@AlexBarham 5 ай бұрын
Buying a Dagger Kayak online? Please use this link: rb.gy/pv8h8k
@NomadicMoose137 6 ай бұрын
Can 100% confirm everything you say is correct coming from someone who learned on one for their first season without watching this video. Good video and good job keep it up man!
@AlexBarham 6 ай бұрын
Lol thanks! I try
@Grigsy Жыл бұрын
The Dagger RPM was my first kayak and the boat I learned in.
@AlexBarham Жыл бұрын
Yup, it has been for many many people!
@roblinsjr01 4 жыл бұрын
I was having some issues with the rpm being uncomfortable but just put a Jackson back band on it gives me a better fit, extra support, and I can easily release to take knees out. Love the boat.
@AlexBarham 4 жыл бұрын
There are definitely a few options out there.
@philippd6117 3 жыл бұрын
Honestly the RPM is my favorite boat at the moment. Actually I sold the other ones I had because I always chose the RPM over the others for two years. I think the RPM really rips if you give it speed and 110% commitment. I became lazy from only paddling high volume boats. The RPM basically cured my laziness and made me a much better paddler🤣
@AlexBarham 3 жыл бұрын
The RPM is awesome, but there are certainly reasons to still own a real creeker
@philippd6117 3 жыл бұрын
@@AlexBarham You are right! At about Class 4 it gets very hard in the RPM.
@paulhobbs5804 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the breakdown. I wish I had watched before buying the RPM as my first boat as learning how to whitewater kayak in this thing has been frustrating to say the least. However, I feel that once I get it in the RPM, it'll make me that much better when I switch to a boat with a more defined rocker.
@AlexBarham 2 жыл бұрын
The answer is always more boats. I wouldn't be afraid to grab a full on creeker to progress in, and circle back to your RPM for fun laps on easier water
@paulhobbs5804 2 жыл бұрын
@@AlexBarham Done and done! I welcome specific suggestions for a starter boat
@guloguloguy 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks!!!, for this solid, honest review!!! Much appreciated!!!
@AlexBarham 4 жыл бұрын
You're very welcome!
@Lemmon714_ 2 жыл бұрын
I bought the first one that came into my local paddle shop in 1996 because I thought it looked cool. I didn’t realize I was setting a trend. I could take it anywhere here in the SE. I kept it until I broke my leg in ‘04 and couldn’t paddle any longer.
@AlexBarham 2 жыл бұрын
That's awful! Have you tried sitting in a modern whitewater boat? The outfitting has come a long way and you may be able to get comfy now.
@GabrielJM 10 ай бұрын
Alex, thanks very much for your consistent efforts to educate us mortals as to what is out there in the kayak world. I recently picked up a MAX cheap [my 4th in the last 15 yrs ], as I was really missing the smoothness and ease , not to mention the incredibly easy rollability of this boat over some current river runners. So after seeing this review a few times my question is does everything you say here translate over to the MAX version also? Me 210 lbs with gear, 5'10"s. I used to run low gradient cl 3 stuff with it all the time in the past. Can you give me some tips as to how I can run this over a more pronounced gradient, eg 4-5' ledges without getting back endered?I There is no backband, I have just put pool noodles against the rear pillar and they work pretty well for me.
@AlexBarham 10 ай бұрын
Well for starters you should properly outfit your boat. If someone showed up to paddle class 4 with me and their outfitting looked like that I would send them home.
@AlexBarham 10 ай бұрын
Preventing a half slice from back-endering is not foolproof, but can be done pretty effectively. The biggest thing is learning to boof well, and doing it over every significant wave and hole. Combine that with landing with a proper forward position to center your weight over your knees and it will be much harder for the boat to run away without you.
@GabrielJM 10 ай бұрын
thanks v much, will do.@@AlexBarham
@AlexBarham 10 ай бұрын
Sure thing! @@GabrielJM
@Bok2022st 8 ай бұрын
Yeah I could get down the river on that head first underwater for sure 😂
@AlexBarham 8 ай бұрын
Lol give it time!
@philipmcdonald5629 2 жыл бұрын
I hadn't considered a seat move, I guess my rpm max seat doesn't slide but moving it back would make it a lot more fun because even at my weight it's hard to squirt.
@AlexBarham 2 жыл бұрын
Do it!!
@lasulax 2 жыл бұрын
Alex, i came across your video researching RPMs but i cant shake the feeling that we've met. Are you from central NY?
@AlexBarham 2 жыл бұрын
Yup!
@lasulax 2 жыл бұрын
@@AlexBarham i think i figured it out. you did a job at Cornell for me. - Hope you're well. - Tim T.
@AlexBarham 2 жыл бұрын
Nooo way!!! I knew you were a runner or something, but didn't know you paddled. Come up to the Moose or Black this summer and let's catch up.
@prdala 2 жыл бұрын
Hi Alex. I am contemplating buying a used RPM Max as a second boat, would be my first go at a displacement hull. You mentioned pin potential. First I’ve heard/read of this on all my research. Can you elaborate?
@AlexBarham 2 жыл бұрын
Any half slice is more likely to pin than a creeker. Nothing too crazy
@prdala 2 жыл бұрын
@@AlexBarham I pulled the trigger and bought one. It front surfs and carves much better than my Maamba. I haven’t messed around with the stern yet. Thank you for the info and the review!
@AlexBarham 2 жыл бұрын
Nice! Sure thing!
@craigm807 4 жыл бұрын
love your videos! you mention in this one the low knee position is dangerous? Im curious what you mean. I just purchased one with the new outfitting and really like it, but you've got me wondering ...
@AlexBarham 4 жыл бұрын
As long as you leave the boat as it came from the factory you should be fine. However, old school boats with aged plastic are more brittle and prone to crush in a pin/piton. In that event getting back out of your boat can become difficult or impossible. A paddler passed away last year on the green in an old school RPM which had the pillar removed. His leg broke and became trapped when the boat deformed.
@craigm807 4 жыл бұрын
@@AlexBarham Damn, I hate to hear that. Thanks for the additional info though! I certainly wont be removing that pillar
@billyb3689 3 жыл бұрын
@Alex half thinking of one of these as a pseudo slalom boat from G2-3 training. I'm at 70kg (think 155). wondering what your thoughts are? Or is there a better boat for this kind of stuff. Now I can get the new action outfitting for 700 Euro
@AlexBarham 3 жыл бұрын
Love what you're doing! RPM is a classic, but the Braaap is going to be higher performance. The new Zet Chili will also be a really interesting boat for you.
@billyb3689 3 жыл бұрын
@@AlexBarham Ah cool man, thanks. The other immediate option is an Axiom, at 155 lbs I think the 8.5 is the right one? Thanks for info
@chadleonard6929 4 жыл бұрын
Yo Alex! What do you think about the rpm vs the axiom? Im 5 foot 7 and 155 lbs. I used to have an rpm and loved it. I have an axiom but have found it somewhat sluggish and just haven't found that same joy. Just found an rpm for sale and am thinking about snagging it
@AlexBarham 4 жыл бұрын
The Axiom is so good, but no it doesn't have the same glide that an RPM does. If it's a cheap pickup then what's the harm right?
@FeWolf 3 жыл бұрын
Picked one up that was donated, I will say fun, but not my cup of tea, since I am a "Bomber"
@AlexBarham 3 жыл бұрын
Bomber?
@FeWolf 3 жыл бұрын
@@AlexBarham drive through all rapids screaming Bonsai, one who does not eddy much ;)
@AlexBarham 3 жыл бұрын
Well start playing more then!