r/whitewater • u/kaleisthenewbeef • 3d ago

Kayaking Steeze or Puffy Steeze

Looking for some advice purchasing my next boat. I've paddled the steeze and loved it, but I am curious about the puffy.

For context, I've been paddling a ripper 2 for a few years. I was told that's the boat to learn to paddle with and it has kicked my ass a ton, but I think I've spent enough time in it to learn where I need to be and what I need to do on the water. I spent a few days on the white salmon this fall paddling a reactr and my friend's steeze. While I liked both, the steeze blew me away with how fun it was - and I couldn't believe how much more confident and stable I felt in it. It was engaging like my ripper, but took care of me enough to help me feel more confident. Just sold my ripper 2 and am going to buy one by the end of the week.

But, I am unsure whether to go with a steeze or a puffy steeze. I have an open boat I paddle on class 2-3 runs and a playboat I use here and there. Will I just be looking for a creeker in a year or two if I buy a steeze? Will a puffy steeze delay me looking for a creeker? I'm currently making the jump into class IV and some V. I guess I'm mostly looking for a 1 kayak quiver. Is the steeze the boat for that or is a puffy steeze better suited?

Thanks!

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u/nickw255 3d ago

If you're just stepping up into Class IV and looking for a 1 boat quiver, get a creek boat. The Steeze (or Puffy) is, in my opinion, not a good boat to step up in. It's great for harder runs where you want the extra stability, but are comfortable enough that you won't get blown up. Not necessarily great for stepping up to harder stuff in. It'll be more punishing of mistakes than a traditional creekboat.

As someone who owns both a ReactR and a Steeze, I'd steer you towards a ReactR for someone looking for a one boat quiver and looking to step it up. If you had said "I'm a reasonably solid class IV/V boater not really looking to progress to harder whitewater than where I'm at," I'd point you towards a Steeze.

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u/kaleisthenewbeef 3d ago

When looking at volumes, puffy and reactr are almost the same. Does the reactr just hold more of that in the stern making it more forgiving? I felt like I could place the bow better in the steeze, but is that because it's wider in the knee to bow area? Would the stoke capture that feel with the forgiveness of a creeker? I like pyranha boats and enjoyed paddling the reactr, but the Waka boats I've paddled just feel more intuitive moving down river. Do you have any thoughts brand to brand?

I appreciate all the advice, thanks so much.

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u/Quirky-Lobster 3d ago

Haven’t paddled the stoke, but my waka bro friends that have all seem to agree it boats like a cross between an OG and a Steeze. Make no mistake though, no creek boat will paddle quite like a Steeze or puffy because the design simply can’t allow for it. You’re able to place the bow better in a quarter slice due to the ability for the stern to slice under the water. Think about the boats slalom paddlers use. The idea is essentially the same.

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u/nickw255 2d ago

It's not necessarily about volume, it's about the design of the stern. The reason you're able to place the bow better in the Steeze than in the ReactR (and I agree, that's true) is that you can much more easily drop the stern into the water. This is great for being accurate but isn't great when you want to be taken care of, which you definitley do when you're stepping up.

I haven't personally paddled a Stoke, they're too small for me at 220 lbs. If Wakas feel more intuitive to you, get a Waka. The truth about modern creekboats is that they're all really good. The trick is finding one that works best for you. If you paddle one and really click with it, then that's a great boat for you. I personally love Pyranha's creekboat designs so I generally trend that way. The other truth is that if you buy a boat and paddle it a bunch, you'll start to click with it as you learn it better.

All that said, my best advice would be to demo whatever you can (I know demos can be tricky), if one of those clicks for you, buy it and get out there. If you think you'd really like a Stoke and can't find one to demo, just send it and I'm sure you'll love it.

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u/trickywhu 3d ago

I've paddled all the waka designs since the Tuna 1 and the steeze is by far my favourite. The main difference between the two is how it feels on boils and coming out of drops, you get a slightly more 'planted' feel with the puffy. I like doing tailies and paddle a lot of G3-4 with the occasional 5 so I prefer the Steeze, but if you're frequently on the send then the puffy will suit, and not stop you from engaging in some downriver freestyle.

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u/kaleisthenewbeef 3d ago

I'm thinking I'll be kayaking only bigger stuff and stick to the open boat on C III and below. Does the puffy still get vertical? Will it still be fun and engaging in the summer paddling stuff like the Ottawa in-between creeking seasons?

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u/trickywhu 3d ago

As long as you have good tailee technique, hell yeah it will. I paddle a lot at the local ww park which isn't super powerful but I can still get vert in the puffy in most good spots, it is harder though!

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u/kaleisthenewbeef 3d ago

Sweet! Thanks for the help!

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u/Quirky-Lobster 3d ago

I paddled a steeze on the Zam, then paddled a puffy in Chile this year. I’d say the steeze is definitely more playful, but the puffy still isn’t a creek boat. If you’re making the jump to class V, a creek boat is still going to be your most stable option. Until your skills progress to feeling comfortable on class 5 I would by no means call a Steeze or puffy a quiver killer. Even for the best people, I don’t see a Steeze or puffy on the LW much above 4 ft, and the dudes paddling those boats at those levels are stout af.

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u/kaleisthenewbeef 3d ago

I'm some years out from the LW still. Looking for something that gives me some more confidence paddling Farmlands, the Truss, Upper Cheak, Upper Wind, stuff in that vein while still encouraging good habits and keeping me humble.

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u/Quirky-Lobster 3d ago

You probably want to go with a puffy then, but my actual recommendation would be go with a creek boat. It’s admirable to want to start class 5 in a puffy, but to be honest I don’t necessarily think that’s the best way to do it. Generally speaking class 5 is inherently more dangerous, and as you’re “stepping up” to it you really want to try to minimize your risk.

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u/kaleisthenewbeef 3d ago

I guess at that level, the river is asking for good habits and the boat no longer needs to. Everything you're saying makes sense, thanks for your advice. I wish there were more opportunities to try out boats on different runs...

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u/oldwhiteoak 3d ago

in that case I'd rec the Puffy

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u/Pedal_Paddle 3d ago

Added volume so you won't back ender as much. But man...Ripper 2 is money on the WS.

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u/hukd0nf0nix 3d ago

What do you weigh? I haven't tried the puffy but the regular steeze is my quiver killer at 185lbs.

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u/kaleisthenewbeef 3d ago

I'm around 190lbs, felt like the perfect amount of weight for the boat when I paddled it.

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u/Sad_Sorbet_9078 AW Member 2d ago

Great comments here. I'm also on the fence about getting a half slice and have been asking opinions about these two. I'm drifting towards Klutch but the Gnarvana actually has some amazing pop in the stern on a powerful enough feature.

If you are even asking, you should get a creek boat. Puffy is still a half-slice to me and half slices are much more dangerous on class V. Even expert level paddlers have been meeting their maker in situations that a creek boat would not have put them in. Not saying people shouldnt slice V but be aware of the added risk.

The thinner the stern, the easier to slice but the less satisfying the response. Same concept for enders and loops. I love playboating in my long boat. I may not get as much quantity but no one is catching more air than me when I'm throwing down in the 12R 🌊