Creek Boat Breakdown 2023, Aqua Bound Paddles, Russell Fork Race "With Matt Wallin" 

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collie/dog video bomb the best. i’m guessing this was a fan fav without reading comments.

Jk bulkheads don’t break away, they flex forwards (rope goes to pillar and back to bow through the foam.. wall compression = shock absorption). They return to the normal position after impact so you can finish the rapid. Just FYI.

I got to take the flow down my Upper Gauley pfd, and I’m sure you guys know how intimidating that day can be. That boat was incredible. I was easily where I wanted to be 90% of the day. When I wasn’t, it took care of me. It wants to wave boof everything. Punches holes like nobodies business. Super tight and comfy sitting in it. Soon as I can pick one up I intend to. I’m a smaller guy too and sizing can get funky with creek boats, this one was perfect for me.

39:05 lol, that's me with the rewind. Best boat ever made.

Really enjoyed that. Great review.

good stuff as always!

@wadeHarrison … Had my heart set on a Scorch then the Flow swept onto the scene. Any chance on a vid comparing the two for intermediate river running and creek?

awesome show as always. i listen to these podcasts while i make and sew camping and kayaking gear. love hearing the opinions you and matt have to share.

Love this podcast, your just great!! The paddle section was super interesting too.. could you maybe consider to do a whole podcast on paddles?

I’m definitely in the market for a second creek boat so this is VERY Helpful!!! Thanks for doing a great job!🤘🏼

Really enjoyed the conversation, thanks for sharing your expertise amd opinions with us.

This review is so cool and comprehensive. It gives me confidence that where I am currently in skill, and where I want to begin to progress, I have chosen the right boat. Too, this review and discussion gives me an idea of where to target for future paddling. Thanks so much to both of you for the time and efforts put into this review! I continue to look forward to your upcoming discussions!

I just purchased a Soul Hammer and splurged on the $400 accident protection, in fact, it is the reason I bought my first new boat ever. I spoke with Corran a good bit on the phone about the accident protection program and basically for the first 5 years, if anything, and I do really mean anything, happens to the boat, Soul will replace it. If I want another soul boat - the program is $200, if I want to put my replacement boat on the same warranty program, its $200. Because of this I purchased a superlight version, which comes in right at 40lbs with float bags and a (dry) rope in it, which is amazingly fun to paddle and super easy to shoulder. The best part is the freeing feeling of "sure lets try it" and "why not boof the sharp rock" and "why not take it down my local run 50% below recommended run level" and knowing I can let any person who asks what my boat is paddle it without concern of what they will do to it. The plastic, especially on the superlight, is thin and flexible, but does not seem to have picked up too many scratches in my first weekend of abuse. It seems to have a pretty low level of friction, which was noticable in comparison to my ripper when taking it off the rock launch on the nantahala. The outfitting, for me, is comfortable and adjustable, but needed some extra foam in the knees and a bunch by my feet to pad out the bulkhead adjustment system. I am not a serious creeker, but if I were, I dont think the outfitting on the hammer would be enough for me to feel safe in comparison to my scorch, which has a rotomolded seat with foam around it suspended off the bottom of the boat vs the hammer with a simple wide plastic under-tray and simple foam seat insert. For the paddling I do, im happy to trade the safety for weight, as that is one of the defining characteristics of the boat. The hull is skippy, and rolled right over everything ive shoved it into so far and it boofs easily - maybe not the big phototastic boofs the scorch gives you, but its plenty enough boof to get you through what you needed to get over. The initial stability is impressive, but the secondary is WILD. I have found myself recently pulling into eddys with so much edge that my elbow is in the water, which gives me SO MUCH power on that side if I need to pull further in, or turn upstream. The edges go full length, which makes entering a wave a little weird compared to the ripper and scorch (my previous baes) as you need to be much more on your downstream edge when you pull out of the eddy or you will be pulling out into the current at mach jesus. It rolls slow and with finesse - if you try to roll it too fast or with too much snappy effort, it doesnt like it. If you really put your head down and slow the cadence down just a tad, it rolls with almost no effort. Id consider myself an intermediate boater, and at my skill level and with my style of paddling, the hammer is the most fun thing I have ever paddled. Im not one to squirt and splat my way down the river, but I do love to surf and catch eddys wherever I can, and this boat does all of that wonderfully. Between the weight, skippy hull, and care-free feeling of the accident replacement program in my head it really brings a smile to my face like no other boat has. Is it perfect? no. It quite literally took me 3 uses and some videos to figure out how to get in and out of the boat without bruising my legs, and the outfitting is sparse, lending itself to customization vs adjustment but it is going to be a super fun daily driver and be a great way to see new places without having to think too hard about which boat to bring

Fantastic review.

I like that you mentioned plastic durability because that's a huge factor for me with a creek boat. I've cracked many alphas and agree on their plastic. Gotta mention though that they have a great warranty and are very easy to deal with!

It's always a pleasure to watch your videos 🤘 ty

Oh man, driving to BV now to do a swap from a Rewind to a Gnar, adding to my quiver. Now, I’m about to put the Gnar up for sale on Marketplace and looking at picking up a Flow 😂

Hvala.

Curious how you would fit in the OG in big water and creeking categories?

Where dose the Jackson Flow sit the low volume creeking.

Boats I would’ve loved to see in this even though I know this was all about new production boats: phantom, alpha, zen2, zett boats, OG, nirvana, burn3, nomad, 9r, 9r2, machno

This is awesome. Will you do one for half slices?

Shocked to hear about LL's plastic - I've had my Remix for years and never a crack. Would be great and helpful to actually see your lists for each category.

I live with 3 other paddlers. Currently in the garage: medium code, small code, small scorch, medium rewind, medium AntiX2, small ripper2, firecracker 232, xs rockstar, small rockstar 5, medium rockstar 4, medium dagger gt, Jackson sidekick and a small pyranha ammo. I’ve reserved a flow to try this Sunday on the dryway. I’m waiting for Jackson to release the specs of the small flow before ordering though.

New Shuttle Drive episode, woop woop!!

So I hit Matt up about bolts in dagger boats and he said the same thing on here that he told me that they always come loose. So I’m just wondering if getting different bolts out there somewhere that would be a better fit as an option or possibly adding some loctite to keep them from getting loose.

I want to hear your opinion on the Ripper 2. You guys haven’t talked about it yet. Thanks!

I'm looking for a short fun creeker. Not realy big water guy anymore. (Getting old) but fun easy class 4. Want something that is highly maneuverable yet small and lite for packing around. Im 180+- pounds @ 5'9''. Any suggestions? I currently have a Jackson Karma Med. 2013. Shes getting old and starting to oil can. And its hella heavy.

I have paddled most of the boats on your list except the Zets and Hammer but I have paddled the Zion and DRX. I have only paddled the large boats as I tend not to fit in mediums and I have no chance in smalls. I get your reasons for your order but have a different view on one boat in particular. I really don’t like the code and would not use it on any water. It is a very popular boat in the UK. I had a similar view of the last Nomad in large. I am wondering if Dagger don’t do good large Creek boats (for me). I agree with what you said about all of the others being good boats. I still have a Flying Squirrel which I bring out every now and again and enjoy it but it shows just how good modern boats have become. For now, I find the Scorch as the best all round creek boat to fit with the way I like to paddle.

So…. Do you guys discuss ease of rolling in your boat analysis? I think there’s a noticeable difference with this in boats, particularly as relates to width. The OG, for example, seemed like it gave some folks some difficulty in this area. I know there’s an argument that if your roll is solid you can roll any boat, but I think it’s not necessarily the case for the average paddler.

Great podcast guys! Hope y’all are getting $$$!!!!commercials are butting in every 2 mins🤠

When you are talking kayak models it help if you also mentioned the brand. I know most of the models from pyranha, jackson and dagger. But once you start talking about some of the other models I have no idea which brand you are talking about. Overall a great pod cast.

Interesting that you put Waka plastic #1. They’re not cracking anymore, but I’m sure you’ve noticed they lose their shape over time. Every OG I see is round as a nomad.

I have to ask, what is the weight of Matt, because I thought the ninja needed a minimum weight to deliver all his potential, and if Matt struggle with other boats on weight range, maybe he his like me, a little light for most of boat. Anyway, my question is, what is matt weight and what do you think is the best weight range for the Ninja.

Curious, Since Prijon makes such awesome plastic, Does anyone know why they don’t make a competitive Creek boat?

Very comprehensive, qualified comments and recommendations. Good to hear how much you like the Flow, redeeming the controversial Gnar.

Yikes! So little love for the best creeker in my opinion (and for my size and preferences). #GnarvanaForTheWin #CodeIsSecond The video still gets you guys a thumbs up for tackling so many relevant topics around these boats.

You forgot the WS Phoenix

I like Jackson outfitting, but the flat, uncontoured hip pads are pretty useless.