Dagger Axiom 8.5 Review
--Product Information--
Product Name: Axiom 8.5
Product Brand: Dagger
Best Use: River Running and
Surfing Sizes Available / Specs: Available in 6.9 (39gal), 8.0 (51 gal), 8.5 (63gal), 9.0 (78 gal). They also come in fun colors including red, "storm," and "solar."
--Test Information--
Location of Test: Wind River
Duration: A few hours
--Ratings--
Value Rating: 9
Durability Rating: 9
Overall Rating: 10
Full Review: This week, I had the opportunity to take our new shop demo Axiom 8.5 on the Upper Wind River in WA. The first thing that I noticed about this boat was its incredible speed, which makes it fantastic for higher-volume rivers like the Wind. Not only is the Axiom speedy, its edges and planing hull allow it to snap in and out of eddies and carve turns easily. In addition to the boat's crisp handling, it was a blast to surf (it caught waves on the fly very well!), and stern squirt in the abundant swirly eddy lines on the Wind.
The Good List: Very fun boat to paddle! Unique design allows for crisp handling and speedy lines.
The Not so Good List: I found that this boat put my hips and knees at an unusual angle making it a little uncomfortable at first. However the boat was so fun to paddle that I didn't notice any discomfort from the outfitting-- definitely not a deal breaker.
The Bottom Line: I would recommend this boat to new and experienced paddlers. It's crisp edges, plaining hull, and low profile stern make the Axiom fun to paddle for all skill levels, and would be a great learning boat for beginners!
Jordan with the Dagger Axiom