--Product Information--
Product Name: Mamba 8.6 and 8.1 Pro Creeker
Product Brand: Dagger
Best Use: Whitewater kayaking, River running, & creeking
Sizes Available / Specs: 7.6, 8.1, & 8.6

--Test Information--
Location of Test: Oregon and Washington
Duration: 1 year ongoing

--Ratings--
Value Rating: 10
Durability Rating: 10
Overall Rating: 10

Full Review: The Mamba, or 'der mamber' as we affectionately call it here at the shop, has quickly become one of my favorite boats to paddle. Powerful, predictable, and fast, the mamba treats beginning paddlers and pros alike with its responsiveness and forgiving style. With easy to engage edges, it holds a line with ease taking you up, over, and through river features or off drops. The added volume in both the 8.1 and 8.6 increase its resurfacing potential on the river and allow you to carry momentum through even the toughest drops.

This is a great boat to introduce new paddlers to kayaking given its relative ease of use. It is incredibly stable and its rails allow for some creative play with edging even for the novice paddler. This boat goes where you want it and holds the edge you need to take you there.

The 8.6 will feel large for most paddlers but that size and volume will be appreciated on big water runs or in the steeps where resurfacing ability and good rocker go far. I paddle the 8.1 as a general fun boat/my play boat . Der Mamber will be the next boat in my quiver. It is one of the 'do everything' kayaks on the market today.

"The Good" List: Volume, rails and edging ability, speed, and outfitting.

"The Not so Good List": If it was made of Prijon plastic I'd never buy another kayak again.

The Bottom Line: Excellent boat for instructors and students alike. Goes hard in the paint.