It may be a late review for the Alpha, but every point of your analysis is spot-on. With the release of the RMX, more of these Alphas will be showing up on the used market, so it’s timely in that respect. It’s hard to add anything to this review that you didn’t say. This adds a lot to Wade’s review from years back. It’s a higher volume creeker/river runner that will skip you out of those holes. Turns on a dime in lower volume. I agree you have to muscle it around, due in part to the lack of significant edges. It may not track as well in pushy water, hence the muscling. It’s likely to remain a popular boat as I know experienced paddlers that keep it in rotation.
Ya know, this was my first boat and after adding an Antix 2 and Supernova I was gonna sell the Alpha and buy the Jackson Flow, but ya know, the Alpha is still relevant, even with the soft edges.
Great Review! I'm about 180 lbs and I've paddled an Alpha 90 for about a year. I paddled the 75 for about a year before that (same weight). The biggest thing I've had to accept about the boat is that I gotta be on my game when I take it out. It's gotta be driven. I paddle this boat poorly if I'm on a new run and I'm paddling scared or unaggressive. I've definitely had some spinouts in bad places because I wasn't up on my toes driving the boat. Definitely can relate to killing the crux move in a rapid but spinning out on a boil that I wasn't paying attention to. But just like you said - if I'm confident in my line and am driving the boat it really has been amazing. The 90 has been much easier to maneuver and more predictable than the 75 for me (probably because of the higher water line). I'm in the southeast and I love how the boat handles rocks. For me it has enough volume and rocker to take care of me when I am pushing my limits - but at the same time it is sporty and responsive and doesn't feel like I'm paddling a bathtub.
I’ve been paddling a 75 for a couple years now. I had been paddling a Diesel for 6 years or so, then sold it for a Braaap. Love my braaap. When I’m in the mood for a butt kicking I’ll paddle it. I don’t get a whole lot of seat time so I soon found myself desiring a kayak that was a bit more forgiving. The Alpha fit that for me (LL fanboy I suppose). When I run harder stuff I’ll throw my Alpha on the truck. It’s easy for me to roll and I love the way it paddles.
It have learned to keep the Alpha straight in difficult or serious rapids. So i dont risk to finish the rapids backwards. That does not mean that the kayak is difficult to controll in sidesurf, it just means that the alpha sometimes turns by itself. It turns better then many shorter kayaks
just from the description (displacement in front, than flat under the seat and finally the widest point behind the cockpit) it sounds a lot like the Zet Toro? anyone paddled both? Alex?
It is quite different from the Toro actually. The Toro is wider, slower, and does not have kick rocker. The Toro prioritizes a more confident and dependable feel. but sacrifices that in bleeding edge performance compared to the Alpha. Full review here: ua-cam.com/video/CPJ-skEa3r0/v-deo.html
It may be a late review for the Alpha, but every point of your analysis is spot-on. With the release of the RMX, more of these Alphas will be showing up on the used market, so it’s timely in that respect. It’s hard to add anything to this review that you didn’t say. This adds a lot to Wade’s review from years back. It’s a higher volume creeker/river runner that will skip you out of those holes. Turns on a dime in lower volume. I agree you have to muscle it around, due in part to the lack of significant edges. It may not track as well in pushy water, hence the muscling. It’s likely to remain a popular boat as I know experienced paddlers that keep it in rotation.
Thanks for the really nice feedback! We also noticed these are hitting the used market hard in the last few months.
@Alex Barham could be paddlers who liked their Alpha so much, looking for the next gen... a LL boat with edges.
Blasphemy!
In seriousness we do have an RMX at the house and it is quite different. We are both looking forward to paddling it
Ya know, this was my first boat and after adding an Antix 2 and Supernova I was gonna sell the Alpha and buy the Jackson Flow, but ya know, the Alpha is still relevant, even with the soft edges.
Great Review! I'm about 180 lbs and I've paddled an Alpha 90 for about a year. I paddled the 75 for about a year before that (same weight). The biggest thing I've had to accept about the boat is that I gotta be on my game when I take it out. It's gotta be driven. I paddle this boat poorly if I'm on a new run and I'm paddling scared or unaggressive. I've definitely had some spinouts in bad places because I wasn't up on my toes driving the boat. Definitely can relate to killing the crux move in a rapid but spinning out on a boil that I wasn't paying attention to. But just like you said - if I'm confident in my line and am driving the boat it really has been amazing. The 90 has been much easier to maneuver and more predictable than the 75 for me (probably because of the higher water line). I'm in the southeast and I love how the boat handles rocks. For me it has enough volume and rocker to take care of me when I am pushing my limits - but at the same time it is sporty and responsive and doesn't feel like I'm paddling a bathtub.
That is very consistent with most people's experience in these boats
Thanks for the feedback!!
Very nice review Hannah
Glad you liked it!! You better be getting the boys (and yourself) on the water this year!
I’ve been paddling a 75 for a couple years now. I had been paddling a Diesel for 6 years or so, then sold it for a Braaap. Love my braaap. When I’m in the mood for a butt kicking I’ll paddle it. I don’t get a whole lot of seat time so I soon found myself desiring a kayak that was a bit more forgiving. The Alpha fit that for me (LL fanboy I suppose). When I run harder stuff I’ll throw my Alpha on the truck. It’s easy for me to roll and I love the way it paddles.
That's certainly going to be a good combo, because that is how they were intended to be used. Thanks for the feedback!
It have learned to keep the Alpha straight in difficult or serious rapids. So i dont risk to finish the rapids backwards. That does not mean that the kayak is difficult to controll in sidesurf, it just means that the alpha sometimes turns by itself. It turns better then many shorter kayaks
It turns very well, but we would prefer it only does it when asked 😅
Spot on review! I owned one for a year. Wouldn’t recommend for bigger water but an awesome boat to paddle in the mank. Can’t wait for a rmx review
Thanks! Rivers up here are thawing so hopefully we get it out soon
I love my bluegrass color but I really like that color too!!
The new blue is hot. Bring back the old school solid yellow!
just from the description (displacement in front, than flat under the seat and finally the widest point behind the cockpit) it sounds a lot like the Zet Toro? anyone paddled both? Alex?
It is quite different from the Toro actually. The Toro is wider, slower, and does not have kick rocker. The Toro prioritizes a more confident and dependable feel. but sacrifices that in bleeding edge performance compared to the Alpha. Full review here: ua-cam.com/video/CPJ-skEa3r0/v-deo.html
Check out Hannah's Zet Five Review here: ua-cam.com/video/wh8ybiA-O1s/v-deo.html