ZET Cross Review

Number 5 (or 6 if you count Seuil Élizabeth) of Seven Sisters on the Rouge. Photo Juan Pablo Lavin V.

Background: 6 foot 2 inches, ~170 lbs. 6 months use, coming from 5 months in a ZET Five, 6 months prior in a Dagger Phantom and 1 year prior in a Pyranha 9r, recently Pyranha 9r2 and Dagger Rewind.

Use: Mid-Atlantic USA through Ontario, Québec region and 3 weeks Ecuador, couple multi-days. Mostly class IV, lots of class III and some class V.

Octoboof on an extreme low water run of Huit chutes. Photo Étienne Lemay.

For the last few years I’ve been trying out different ~9’ creekboats trying to find the best fit and just having fun with it really and the Cross, for me, is a game changer simply put. It perfectly marries the wistful control, sniper like edging and maneuverability of the 9r with the straight on hole busting momentum, confidence inspiring stability, acceleration and ability to hold a line of the Phantom.

Wonder Falls on a flooded Lower Big Sandy. Photo Hugh Daignault.

I believe this is due to the edge line being very similar to the 9r, though less pronounced, while the displacement and overall shape is quite similar to the Phantom, in addition to the classic, common characteristics of these 9 foot boats including narrowness and speed. Whereas the Five is a little bit small for my lanky frame and lacked an engaging edge where I wanted it.

Bastard rapid during the Upper Youghiogheny Race. Photo James Ratchford.

Like the Five, the Cross feels like a smaller boat than its listed displacement. It’s also listed bigger than the Phantom, but feels smaller to me, which for my size is a good thing. I found the Phantom felt too big and the Five too small.

Double drop on the Neilson. Photo Dominic Fournier.

Like all of the boats listed above, you need to paddle the Cross aggressively and get in that front seat, especially in bigger water. That said, from someone who isn’t a big water person, this boat seems much more adept at steep creeking than running the large volume. It is also the most forgiving boat of this style that I’ve paddled, which has tended to make me a lazy paddler at times.

Number 2 (or 3 if you include Seuil Élizabeth) on the Rouge during the Slalom sept-soeurs. Photographie Damien Larrigaudière (https://www.facebook.com/larrigaudieredamien/).

With weight in the back the boat doesn’t seem very affected, which is a bonus. Also the ZET outfitting cannot be understated, it is as comfortable as the Dagger outfitting, if not more, almost as customizable, lacks only the centre ratchet that lifts your legs on the front of the seat, and as a main point is way lighter. ZET are the only boats where I don’t install additional knee padding when I first get their kayaks either, all I had to do in this boat was adjust the foot-block and add hip foam, which is very unusual for me.

In short, I had a blast in this boat, and given ZET’s penchant for hull strength, and resistance to oil-canning, highly recommend it, to the extent that I’m keeping one around as a backup go-to creeker, especially for multi-day trips, even if it’s not my primary boat, as I start to use my Dagger Rewind M more.

Adam Frey

Another Cross.