Testing the Dagger Indra

[@UrsaMusic]

Best boat I’ve ever paddled. It has it all. Confidence of a creeker. Maneuverability of a half slice. Forgiving and high performance at the same time. It’s the boat I always wished all my other boats could be. Still heavy carrying but it doesn’t feel that way on the water. Quick and responsive and changes my mind about certain rapids. It’s like if Lebron James in his prime was a kayak.

[@AlexBarham]

Definitely a very strong design! It would be a better version of itself if it were a little lighter. I also have thoughts about the width, but overall an absolute quiver killer

[@UrsaMusic]

I'm very happy. Maybe not as forgiving as a Code, but not less forgiving than a Scorch. I can put it exactly where I want to. I don't feel like it would back loop any more than any creeker I've been in. Not a complaint, but I don't think I've ever tail tapped another Dagger boat, ever. Except this one, all good I'll get used to it. Looking forward to your full review.

[@benoitbourque344]

Such an insanely good video full of captivating sequences! My son and I are so hyped watching and following your journey. How is this boat going to feel in comparison to a Code? Would you say: "very much harder and less forgiving to maneuver" for a noob such as myself or "no problem, just buy it". I consider handing over my beloved Code to my son and buying the Indra as our 2nd boat so that we can finally ride together. And if I do, what size? Large or Medium? I am 210 pounds and my Code is Medium and seems to fit me perfectly but I lack the expertise to really tell. Thank you!

[@AlexBarham]

Thanks man! I would put you in the M/L and say go for it as a solid second boat. You'll have a more sporty option, with plenty of familiar feel.

[@brentwade9346]

I absolutely love mine - most connected I've felt to a boat yet, and it loves to pop over features and blast away! Not so fun to portage though ;-).

[@AlexBarham]

It is pretty slick! Love it for big water once I figured out to stop making assumptions and just paddle it normally. Treating it like a Steeze will not be rewarded I find. Sisters come in yet?

[@brentwade9346]

@@AlexBarham I totally agree - kept my Puffy for a while until I got to try both. Both great for different reasons - puffy is so light and aggressive for getting those wave boofs. The Indra feels like it opens the door to some of what the Puffy does for someone who wants a little more forgiveness. I much prefer the Indra.

[@AlexBarham]

@brentwade9346 I feel the same way on the forgiveness. The width and volume around the paddler makes it much more forgiving, but you're loosing that harsh aggressive feel of the Steeze

[@brentwade9346]

@@AlexBarham 100%. I think when I feel I’ve developed enough in the Indra I would totally own both the Indra and the regular Steeze - great complement to each other.

[@AlexBarham]

@@brentwade9346 yeah I think where you are you could just forgo a creeker and keep those two. So far I am beating the snot out of the Indra and it is just soaking up the abuse so I wouldn't be afraid of wearing it out

[@JF.Rivest]

Very nice! All that Indra footage is making me wonder if I should have gone with that instead of waiting on my pre-ordered ReactR 😅

[@AlexBarham]

Too early to say right? I'm curious about that boat as well

[@JF.Rivest]

@@AlexBarham Yeah! Both boats seem so good. Judging from the feedback (obviously biased, but still) I got from team paddlers around my weight/height I expect the ReactR'll fill nicely that sporty creeker niche and perform really well in big water. I just wish I could have gotten a more realistic production/delivery timeframe. I was injtially told "end of April" by my local dealer 😆 (who, that being said, only just started selling Pyranhas).

[@Huntermouse31]

@@AlexBarham If you were in Colorado I would be happy for you to take my ReactR out for some fun, as much as you would like. Thanks for the great content.

[@AlexBarham]

@Huntermouse31 thanks man!

[@lordofnothing.]

would love to see you get your hands on a Prijon Beast. finally they made a good boat again!

[@AlexBarham]

Yup. Been getting asked about that a lot lately. I chased Prijon and Peaks, Paths, and Paddles or whatever their importer is in Buffalo. Promises were made, but no follow through unfortunately. This is typical when you set up a touring shop as a whitewater retailer.

[@CyBORG1208]

@@AlexBarham bummer! I too would love to see you get your hands on one!

[@AlexBarham]

@@CyBORG1208 you can try sending them a message. They know where to find me, they just don't seem interested

[@CyBORG1208]

@@AlexBarham done! we shall see if they get back to me.

[@CharlesWynnWygal]

1:22 looks like an awesome boof to squirt to jet ferry to pivot turn, once you get the stern on the indra under it feels like unlocking the beast

[@AlexBarham]

I got the first D on the boof over your wife then eddy turn combo there Saturday 🤣

[@CharlesWynnWygal]

@@AlexBarham no mercy

[@AlexBarham]

She's stuck with me now. It'll be fine

[@CharlesWynnWygal]

@@AlexBarham buddy boofs for life!

[@JakeYaks]

im a southeast boater but this run looks fun

[@AlexBarham]

Then you should come to Beaverfest and see lots more like this

[@bradelliot1027]

hey one more question...i know you love the ninja...do you have to use a pivot turn to turn that boat? if not what strokes are you using to turn it? thanks brad

[@AlexBarham]

I don't use anything special for either of these boats

[@cryptot3ch]

Yeah buddy!! Jealous of all your water.. we get like 3 months of we're lucky at the Salt River in Arizona.. haha

[@AlexBarham]

Always road trips! There's plenty going off to the north of you

[@williamlee3106]

How do you pull a Pillar out of an RPM? I'm adding hard points.

[@JakeYaks]

shogun vs vulcan? I know you have an affinity for the shogun but let us know what you think of the vulcan compared to one of the best paddles in the game

[@AlexBarham]

I love my Vulcan. Keeps growing on me. Shogun is obviously my ride or die in gnar, but in big water I am always reaching for the extra power of the Vulcan. I'm now basically wishing there was an even bigger Shogun with the Vulcan's rubber grip...

[@steezli8993]

What size are you paddling? Have you tried both? Demoing one in the immediate future isn't as easy as just buying one but at 5'9" and ~170lbs, I am really struggling with deciding on size. I'm generally an always medium person so 2 sizes is a brutal choice.

[@matthewwallin9384]

Not trying o hijack Alex's post just commenting because I run into the same issues a lot. I am 155 and paddle the small. It goes through about anything but the tail can get brapped occasionally. If you plan on running some serious water I would go with the medium. There is definitely some trade off with punching power and maneuverability with the two sizes. I would prefer to get caught in a hole occasionally and being able to surf out in the small where the large there would be no way I could work that out of a large hole.

[@AlexBarham]

Glad Matt chimed I'm because I would have said the S/M the M/L will be a lot for a 170lb paddler to throw around unless you're jacked. I'm a pretty strong guy and I essentially require the same amount of energy to move my Indra as a Phantom. Unfortunately at 170 they may have just missed you on the Indra, but the Steeze will be great.

[@steezli8993]

​ @matthewwallin9384 ​ @AlexBarham FWIW, I ended up pulling the trigger on the S/M. Mostly because it was the size available when I was able to get a friend to pick it up before coming to visit. That being said, as someone who mostly has been creek boating a M Rewind unless it was solid class 5, I found the S/M felt well sized after a couple runs this weekend. The Indra is what I was hoping for a very sporty creekboat. I'm still keeping my creekboat for self supports but expect to grab the Indra for anything the Rewind leaves me nervous about but I don't need more than a day trips worth of gear. Honestly I can't imagine attempting to fit into the M/L now. At 170lbs, 5'9", I often feel like I have short legs too. I used 2 wedge shims in each hip pad, the seat riser pad and the full compliment of bulkhead foam. I had to bring the bulkhead closer 1 notch from stock. In a M/L I probably would have used all of the hip pad shims and significantly brought the bulkhead closer.

[@AlexBarham]

@@steezli8993 thanks for the feedback. I really need to score a lap in the smaller one this weekend before I drop the review

[@bradelliot1027]

totally unrelated..picket up a zen 2 large and i am finding it hard to turn? any sugestions? i am paddling a 4 fun right now...thanks brad

[@AlexBarham]

Yeah those boats could be dogs. Try putting the seat back one from center and using the back edges to do everything. That seemed to be the trick

[@bradelliot1027]

@@AlexBarham thanks Alex! will definitely try moving the seat back and using the back edges...:)

[@AlexBarham]

@@bradelliot1027 good luck!

[@johnjackson7464]

what river is this? Please put the name of the river your are paddling in your videos

[@AlexBarham]

This was shot over a few months on many rivers. If you give me a time in the video I'll tell you where it was

[@luckyndg]

When can we expect the Reactr review???

[@AlexBarham]

Haven't seen one yet. Not sure. If you're looking for a review telling Pyranha to get one to me can't hurt

[@TokyoNightGirlLofi]

💕Wow💙💗💗💗💗💙💗💗💗💗

[@AlexBarham]

Lol thanks