After paddling this for a couple weeks on the north fork, definitely felt that skippy waka feel once I threw the seat back a notch or two. That’s when the stylish feel came into play. Really loving it. 165lbs btw! My friend is about 200+ and is paddling it far back and says it’s definitely not just for smaller people. 🤟🏼
Agree it likes to be in the back and that tells me Waka placed the cockpit and seat in the wrong position during the design process if even they say move it day one at any weight 😂 then we messed up. And no way one boat can fit all sizes that’s why almost everyone does 2-3 sizes of a kayaks I’m saying the money spot on this boat is 125-170 which is a great spot to be honestly a true medium but you start getting over 180lb the performance starts to drop off giving you can make it work at any weight as your buddy does but technically just have to be realistic and say this is suitable 125-170 180 max thanks for the feedback
@@WadeHarrison I'm 190 right now and the Stoke feels like a perfect size for me. For reference the M scorch felt too small and the L scorch felt too big. I am actually looking forward to doing some multidays in it, it feels that comfortable for my weight, Although the OG is the ultimate shitrunner, the Stoke can handle 99% of what the OG can and will allow a lot more progression due to how quick and sporty it is. Agree about the need to move the seat back. I found that helped with maneuverability too, as well as those sweep boofs you reference.
I love mine. Never had a boat that is so sporty but yet takes care of my so well. It handles like my vengeance. Super fast coming out of drops but is also extremely predictable and very easy to quickly correct.
@@ShaneKayaks @dolkon6117 the seat has 2 screw holes and the boat has three holes. I lined up the forward screw hole with the furthest back boat hole, one click back from factory settings. Is that where y'alls ended up? Or did you go one more click back, as far back as possible?
No close to the Ninja at all this is like a better Waka OG it’s kinda in a class of its own and personally if I had to choose between these two I would go with this one
@@WadeHarrison Thanks. But why might the Stoke be "better" than the OG? I thought the OG was their flagship boat that all the big name paddlers use for the gnar?
What are your thoughts as a direct comparison vs a scorch M at 150lb. Is it more/less forgiving, faster, easier to roll etc? I love my scorch, but definitely curious about the stoke.
@@DownstreamV exactly I was going on more about my feel of the fit of the outfitting and in hindsight probably should’ve pointed that out more but overall size of the kayak your spot on its smaller and better designed package over the OG maybe size wise between the Stout and OG something like that…
What is the big improvement over the OG you notice? I strictly paddle OG for 3 years. I paddled the stoke a couple of times and I do like it but personally I like the OG better. Personally I don't want a nine foot boat. I like that the OG has a lot of volume without the length. I think the DRX is better than the stoke.
@@WadeHarrison Lol I had the same experience. I felt meh getting off the water my first day but the more I thought about it the more it handled exactly as I expected a well designed boat to. I couldn't pinpoint anything I didn't like about it and kept fondly remembering the neat things it did. I feel like they designed an all around really sporty boat free from big imperfections, although it doesn't have the super unique tank feel of the OG, or the stylishness of the Steeze, it does everything well.
After paddling this for a couple weeks on the north fork, definitely felt that skippy waka feel once I threw the seat back a notch or two. That’s when the stylish feel came into play. Really loving it. 165lbs btw! My friend is about 200+ and is paddling it far back and says it’s definitely not just for smaller people. 🤟🏼
Agree it likes to be in the back and that tells me Waka placed the cockpit and seat in the wrong position during the design process if even they say move it day one at any weight 😂 then we messed up.
And no way one boat can fit all sizes that’s why almost everyone does 2-3 sizes of a kayaks I’m saying the money spot on this boat is 125-170 which is a great spot to be honestly a true medium but you start getting over 180lb the performance starts to drop off
giving you can make it work at any weight as your buddy does but technically just have to be realistic and say this is suitable 125-170 180 max thanks for the feedback
@@WadeHarrisonyeah I should also state this guy is a pretty advanced paddler though. So yeah keep that in mind with what I said about the 200+ part.
@@WadeHarrison I'm 190 right now and the Stoke feels like a perfect size for me. For reference the M scorch felt too small and the L scorch felt too big. I am actually looking forward to doing some multidays in it, it feels that comfortable for my weight,
Although the OG is the ultimate shitrunner, the Stoke can handle 99% of what the OG can and will allow a lot more progression due to how quick and sporty it is. Agree about the need to move the seat back. I found that helped with maneuverability too, as well as those sweep boofs you reference.
I love mine. Never had a boat that is so sporty but yet takes care of my so well. It handles like my vengeance. Super fast coming out of drops but is also extremely predictable and very easy to quickly correct.
I think it’s one of the best they have done
The seat 2 steps back is where it gets unlocked 👌
Agree it definitely likes to be paddled back on that stern..
100% agree
@@ShaneKayaks @dolkon6117 the seat has 2 screw holes and the boat has three holes. I lined up the forward screw hole with the furthest back boat hole, one click back from factory settings. Is that where y'alls ended up? Or did you go one more click back, as far back as possible?
Was waiting for this one.
Yeah Matt should have more of a full in-depth review coming soon
hey wade, i was wondering what your favorite kayak of all time is, aside from the scorch
😂 you eliminated the scorch but really that’s difficult to answer because depending on what and where we are paddling effects that answer
@@WadeHarrison then let’s say like a class 4-5 river runner?
@@WadeHarrison favorite Ocoee boat?
Think moving the seat back a touch would dry up that bow? How'd you like it compared to the scorch, or even a zet cross (my current boat)?
Yes this wants to be paddled in the back seat
So comparable to the Zet ninja? Which is the better boat?
No close to the Ninja at all this is like a better Waka OG it’s kinda in a class of its own and personally if I had to choose between these two I would go with this one
@@WadeHarrison Thanks. But why might the Stoke be "better" than the OG? I thought the OG was their flagship boat that all the big name paddlers use for the gnar?
This river looks sick! Where is it? I just can't get myself into creek boats or anything high volume just too much fun in my antix 1.0 or rockstar.
Gore/Eagle Creek CO
What are your thoughts as a direct comparison vs a scorch M at 150lb. Is it more/less forgiving, faster, easier to roll etc?
I love my scorch, but definitely curious about the stoke.
Scorch is better in my opinion and if big water this stoke is really good personally I recommend trying the JK Flow also
Cool. I was hoping it would be smaller than the OG, though. Also what paddle is that you're using?
Not hi jacking wades video I’ll do one myself but from a smaller guy it definitely feels and paddles smaller than an OG. Very agile and maneuverable.
Yes the kayak itself is smaller overall and big improvement over the OG what I was saying is fit wise feels about the same
@@DownstreamV exactly I was going on more about my feel of the fit of the outfitting and in hindsight probably should’ve pointed that out more but overall size of the kayak your spot on its smaller and better designed package over the OG maybe size wise between the Stout and OG something like that…
What is the big improvement over the OG you notice? I strictly paddle OG for 3 years. I paddled the stoke a couple of times and I do like it but personally I like the OG better. Personally I don't want a nine foot boat. I like that the OG has a lot of volume without the length. I think the DRX is better than the stoke.
Stoke power 😮
❤️🔥the more I think about this boat the I feel I like it kinda strange
@@WadeHarrison Lol I had the same experience. I felt meh getting off the water my first day but the more I thought about it the more it handled exactly as I expected a well designed boat to. I couldn't pinpoint anything I didn't like about it and kept fondly remembering the neat things it did. I feel like they designed an all around really sporty boat free from big imperfections, although it doesn't have the super unique tank feel of the OG, or the stylishness of the Steeze, it does everything well.
when the firecracker 252 On Water????
Still getting more trips in it
Favorite creek boat to surf?
Tough one to answer has a lot a factors to that
@@WadeHarrison top 3 😂?
Looked like a dry ride, new Paddle?
Just testing out some stuff
Wow, that nose is wet! Super happy I didn't order at my weight. ;-)
Yeah over 180lb my advice is look at the puff steeze or OG over this one
@@WadeHarrisonat 145lbs?