Gear Review: Axiom 8.5 Dagger Whitewater Kayak

Value Rating: 10 Durability Rating: 10 Overall Rating: 10 Location of Test: Oregon, Washington and California Rivers as well as the ocean Duration: The past two years Product Name: Axiom 8.5 Product Brand: Dagger Best Use: River Running, Surfing, Instructional Boat Sizes Available/ Specs: 4 sizes The Full Review This is one of my favorite boats to paddle! This boat is fun to paddle on the river and great to paddle on the ocean. The planing hull and the edges on this boat make it incredibly fun to surf and the low volume in the stern makes it easy to stern squirt or turn on a dime! When I'm teaching classes I still have plenty of room for a break down paddle, lunches and other extra instructional gear. This boat does it all and I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes to play on the river or in the ocean. I wouldn't necessarily push my limits with this boat but for me it is a great boat for class I-IV rivers, but if I go to step it up for class V I will jump back in my Mamba. The Good: Surfs like a champ Easy to roll Fast Comfortable outfitting Easy to stern squirt Fun boat for the river or ocean The Bad: Not as fast as the RPM, but still quick. If you aren't using good posture this boat will give you immediate feedback, which can be a good thing to help build great technique, but if you are a paddler with the bad habit of leaning back this boat will let you know. The Bottom Line: This is one of my favorite boats and I use it all the time when I'm teaching classes.