Dagger Axiom Whitewater River Kayak

When I got the Axiom on the water, it was one of those "wow!" moments. I regularly paddle a Jackson All Star and a Pyranha Burn. A knee injury currently prevents me from being comfortable in my tight-fitting play boat. And while I like the comfort, speed and stability of my Burn, I found myself watching in envy as friends play on squirt lines and stern-pivot in and out of eddies. With my Dagger Axiom, I will envy them no more! This boat is fast, light to carry, faster even than my Burn, and it tracks better. It felt slicey while still having great stability in bigger water. And....could it play! I laughed out loud when I did my first stern squirt with the Axiom.....it was easy to do, but the boat's longer length made it happen slower, so that the boat felt like it was hovering above the water. What fun! My local river is technical, with loads of eddies to catch, and attainment "problems" to solve. The Axiom made paddling my local even more of a blast, because it made me look for harder and harder moves to make. Eddy turns were snappy, and executing peel-outs was confidence-inspiring. I also really appreciated being able to wear a pair of river shoes with proper soles in this boat, instead of booties. While I have a snug fit at the hips and thighs for great boat control, there's lots of room at my feet, and being able to move them around a bit on long river days is a blessing. Most importantly, this boat is easy to roll. My rolls felt so smooth and relaxed, and that gave me even more confidence to surf and stern squirt to my heart's content. I'm not selling my other boats, but I can be happy paddling the Axiom every day, on any river I'd choose to paddle. It's comfortable like a river runner, handles like a play boat, but with lots more speed, and is light to carry for those long portages. Unless one wants to do bow stalls and cartwheels, I don't know why anyone would want another boat. Now, instead of envying my friends in their play boats, I tell them that they are missing out by not paddling the Axiom!

When I got into boating the RPM was one of the best designs and being a big boy I bought the RPM Max and loved it. I went from the Lower Yough to the Upper Yough/Gauley in that boat. Basically the Axiom is a throwback to a boat design that we haven't seen much of in 10 years. It surfs unbelievably well and it handles the river with stability. Not only would it be a great boat for an experienced paddler, but it would also be a great boat for a beginner. While demoing it, I notice it only took a couple paddle strokes to get on waves that had eluded me for many years on the Ocoee because the shorter boats just don't have the speed (though they carve better on waves obviously). I really enjoyed this boat and plan on buying one very soon as now my interests in boating are creeking & surfing, and, being comfortable in a boat (not all contorted). About me: 235lbs, 6', size 12 shoe, 30" inseam and I've owned or demo'd just about every boat for a person my size (RPM Max, Big/Super EZ, Gus and a 8.5 Mamba) and the Axiom is my current favorite!

AXIOM, ALL RIVER? ALL RIGHT! An Axiom in mathematics is considered to be both a starting point from where other theories are proven and also something that is taken to be universally true. So when the Dagger R&D team sat down to design a boat to fill the shoes of the legendary RPM they had two considerations. One was to create something new - which others will no doubt follow. The other, to create a boat which would stand against the world’s best selling White Water kayak! They set off on a journey. Many opinions were given, many ideas tried and tested and many, many, hours later they decided that they had made…..An Axiom. Combining all river performance desired by experienced paddlers with forgiving and predictable characteristics required by those progressing, the Axiom is a boat that will challenge everyone, at any age, to go out for more. Long enough for down river speed and excellent in surf the bow carries volume for smooth passage down river whilst the stern is cut low for pivot turns and agility. Using a flat planing hull, full-length rails and soft profile sidewalls the Axiom has a smooth transition from edge to edge and a playful feel. Inside its adjustable all the way with Daggers well loved River Running outfit system – solid, safe and very versatile!

Simply one of the BEST "all around" boats out there. When it first came out, I read early reviews on it, and grabbed the demo from the local shop the day it came in, for a 20-day trip on the Grand Canyon. We had steady daily flows from 12,000 to 17,500, so fairly big water. The Axiom was stable, FAST, FUN, and roomy for those long days paddling across the water between rapids. I could flat-spin, front and back surf with ease, and stern-squirt endlessly. RESCUED a 225lb guy @ bottom of House Rock, no problem, and he was gasping. Finally was able to purchase one last year, got the 8.5 for both me and my wife to use. I'm 6'3" 205lbs and she is 5'6" 130lbs. It's playful for me yet I can take it on hard IV+ with confidence, and it's incredibly buoyant and stable for her (just front surfing a wave is a big deal for her). I have a creek boat (Nomad 8.5) and 2 park-n-play boats, so the Axiom is part of a quiver to be sure. But, it is a GREAT all-around boat if you just like feeling confident while eddy-hopping, attaining, surfing, stern-squirting, and just generally feeling comfortable in a boat. Highly recommended river-running boat.