Dagger Nomad Review

--Product Information--
Product Name: Nomad
Product Brand: Dagger
Best Use: Creeking
Sizes Available / Specs:

8'1":

• Length: 8’1” / 246 cm
• Width: 25.5” / 65 cm
• Deck Height: 12.5” / 32 cm
• Cockpit Length: 34” / 86 cm
• Cockpit Width: 19” / 48 cm
• Boat Weight: 47 lbs / 21 kg
• Paddler Weight: 110-190 lbs / 50-86 kg
• Volume: 68 gal/ 257 L

8’5”:

• Length: 8’5” / 257 cm
• Width: 26.5”/ 67 cm
• Deck Height: 13” / 33 cm
• Cockpit Length: 34” / 86 cm
• Cockpit Width: 19” / 48 cm
• Boat Weight: 50 lbs / 23 kg
• Paddler Weight: 150-240 lbs / 68-109 kg
• Volume: 78 gal / 295 L

--Test Information--
Location of Test: PNW
Duration: 3 years

--Ratings--
Value Rating: 10
Durability Rating: 9
Overall Rating: 10

Full Review: I've had a few Nomads over the past three years, and I've found it to be a great boat for the Pacific Northwest! It takes soft hits on waterfalls and does great on steep whitewater. The Nomad does great with beginners, but sometimes it gets away from paddlers with poor technique due to the small edge. The "displacement hull" style makes the boat surface and perform very well on big waterfalls and steep rapids. The Nomad has to be one of the easiest kayaks to roll; it's a great pool boat to teach beginners the roll. The Nomad is also very beginner friendly for teaching boofing or basic creeking skills since it is so forgiving.

The Good List: Really great on big waterfalls thanks the soft hits. Easy to roll for beginners and it boofs like a dream.

The Not so Good List: Does alright in big water, but since it doesn't have much of an edge it gets pushed around a little bit in big water. If you can drive it and paddle hard it does great.

The Bottom Line: An overall great boat. The Nomad is a classic kayak for the Northwest since it does so well on all the creeks and rivers. It also offers a great amount of stability and comfort for beginners who are paddling in bigger water.