Axis 12.0

The Dagger Axis 12.0 is my current kayak, I have used Dagger Kayaks for years and now I am doing more "lake" kayaking - so this cross-over kayak was the logical choice. I have taken the kayak out a couple of times so far, and I have no complaints to the way that the kayak handles on lake trails. You can move faster than just a regular recreational kayak, and with the skag deployed - it tracks great, with the skag pulled in - you can edge fairly well for as long as it is. I am a big guy, 6'7" and 280 lbs, and I have no problem using this kayak. All in all this is a great kayak for what I have used it for so far - I am planning on going down the Ocowee next season to see how it performs in a little bit of white water - I will update my review when I do.

I've owned this boat for one season now, and here are some thoughts.
This boat will spin in its own length (with the skeg up) without much effort.
Put the skeg down and a paddle across the reservoir becomes much more enjoyable. Its 27in. beam makes it very stable. I found that I had to work at it to edge over in this boat. Cockpit size is exactly what I wanted. I wanted to feel comfortable taking this boat into Cape Cod Bay, so a smaller cockpit is perfect. I bought a spray skirt to fit the cockpit. The smaller cockpit does limit the fishing gear I can bring along, but every boat is a compromise. I can live with this. I've enjoyed the size and weight of this boat and would highly recommend it.

The Axis 12 is a great boat for my purposes. It allows me to enjoy trips on our local class 1 rivers, some class 2 rivers farther from home, and even enjoy the local whitewater play parks. It is also a pleasure to cruise the larger lakes down in KY, as I can put the miles on quickly without a lot of effort.

On the down side, the rear bulkhead doesn't keep water out, and the front deck rigging stretched out and became useless in a few seasons. This year, the skeg in the back started making a thumping sound with each paddle stroke.

I've been paddling the Axis 12.0 for 8 years on rivers and lakes in southeastern Michigan in myriad of conditions and the boat's never let me down. Just fast enough for a rec/hybrid to reduce the chore of navigating long stretches of open water and fun as hell in rivers, with the ability to handle Class II or II rapids. The drop-down skeg is especially appreciated on lakes and in windy conditions, giving a big assist in maintaining a straight tracks. I like the adjustability of the seat, which allows you to take some of the weight off your tailbone and the dry storage hatch is perfect for stowing supplies for an overnighter. The Axis 12.0 has suited my needs for almost a decade and I imagine it will continue doing so, providing many years of extremely enjoyable paddling.

I bought the Axis to replace a Kestrel 120. What a huge difference. I LOVE the hull design. This boat turns like a dream, or drop the skeg and it tracks great. It honestly reminds me of a 9' boat. The skeg design allows you to easily get rocks and mud out. I have another skeg boat and it is horrible for this.

I'm not sure what Dagger was thinking when they built the seat. If I can find a set that will fit this boat I will replace it. The stock seat is flimsy and not well designed. Things I don't like..The seat back is way above the coming. If you are using a skirt it traps water against you. I did modify my seat a bit but it still is above the coming. The back also inhibits you to do a proper stroke, upper torso rotation. The seat back locks your lower back in position. The seat bottom frame looks really flimsy and I don't see it lasting long. It is designed to flex and support your legs but I think they made it too flimsy. I owned a Dagger Mamba 8 and would love to put that seat in this boat.

The stiffener that runs down the middle traps every little bit of dirt that gets in the boat. There is no good way to clean it out. I thought about taking it out and drilling a few holes in it for that purpose. But of course it is a total pain to get to the 4 bolts that hold the seat in. I finally gave up.

I bought it in the Molton color pattern. Love it but hate it. The few times I have paddled it I have came back with bits of the outer coating gone. It looks like the outer coating is sprayed on after the hull is molded. It is rough in texture and doesn't seem to be too durable. It will look like hell shortly but most do.

All in all I do love this boat but I think Dagger fell short with the seat. Change that out for something better, or at least a back band style, and the rest is minor.

My wife and I have paddled matching Dagger Axis 12.0 kayaks for over one year and they are excellent multi-purpose recreational watercraft. We generally paddle on lakes, rivers and bayous in Southeast Texas. We often experience strong headwinds and motor boat wakes when paddling the larger lakes and the Axis 12.0's are very stable in such conditions.

The drop-down keel keeps us on track in all open water and the ability to raise it allows us to navigate Class I rapids and shallow bayous with aplomb. Anyone looking for a stable, yet quick and maneuverable kayak will be happy with Dagger's Axis 12.0.

Up in Northern Wisconsin we have a small livery business on the Bois Brule. Renting to over 10k customers a year we have tried almost every type of canoe and kayak on the market, beginning in 1962. To our great satisfaction, we were lucky enough to come across the Dagger Axis 10'6 and 12'. Our best rental recreational boat we have rented both versatile and simple, easy to adjust foot braces, hatches etc. We haven't seen a hole in one yet, and started renting in 2012. Our only complaint is broken foot braces on almost every kayak we have, but fairly easy to repair.
Current Design Solaro is comparable but much heavier.

I purchased a new Axis 12.0 two weeks ago. I am new to kayaking, 52 yrs old and diabetic. The kayak is to augment the bicycle that I don't ride enough. I wanted a long kayak because I want to race the MR340 in 2016, but I wanted a versatile yak that I could use everyday. This really has fit the bill. I've been out on local lakes 7 times in 2 weeks, including a 5K show n go race. All of the other yaks in the race were LONG expensive racing boats, and I didn't win, but I feel certain that I was in the right boat for me. I love it.

A very stable boat which is great for beginners. It's construction is very solid and it's comfortable to sit in for extended periods. If you intend on paddling this boat in estuaries or bays in winds of 15knots or over, buy a sea kayak. I live in Australia where rivers are usually heavily snagged and tight, this boat is great for these types of applications. Also excellent as a platform for photography.

Bought this boat for my wife because she wanted something sportier than just a touring kayak but still wanted the tracking she would get from a longer boat, and she wasn't let down at all. We use this on flat lakes around the house and have even gone down some class 2 rapids and it handles like a champ no matter what we throw at it.

I got an Axis 12.0 this past summer. Great stability and has no problem with faster currents. I was on the Kokosing in early summer. We went through the factory rapids easily. This is not a white water kayak. It is good for Ohio's class II or III rapids though. I did put thigh braces on my kayak for a more stable ride, not to roll.

I've used this "crossover" Dagger on a variety of waterways this past summer, mostly with the skeg retracted to improve my paddling skills, which it has. It is highly manuverable, with good tracking unless you encounter white cap wind and waves, where it's white water rocker make the upturned bow a weathercocking sail; time to drop the skeg down to assist.

Primary and secondary stability is very good, with a very comfortable adjustable seat that allows for eskimo rolls and has adequate behind the seat storage where I usually keep a foam style paddle float and rescue/tow bag, the center tunnel has bungies for a liter sized bottle.

I did add the two specific Harmony float bags in the bow and the thigh braces; the stern hatch seals well in all weather. I have other kayaks, and think the product delivers as advertised by Dagger. I would have preferred to pay a little more for a front bulkhead and hatch to make it more versatile and help reduce bow rise when loading the stern hatch compartment.

A great mutli-purpose play boat for calm or light winds that handles moderately turbulent water well

Bought this for river running but it has to hold 5 days camping supplies and paddle well on flat water. While not quite as nimble as a Liquid Logic Xp10 But it did great on a 5 day paddle down the Smith River in MT

We are beginners and chose the Axis 12 due to the comfortable seating, stability and the skeg. We are pleased with them so far and they have made the learning experience enjoyable. The weight (55lbs.) is manageable and they look and handle well. With the skeg down, they track within 5 degrees of true course. The seats are comfortable and adjust well from the cockpit, and there is plenty of storage. The dry storage has enough room that I was able to put in a small cooler easily and the hatch was watertight. Too bad the cooler wasn't and leaked melted ice all over my car keys, jacket, etc. Lesson learned!

The cockpit is roomy, I'm 220ish and I didn't feel cramped. There was plenty of room for adjustment for the foot braces as well. I would add a spray skirt or cover though as I managed to ship a fair amount of water past the drip guards on my paddle into the kayak. Probably just poor newbie paddling technique!

Overall we are very pleased with all aspects of the kayak and would choose the same model if we had to do it all over again.

I fully support the positive comments made by the other reviewers. I have had the Axis 12.0 for three months now. I also own a sea kayak and a sit on top fishing one. This is a splendid all around kayak. Both initial and secondary stability are excellent. Track very well for a recreational kayak. I have tried other brands recreational kayaks and I haven't found anything better yet.

With the skeg down, it tracks like an arrow, very useful on a larger lake with a rear-side wind. The large cockpit makes it very easy to come in and out even for larger paddlers. It also comes with a very comfortable seat and plenty of room for the legs. The hatch lid is tight and totally leak-proof.

My wife and I have used it on flat water, small and large lakes. My wife loves it because she feels very secure and it is so easy to control. I have used it on Class I and II rapids and again it handles very well. My only word of caution would be to add a flotation bag up front; otherwise if you capsize the nose will quickly dive down. In a rapid this can result in causing damage to your boat and on flat water it will facilitate recovery. Mind you that on flat water if you wear a spray skirt and know how to brace, it becomes very difficult to capsize considering how stable the boat is.

In short, we are fully satisfied; I can only recommend this kayak very strongly.

I am 19, 165lbs, and I'm 6'2".
The Dagger Axis looked amazing in person, even better than it did online, so that's a plus. The longest trip I've taken it on was 11 miles of flat/slow moving water from the Yamhill launch site in Dayton, to the Dundee paddle launch site (Oregon).

Specifics:(1 being lowest performance, 5 the highest)
Stability - 5
Seat comfort - 5
Skeg - 5
Weight - 5

So it pretty much aces my test. Dry Storage..It's my first kayak but I don't see how any other kayak could have much more dry storage space unless it was longer than 12ft. The lid to the dry storage is pretty hard to get off and on until you get used to it, it kind of breaks in.( I've only opened it 3/4 times).

I would TOTALLY recommend this kayak to everyone, great boat.

This is an exceptional kayak! It's light enough that I can load it on top of my suv by myself. It's stability on the water is great! Speed and maneuverability are both impressive. The skeg lets you track wherever you want go.

I bought this boat just about a month ago. I've used it on the Monongahela between Morgantown and Fairmont, WV, and I've also used it on the Savage River Reservoir in MD. While I didn't necessarily need the whitewater capabilities, I went for them as I wanted a more nimble boat if the need were to arise.

It is nearly impossible to express just how much I really love this boat. It is faster than I'd hoped, and I can almost keep up with my wife in her Tsunami 120, a sleeker speed demon of sorts. Plus, the skeg is amazing. As advertised, if you drop it, you're going to paddle in a straight line. As a point of comparison, I'd also tried out other beginner boats such as a Pungo 120, a Pamlico 120, and a Perception Zydeco. Why anyone would purchase one of those over this sweet Axis is beyond me, but then I suppose others have their own needs. But all of those above felt and maneuvered like tanks, often veering to wherever they wished, while this one just makes every stroke a joy.

I should also mention that it has some pretty nice storage solutions. The deck bungees are great, obviously, and I really like the mesh on the bow, but it's the rear storage compartment that won me over. It doesn't look like much, but last weekend I stuffed a soft cooler full of drinks, fruit, and sandwiches - and ice - in it, and there was plenty of room for at least one more, plus something else. I think I could camp for a week out of it - maybe only three or four days, but certainly it holds more than I'd expected.

Finally, though, I should mention that I am a really large person - width wise, that is. I am 6' tall, and I weigh in at 330. There is room to spare in the cockpit, which is great as I really hated the wide open cockpits in the other boats I'd tried. But this one fits me beautifully, and it's not too tight a squeeze to get into or out of. It's pretty simple, actually. And I also suspect that once I lose some more weight, I will actually be able to keep up with my wife in her boat, but in all, I could not possibly be happier with my purchase. I hope this boat lasts me forever; although, that may be tough as I intend to use it A LOT!

I love this kayak. I have owned many, and this truly is an all around boat. Flat water handling is excellent and edge turns are super sweet. The cockpit is ULTRA roomy, I am 6ft. 1" and weigh in at 245lbs. Cargo area is more than enough. That is to say if you have scaled down backpacking gear, which you probably do if you are looking at this there is plenty of room for a weeks worth of supplies. The fit and finish of this kayak scream quality. The hull is VERY sturdy. The foot pegs are very easy to adjust from a seated postion should you need to adjust from a more relaxed flat river position to a more aggresive moving river postion in order to take advantage of the optional thigh braces for added control. Go ahead and spring for the optional thigh braces, you will be glad you did. The seat adjustment is awesome, especially the ability to lift the front of the seat, it really makes a difference when you are in the water for extended periods. I have had this boat on a week long self support trip and I absolutely love it. It truly is the best of both worlds and handles flat water and up to class 3 with ease. By the way the skeg is aluminum and solid. Just don't forget to raise it before the fast sections. Get a skirt too you'll need it. ROCK ON!!! I could say much more but you'll have to see for yourself.

I've owned this boat for only a short while, but in the few times I've used it, I've grown to really like it. My previous boat was a Perception Prodigy 12, and on the smallest of river rapids around here, it would dive like a submarine, so I wanted something more capable on the rapids, without going to a whitewater boat.

The Axis is just what I was wanting. It handles small rapids without a problem. I've had it on class II, and stayed dry. And on flat water with the skeg down, it tracks well, actually better than the Perception Prodigy 12.

I have had my Axis 12.0 for 4 months now. I totally love it. I live in the west side of Michigan and have had the Axis on both the Michigan rivers and Lake Michigan. It has been a great experience. I had a Dagger Blackwater before and the Axis is far superior. It handles great on streams and on open water. The skeg works great when needed. They really retooled it from the previous Blackwater model. A great buy for the money and I would totally recommend it.