# Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 vs Ocean Kayak Malibu 11.5: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 (Wilderness Systems) and Ocean Kayak Malibu 11.5 (Ocean Kayak) among kayaks.

## Side by side

| Spec | Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 | Ocean Kayak Malibu 11.5 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $999 | not published |
| Brand | Wilderness Systems | Ocean Kayak |
| Kayak type | sit-on-top | sit-on-top |
| Propulsion | paddle | paddle |
| Seating capacity | 1 | 1 |
| Length inches | 147 | — |
| Width inches | 31 | 31 |
| Weight pounds | 64.5 | 59 |
| Max capacity pounds | 350 | 360 |
| Construction material | rotomolded-polyethylene | rotomolded-polyethylene |
| Hatch count | — | 1 |
| Rod holder count | — | — |
| Adjustable seat | Yes | No |
| Tracking aid | none | none |

## Key differences

- Weight pounds: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 64.5 vs Ocean Kayak Malibu 11.5 59
- Max capacity pounds: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 350 vs Ocean Kayak Malibu 11.5 360
- Adjustable seat: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Yes vs Ocean Kayak Malibu 11.5 No

## What reviewers say

**Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120** — GearJunkie (whitelisted) hands-on tested this exact model, naming the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 its Best Sit-On-Top Kayak with an 8.7/10 rating. They praise its stability, easy entry, and highly adjustable Phase 3 Air Pro seat, while flagging the 64.5-lb weight and sub-par glide. Only one whitelisted source covers the 120, so no cross-source comparison is possible. No measured test benchmarks were reported (on-page specs are manufacturer figures). (1 sourced review.)

## Sources

- Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120: https://www.confluenceoutdoor.com/products/wilderness-systems-tarpon-120-fishing-kayak-9750210201 (confluenceoutdoor.com, verified 2026-07-11)
- Ocean Kayak Malibu 11.5: https://paddleva.com/products/ocean-kayak-malibu-11-5 (paddleva.com, verified 2026-07-11)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/kayaks/wilderness-systems-tarpon-120-vs-ocean-kayak-malibu-11/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 ($999) vs Ocean Kayak Malibu 11.5 (not published) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/kayaks/wilderness-systems-tarpon-120-vs-ocean-kayak-malibu-11/
License: CC BY 4.0.