This is the fourth model in the Volan series from P&H, built specifically with larger paddlers in mind. At 16'2″ long and 23.5″ wide, it’s roomy, sleek, and built for versatility. With a retail price starting around $5,600, the P&H Volan 162 Kayak isn't cheap. But it provides concrete proof that you often get what you pay for!

A Custom, Carbon/Kevlar, Composite Kayak

One of the unique things about P&H Composite sea kayaks is that you have the option to get a fully customized model. What does it mean to customize a kayak? It means you can choose almost everything about the kayak, including the color of its hull, deck, seam, keel, cockpit rim, perimeter lines, bungees, and even the color of the P&H logo on the deck. You get to choose the seat style, whether it has a rudder or a skeg, and perhaps most importantly you get to choose the layup of the kayak. The layup of a kayak refers to what materials are used (like Carbon and Kevlar), and how much of those materials are used. The result has an impact on the kayaks weight, durability and price.

This was the first time that I've ever customized a kayak. I have to admit that it was really fun to use P&H's online kayak customization tool to design my dream kayak. After playing around with colors for an hour or so, I finally settled on a colorway. The layup didn't take much thought, because my plan was to take this kayak on an epic, 10-day adventure on Lake Superior. I needed a kayak that could handle anything that Mother Nature threw at me. This meant the ‘Expedition' layup was right for me.

Lightweight and Durable: A Kayak Built for Real Adventures

The Expedition layup that I choose strikes a sweet balance between durability and lightweight. More specifically, the kayak weighs around 50 lbs—surprisingly light for its size and a blessing when transporting it solo. For comparison, a plastic kayak of this size will usually weigh 65–70 lbs. While the kayak is light in weight, it's not light on durability. The boat is made with kevlar/carbon, and features a reinforced kevlar keel and reinforced glass seam. The result is a boat that's built to handle serious conditions and the most challenging expeditions.

On-Water Performance: Maneuverable and Stable

What makes the Volan series of kayaks one of P&H's most popular kayaks is the fact that it's so versatile. It has the speed to cover large distances, and the playfulness to take advantage of any surf waves, current or rough conditions that you encounter along the way. While it's not the fastest sea kayak on the market, it's fast enough. More importantly though, the Volan 162 feels balanced, stable, and confidence-inspiring.

Comfort and Fit for Larger Paddlers

At 6’2”, I’ve struggled to find composite kayaks that offer a high level of comfort, and that was the idea behind the Volan 162. The largest of the 4 Volan models, the 162 was designed to offer taller and larger paddlers with ample leg room and foot room. That's exactly what it does. The cockpit is spacious without feeling loose. The outfitting—from padded hip supports to the adjustable back band—delivers both comfort and control. It’s rare to find a kayak that caters so well to taller or bigger paddlers. The P&H Volan 162 Kayak does exactly that.

Is the P&H Volan 162 Sea Kayak Worth It?

If you’re a paddler who wants a luxury, all-around kayak that can handle anything from casual day trips to challenging multi-day expeditions—the P&H Volan 162 Sea Kayak is a worthy investment. It's beautiful, it's built extremely well, it's comfortable, stable and fun to paddle. It's also customizable if you have the patience to wait a couple of month to get yours. In my opinion, the Volan 162 is definitely worth the price, but it's not going to be worth it for everyone.

Curious about how other P&H models compare? Check out my reviews of the Volan 160, the Scorpio Sea Kayak, the Virgo and the Leo.

The post P&H Volan 162 Kayak Review appeared first on Hazeadventure.

On the far eastern end of Lake Superior, you’ll find Lake Superior Provincial Park, one of the most beautiful and accessible sections of the Lake.  Many call the Park the crown jewel of Algoma Country – a region within Northern Ontario that’s well known for its incredible wilderness and outdoor adventure opportunities. That’s why I made the 10-hour drive from the Nation’s Capital region – to discover Lake Superior Provincial Park for myself on a five day, solo sea kayaking trip – a trip that I’ve looked forward to for a very long time.

Day 1 – Sinclair Cove and Agawa Rocks

Setting out from Sinclair Cove on the southern end of the Park, I enjoyed blue skies and calm seas on my first day.

Although the water of Lake Superior looks almost tropical at times, it is dangerously cold throughout the year, peaking at 19-degrees Celsius (67-degrees Fahrenheit) in mid-summer.

Day 2 – Kayaking Around Cape Gargantua

On Day 2 the wind picked up and the water got rougher as I traveled 20km from Beatty Cove around Cape Gargantua and through the Gargantua Islands Preserve. The area is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful places on the entire Lake Superior Coast, and it was easy to see why. It’s also a place of great spiritual significance to the Batchewana First Nation, whose cultural heritage is rooted here.

Even though the P&H Scorpio sea kayak I was using has lots of space to store gear, I needed to strap a bag to the back deck of the kayak because of all the extra camera gear that I was carrying. To minimize the impact of the bag on my stability and my ability to roll the kayak, I filled the bag with light and bulky items, like my sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and bulky clothes. I also used this trip to test a variety of other paddling and camping gear, including the new Aqua Bound Tetra Ultralight paddle and NRS Swig Hydration pack, which I both enjoyed so much that I gave them a PaddleTV Award. Check out the other products that I gave PaddleTV Awards to HERE.

There are many sections of the Lake Superior coast where landing and getting out is impossible, especially during rough conditions.  It’s a good idea to take the opportunity to stretch the legs whenever there’s a nice landing spot available.

Day 3 – A Rough Day of Kayaking on Lake Superior

Setting out from Chalfant Bay on Day 3, the water was beautiful and sheltered, but the wind in the treetops was a giveaway that things would be different when I reached exposed water.

The coast of Lake Superior has so many coves, bays, and nooks to explore.

A 5-mile crossing with sustained 20 mph winds and 35 mph gusts made for an extremely challenging and nerve racking afternoon that involved rounding the most exposed headland of Lake Superior Provincial Park – Cap Chaillon. Watch the nerve racking crossing on my new YouTube channel @KenWhitingAdventures.

With a strong tailwind all day long, I almost doubled my planned distance on Day 3, which brought me to a beautiful campsite in Brule Harbour.

Day 4 – The Paddle Home to Michipicoten Bay

The final day of paddling from Brule Harbour to Rock Island Lodge in Michipicoten Bay takes you along one of the most beautiful shorelines in the Park.

It’s hard not to feel very small when you’re paddling in an environment that’s so vast.

Taking a final break before making the last push to Michipicoten Bay, where a comfy bed awaited at the Rocky Island Lodge.  I was sad to finish the trip, but my shoulder was thankful for the break. This would be my last day paddling for 6 months, as my should issue turned out to be a combination of a torn rotator cuff, tendinosis, and the beginnings of a frozen shoulder. This would turn out to be the longest break from paddling that I’ve had in over 30 years.

For guided paddling trips on Lake Superior, shuttles, or kayak rentals check out Naturally Superior Adventures.

For great accommodation on Lake Superior, check out Rock Island Lodge.

Check out my full review of the P&H Scorpio Kayak

Watch my full Lake Superior Paddling Adventure

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This wasn’t my first time paddling the Virgo—I’ve actually reviewed it before—but this was my first time with the new Kevlar carbon layup version, which is a mere 36 lbs (16.5kg) of pure paddling beauty.

First Impressions: The Virgo Composite Kayak

The first thing you notice about the Virgo Composite Kayak is its weight—or rather, the lack of it. Weighing in at around 36 lbs (16.5kg), this kayak is not only easy to transport but is also stunning to look at. The Kevlar carbon layup is truly a work of art, combining aesthetics with high performance. However, the real test lay ahead: navigating the rapids of the Ottawa River.

Testing the P&H Virgo Composite Kayak

McCoy's Rapid is the first challenge on the Ottawa River and one of the biggest ones. This rapid is known for its massive hydraulics, with two particularly juicy holes named Satlers and Phils at the top. Dropping into either of these in a sea kayak would mean trouble.

Threading the needle between the two holes was a great test of the kayak’s agility and responsivenesss, and it passed with flying colors.

After the thrill of McCoy’s, the Middle Channel of the Ottawa River offers a slightly tamer, but still exhilarating, experience. The Middle Channel receives only a quarter of the river’s water, making the rapids slightly smaller, but no less fun. The Virgo continued to impress with its ability to handle the unpredictable conditions of the river.

Butterfly is one of the highlight rapids on the Middle Channel – short and sweet!

Surfing the wave at the top of Upper No Name rapid – one of the smoothest and sweetest waves on the Middle Channel.

While the Virgo Composite Kayak handled the whitewater admirably, it’s not something I would recommend others try. Running these kinds of rapids in a lightweight composite sea kayak is always a roll of the dice. In fact, I had to send the kayak for repairs as the stern of the boat hit rock forcefully as I worked my way through the challenging ‘Lower No Name' rapid. Can you tell where in the rapid it happened in this video: Cracking the Virgo

Testing the Aqua Bound Aerial Paddle and Gearlab Outdoors Deck Pod Pro

Besides the Virgo, I also took the opportunity to test some other new gear. The Aqua Bound Aerial Whitewater Paddle has been a trusty companion over the past month, and it didn't disappoint on this trip. Powerful and confidence inspiring, it helped make each stroke count.

Another piece of gear that caught my attention was the Gearlab Outdoors Deck Pod Pro. This deck bag, designed for recreational kayaks, touring kayaks, or sea kayaks, comes equipped with an integrated GoPro mount, making it easy to capture your paddling adventures.

In conclusion, the P&H Virgo Composite Kayak is a great kayak that blends performance and beauty. While it may not be designed for whitewater, its responsiveness in the rapids is a testament to its design. It's a versatile and playful kayak designed for day trip adventures, or short overnight trips on rivers, lakes or the ocean.

Watch the in depth review of the Virgo (plastic version) here

Watch the full video on YouTube:

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The Wild Atlantic Way is a 1600 mile long coastal route on the west coast of Ireland. Following a dramatic coastline with towering cliffs, mystical islands, rolling farmland, the route winds its way past picturesque villages, castles, and a stunning countryside.

Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way: Ballyvaughan

A great place to get your feet wet paddling the Wild Atlantic Way is Ballyvaughan. I paddled with local sea kayaking guide Patrick O’Regan of North Clare Sea Kayaking.

While a good portion of the Wild Atlantic Way is directly exposed to the Atlantic Ocean, the Ballyvaughan coast in Galway Bay offers some protection. This makes it a good location for paddlers of all skill levels. One of the great benefits of paddling here, is that it offers tremendous views of castles, towers and the burren, as well as great opportunities for seeing wildlife.

Exploring the Ballyvaughan coast while testing the P&H Sea Kayaks Scorpio.

Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way: Lake Inchiquin

If the coast is too rough for paddling, there are beautiful places to explore inland, which are protected from heavy wind and waves.  Lake Inchiquin is an ideal paddling location, with a wide variety of landscapes and wildlife to see in a relatively small area.  It also has the stunning Inchiquin castle that overlooks the waters.

Stay tuned for the full review of the P&H Scorpio sea kayak – COMING SOON!

Trip Planner:

Outfitters:
– North Clare Sea Kayaking

Places to Stay:
– Armada Hotel

Things to do:
– Doolin Cave
– Cliffs of Moher

The post KAYAKING IRELAND’S WILD ATLANTIC WAY appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Having tested many different canoes and kayaks over the last four years, I’ve realized that there aren’t that many truly bad kayaks out there. The biggest question is actually, which is the correct kayak for you? What value does it give? Does it give bang for your buck?

This year, I tested many different kayaks and canoes and, for the most part, liked all of them, but some stood out as particularly awesome! So the Paddle TV awards are here to recognize that awesomeness. 

Best Gateway Kayak – The Sea Eagle 330

This is not a new kayak, it has, in fact, been around for several years, but I tried it for the first time this year. The Sea Eagle 330 wins the award for being the best gateway kayak. 

A gateway kayak is a kayak that gets people into the sport. It allows them to try kayaking affordably and discover if it is something they would like to continue. A great gateway kayak needs to be affordable, but it also needs to provide a reasonable paddling performance. A gateway kayak has to be fun to paddle to encourage people to continue. At the same time, it is likely a kayak that people will upgrade from reasonably quickly. 

I tested two of the most popular, cheapest gateway kayaks side by side: the Sea Eagle 330 and Intex Explorer K2. I discovered that the Sea Eagle 330 is a much better kayak and provides better value. It is about $75 (USD) more expensive. However, it is overall much better quality in every way. For example, it comes with a three-year warranty instead of a 90-day warranty, and the pump and the paddle provided are of better quality. Overall, it just provides a better paddling experience. So, the Sea Eagle 330 is the gateway kayak I recommend to people. 

However, the reason that I am giving the Sea Eagle 330 a Paddle TV award is that for $240 (USD), it provides unbelievable value. 

The Most Luxurious Kayak – P&H Volan 160 

The P&H Sea Kayaks Volan 160 is on the other side of the spectrum. This gets a Paddle TV award for being the most luxurious kayak I have tested this year or maybe ever. 

The P&H Volan is a high-performance touring kayak that is designed to be able to handle any water conditions, from flat water covering distances to rough water and ocean surf. 

It is a 16-foot-long sea kayak that is 23 inches wide and is a composite sea kayak. It is made from a mix of carbon and kevlar and costs between $4500 – $6000 (USD). That is quite a chunk of change. 

The P&H Volan is a beautiful lifetime kayak. If you take care of it properly, it will last you a lifetime. For people with enough money to spend, the P&H Volan is definitely worth the money. It really is a beautiful thing and well deserving of a Paddle TV award. 

The Best Recreational Kayak – Perception Hangtime 11

Flipping back to the other side of the spectrum again, the Perception Hangtime 11 gets a Paddle TV award for being the best recreational kayak I tested. 

The reason that I’m giving the Hangtime 11 a Paddle TV award is because of its innovation. It is not a kayak that is designed for everyone, but it is designed for people who want to hang out on the water and relax with friends and family. Unlike every other kayak I’ve ever seen, the Perception Hangtime 11 has an integrated lounge chair on the back. 

You can use the lounge chair while on the water, but it is also perfect to chill out when the kayak is on the shore. It has a comfortable headrest, and cup holders are placed all over the kayak. This 100% fits the bill for a recreational kayak; it is a boat that people can unwind on. For $950 (USD), it is not a bad deal. 

The Most Sustainable – Melker Rodloga

The Melker Rodloga is one of the most beautiful kayaks I’ve ever seen. It is a head-turner. That is one of the reasons that it wins a Paddle TV award. But the other reason is that it is a beautiful boat to paddle. 

Melker's mission, with all their kayaks, is to change the paddling industry and manufacture kayaks in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way. Instead of using carbon and kevlar as most composite kayaks do, they use a locally sourced flax weave. They are also doing all sorts of cool things with prototyping, including using recycled boats and old fishing nets to create prototypes for these kayaks. 

So the Melker Rodloga is definitely worthy of a Paddle TV award for its sheer beauty, performance, and the steps they are taking to create a more environmentally friendly industry. 

The Best White Water Kayak – The Pyranha Scorch X

Paddling the Pyranha Scorch X gave me one of the most unique white water paddling experiences I have had in a long time. It is fair to say that it is the dryest riding creek boat I have ever paddled. It has incredible comfort, speed, and boof-ability. The secondary stability rivals that of any other kayak. It really is a fun and confidence-inspiring kayak. 

What separates the Pyranha Scorch X from other creek boats of its class is that it is a bit longer. It is 10 feet and has incredible rocker, which gives it a lot more speed and a high ability to boof and stay on top of the water. 

The Best Cruiser Kayak – Delta Kayaks 15.5 GT

The 15.5 GT touring kayak wins an award because of its performance as a cruiser kayak. It has a great combination of performance and stability. While it is not the fastest kayak nor the most stable, it is a great middle-of-the-road touring kayak. The kayak is really well-built and of good quality. 

The Delta Kayaks 15.5 GT is 15.5 feet long and 24 inches wide. It costs around $2300 (USD). This kayak costs more than a rotamolded kayak but less than most composite kayaks. That is because it is a thermoform kayak. This means it is a plastic kayak but is much stiffer and lighter than a traditional rotamolded plastic kayak. It weighs only 49 LBS, so it is easy to move around. 

The 15.5 GT is well-made, performs well, and is confidence-inspiring, so it deserves a Paddle TV award. 

The Sea Eagle Inflatable Travel Canoe

When I first heard about this canoe, I was not expecting it to feel or be like a canoe whatsoever. But I was wrong. The Sea Eagle Travel Canoe looks and acts like a canoe. It has some benefits over some traditional canoes. The Travel Canoe is 16 feet long and 38 inches wide and retails for around $1800 (USD). This is similar to canoes in its class. 

What makes it such a special canoe – except for the fact that it is a full-sized inflatable canoe that fits in the back of your car and in your apartment – is the fact that it is the most stable canoe that I have ever been in. It provides rock-solid stability, and you can take this on any canoe trip that you can take another canoe on.

The fact that the Sea Eagle Travel Canoe is inflatable means that if you capsize, it will float whether it is swamped or not. I was truly impressed by this canoe. The Sea Eagle Inflatable Travel Canoe deserves a Paddle TV award. 

The Swift Cruiser 14.8 Pack Boat

I actually reviewed the Swift Cruiser 14.8 pack boat a few years ago in the very first boat review I ever did, and I really liked it then. I took it out for another trip recently and again realized why I really liked it. 

This is a canoe-kayak hybrid boat. It has the benefits of the canoe, including the fact that it is a big open boat with plenty of space for storage, but it also has a kayak seat and footpegs in it. Therefore, you can paddle it like a kayak. This means that on a solo trip, you get the benefits of a kayak and a canoe. 

In the right circumstances, it is hard to find a better boat for solo trips. However, it is not designed to be used on all trips, so if you are on exposed water with rough conditions, it is probably not the best boat. But for classic multi-day canoe trips, going lake to lake, or river trips with portages, the Cruiser 14.8 is truly a dream. 

It is not a cheap boat, costing roughly $3500-4500 (USD). But it also weighs between 24-30 LBS, which is remarkable, especially when lugging it across a long portage. I loved paddling the Cruiser 14.8, and it is definitely worthy of a Paddle TV award. 

So there you have it, these are my Paddle TV award-winning canoes and kayaks for 2023. 

This Year's Winners:
Sea Eagle 330
P&H Volan 160 
Perception Hangtime 11
Melker Rodloga
Pyranha Scorch X
Delta Kayaks 15.5 GT
Sea Eagle Inflatable Travel Canoe
Swift Cruiser 14.8 Pack Boat

Here's This Year's Paddling Gear Awards as well!

The post Best Kayaks and Canoes of 2023 appeared first on Hazeadventure.

I did a full review of the Volan here: P&H Volan 160 Kayak Review.

The Big Wave Test for the Volan 160

To test how well the P&H Sea Kayaks Volan 160 performs in big water, I took it down the main channel of the Ottawa River. This paddling mission involves a series of rapids: 

• McCoys. This rapid has a couple of big holes that you want to miss. 
• Lorne. Lorne starts with a big wave known as Garburator and has a range of standing waves, ending with the Waikiki waves.

• The Lunch Stop waves. 
• Normans. Normans is one of the bigger rapids on the Ottawa main channel. All the water is funneled into a mini, low-walled canyon with offset compression waves of a good size. 
• Coliseum. The Coliseum has the largest waves on the river and two major holes. It is chaotic with waves, boils, and whirlpools. 

These rapids provide a fun and interesting set of challenges for the P&H Volan 160. Taking the P&H Volan here lets us see how it actually performs in big waves and rough water. It might not be the sea, but these rapids have plenty of waves to test the kayak on!

Paddling a Sea Kayak on Rapids

Sea kayaks, such as the P&H Volan 160, are not designed for use in rapids. When paddling rapids in a sea kayak, you cannot easily correct your line. Once you have set up, that is where you are going! You have to stick with the line you’ve chosen. With even the slightest wrong angle, a sea kayak can spin and be difficult to get back on course. So you have got to set up your line well. This makes taking a sea kayak down rapids a little trickier, but it also makes it so much fun. It can be much more like rafting than whitewater kayaking at times. 

A Side Note on Paddles

One major learning experience that came when paddling the Lorne rapids was actually with the paddle. After hitting one of the big waves, I did a brace stroke and caught the versalock lever of my telescoping paddles, on my skirt. Because of this, all of a sudden my blades were rotating. Both halves of my paddle were loosely connected, with one half in each hand. This is not exactly what you want in the middle of a rapid! 

To solve the problem, I stabilized myself, squared the paddle off to zero, and snapped the clip shut again. But, in the future, when kayaking in big waves and rapids, I will either stick to using a fixed paddle or tape the lever down so it cannot inadvertently pop! 

How Did the P&H Volan Sea Kayak Perform in Big Waves?

Despite not being designed for running rapids, the P&H Volan Sea Kayak 160 took me safely and successfully down the rapids on the Ottawa main channel. The boat took me down more than just successfully, it was also fun. I had a good time! 

The Volan 160 performed exactly as I expected it to. It is a sea kayak so it is not designed to handle all the different currents you get in rapids. It is not supposed to handle like a whitewater kayak, and, unsurprisingly, it doesn’t. 

That said, it is a very maneuverable sea kayak. It has enough rocker to be able to deal with big waves and use the waves to turn. More generally the rocker helps it turn well. 

For the mile or so of flat water between the rapids, I was able to drop the skeg and paddle. The skeg helps the P&H Volan track very well. It tracks like an arrow. 

What Improvements Could There Be on the P&H Volan 160?

One big takeaway from this trip is the outfitting of the boat. The Volan 160 does not have aggressive thigh hooks. There is enough support there for my knees to be able to edge or even roll the kayak. It provides enough to allow you to handle the kayak as needed. However, it could provide more support, allowing for better leg control and making the kayak more comfortable. 

To solve these issues I can contour foam around the knees, giving my leg more to grab onto. For me, it is worth doing this as I intend to carry on using the P&H Volan 160 to run more rapids like these. However, for most people using this boat, people who will not be running big rapids, it is not worth the effort.  

All in all, this was a very enjoyable trip that allowed me to test the P&H Volan Sea Kayak 160 out in big waves. And that test was very successful! Read more about the P&H Volan and the other Best Kayaks and Canoes of 2023.

Kayak: P&H Volan 160
Paddles:  Aqua Bound Manta Ray Hybrid
PFD:  NRS Zen PFD
Clothing:  NRS Short Sleeved Guide Shirt

The post P&H Volan 160 Big Water Test appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Carving Drill

Carving is an important skill for a variety of reasons. It is how you make solid and efficient eddy turns and good ferries. It also unlocks the door to many cool play moves like surfing waves. So it is invaluable for whitewater kayakers to learn to carve instead of letting the boat spin out. 

How To Do the Carving Drill

First, you need to start kayaking and get some speed. Then you will establish turn momentum, put your kayak on edge, and use only forward strokes on the inside of your turn. Doing this keeps the kayak carving in a circle. 

It is only possible to take strokes on the inside of a turn and keep going in the same direction if you do two things. The first thing is to keep the boat balanced on the edge. You do this by balancing on one butt cheek and fine-tuning the tilt using the opposite knee. 

The second thing is to have the correct paddle position. Your paddle has to be vertical when you take a stroke. If the paddle shaft is more horizontal, it will kill your spin momentum. Because the paddle is vertical, you are not relying on it as a brace. It does not provide any balancing support, therefore, you have to rely on your own balance. 

How to Apply Power

Once you become comfortable with that carving drill in both directions (which is important), you need to add power. I was once told that whitewater kayaking is all about technique and not power. There is some truth to that because good technique will take you a long way in the sport, while power alone will take you less far. But, as in any sport, you need good technique, but for that to be useful, you need to be able to apply power. 

So how do you start applying power to the carving drill? Well, you need to get moving and carving again. The next step is to start pulling more aggressively on the paddle. With every stroke, you should thrust your hips forward. When you do this, you involve the whole body, which provides more power. 

Application of the Carving Drill

You might recognize this as the boof stroke. It is the stroke you take when you go off a waterfall and thrust your boat over the lip. When you are boof off a waterfall, you need to hold your boat on edge. The last stroke before you go off the waterfall should be vertical so that you keep your boat straight. Boofing is just one of many applications of this stroke. 

A more common application of the carving drill is in eddy turns. When you approach an eddy and want to cut into the main current, you need to paddle toward the eddy line with some speed. As you cross the eddy line, you should thrust the kayak across the line and into the main current to avoid getting spun. 

Pivot Turns

This drill is intended for kayaks with a slicey stern, so half-slice sterns or playboats. It does not work in a creek boat. 

So what are pivot turns? Pivot turns involve sinking one end of the kayak (usually the stern) under the water to make your kayak spin faster. Pivot turns are important to learn because they allow you to control your kayak's spin momentum. Whitewater kayaks are designed to turn, not to go straight, so you need to learn how to control the spinning momentum a whitewater kayak already has. 

Pivot turns also allow you to harness the power of buoyancy energy. Buoyancy energy is the energy your kayak has any time the end of it is underwater. The end of your kayak does not want to stay underwater instead, it wants to come to the surface. You can use this to your advantage. Pivot turns also teach you edge control. 

A Forward Sweep Pivot Turn

You can practice the pivot turn using a forward sweep and a backward sweep. To do a forward sweep turn, you should sink the stern of the kayak as you take a forward sweep. 

Once the stern has been sunk, it doesn’t want to be underwater so, before the stroke is finished you have to level off the kayak. If you don’t level it off in time, the stern will “hit the wall” and pop back off to the surface. 

If you do level the stern off in time, then it comes back to the surface in the direction you want it to come back in. This keeps your kayak spinning in full circle.

There are some useful things to note when doing a pivot turn. At the beginning of the stroke, you can be the most aggressive at throwing your stern downwards. As your stern goes further underwater, it has more and more buoyancy energy, so you start to lose power.

This is the point where you need to level your angle so that it is completely level by the time you finish your stroke. So you do not go directly from underwater to completely leveled in one go. Instead, you start as aggressively as possible and gradually level it off. 

How to Practice the Pivot Turn

You can practice pivot turns in a variety of different ways. Firstly, you can practice it with a forward sweep, making sure to get comfortable with it on both sides. After all, you won’t only have to edge in one direction. You can also practice it with a back sweep. This is known as a stern squirt. 

You could practice this on eddy lines, but it is better to practice on flat water. When doing pivot turns on flat water, you can see if and when you are doing something wrong. If you don’t level your boat off on time when on flat water, you will “hit the wall”, and lose all of the spin momentum you initiated. 

Backpaddling

Backpaddling is a simple skill that is very important for multiple reasons. 

1. It Develops Backpaddling Awareness

The more backpaddling practice you have, the more you develop your backpaddling awareness. The most likely time to panic is when you are turned backward while on a rapid. And the reason this can feel so scary is that most people have far more awareness when paddling forward than when facing backward. This awareness comes with practice and spending time going backward. 

The biggest jump in my whitewater skills came one summer when a buddy and I decided to spend the entire month doing our regular paddles backward. We ran every rapid backward, caught every wave backward, and did everything we would normally do forwards, but backward instead. We were beaten and battered a few times, but our whitewater skills had improved massively by the end of the month. 

I am not recommending that everyone should try this. But, there are less aggressive ways to practice backpaddling and develop your backpaddling awareness. For instance, when you get a nice eddy line, practice your eddy turns backward, practice your ferries backward, and if you are bold enough, you can even practice rapids backward. 

2. It Works The Front Deltoid Muscles

Backpaddling works the front deltoids. The deltoids are muscles in your chest that you don’t often use when forward paddling. Working these helps to balance the body out when you do a lot of forward paddling. 

Backpaddling Tips

When backpaddling, particularly with a slicey stern, it helps to keep your weight slightly forwards. If you tilt your kayak slightly into each backward stroke, it lifts your stern edges out of the water. 

These are the three drills that all whitewater paddlers should practice regularly and master. Doing these three things regularly will have a profound effect on your whitewater kayaking. 

The Pyranha Ripper 2

In this video I used the Pyranha Ripper 2 half slice whitewater kayak. This boat is a great river running kayak and is fun to play with as well on waves. Check out my review here: The Pyranha Ripper 2 Review: The Best All-Round Whitewater Kayak?

Kayak: Pyranha Ripper 2
PFDs/Life Jackets:  NRS Zen Whitewater Vest
Paddle:  Aqua Bound Shred
Shirt:  NRS Guide Short Sleeved Men’s Shirt
Paddling Shorts:  NRS Benny Board Shorts

The post Key Tips for Whitewater Kayakers appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Pyranha Ripper 2 Review: The Ripper 2 Specifications

The Pyranha Ripper 2 comes in three sizes; small, medium, and large. So, as per usual, I am testing the large version. The specifications are as follows:

Price: $1700 (USD)
Length: 9’ 1”
Width: 26”
Weight: 46 LBS (21 KG)
Capacity: 175-275 LBS (80-125 KG)
Best Use: River running and play

The key features of the Ripper 2 compared to the Ripper 1 include:

• More bow rocker
• Slightly wider hull
• Slicier tail
• Ovalized cockpit for better skirt fit

Comfort

White water kayaks are typically much tighter than other kayaks because you need them to fit like a glove to maximize control. Despite this, I did not need to get out of the Ripper 2 once during my two-hour session to stretch. The seat, the hip pads, and the back band are all very comfortable. There is plenty of room for your feet. The Pyranha Ripper 2 certainly is a comfortable boat.

The outfitting that the Ripper 2 came with includes shims to raise the height of the seat and shims for the hip pads. So I used these to get more leverage in the kayak and fit it to me. The fact that it took a couple of shims for me means there is plenty of butt space in the kayak for people with different body shapes and sizes. 

Even the water bottle holder in the Ripper 2 is excellent. It stopped my water bottle and dry bag from banging around all day. So, overall, I am very impressed with the comfort of the Ripper 2 whitewater kayak. 

Stability

There is not much to say about the stability of the Ripper 2. It is a very stable kayak, much as you would expect from a kayak like this. The Ripper 2 has great secondary stability when you put the kayak on edge. It sits there comfortably and makes river running and surfing an absolute pleasure. 

Performance

This kayak is designed to perform well as a river runner and as a play boat.

River Running

The Pyranha Ripper 2 was awesome for river running. When I tested the Ripper 1 last year, I liked it. However, I was not blown away by it. So, when they released the Ripper 2, which had several changes from the Ripper 1, I was hoping it would be the type of boat I love. And this is precisely what happened. 

So what are the changes that have, in my opinion, improved the Ripper 2? Extra rocker in the front of the kayak makes a difference. In the Ripper 2, it is easy to keep the nose above waves and boof over holes. Combine that with a very slicey stern and you can get the nose up aggressively. 

The stern is very slicey. I love having a high-performance, slicey stern because I am used to it. However, if you are not used to a slicey stern, then you need to make sure that you are either in a kayak that is a size up, or at least plenty big enough for you. Otherwise, the stern edges can catch you. 

Playboating

The Pyranha Ripper 2 exceeded my expectations for a couple of reasons: the extra rocker and the slicey stern. With these, I can cut the bow back under the foam pile when necessary. A lot of the time in half-slice kayaks the stern is not slicey enough to be able to force it underwater and cut back in the other direction. However, with the Pyranha Ripper 2, you can do exactly thar. 

The slicey stern was great for surfing waves. It was well-balanced and easy to spin around in circles. It was, as promised, just a fun, all-round whitewater kayak. 

Who is The Pyranha Ripper 2 For?

This is a kayak for someone who wants a river runner that they can play with. It is my style of kayak. I will be using this specific kayak a lot more in the future because I enjoyed it so much. 

When using a kayak with a slicey stern like this, you do have to be mindful of catching your edges. A more bulbous stern will be more forgiving. So the Pyranha Ripper 2 is not as forgiving as some whitewater kayaks. If you can manage that and want to give up some forgiveness for increased playability, this is a kayak for you to consider. 

Quality whitewater kayaks cost between $1600-1800 these days, so the value, at $1700, isn’t a big consideration. It costs exactly the amount you would expect for a kayak like this. 

The Pyranha Ripper 2 is, in my opinion, a real upgrade from the Ripper 1. It is a fun, all-around whitewater kayak. 

Kayak: Pyranha Ripper 2
PFDs/Life Jackets:  NRS Zen Whitewater Vest
Paddle:  Aqua Bound Shred
Shirt:  NRS Guide Short Sleeved Men’s Shirt
Paddling Shorts:  NRS Benny Board Shorts

The post The Pyranha Ripper 2 Review: The Best All-Round Whitewater Kayak? appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Pyranha Scorch X Specifications

Price: $1800 (USD)
Length: 10’
Width: 25.5”
Weight: 54 LBS (45.5 KG)
Capacity: 250 LBS (115 KG)
Best Use: River running

The key features of the Pyranha Scorch X include:

• Full-sized grab handles
• A cut-off stern edge
• Tapered stern volume
• Stern kick rocker
• Sharp, full-length rails

This is a typical Pyranha kayak which means that it is solidly built. Everything from the grab handles to the outfitting is solid. 

Comfort

The Pyranha Scorch X is a comfortable boat. I was in it for a few hours and did not have any need to get out. I love the outfitting that comes with Pyranha kayaks. 

The seat, thigh hooks, back band, and ratchet system make the Scorch X a very comfortable kayak. It comes with an outfitting kit, including foam, that allows you to raise the height of the seat if you feel you are too low in the boat. With a higher center of gravity, you can get more leverage on the water. 

The hip pads come with shims which allow you to shape the boat to fit you perfectly. There is a bulkhead in the bow of the kayak giving you a big platform to rest your feet on. You can even put a pad on the bulkhead to make it more comfortable. All-in-all, comfort wise I loved the Scorch X. 

Something to note is that the Scorch X only comes in one size. This fits like the Scorch medium. While I typically use large kayaks, the Scorch X fits me well. It is spacious enough that even paddlers who are slightly larger than me could find it comfortable too!

Another thing to mention when talking about comfort is the comfort of carrying the Pyranha Scorch X. It is not a light kayak, but it balances well on the shoulder which makes it a comfortable kayak to carry. 

Stability

Stability is where the Scorch X shines. It is such a stable platform which is surprising given that the Scorch X is no wider than any other whitewater kayak. However, the feeling of stability and confidence you get in this kayak is remarkable, especially when you put it on edge. It is a very confidence-inspiring kayak to paddle. 

Performance 

The Pyranha Scorch X is a ten-foot-long kayak. That makes it longer and therefore a little faster than most whitewater kayaks. But that extra speed is balanced by the fact that it has lots of rocker (the curvature from bow to stern). Kayaks with lots of rocker lose some speed but gain other benefits when river running. 

“Creek-ability”

When river running, because of the rocker and speed of the kayak, you can skip holes and launch off of waves. Keeping the nose of this kayak up is not a challenge at all. It is a boof machine and boofs really well! 

The Scorch X is so stable and forgiving. It is ready to run a path and flow through the creek, all you need to do is be ready to brace. So it gets top marks for “creek-ability”. 

Playboating

The playboater in me loves having a slicey stern. But that is not what the Scorch X is about. The stern is not something you can sink. This is the type of boat you take paddling in places where you don’t want it to sink. You are not getting it to playboat.

But while the Scorch X is a river runner and not a playboat, you are going to want to surf a wave whilst out on the river. So how does it fare on waves? 

Well, it is not a fast surfer because it has so much rocker. But it does catch a lot of waves. That being said, because of the big volume stern, it is impossible to cut the stern under, so once it starts getting taken, you will fall off the wave. It is not a high-performance surf machine in any way, but it was fun! 

In a Hole

The Pyranha Scorch X is a boat that is designed to skip over holes and not for you to play in them. That is apparent immediately because when I started side-surfing the Scorch X it was tough to move around. The biggest reason for that is the rocker. When you are on edge, a lot of your boat is in contact with the water. This means that all the water running downstream is hitting a huge area of your kayak and is catching both ends which makes for a bucking and wild ride. 

This is not a kayak to play in holes with. It is designed to skip over holes and it does a great job doing so. 

Who is the Pyranha Scorch X For?

The Scorch X is suitable for anyone from beginners to expert paddlers. Anyone can jump in this boat and feel comfortable and confident. So it comes down to the type of paddling you want to use it for. 

This is a boat designed for lower-volume river running and creek boating. It is not a specialist in big volume and is not a playboat. It is however great for any level of kayaker because it is such a confidence-inspiring and forgiving kayak. 

Value

The Scorch X is $1800 (USD) which is more expensive than some other whitewater kayaks. But most whitewater kayaks made of similar materials are in the range of $1600-1900 (USD). So the price is by no means unexpected or outrageous. When purchasing a Pyranha kayak you know that this kayak is solid and they did not skimp anywhere. The outfitting, the ratchet, the safety handles, and even the water bottle holder are quality and solid. So all in all this is a great boat with great value!

Kayak: Pyranha Scorch X
PFDs/Life Jackets:  NRS Zen Whitewater Vest
Paddle:  Aqua Bound Shred
Paddling Top: NRS Flux Dry Top
Shirt:  NRS Guide Short Sleeved Men’s Shirt
Paddling Shorts:  NRS Benny Board Shorts

The post Pyranha Scorch X Review: The Most Forgiving White Water Kayak Ever appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Types of Kayaks

When you are choosing a kayak there are three big choices you have to make. Do you want a portable or hard-shell kayak? Would you rather use a sit-in or sit-on-top kayak? Do you want a paddle or a pedal-driven kayak? 

Once you’ve narrowed down the options you need to decide if you want a recreational kayak, a touring kayak, or a sea kayak. While this blog post is all about touring kayaks, let’s break down the basics of the different kayak categories of kayak that exist.

Two big factors help determine what type of kayak you are looking at, and that is length and width. The longer and narrower a kayak is, the more effectively it will travel through the water.

Recreational Kayaks

These are kayaks that prioritize stability. This comes at the cost of speed and performance. Recreational kayaks are usually between 9’-12’ long. These kayaks are the widest kayaks available at around 30+” wide. This also means that they are the slowest because they are pushing the most water and therefore create the most resistance. 

Sea Kayaks

These prioritize performance. They travel as quickly and efficiently through the water as possible. Sea Kayaks are usually between 14’-18’ long and about 22”-24” wide. While these were originally designed to be used on the sea, they can be great on lakes, rivers, and ponds too. They are not exclusive to the ocean. 

Touring Kayaks

Touring kayaks fit in the middle of these two categories. They provide a great balance of stability and performance. They are kayaks that are still relatively stable but are also fun to paddle. Touring kayaks are usually between 12’-16’ long and 24”-30” wide. 

Which Different Touring Kayaks Are Available?

There are many different names for touring kayaks. But I typically categorize touring kayaks into three different groups:

• Recreational touring kayaks
• Touring Kayaks
• Performance Touring kayaks

The Recreational Touring Kayak

This kayak is in a class of its own. It is a kayak that is not designed for rough water but is designed to be a fun and efficient kayak to paddle in calm water. It gives up some stability for the “fun factor”. Recreational touring kayaks tend to be a little wider at around 26”-30”. 

You should not take a recreational touring kayak into rough water for a number of reasons. They tend to have big cockpits so that the kayaker doesn’t feel confined. This means that they can not take a kayak skirt. They also often only have one bulkhead in the back. A bulkhead is a wall in the kayak that separates it into different sections. These are important in rough conditions because without them a lot more of the kayak can fill with water if you flip. 

Recreational touring kayaks are also not designed to be rolled. So if you ever want to learn to roll then these are not the right kayaks for you. 

A great example of a recreational touring kayak is the Liquid Logic Saluda. 

Touring Kayaks

The basic touring kayak is a kayak for use in all conditions. They have two bulkheads, one behind the seat, and one just in front of your feet. So if you do flip it is only the center cockpit area that gets swamped. This makes rescues much easier. They also tend to have smaller cockpits that are designed to take spray skirts. You can roll a touring kayak. 

Touring kayaks tend to be a little narrower than recreational touring kayaks with a width of between 25” and 27” inches. 

A great example of a touring kayak would be the Pakayak BlueFin 142 which is 14’ and designed to handle both rough and calm water. It's an all-round and do anything touring kayak. 

Performance Touring Kayak

Performance touring kayaks are the next step up. And truthfully performance touring kayaks and sea touring kayaks are very similar. I tend to use the term interchangeably. 

Perfomance touring kayaks can perform well in any conditions. They travel very efficiently through the water and allow you to travel long distances with ease. 

How are they high-performance? Well, they have the same size cockpit as touring kayaks, they are designed to be used with a skirt and tend to have more conforming seats.

Performance touring kayaks are designed to be as rollable as possible. Usually, you can customize the hip and thigh hooks so you can get support in the right places. This helps with edging and rolling the kayak. 

They also have low back decks to make it easier to roll. 

Performance touring kayaks tend to be narrower, longer, and faster, in general just higher performance. But they do give up a lot of stability for that. Some of them can even feel a little tippy. 

To use performance kayaks safely in all conditions you need to have a guide with you or prior training. This is particularly the case if you are going to be traveling further from shore than you can swim. 

A good example of a performing kayak is the P&H Volan. It is a carbon Kevlar kayak that is a work of art! 

Who Are Touring Kayaks For?

To sum it all up the big question is, who are touring kayaks for?

Recreational Touring Kayaks

These are really for anyone who wants a kayak that will be fun to paddle. They need to be willing to give up some stability for a kayak that will travel through the water a little faster. But they will need to stick to calm conditions. 

Touring and Performance Touring Kayaks

Performance and touring kayaks can be used by anyone from novices to experts. These can be used in calm conditions by anyone looking to paddle a kayak that moves efficiently through the water. 

These kayaks also open the door to rougher water paddling, learning how to roll, and playing around in ocean surf. They allow you to enjoy a wide variety of calm and rough conditions and different paddling activities. But many of these activities will require training. 

The further you go down the road with performance touring kayaks the more opportunities you will have to push your limits and have fun. 

Find Your Kayak

There is a kayak out there for everyone: for each individual body size and shape and for every reason that someone might want to go paddling. Once you find the right boat for you it's amazing how much fun you can have on the water. 

Kayaks: Pakayak Bluefin 142, Wilderness Systems Pungo, Liquid Logic Saluda, Melker Rodloga, P&H Volan 160, P&H Leo
Paddles:  Aqua Bound Manta Ray Hybrid
PFD:   NRS Odyssey PFD (Touring and Rec)
Clothing:  NRS Short Sleeved Guide Shirt
Sunglasses: Wiley X

The post Choosing a Touring Kayak appeared first on Hazeadventure.