# Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 vs Old Town Sportsman PDL 106: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 (Wilderness Systems) and Old Town Sportsman PDL 106 (Old Town) among kayaks. Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 is the cheaper of the two at $999.

## Side by side

| Spec | Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 | Old Town Sportsman PDL 106 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $999 | $2699.99 |
| Brand | Wilderness Systems | Old Town |
| Kayak type | sit-on-top | sit-on-top |
| Propulsion | paddle | pedal |
| Seating capacity | 1 | — |
| Length inches | 147 | — |
| Width inches | 31 | 36 |
| Weight pounds | 64.5 | 95 |
| Max capacity pounds | 350 | 450 |
| Construction material | rotomolded-polyethylene | rotomolded-polyethylene |
| Hatch count | — | — |
| Rod holder count | — | — |
| Adjustable seat | Yes | Yes |
| Tracking aid | none | — |

## Key differences

- Propulsion: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 paddle vs Old Town Sportsman PDL 106 pedal
- Width inches: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 31 vs Old Town Sportsman PDL 106 36
- Weight pounds: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 64.5 vs Old Town Sportsman PDL 106 95
- Max capacity pounds: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 350 vs Old Town Sportsman PDL 106 450

## 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)
- Old Town Sportsman PDL 106: https://oldtownwatercraft.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/shop/kayaks/fishing/sportsman-pdl-106 (oldtownwatercraft.johnsonoutdoors.com, verified 2026-07-11)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/kayaks/wilderness-systems-tarpon-120-vs-old-town-sportsman-pdl-106/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 ($999) vs Old Town Sportsman PDL 106 ($2699.99) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/kayaks/wilderness-systems-tarpon-120-vs-old-town-sportsman-pdl-106/
License: CC BY 4.0.