak’s upgrades, options, and accessories are all designed exclusively for Hobie-branded accessories, and are not usually compatible with third-party accessories or gear
Conclusion
The Hobie Mirage Passport is an easy-to-use 1-person sit-on-top pedal kayak that sets up in just minutes. It’s portable and lightweight, easy to store in a garage or closet in the off-season.
The Hobie Mirage Passport was built for fun, and it succeeds remarkably well. This versatile little kayak lets you explore the outdoors in comfort, with safety, stability, and ease of use that make it friendly for paddlers of all ages and sizes. The generous weight capacity and storage let you take it and all your gear to your favorite campsite, and then remove the chair and relax, or simply kick back and relax or fish from the deck. Anglers can use the fishing rod holders and tracks to add their favorite accessories, and secure hatches keep your snacks or devices dry. The convenient stackable design is family friendly, allowing you to easily store or transport multiple kayaks at once, so it’s a great kayak for a family or friend group. It’s an excellent pedal kayak that opens up whole new ways to relax and have fun in the outdoors.