”Axiom” is defined as a statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true. The name for this kayak series, Dagger Axiom Whitewater Kayak, was not randomly chosen, it suits them perfectly since this new boat design was inspired by the great designs preceding it and its roots are the classical lineage of whitewater kayaks.
Over the last almost two decades, Dagger RPM was the most solid whitewater boat out there, being also the most popular. Dagger Axiom Whitewater Kayak is an attempt from the Dagger designers to revive the legendary appeal of the RPM, adding some noticeable new features, making it a boat that you can play, race, creek, and, mostly, have fun in it. A kayak that you can quite literally do anything in.
No doubt, Axiom has been designed with RPM in mind, and Dagger’s designers make no secret about the influence RPM had over the updated Axiom kayaks. Still, Axiom kayaks are slicey boats and slicey boats are not for every paddler or any situation, but if you are a beginner or even an advanced paddler that does not necessarily want to crush limits, there are a lot of reasons to take them into consideration.
Design and versatility
Dagger designers intended to bring new life into the classic river cruising style that RPM was famous about, adding something equally popular, but up to date. Actually, the Dagger designers turned something good into something better, making a kayak for any paddler wanting a more all-around boat with better maneuverability and a more suitable sized platform. The result is a ”river cruiser” that sits between two of the Dagger series: the river running Mamba and the Agent Playboat, a boat that paddles like a river runner and surfs like a playboat.
Some design cues were taken from the Mamba series, but it is definitely slimmer than most river runners, the major volume loss being in the stern, the tapered stern also giving the Axiom kayaks their play potential, the designer focus being on surfing and wave moves over more vertical and moves in holes. The fast planing hull and continuous rocker profile, very similar to those of RPM series, help the paddler catch and surf even slow and shallow waters with no effort, making the adventure fully enjoyable.
Family-friendly
Although their designers admitted they target a slightly older generation of paddlers, still, Dagger Axiom comes in 4 different sizes, in order to suit both parents and children. The idea behind it is a generous one: to get more families on the water together.
Comfort
Dagger Axiom Whitewater Kayak may not be the most comfortable boat în the world, but for its size, it is more comfortable than lots of boats with larger volume and can host a large variety of paddlers. As the name suggests, Axiom was built în order to stay în control no matter what kind of whitewater you are paddling through.
Maneuverability
Axiom kayaks have a greatly superior length over other river playboats, making daring moves more of a challenge. It paddles well în bigger water situations where rapid acceleration around holes and surface features is important, making Dagger Axiom Whitewater Kayak a perfect choice for extreme racers. Thus, if you find yourself being one of those enthusiasts, this is definitely the kayak for you.
Slicey boat
A special feature of Dagger Axiom kayaks is that they are slicey boats. Slicey boats are the choice of many advanced paddlers looking for more fun, actually, because they usually require skills, not strength, and as an advanced paddler you might wanna prove to yourself that you have them all. It is easy to steer or turn a slicey boat, once you are experienced, actually all things tend to become easier once you control the process. Still, a lot of things are harder, in the sense that they require a better technique and timing, not more muscle and effort, and overcoming difficulties is a challenge that most experienced paddlers need în order to maintain their confidence.
Dagger Axiom Specs:
- Length: 6ft 9in/ 8ft/ 8ft 6in/ 9ft
- Width: 22.5in / 24.5in / 25.5in / 28in
- Volume: 39/ 51/ 63/78 U.S. GAL
- Weight: 25/ 34.5/ 42/ 45 LBS
- Paddler: 65–120 / 90–150 / 130–210 / 180–265 LBS
Conclusion
Dagger Axiom Whitewater Kayak follows the steps of the legendary RPM, adding a touch of modernity that makes it unique. Its edges give it precise control and the dynamic stern is the perfect connection between old and new. It is more than suited for surf, ferry, and paddling. It proved to be the best kayak for learning basics, maintaining current skill sets, and developing advanced ones. Axiom is a stable river-running kayak, keeping similar comfort on steep creeks, big water waves, and everything in between, with a craving for play.
