Best All-Around Whitewater Kayak?? | Review of Pyranha Ripper 2

[@brentwade9346]

Awesome run-down, Ken! You nailed it - especially with regards to the R1 comparison. They seem to be pretty polarizing - people who love one LOVE it and really dislike the other. I started running the R2 Large about a month and a half ago and it has helped/forced me to progress from beginner to intermediate. I think it hits a perfect medium between initial and secondary stability from midship forward and play/performance in the stern. It'll forgive a lot more than the Ripper 1 while still making you confident enough to try that line again. I'm 6'2, 208, and I run mine with the seat one notch back from all forward since I'm using it primarily for running and surfing, and I love it - great on the Rouge. For playing around I use my SuperNova. The great thing about this boat - I can run the same line in my creeker after and it feels like I'm in a bus - it gives the confidence to use that run focusing on perfecting lines instead of just hitting them if that makes sense. It's my favorite all-around boat that I've tried by far.

[@PyranhaKayaks]

Nice summary! Glad you're enjoying the boat!

[@kellym3531]

Looks like a blast!

[@sbaldwin21]

Love the large ripper 2, and the firecracker 252. Both great surfers, firecracker more playful, ripper more river runner. Both better than the antix 2 or the rewind.

[@PyranhaKayaks]

Thanks for choosing our kayaks!! ❤

[@PALSRide]

Great video I’ve had both the 1 and 2 ripper and I loved them both but the fire cracker o boy it’s by new favorite boat for everything except when I need a creeker the way the fire cracker surfs it’s a very good boat

[@PyranhaKayaks]

Sounds like you've got a solid fleet there 😜 Thank you!

[@Paddle-N-Fish]

Looks fun! How would this boat work for playing in Ocean surf? Seems a little pricey for such a tiny craft, I hope they are durable against scraping many sharp rocks!

[@PaddleTV]

It would be a fun kayak in the surf, but like all whitewater kayaks, it will be slow in the surf compared to a 'surf specific kayak', Surf specific kayaks tend to have very little stern rocker, which makes them faster and allows you to dig in the rail and carve more aggressively. Once again though... that's why this is such a great all-around kayak - it isn't the best kayak for any specific purpose, but is good for almost any application.

[@Christgoldberg]

How does this compare to the Antix 2.0? Sounds like the ripper 2 is a little higher performing and faster, but the antix 2.0 is a bit more confidence inspiring and approachable for newer paddlers. Would that be an accurate perspective?

[@PaddleTV]

I think that's probably a fair breakdown, largely because the stern of the Ripper 2 is more 'playful' than the Antix.

[@codyforsythe3952]

how would this do in heavier rapids. the stretches of water i raft are class 3-4 (Lower Yough, pa) . I am looking to transition to WW kayaking

[@PaddleTV]

It would be amazing. I've paddled both the Upper and Lower Yough, and wouldn't hesitate to take this kayak. That being said, it does have a slicey stern, and so it's not going to be as forgiving as a boat like the Piranha ScorchX (see my review of that boat). You might want to start with a more forgiving boat like the ScorchX, and then move into a 'half-slice' kayak like the Ripper 2 if you decide you want something more playful/surf friendly.

[@williambrazil3760]

Couple of Ripper blunts 😮

[@PaddleTV]

:)

[@andrewnau433]

It's magic! I am lucky enough to have both, as they are very different. The 1 is a racing machine, super long, flat, narrow, and fast. The 2 is all rockered goodness. It skips, surfs, squirts, and pops like no other. It is a tad slower but so enjoyable in so many different ways. The stability difference is quite noticeable. Somehow, they made the more playful of the models also notably less grabby and far more predictable. Can't go wrong in either 😅

[@PyranhaKayaks]

@@andrewnau433 ❤

[@FrankensteinDIYkayak]

nice little kayak but its definitely not an all around boat. best all around one is dagger green boat. great for attaining

[@sbaldwin21]

Isn’t the green boat quite niche at 11’9 long? The ripper 2 can creek and play, the green boat won’t play will it, so not really covering all bases, but it will run the gnar better.

[@FrankensteinDIYkayak]

@@sbaldwin21 true it is long but except for the tightest of creeks it is maneuverable enough. great for novices as it tracks well and it bombs the largest of hydraulics so it gives you more options of lines overall

[@sbaldwin21]

@@FrankensteinDIYkayak true, I guess I think of an alround white water boat as as some creeking and some playing which half slices do being the compromise between playboats and creekers. No knocking the green boat, just wouldn’t have considered it an all rounder.