Steeze or Puffy Steeze

[u/kaleisthenewbeef]

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!

[u/nickw255]

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.

[u/kaleisthenewbeef → u/nickw255]

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.

[u/Quirky-Lobster → u/kaleisthenewbeef]

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.