Pyranha Kayaks Storm
How it compares to the Firecracker
I’ve been paddling the small Pyranha Storm kayak for a while now, and I’ve absolutely loved getting to know this kayak! As someone who also owns and loves the Pyranha Firecracker, comparing the two has been fascinating. They are both half-slice kayaks, yet they feel so different on the water. Figuring out where each one excels has been a lot of fun.
Before I get started on the review, I want to be transparent. Pyranha loaned me this Storm so I could try it and share my thoughts, but this isn’t a paid review. Everything here is genuinely my experience.
This review shares my honest impressions of the Storm from the perspective of a Firecracker paddler who enjoys playful river running. The question I get asked most often is simple: What do I prefer – Storm or Firecracker? By the end of this review, you’ll have my honest answer and the reasons behind it. Enjoy!
A little bit about me
It is important to share a little bit about myself so that you understand the context with which I am writing this review! I have been paddling whitewater for over a decade, and my local run is the Holme Pierrepont whitewater course (HPP). I kayak in all sorts of places, and while I am often focused on river running, I really enjoy playing. I am a true kayaking enthusiast. I paddle because I enjoy it, and I paddle a lot!
I can surf a wave and am working on my spins, wall splats and tailees, but still have plenty of room for improvement. I enjoy playing, but I would not call myself a freestyle kayaker. You can see what kind of kayaking I get up to by checking out my Instagram page or other articles on this blog.
I started kayaking in a Z.One, and I have also spent a lot of time in both an Ozone and a Firecracker. For all of these kayaks, including the Storm, I have paddled the small. I am 5ft 6ins and 70kg and have generally been more comfortable in the small models. I like kayaks that are responsive and easy to manoeuvre.
I hope that sharing my size, paddling style, and experience helps you understand how my impressions of the Storm might translate to your own paddling.
Design Differences:
Z.One vs Firecracker vs Storm
I learned to kayak in a Pyranha Z.One, and it will always have a special place in my heart. I loved it so much because it was a really fun kayak. It was low volume with sharp rails, which made running gentle (grade 2-3) rivers more exciting, and I loved how ‘nippy’ it felt. It wasn’t perfect (rolling it was a challenge, and long sessions weren’t the comfiest), but it was undeniably fun.
When the Firecracker arrived, I assumed it might be a modern Z.One replacement. It shares some similarities, but from the first paddle it was clear that it’s a very different kayak. The Firecracker is narrow, has a lot of volume in the bow and has pronounced edges. It feels lively and playful, but also more specialised. It is a half‑slice that rewards active paddling and a forward‑driven style. (Don’t lean back going through a drop unless you want to tailee). I love my Firecracker, and you can read my review here: https://delkayaks.co.uk/2025/04/15/pyranha-firecracker-review-the-kayak-that-does-it-all/.
When the Storm came out, I was of course intrigued. Whilst arguably the Firecracker and the Storm are sitting in a similar niche of kayak (playful half slice kayak), the Storm has such a different design. This was immediately noticeable as soon as I took it for its first lap down my local white water course, HPP.
The Storm is wider compared to the Firecracker. The most obvious differences are its flat planing hull (very noticeable when surfing a wave) and its much lower bow volume. It generally feels much more balanced between the tail and bow compared to the Firecracker.I’ll discuss how these features affect it on the water in the upcoming sections.
How the Storm feels to paddle downstream
The Pyranha Storm feels instantly confidence boosting on the water as it is incredibly stable. I am technically right at the top of the weight range for the small, but it doesn’t feel that way at all. I am not catching my tail paddling downstream the way I did quite often with the Firecracker, which I think is largely down to the kayak’s design. The tail on the Storm sits quite high.
What surprised me most was how easy the Storm is to manoeuvre – it is very responsive! The Storm responds quickly and tracks beautifully, which makes ferrying, catching eddies, and punching through features feel effortless. Compared to the Firecracker, it feels easier to control and get it to go where you want, but still easy to throw around when you want to.
The edges are surprisingly friendly and forgiving. They can bite if you catch one in a feature, but they don’t punish you for being a bit off‑balance, and it has a huge amount of secondary stability. I really appreciate how easy it is to get the Storm onto edge and keep it there.
The Storm is also very playful, even within kayaking downstream. It is playful in a way that makes river running more fun. It snaps into eddies cleanly and encourages you to move dynamically downstream.
Generally, I have felt really in control when paddling the Storm, and even just paddling downstream has been so fun.
Surfing feels so good in the Storm
One of the reasons I’ve always loved the Firecracker is how much fun it is to play in when paddling downstream. It is known for its ability to tail. It is also fun to surf, but you do have to work for it.
The Storm brings a different kind of fun, and it really comes into its own on a wave. It surfs a wave so nicely, and I’ve found it far more predictable when setting up for spins. The flatter planing hull makes a huge difference here: it sits comfortably on the wave, holds its position, and gives you time to think about your next move rather than constantly fighting for balance.
In holes, neither boat behaves like a true playboat, but the Storm is definitely closer. Spins feel smoother, and initiating simple hole moves takes less effort.
Where the Storm really outshines the Firecracker is on waves. On a wave, it is easier to move around and more stable than the Firecracker. It carves beautifully. With HPP’s current configuration (full of waves), the Storm feels absolutely at home. I keep telling people ‘it’s the perfect kayak for the course right now.’ I genuinely mean this!
My experience with vertical play in the Storm: Tailees and splats
Tailees are the one area up for debate when it comes to the Storm vs Firecracker, and I know people have very mixed opinions on this.
The Storm feels slower than the Firecracker, and personally this works for me. I tend to overthink technique when I am trying to do tailees, which means I’m sometimes too late with my edge. The Storm, therefore, being a fraction slower, gives me the thinking time I need to be more deliberate when initiating a tailee.
Once the Storm is on its tail, its flat hull and wide tail mean that it holds its tailee really well. This is partly why wall splats are so much fun in the Storm! As soon as that tail is caught, you can hold it!
The Firecracker probably tailees better than the Storm overall. If you have reasonable technique, it is certainly easier to get the Firecracker on its tail. But I don’t think there is a huge difference between them.
Final Thoughts
After spending a lot of time in the small Pyranha Storm, I’ve come away genuinely impressed. It’s stable yet playful, and it inspires confidence. It surfs beautifully, spins easily and makes river running feel smooth.
Compared to the Firecracker, the Storm has a very different personality. The Firecracker is a fun, narrow half slice which keeps you on your toes. The Storm is more predictable and more stable, yet just as fun.
Where the Storm really outshines the Firecracker is on waves. It’s been an absolute joy to paddle on waves, and it’s helped improve both my surfing and spinning technique.
The Storm shines as a playful river runner that still lets you splat, surf, and spin without demanding perfect technique.
And hearing David’s perspective, coming from a freestyle background, it only reinforces how capable and fun this kayak really is and how much I could still learn in it.
Whether it is better than the Firecracker for vertical play is going to be based on personal opinion. I’ve really enjoyed getting it vertical, but I do appreciate that the Firecracker was delightful to tail.
So, which do I prefer – Storm or Firecracker? Right now, it’s the Storm.
The Storm is the kayak that makes me smile the most and suits the kind of paddling I’m doing at the moment. If you’re looking for a kayak that blends stability and playfulness, the Storm is a fantastic choice.
Of course, don’t take my word for it. Go and try one for yourself!
