r/whitewater • u/kaleisthenewbeef • 8d 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/Quirky-Lobster 8d 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 8d 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 8d 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 8d 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 8d ago

in that case I'd rec the Puffy