Paddlers have been asking for a lighter, composite version of the Virgo, and P&H Kayaks has delivered with this new release. Chris Hipgrave, director of sales for P&H, toured the Paddling Magazine team through the latest evolution of the brand’s best-selling sea kayak at Canoecopia in March 2024. The demo model was one of the first composite Virgos to arrive in North America.
P&H unveils composite upgrade for best-selling touring kayak
“The plastic Virgo is our best-selling sea kayak by far,” Hipgrave said. “It’s really been a runaway success for us. But we’ve been hearing from customers that they want a composite, lighter version on the water. So, we’ve done it.”
“We took all the things that make the plastic Virgo amazing and put it into a lightweight, high-performance composite package,” he added.
The new composite Virgo retains all the features that made the original plastic model a hit while shedding considerable weight. The 15-foot plastic Virgo weighs between 54 and 56 pounds, whereas the composite version weighs just 34 pounds.
“We took all the things that make the plastic Virgo amazing and put it into a lightweight, high-performance composite package.”
“Super light,” says Hipgrave. “It still has all the storage. We have a lot of bow and stern storage and our typical four-hatch system. It is exactly the same setup as our plastic boat.”
This new offering will appeal to paddlers who have long appreciated the Virgo’s design but are looking for a higher-performance, lightweight alternative.
Key features of the P&H Virgo include:
- V-hull cuts cleanly through the water but softens towards the kayak’s center for comfortable stability.
- Functional details include split paddle recesses, a drop-forged, anodized aluminum security point, a paddle park, and a full complement of deck lines and bungees.
- Moderate rocker allows the Virgo to pick up and carry speed efficiently when flat but swing around effortlessly on edge.
- Flared bow edges give a dry ride through choppy water and lift the boat over waves on the paddle out from the shore.
- P&H’s comfortable, highly-adjustable Connect outfitting.
Feature photo: Paddling Magazine Staff
