Kayaking Catoctin Creek: 2.0ft - Dagger Axis 12.0 

Thank you very much Roberto, that is especially rewarding to hear as this was the first kayaking video that I ever made, and with starting from scratch and learning as I go.

Now this is the review of the year, so well said SkunkWerX, I completely agree and just learned quite a bit! The first time I took this out on a whitewater trip, on the North Branch of the Potomac River, a local friend of mine had his Dagger Green Boat, and next to the Axis they looked so much a like in ways...and my friend asked me why I brought a recreational boat, and I said, it's not, it's the best crossover that I know of, and shreds breaking waves like a boss, haha. Over time I have come to learn, as from my how my friend point it out to me from its hull and shape that it is could be classed into the recreational category, but a deluxe one at that, totally outperforming all other rec boats when it comes to rocking and rolling through the class III wave trains. The Pungo 120 takes the prize when it comes to tracking and touring trips, but like you've said and what I found out during a test drive, it better only be long stretches of flat water with no immediate turns required, otherwise, the Axis will quickly catch up when there are features involved, say like from Dam No. 3 to Weverton Cliffs on the Potomac, especially during the typical summer levels, and higher water when the waves really come at you, and at differing angles. The Pungo would excel from Dargan Bend to Dam 3, but may have some difficulty in dealing with the sizable wake from some of the boats, and turning direction to brace for the wakes. I know that the Pungo would have lasting on the North Branch of the Potomac, where the Axis performed like a true champ, where I even kept up to my friend's Greet Boat, and gracefully charged through Robin's Nest and Top of the World...and the same for the Maryland side of Little Falls too! I've even raced and kept up with a Liquid Logic Stinger, and mustered all I could I just couldn't keep up to speed with the Pyranha 12R and the Dagger Green Boat in the Seneca Showdown, which is 90% flatwater. The Little D on the Monocacy was a very fun race, with the largest variety of kayaks and canoes that I have ever seen...like with being at a classic car show. Do you kayak around Harpers, Ferry, WV or along the Potomac River? Very cool to hear just how much of a noticeable difference that skeg makes and that you've kayaked out there on the mighty Chesapeake Bay! Two of my other videos of the Axis in action that might interest you: - "Kayaking the North Branch of the Potomac River: Barnum, WV - Bloomington, MD (4.29ft./970cfs)" - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_MPhGIzloqY.html - American Whitewater: www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/2430/main - "Potomac River: Kayaking Little Falls (MD Side), Z-Channel, Midway Waves, & Beaver Slide at 3.0ft." - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-i5JS8pAMPIY.html - American Whitewater: www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/90/main

@@PotomacPassageOolikhanna I've kayaked tidal Potomac, nothing up river. I live 5-10 mins from Rocky Gorge Reservoir, and 15 mins to Triadelphia, so, those are our easy Go To spots. *Take your Dagger Axis to Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis. Kayak Wheels are helpful to get you down the paved path to the boat house area. You will put in just a few strokes out to the South River. From there, go Left to the mouth of the South River, it really opens up wide there at the Bay, or, go Right, to go up river, where there will be less chop, if it's one of those days. Along either bank of the river you can tour the tributaries with the nice homes along the water. The South River can have a lot of boat traffic on weekends, but on week days it's not that busy. The Axis handles modest chop very well, cuts right through it. I haven't been out there with white caps (yet) :) I better get a spray skirt before trying that. If i lived over there, along the Bay, I'd be tempted to get a Stratos 145.

​@@PicMartSkunkWerX Thank you very much for the recommendations, and for telling me how the Axis handles on the Chesapeake waters, that is all really neat to hear! I've thought about putting in down at Sandy Point State Park, and also at Point Lookout State Park, where the Potomac enters the Chesapeake (as I'm sure you know) and wondered how they would handle and cruise, thinking just like you said, how the modest chop would make for no problems and easy slicing. That is great to hear about the Quiet Waters Park option too, likely would not have come across that one if not for you. The mouth of the South River sounds like a beautiful and peaceful sight! I've boated before from the Severn River into the Chesapeake, down to Annapolis Harbor and out to St. Michael's Island, and boat traffic you are right, sure gets crowded out that way, and such gorgeous scenery by the Bay Bridge and the homes on the cliffs nearby the Severn River close to the Naval Academy. I have two sprayskirts, both by Seals, which is the brand that I use for all of my whitewater kayaking too. The Inlander model (2.2 sizing) is made of nylon which I use for most of my trips, but pools water even from modest splashes, but overall is great for leisurely conditions without big splashes. I recently got the full neoprene Pro Shocker (2.2 sizing) model for whitewater, mainly so that I won't have as much pooling and sliding down of the sprayskirt, with how the Inlander has a pull chord, whereas the Pro Shocker has the traditional snug to your body neoprene fit. With the cockpit being so large, the Pro Shocker option will best best for me in the class III action, having me to take on less water and feel more attached to my kayak from the tight fit. The Inlander model should be great for the Chesapeake, up to moderate choppiness. I so agree and am right there with you about the Stratos if the Chesapeake and nearby tidal/estuaries waters of the Eastern Shore and Ocean City were home stretch of water. The Stratos looks just right for the South River and all along the Chesapeake, right up there with the sea kayaks, and in my opinion a level up from the Wilderness Systems Pungo for those kinds of varied and rapidly changing conditions.

Hi Shorty AKA Lestat1973, I'm glad you reached out, because I was in that exact same situation as you a few years ago, and looked all over for as many reviews and comparisons as I could find. At first I was leaning on the Pungo 120, particularly from its reputation and advertising video, but ultimately I could not be any happier with choosing the Axis 12.0, and for my purposes would have regretted the Pungo 120, though for people who want 100% flat water the Pungo 120 is a superb pick. From my impressions anyone who is even thinking of running even small class II whitewater will be much happier with the Axis 12.0. To start, I'm used to WaveSport's outfitting, which has been referenced as the Cadillac of all kayak outfitting, it's top notch comfort. So, when I took the Axis 12.0 out for the first time, I have to say I was't satisfied, however I don't think I would have felt quite that way if I hadn't been used to WaveSport's Core WhiteOut outfitting. My back did feel strain after a few miles of flat and moving water, but for a shorter trip I good, not totally comfortable, but alright. Adjusting the foot-braces (the two sliding pegs) helped me to feel more comfortable though, when having a tighter fit that would lock my thighs into the thigh pads. I bought a Harmony float bag that fills up all of the space from the foot-braces to the end of the bow. My personal recommendation for the seat, is to purchase the Jackson Sweet Cheeks 200 (more cushion than the 100), which I did and still have to install. I read as many reviews as I could, and became convinced that the Sweet Cheeks would add that "Cadillac feel" kind of comfort. Bobby from Colorado Kayak (CKS Online) is an excellent and super helpful resource to talk to about it, and the reviews on his site were of great help to me. I am also considering the Seals Pro Shocker Sprayskirt (size 2.2) as well, as right now I have a Seals nylon sprayskirt for the Axis 12.0 and now that I've grown into bigger water with the Axis (primarily from my skill development in my WaveSport kayaks) I feel a big wave would implode the nylon skirt, which is more comfortable during the summer and does have a tendency for the splash and drip water from the paddle to pool in the center. For either skirt for larger class III waves I'm considering the Jackson Happy Seat/Thruster Combo to prevent the sprayskirt from imploding from the really big waves. Although I would recommend the Jackson Happy Seat in addition to the Sweet Cheeks for the most superior comfort in the Axis 12.0 and the Pungo 120. Many reviewers of the Happy Seat attest to the added comfort and control of having their legs both lifted and rest on the Happy Seat (which I bought for my WaveSport and need to install). Just be careful that the Happy Seat does not hinder you in getting out of the either kayak if you were to flip over (which from my impression would take a large wave or hole for an intermediate kayaker), which has been a concern for some playboaters (who use the smallest whitewater kayaks, called playboats). The thigh braces can also be upgraded to moderate whitewater thigh braces (made by Harmony). For to decide on which one of the two, I recommend what worked for me, as the most objective way to give the best opinion. I was pretty conflicted, like when deciding on which kind of whitewater kayak would be best for me when I first started (which was a creeker). I ended up going to test drive them, and that is what did me in in knowing that the Axis 12.0 by far, would be the most crossover kayak for me. I tried out the Axis 10.5, Pungo 120, Pungo Aspire 105, and the Dagger Zydeco kayaks at a local outfitter called River & Trail Outfitters. It costed $35.00, and was worth it in giving me the peace of mind I needed and not having any regrets in going with the Dagger Axis. They didn't have the Axis 12.0 in stock, but I knew from the 10.5 model that I would be even more content with the 12.0, with its increased speed and greater ability in shedding breaking waves. I found the Pungo 120 to be less responsive when in comes to maneuvering and having rocker. Initiating turns reminded me of the scene from Titanic when the crew is trying painstakingly doing all they can to turn the Titanic away from colliding with the iceberg (especially when the pistons came to a halt to reverse direction). I only say that because my first thought when trying to initiate a turn was that it was like trying to turn a ship; it just takes a few seconds of ahead of time planning to turn and from my experience turned very slow compared to the Axis 12.0 - which is not a fast turner, but does turn fast for its size, making it just right for quicker but not sudden turns in solid class II and III rapids. I didn't notice it until I was in it, but the cockpit in the Pungo 120 just felt completely oversized for me (although I'm used to tighter cockpits from whitewater kayaks) and took in so much water from waves that splashed over the bow, which was not an issue at all with the Axis because its rocker sheds so much of the splash, like a ship at sea, and the cockpit is just the right size, taking in less water from the big splashes. In front of the cockpit are some handy bungie cords to secure items for quick retrieval if needed. What kind of water are you planning on going out in? Please let me know if you have any specific questions, glad to be of help however I can with coming from exactly where you're at. I plan on capturing some videos of high water the next chance I get so that you can really see the Axis 12.0 lock into action in some solid rapids. Check out my other video of the Axis in my first time out on the Potomac River, in pushy water, where I was less experienced - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wgWFTvU7590.html In all, I feel the Pungo is good for completely calm and flat water, and is the superior recreational kayak. I feel that one is markedly better off in the Axis 12.0 than the 10.5 in all aspects, and the Axis is the better choice if you plan to grow into whitewater, or if you just want the capabilities for longer trips in flat water (the retractable skeg helps a lot) and whitewater adventures for up to class III wave-train conditions on rivers that doesn't require quick creeking like changes in direction. I also found the Axis to have more stability and edge control. In my opinion the Axis 12.0 is by far the most versatile and best crossover kayak out there. Hope this helps you to feel completely informed, feel free to reach out.

@@PotomacPassageOolikhanna I have the Pungo 125. It is so difficult to turn and I will not take it on moving water. I was looking at the Dagger Axis 12 to use as my moving water craft. Thanks for taking the time to go through your process of upgrading the seat. I will have to circle back to your comment when I am able to pick this boat up (currently sold out everywhere).

​@@josephmcclure9018 I had the exact same experience as you did with the Pungo and am 100% very happy and comfortable in my Axis 12.0. I think the Axis and its high performance rating are significantly underrated because of the popularity of Dagger's more well known and pure whitewater kayaks (along with the few other major brands), which is why I feel it is lesser known, especially in its whitewater capabilities. It sheds waves like a champ and rides class III wave trains like a dream. I'm currently finishing a video of a class II-III whitewater trip on the North Branch of the Potomac River, which showcases the best of its whitewater abilities. It did so many hours of research when deciding on the Axis 12.0 and concluded that it really is one of the two only true crossover kayaks (with the other being the Dagger Katana, but tracks slower), where it is superior to all other recreational kayaks, but still hangs with the top rated long boat whitewater kayaks in class II-III non technical whitewater. Despite having a different hull, the Axis looks and behaves quite similar to the Dagger Green Boat (though some will argue otherwise), which is regarded as Dagger's premier kayak for its class. The seat felt comfortable in moving water, but became a little uncomfortable in the long stretches of flat water (although I'm used to the Wave Sport's Core WhiteOut Seat System in my Recon, which is the most plush out there). I'm going to install the Jackson Sweet Cheeks 200, and have upgraded Harmony thigh braces made for the Axis, but really don't feel that I need them from how locked in I am into the thigh padding once the foot pegs are moved far up, to where I feel like I'm in my Wave Sport creeker and playboat. The Neoprene-Nylon sprayskirt does a great job at keeping the water big splashes out, but a good amount does seep in over the course of a whitewater trip, which now has me to want to upgrade to the neoprene Seals Pro Shocker sprayskirt (size 2.2) for whitewater trips. For all else the Nylon sprayskirt works just fine and does not feel tight at all. I'll keep watch for you to see if the Axis coming back in stock anywhere soon. It truly is, in my opinion, the most versatile and confident feeling kayak to have for all around conditions, and with its retractable skeg, it keeps up to speed with the Pungo 120 too. Thanks for letting me know how the Pungo 125 has worked for you too. The first thing I noticed when I tested out the Pungo 120 and the Axis 10.5 was just how surprisingly difficult it was to steer; I had never experienced anything that before, with having to anticipate and and start changing direction well ahead of time. It has an excellent keel for tracking in open water, but I did not feel anywhere near as stable in it as I did in both the Axis 10.5 and 12.0. I also was uneasy in a smaller wake from a fishing boat that when by; I didn't feel any secondary stability or edge to to the Pungo. I think the Pungo 120 is an excellent choice for people who are intent on kayaking in large lakes, long stretches of slow moving and flatwater, straightforward class I whitewater (riffles), and bays (without a strong tidal influence) where a quick change of direction is not needed. Once one gets up to speed the cruising is great and feels like cruise control takes over. I had a friend go through class II and and one class III wave with me, while I was in the Axis 12.0; the Pungo made it through but took in so much water because of its enormous cockpit, and had to pull over frequently to drain out the water.

@@PotomacPassageOolikhanna you have me looking much harder at the dagger axis 12 now. I was looking at the pungo 125 and the old town loon 126. Unfortunately, it looks like I may not get into any of them until next spring with everything being sold out! 😔

​@@traviswhitworth6506 ​ Hi Travis, that is really great to hear, because when I was first trying to find out which crossover kayak would best suit my interests I had very few RU-vid videos and in-depth reviews to go by. My goal is to help others out there who looking for some helpful firsthand reviews/videos on the Dagger Axis 12.0 when considering if it is the best choice for them and to compare it against other options that are being considered. Please let me know if you have any particular questions about the Dagger Axis 12.0, I'll certainly provide all that I can from my end. Check out the questions above from Shorty AKA Lestat1973 and Joseph McClure - they both asked about how the Axis 12.0 compares against the Wilderness Systems Pungo 120, which I too was first considering before I found out about and test drove the Axis 10.5 (12.0 was no available), which is noticeably different than the 12.0. Another one to consider is the Dagger Katana (which I would opt for over the Axis 10.5 but not the 12.0), but for me the Axis 12.0 better suited me, as I already have a pure whitewater kayak (Wave Sport Recon) that I use for creeking and big water rides. In short, I found the Pungo 120 extremely difficult to turn and it did not feel anywhere near as stable as the Axis 10.5 and 12.0. The Axis is superior in its versatility compared to the Pungo 120. The Dagger Green Boat is similar to the Axis, but is designed specifically for whitewater and racing. The kind and brand of paddle that you use makes a big difference too. I find the Axis to be under recognized in general and specifically in its whitewater capabilities. I think you'll enjoy this one and really see just what you're looking for in seeing how the Axis 12.0 responds to and handles class II-III whitewater, from my adventure in early March 2021 on the North Branch of the Potomac River on the Western Maryland West Virginia line: "Kayaking the North Branch of the Potomac River: Barnum, WV - Bloomington, MD (4.29ft./970cfs)" - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_MPhGIzloqY.html My first river trip in the Axis - "Kayaking The Needles: Dam 3 to Brunswick (Potomac River) at 4.2ft. (POR Gauge) - Dagger Axis 12.0" - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wgWFTvU7590.html I know what you mean about the scarcity of both kayaks and kayaking gear. Last November I ordered a pair of NRS 3mm neoprene gloves for cold water kayaking and am still waiting for them to be back in stock from NRS.com. Routinely check Craigslist, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace and you might just come across a nice find; I've seen so much come and go so fast on those places. If you live nearby, you're welcome to test drive my Axis, nothing beats having the real experience to go by.