Jackson Hero Review

[ScottH]

I just got my new Jackson Kayak - Hero last week. I took it down Upper Richland yesterday at 5” airspace at the put in. I usually don’t “rave” about boats as they are a unique experience for each person who paddle them. But this boat was fun! I will spare you all the adjectives used in the media hype, you can read those for yourself. But this is one boat that is as it is advertised. I think this boat has a broad range of paddlers that will enjoy and benefit from its design. I got this boat for cold weather intermediate runs when my playboat is feeling small/wet and the creekboat is just too much work.

Creek Boaters –
After paddling it once, I think this boat will be great on our smaller volume, technical creeks. Turning, and correcting of lines in busy water is much easier than in a full displacement hull boats, kinda like my playboat. But without sharp edges to trip over, like some of the other crossover boats have. Once it does get on its side though, it acts like a displacement hull and can be saved with a brace easily (great secondary stability). I boofed over or plugged through as many holes as I could find with absolutely no problem. I thought, with it being a little shorter and more rounded it might want to be hole bait, but none of that so far. The top decks (both front and rear) seem to shed water quickly and easily when submerged and resurface fast and straight. I missed my stroke at Crack, and took too much speed for the eddy in Door #1 and this boat saved me. In my other boats, I would have probably ended up upside down and had to roll somewhere that would not have been fun. It was so enjoyable, I am going to sell my Habitat and start using this boat as my full time creeker. If it does not perform as I want on the steepest of what I run or on large volume creeks/river I will then look at something displacement, but I think it is going to treat me right.

River runners/Newer Boaters –
Folks looking for a great, safe, stable, easy to roll, comfortable, confidence building, (uhhh wait, didn’t I say I was not going to list all to same old stupid adjectives…) Lets start again. If you are NOT looking to do the latest play moves, and ARE looking for a great boat to run rivers, check this one out. When I was on Richland I really did not find any quarks with this boat. When I floated and did nothing, the boat did nothing to surprise me. When I kicked it in and went for sporty moves the boat responded perfectly and was a blast to work through the rocks. I would not recommend a creekboat to someone who is only going to be paddling class II-III. But I would defiantly recommend the Hero series.

Playboater –
Well, not what its designed for but if your world class like Team Jackson’s Stephen Wright, you can take this boat and do this.

I have a Hero in Little Rock and go to Rockport 3-5 day a week. Just let me know if you want to demo it at the pool or at Rockport. Ouachita Outdoors is where to get them and if they do not have your size (Side Kick, Hero, Super Hero) in stock, They could probably get one for you in a week or two. The Jackson Factory seems to be caught up.

[briansauer]

Why do you say that you would not recommend a creekboat for those who plan to only paddle class 2 and 3 water? (I am getting ready to buy a hero)
thanks for the review

[Renee H]

I think he means you really don't need a full on creek boat for class 2 and 3. I have a Diesel that I run easier creeks in and it is considered a river runner more so than a creek boat. I believe the Hero is also more of a river runner since it is not a displacement hull. You should be fine with it if you're running class II-III stuff.

[RandyJ]

Ran into a crew out in California this summer that was running the meat in Heroes - South Silver, Dinkey Creek Waterfalls section - and swore by them.

[Zach]

Why do you say that you would not recommend a creekboat for those who plan to only paddle class 2 and 3 water? (I am getting ready to buy a hero)
thanks for the review

On the easier stuff, in a full on creek boat, you'll be bored sitting in an eddy while everyone else is surfing.

[tominknox]

Good boat, I liked it too

Most stable boat I have ever paddled, handling is a notch below a magnum, outfitting is fine with me. Its quickly become the boat of choice for the hard core JK guys. I can see where on certain types of runs a Rocker or Nomad would be better but only on the most hard of the hard (Toxaway, Raven's, Road Prong, Cali Stuff, BC, Oregon, etc).

The one thing you didn't mention about the boat that greatly exceeds the Rocker is hole escapability once in them. A rocker punches holes well, but once in you are done. A hero gives you a chance to get out. Rockers also don't ferry particularly well, the hero is a ferrying rocket.

As for beginners with creekers (Sauer), the reason most don't recommend a creeker for your first boat is that they are too forgiving. You will learn horrible habits because they are soo stable. You can get away with anything on class 2/3 in a creeker. Later down the road, when you need the good habits, you will have never learned them or worse yet, you will have to unlearn the bad habits. plus, full on displacement creekers are boring unless on a creek or big water.