After the Rexy, EXO Kayak once again demonstrates the innovation and design instinct this company possesses. With the Zion series, EXO sets clearly new standards in the whitewater sector. The EXO Zion Creek S is fast yet still remarkably manoeuvrable. Combining these two qualities is what defines the Zion series.
The Creek S is a brilliant boat for smaller and lighter paddlers. It has solid safety reserves to take it on seriously heavy whitewater. At 257 cm, the boat isn't extremely long but is still pretty fast. According to Marieke, it's actually a real rocket and accelerates accordingly well. The bow is noticeably less bulky than, for example, the Waka Goat. The seating position is therefore somewhat different: legs more extended and not as far apart. Because the boat is narrower, it's effortlessly steerable even for smaller and lighter paddlers. The boat only has more pronounced edges in the rear section, which means you don't get pushed around as much in powerful water. You also experience pleasantly few unexpected boat manoeuvres.
That Rocker!
The EXO Zion Creek S has, for a boat its size, the most pronounced rocker we've ever seen! The boat is practically a semicircle! This leads to several things. Firstly, the bow ALWAYS stays dry — it zooms, pushes and hops over everything in its path. The stern rocker is also impressive, meaning it's rare that you pencil out after bigger boofs. What's also important: due to the banana shape, even small changes in seating position already have a significant effect on handling. We strongly recommend experimenting with the seat position. If, for example, water keeps washing over your stern after boofs, try moving the seat a bit forward. This is easy to do thanks to the new metal plate with groove. Fore-and-aft weight shifts also transfer well to the boat.
Our verdict: a creek boat for everyone from about 45–75 kg! Definitely try it out!
Product Details — EXO Zion Creek S
- Very robust internal outfitting, easy to adjust
- Back strap adjustment via cord pull
- No foam centre pillar at the front — instead a space-saving plastic column (ideal carry handle!)
- Foam centre pillar at the rear
- Centre rail that stiffens the kayak by connecting the centre pillars to the seat
- Adjustable seat position
- Includes seat pad and side hip pads
- 1 handle front, 1 handle rear
- Adjustable footrest
- Made in Italy
Length: 257 cm | Width: 62 cm | Weight: 20 kg | Cockpit size: 78 x 50 cm | Rec. weight: 45 – 75 kg
