--Please see the Lynx II review for some specifics and examples of recommendations about paddle length, the debate between foam and air floor, etc.....
--I sold the Lynx II I used to paddle because I was starting to do more creeks and such and the Lynx II is just a bit too long for that kind of stuff - too easy to wrap and just generally a bit too much boat - the Lynx I is still long in the creeking department at 10' 7", but is a far cry from the almost two foot longer 12' 6" Lynx II. The overall layout is the same and volume is excellent for bigger stuff - I'd highly recommend the thwart seat if you need top performance as it keeps your center of gravity lower and stiffens the boat up very well. Another bonus is that you always have a spare valve with you if you need to make and exchange in a tight spot. The foam floor, as I said in my other review of the Lynx II is the only way to go for performance, but if packability is a problem, the air floor performs acceptably. The foam floor is more stable and flatter and you can cut the bottom piece in half to make for a tighter package to fit it in the back of your CRX or something.
--The newer 25oz fabric makes the boat much stiffer, though at a sacrifice of a few pounds of weight and the newer self-bailing holes are twice as big as the previous generation boat making waiting for water to bail out a thing of the past. If you paddle very big water you may want to consider stuffing a towel into some of the self-bailing holes to slow down the outgo of water to make for a more stable, if heavier boat.
--As I said in the other review, thigh straps are essential for anything over class II, unless of course you like to swim for miles in 37 degree rock-choked creeks...... They keep you in and give you a degree of control that can only be rivaled in a hardshell. You may also want to consider a foam foot block or the sliding foot brace available from many different vendors. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET.... if you don't you won't need a rescue because you'll be dead. The first thing to hit the water when you're wearing thigh straps is you're head.
--I'd recommend a 220cm-230cm paddle for the Lynx I. I had a custom one-piece Werner Quest made in the 220cm length and it is awesome!
--I wouldn't recommend buying this boat for use as a flat-water touring boat as it doesn't track well and the hull speed leaves something to be desired - the Lynx II, while still not speedy be any means tracks much better and will perform better on flat water - the aire floor makes this even better as it seems to have a bit of a "V" to it (which enables better tracking, but not without sacrificing a bit of stability).
--Aire markets bow and stern storage bags with mesh sides that clip in and out and they are really nice - the small one is great just for chucking your sandals into or a sunscreen or whatever. The large one is acceptable for cooking stuff for an overnight trip - for extended trips (3+ days) if you're not getting raft support, you may want to consider the Lynx II - it performs very well with a heavy load, while this boat gets a bit cramped unless you're 5' tall and pack very light.

Customer Service

AIRE HAS THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE, BAR NONE!!!!! 10 year warranty is the best in the industry and they back up every bit of their product. If you want to read about it, I posted a story about a guy who had a brand new Lynx get run over by a semi truck and AIRE fixed it for free - talk about going the extra mile for their customers.... The total story is in the posting for the Lynx II.

Similar Products Used:

Aire, Hyside, Momentum, Riken, Sevylor, NRS, high performance boats specifically designed for creeking/steep descents, etc.... For the money, AIRE is the best all-around choice!!!