Pyranha Kayaks ReactR

I’ve been paddling the small Pyranha Kayaks ReactR for a little while now, and it’s been a lot of fun. After years in a medium Scorch (https://delkayaks.co.uk/pyranha-scorch-review-an-average-kayakers-opinion), I was curious how Pyranha’s most recent creek boat would compare. Many of my thoughts are based on paddling both the ReactR and the Scorch, and this article is shaped by that experience.

Before the review, full transparency: Pyranha loaned me this ReactR to test and share my thoughts. This isn’t a paid review. All opinions are my own.

Comparing the ReactR and Scorch: What stood out
Everyone asks, ‘ReactR or Scorch?’ I’m not ready to give up my Scorch yet, but honestly, I prefer the ReactR!
The Scorch has been a brilliant, reliable creek boat for me.

It tracks beautifully and feels stable. It’s earned its reputation as a modern successor to the Burn. I’ve had years of great paddling in it. My only real criticism is that it can feel a little slow to respond when you want to change direction quickly.

The Scorch relies on speed. When I was unsure of a line, I would slow down to read the river. Changing direction also caused a loss of speed, making it harder to get through holes or commit with momentum in the Scorch.

The ReactR reacts instantly. Its responsiveness is the main reason I’d now choose it over the Scorch. Although generally slower, the ReactR changes direction faster and boofs more easily. This lets you take extra decision time while paddling and be deliberate about where you go. The ReactR just feels good to paddle.

Despite paddling a small ReactR and a medium Scorch, both feel surprisingly similar in fit. The ReactR is a bigger kayak than the Scorch, so the small fit me much better. I discuss this further in the next sizing section.

I will share more details below, but I wanted to put this comparison up front. It’s what paddlers ask me about most.

ReactR sizing
The ReactR sizing runs larger than the Scorch sizing. I have included Pyranha’s ReactR size guide first, followed by the Scorch guide.

ReactR technical specs: www.pyranha.com/kayaks.php?kayak=ReactR

Scorch technical specs: www.pyranha.com/kayaks.php?kayak=Scorch

For reference, I’m 5’6 and 70kg. I chose the medium Scorch (310L) because the small felt just a touch too small for creek boating.

When I first tried the medium ReactR, it felt enormous. I knew immediately it wasn’t the right size for me. The small ReactR, at 306L, felt like a much better fit. Even though I’m near the top of its recommended weight range, it doesn’t feel that way on the water.

With kayak sizing, the technical specs should be used as guidance only. You should always try before you buy. Trying both sizes made the decision obvious for me. The medium ReactR was too big, whereas the small felt perfect.

Another aspect that really defines the ReactR is its rocker design: this kayak loves to boof!

The first thing you notice in the ReactR is the amount of rocker. The bow sits high out of the water. It took me some time to adjust. Once I did, I started to understand why people call it a kayak that “Just wants to boof.”

Point it forward with speed, and the ReactR punches through features. Drops feel smoother, and holes feel less intimidating. This kayak keeps its nose up with little encouragement from the paddler. Although if you ‘try’ hard enough, you can still plug it when you want to!

On a recent kayaking trip to Scotland, the ReactR made waterfall lines feel great. Add a well-timed boof stroke, and you fly.

In summary, the ReactR is a kayak that consistently encourages boofing.

The slicier tail: Responsive and playful
The contrast between the high-volume bow and the lower-volume tail is immediately apparent. The ReactR isn’t a half-slice, and the tail sits above the water. Still, it can slice if you direct it. My husband, who paddles a medium, can quite easily tailor his ReactR. I find that impressive.

On the river, this means high responsiveness. Using the tail to pivot the kayak makes quick direction changes easy. Moving across the flow is also very simple. Eddy grabbing is especially satisfying – you get that crisp, snappy feeling we all love! Paddling bigger-volume rivers, where you move around a lot, has felt much easier in the ReactR than in the Scorch.

I find the ReactR a touch slower than the Scorch, but in a good way. It gives you time to be deliberate with your line.

A small word of caution: the tail will catch you out if you stop paddling or drift into indecision. If your weight shifts back and you’re not active, the water will grab the tail. You might find yourself more vertical than intended!

Thankfully, the generous rocker has saved me when this happens. It never happens when I am actively paddling – just when I get complacent!

Personally, I like this aspect because I am trying to improve my decision-making when paddling. Having a kayak that gives feedback is always positive. The ReactR is so responsive that sometimes it feels like a two-way conversation!

Thoughts on the Elite outfitting
I’ve been impressed with the Elite outfitting on the ReactR. It feels comfortable and supportive. Compared to my Scorch, which has the old outfitting, everything feels more refined. Notable features include the backband system, thigh braces, extra-comfy seat, and the outfitting’s adjustability. You feel more connected to the kayak, and this shows on the water.

Of course, you still need to make outfitting changes to fit you, as you would with any new kayak. For me, this always includes adding extra seat pads, adjusting the hip pads’ position, and making a foam footplate that fits my feet. The ReactR was pretty good to start with, but these changes make it even better.

I’ve paddled kayaks with a cord instead of ratchets before, but have always been a little nervous. The cord can sometimes slip, causing the backband to loosen during paddling. Pyranha seems to have solved this by using a pulley system, which is neat. I have had zero issues with slipping so far. I am quite impressed with the redesign!

One thing to note: the extra padding has made it slightly more slippery, for want of a better word. I find it harder to carry the ReactR on one shoulder as I did with the Scorch. The kayak wants to slip off my shoulder! However, it is more comfortable resting on your shoulder and doesn’t dig in as much as the Scorch did. It just took me a while to find a position that keeps the ReactR in place!

Final thoughts
Overall, I find the ReactR a fun kayak that makes river running exciting! Its ability to turn, move across the river, and boof so well means I am loving paddling it right now.

If you want a kayak that rewards active paddling, snaps into eddies, and boofs like it has a mind of its own, the ReactR is a joy. As always, don’t just take my word for it – try one and see how it feels for you.

Happy ReactR paddling!
Price: from around £1,500