So, you’re curious about the Pyranha InaZone? Let me tell you a bit about myself as a paddler before diving into the review.
I started kayaking around 3 years ago when I joined the University of Bristol Canoe Club. Prior to this, I had no idea the niche of ‘Whitewater Kayaking’ existed and had never been in a kayak. Three years on, I’m still very much an intermediate paddler and spend most of my time on Grade 2 and 3 rivers.
This, combined with the ever-indebted student lifestyle, means I have found myself paddling our faithful club Dagger GTs. So, when we received two InaZones from Pyranha to demo, I was instantly keen to try something different.
The InaZone is designed for Grade 2 and 3 rivers with beginner paddlers in mind. Compared to the Ripper, it has a fuller, more rounded bow, and its edges are higher – meaning it’s not as slicey, but far less likely to catch whilst still being plenty of fun.
The InaZone was very easy to paddle from the start. I first took it down the Dart Loop, and after a slightly shaky start getting used to the edges, hopping into my first few eddies, everything quickly clicked. From then on, the edges felt predictable, and my confidence with them only grew when I took the boat to the French Alps. By the end of my trip, I was able to carve into eddies and hop onto waves far more easily than I had ever done with the GT (and take some lovely curvy lines down rivers).
The buoyancy was another excellent feature. It skipped over most holes with ease, and even when surfing them, the boat remained stable and showed no signs of tipping. That extra bow volume also made surfing waves much less demanding – the bow rarely buried itself, making it easy to stay on the wave and focus on surfing rather than constantly correcting.
Now, briefly as a fleet boat.
Our club found the two available sizes (S/M and M/L) covered the vast majority of paddlers, with a full weight range of <80kg – <100kg. Additionally, the two available colours – Volcano Red and Glacier Blue – made it easy to colour-code the two sizes, making them easy for club members to distinguish and grab the right boat.
The InaZone is available with either Elite or Element spec outfitting. Our club had the (more affordable) Element spec, featuring a cleat backrest, a full-plate footrest, ratchets, moulded thigh grips, and a hull stiffener. For a fleet boat, it struck a good balance: simple enough to adjust between paddlers while providing comfort and connection.
The verdict? If you’re already chasing big water and stern squirts in a Ripper or ReactR, the InaZone isn’t the boat you’re looking for – and it isn’t trying to be. However, for paddlers progressing on Grade 2 and 3 rivers who want a more forgiving introduction to edges and a relatively buoyant boat, the InaZone is a good fit.
By Georgia Byford