Although I wasn’t in the market for a new inflatable kayak, I’ve been intrigued by the STAR Viper, which is representative of a newer class of high-performance inflatable kayaks. Intended for running nearly any level of whitewater that you’d paddle in a hard boat, the STAR Viper is billed on the NRS site as delivering “hard-shell-like performance with the convenience and ease of an inflatable.”
That sounded good. So I rented a Viper for a day trip on Clear Creek west of Denver. To cut to the chase: I fell in love with this boat, but will likely not buy one simply because it isn’t practical for 96% of the paddling I do, which is on multi-day river trips with long stretches of flat water mixed with whitewater. But for a paddler who mostly runs day trips and wants a packable, super-responsive boat, the STAR Viper is a clear winner. (And I’m not ruling out buying one—I can rationalize nearly any boat purchase!)
Upsides of the STAR Viper
Convenient portability
The Viper weighs 33 pounds and packs down into a small duffel bag. You could easily pack it into a dry bag with backpack straps to hike to a river put-in. I kept thinking how nifty this boat would be on the Gunnison Gorge, which has a notoriously steep trail down to the launch site. The Viper feels ridiculously light and easy to carry when inflated, too.
Fast and easy to inflate
Although we had a battery-powered pump at the Clear Creek put-in because my fellow paddlers were R2-ing a small raft, I pumped up the Viper with a K-Pump 200 and it took about 10 minutes to inflate the five air chambers. Although the rep at the rental outfit warned that I would need the pump that comes with the boat to accommodate the Viper’s valves, my K-Pump worked fine. (I am not a fan of boats that have special valves and need special pumps, as noted in this buyer’s guide to choosing an inflatable kayak.)
PVC construction
Although I can’t attest to its durability over the long haul, the NRS site claims the Viper is made of high-quality PVC, and it certainly seemed to be of the same quality that you’d expect in a good raft. I would expect it to withstand abrasions from rocks and general wear and tear.
Thoughtful rigging
The Viper’s installed thigh straps immediately won my heart: I am a staunch proponent of thigh straps for inflatable kayaks and can’t imagine paddling an IK without them, even on flat water. Thigh straps are critical for holding you firmly in the boat, and that security allows you to paddle assertively. The Viper’s thigh straps are the same as my favorite NRS thigh straps, aside from the logo.
The Viper’s handles at bow and stern were well-placed and fairly comfortable. Only time would tell whether the handles would pop off under pressure (admittedly, the only time I’ve seen that happen to an IK is when the handle was used to tie off the boat and a huge windstorm caused it to snap off).
Comfortable, paddle-ready seat
In some IKs, it’s hard to sit truly upright: I tend to slither down in my Tributary Tomcat, which isn’t conducive to holding an assertive paddling position. But the STAR Viper holds you in a comfortably upright position. The flotation at your back is shaped with a vertical front plane, so you don’t find yourself inadvertently leaning back. Plus, the floor has an insert that allows for rigid inflation, which also helps prevent a sagging seat position. The front flotation made a perfect spot to brace my feet. I found the regular Viper to be a snug, but completely comfortable fit (I’m 5′ 8″ and about 145 pounds). Bigger paddlers can try the Star Viper XL, which is intended for boaters above 170 pounds.
Stable but maneuverable paddling
Clear Creek is a small, fast, cold river, so I knew I would have ample opportunity to test the boat’s maneuverability. It was dreamy. The boat felt stable—not edgy at all—yet I could move and spin it quickly. It tracked much better than I was expecting—little swirly currents didn’t knock it off course. It’s been a while since I’ve paddled such a small boat, so I got kicked around a bit on some of the initial drops, but once I learned the level of power I’d need, I had no trouble dodging rocks, staying on my intended lines (or quickly course-correcting), and generally staying upright in Class III waves. The flotation chambers in the bow and stern of the Viper help displace water and create a decked profile so you could roll it.
Downsides of STAR Viper
Not much room for gear
The STAR Viper’s only true downside is it has no room for gear: You could tuck a K-Pump into it, but very little else, unless you’re willing to deflate one of the flotation chambers. I would love to have the Viper along on a multi-day trip as an option for big whitewater days, but I can’t envision it being my primary boat for long trips.
High price for a limited-use boat
In my opinion, the $1,000-plus price tag for a new Viper is steep given its intention only as a day boat. But if I lived on the East Coast where yearlong, day-trip paddling options were plentiful, the Viper would be high on my list of needs.
STAR Viper excels as a convenient, high-performance inflatable kayak
The STAR Viper is revolutionary in its performance and convenience. Again, if I were primarily a day boater, I would buy one in a heartbeat. That said, I haven’t had that much fun punching waves in a long time. So the Viper might yet be in my future.
