AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF DAGGER'S NEWEST KAYAK, THE INDRA WITH NOC CUSTOMER HALIE ORR.
I am a “class fun” type of paddler based in the Southeast. My paddling journey started in 2011. I have taken private instruction throughout my years of paddling from NOC Paddling School, Anna Levesque and Ace Kayaking School. I like class II to III+ with an occasional class IV. I practice hard moves on easier whitewater, working on skills and changing things up often, paddling half slices, full slices, play boats, river runners and creekers.
Now lets get into it!
I have been paddling the Indra since May 4th, 2024. My curiosity in first demoing the Indra on the Nantahala River was the new quarter slice design. I wanted a more carvy and agile boat for stepping up my paddling as well as hitting more challenging rivers. The Dagger Indra is most certainly a remarkable, high-performance kayak that is an absolute delight to paddle! It brings the stability and predictability of a creek boat with the control and carving fun of a half slice. I would describe the Indra as a sporty Creeker and a River Runner. The boat allows me to paddle what I consider to be somewhat difficult rapids while keeping things fun, predictable, and sporty.
"The Indra is the first sporty creek boat that I am very confident in" - Halie Orr
What type of river is ideal for this boat?
Some paddlers say that this would be a great boat for bigger water out west. While I do not disagree with this statement, I would also add that the Dagger Indra is a delight to paddle on lower volume rivers such as the Nantahala. On bigger volume water, such as the Ocoee and upper Pigeon, the Indra truly showcases its performance capabilities.
What level boater is the Indra ideal for?
The Indra is an excellent choice for intermediate to advanced boaters. The Indra will challenge a beginner but in a way that will help them progress quickly. If you wish to push yourself and paddle a boat that will challenge you to build skill, the Indra may be the perfect option. The Indra wants to go fast, requires a lot of input from the paddler, wants to be paddled aggressively, and requires good posture.
Outfitting:
At 5’5” and around 150 lbs., I have struggled with boat outfitting. Often, I’ve felt lost in boats with too much room and a comfortable fit required lots of work and adjustment. The comfortable new Dagger Contour Outfitting with the Dagger leg lifters and the Contour Ergo Engage Thigh Brace System has solved those issues for me. Providing ultimate “boat to body” contact and unmatched control.
The Contour Ergo Engage Thigh Brace System can move forward or backward into 5 different positions. I watched the Dagger instructional YouTube video, “How to Outfit and Adjust the Engage Thigh Brace System” and had the thigh braces dialed in no time.
I chose to replace the inner thigh hooks with the more aggressive option. The less aggressive thigh hook system is pre-installed but comes with the more aggressive thigh hook option if you want to switch them out. The thigh hooks are adjustable from outboard to inboard depending on where you prefer it to sit on your thighs. An extremely useful adjustment for comfort and contact.
The Hull:
The wide nimble planing hull allows the Indra to remain on top of the water. A few strokes and you are out the gates, up to speed, and the race is on. The hull’s speed and maneuverability keep the boat slicing through currents and the edges make for a fun carving ride. The Indra is stable, recovering swiftly with bracing, turning and carving. The boat has good primary stability and even better secondary stability.
The Bow:
The Indra has a large amount of bow rocker which allows you to climb up and over features and is extremely maneuverable. The boat is easy to place on the correct line through boogie water and rides high over large holes.
The Stern:
The tapered stern and camber in the tail turns the momentum of the climbing bow into a very controlled and speedy ride. The camber and stern rocker help me skip out of drops with ease. The stern is somewhat in the water, which helps the boat to track and carry speed. The stern slices and carves well while performing S-turns, pivot turns, and eddying. I have found that on drops, large waves and eddy lines, the stern drops a bit below the surface and pops back up with forward progression which allows me to remain under control.
Rolling:
The Indra is the first sporty creek boat that I am very confident in. A first missed practice roll in the Indra was easily remedied by a simple body position adjustment in the boat toward the thinner rear area of the cockpit. I am now paddling in wave holes and side surfing, resulting in some window shading, but have nailed my combat rolls!
Playing:
You will not find me splatting boats up and down river like some of the amazing play boaters out there. The ¼ slice of the Indra attracted me for the style of paddling that I do. I run and gun down the river, paddle hard in and out of eddies, carve up waves, and play a little on the side. This boat is like a sports car. It is a carving and surfing machine, catching fast waves that used to be impossible for me to surf. The Indra allows me to front surf, perform 360 spins, catch micro eddies, and hit some challenging lines. For my style of boating, the Indra has been an absolute blast to paddle.
Eddying and peeling out:
I like to come into eddies with speed and carve in like a snowboarder, this boat is a beast at that. The Indra eddies out and stops on a dime with very predictable control. I peel out hard on edge, which it handles exceptionally. With good technique, this boat is perfect for styling it down the river.
Carryability:
Weighing in at 48 pounds, the S/M Indra is a tad bit heavier than other slicier boats. The boat sits well on my shoulder and the grab handles are placed very well. I haven’t done many beastly portages but would imagine that the Indra would handle well.
Overall Feelings on the Dagger Indra!
I really enjoy paddling the Indra. The S/M fits me better than any boat I have ever paddled. At my size, I am often on the top size of a small and the low size of a medium. The S/M Indra fits me just right.
The Indra is an incredibly fun and sporty ride. On the flip side, the Indra can sometimes spin out. This had me scratching my head for a bit, but I learned to overcome the spin outs by edging the boat more. The Indra is not a boat to be paddled flat. If you like to paddle flat, sit back, and not put in many strokes, the Indra will most likely not be the ideal boat for you. I am having a blast learning and unleashing the performance capabilities of the Dagger Indra!
Written By: Halie Orr
Check out more adventures with Halie and her partner Jes on Youtube! Elevated Life Adventures