Jackson Kayak Rockstar V Review

I don’t usually “spoil” my review right out of the gates, but in this case, it just makes sense. I had a blast testing out the new Jackson Kayak Rockstar V. It’s not everyday I get to play around with a bomber freestyle kayak, so I’m pretty excited to tell you all about it.

For those of you less familiar with whitewater kayaks, there are essentially 3 main categories: those meant for play boating (freestyle), river running, and creek boating. The Rockstar V falls into the first category.

Now, I usually take a couple of hours to get acquainted with my test subjects, but in this case I spent 2 days messing around with the Rockstar V. I started with a river run, and then I looped, cartwheeled, and surfed away the following afternoon. So yeah…I enjoyed myself. Now let’s unpack the reasons why. 

About the Jackson Kayak Rockstar V – Large Version

Price: $1,599 (USD)

Length: 5’ 11”

Width: 27.5”

Volume: 69 GAL (262 L)

Weight: 34 LBS (16 KG)

Range: 180 LBS – 240 LBS

Primary Use: Whitewater (Freestyle)

Double rails for carving

The Jackson Rockstar V has double rails for carving. It also has a flat hull, for spinning. Inside you’ll find the Jackson Kayak Bee’s Knees Thigh Hook System, Sure-Lock Backband System, Sweet Cheeks Seat System, and Foam Footblock System. The bow has an integrated Go-Pro mount, which made filming my paddle test a lot more interesting. And one last thing to note, the Rockstar V has a small, medium, and large version, covering a capacity range of 100 to 240 pounds. I tested the large. 

How heavy is a Jackson Kayak Rockstar V?

When talking about the Jackson Kayak Rockstar V, the weight will depend on whether you go with the small, medium, or large offering. Because I’m 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, I went with the large. It’s still tiny (in a good way), and weighs only 34 pounds. I could easily carry it around by myself, and was even able to fit the sub 6-foot boat in the back of my pickup truck, without even needing to pull the tailgate down. 

How does the Rockstar V kayak perform?

The Jackson Kayak Rockstar V is designed for freestyling in the whitewater. It’s great for surfing waves, playing around in holes, maneuvering on a dime, etc. The double rail system allows it to carve harder than any kayak I’ve ever experienced. All of this makes it a fantastic play boat! It’s even fun to mess around with on flat water.

And not only does it perform its intended duties to perfection, this kayak is also super user-friendly. I have no doubt that the Rockstar V will produce World Champions, but it will probably also help novice whitewater kayakers surf their first waves sooner than any other craft. I even took it on a river run, which is outside of  its purview (because play boats are quite short and slow), and yet I still had a good time, and felt that it was easy to operate. 

Is the Jackson Kayak Rockstar V comfortable?

One of the reasons I’ve dialed back my whitewater kayaking is because of general discomfort. Since I’m a taller guy (6’ 2”), I found myself having to squeeze into small kayaks that could perform the way I wanted. Over the years I gradually made the shift to larger kayaks, in order to increase my comfort level, but at the cost of performance.

High performance and comfort

I was therefore thrilled to see that the Jackson Kayak Rockstar V brought together both high-performance and comfort. I finally had sufficient room for my knees and feet, though I would say that I’m at the max height/leg length for this kayak. If you’re tall and/or have big feet, be sure to get in there and feel it out before pulling the trigger. 

Bee's Knees, Sweet Cheeks and Sure-Lock Backbands

In terms of specific features, the trifecta of comfort was the Bee’s Knees Thigh Hook System, the Sweet Cheek Seat System, and the Sure-Lock Backband System. The first two were exceptional and the backband was solid. These systems did require a good deal of finagling to get them fitted for my preferences, but this was well worth it for when I hit the water. Top marks for comfort! 

Who is the Jackson Kayak Rockstar V for?

As I mentioned a bit earlier, the Rockstar V is for a wide range of whitewater paddlers – all the way from greenhorns to cream-of-the-crop experts. Any paddler who is looking to surf some waves/mess around in holes will get a welcomed boost of confidence from this kayak.

The thing to note is that play boating should be your primary focus. The Rockstar V does a passable job at river running, but it’s not specifically designed for that environment. Likewise, high-quality river runners won’t be able to compete with the Rockstar V when it comes to freestyling. 

Is the Jackson Kayak Rockstar V worth it?

$1,600 (USD) is certainly a lot of money, but that’s what high-performance whitewater kayaks go for these days. For what you get, this standard price point is worth it. If you’re interested in what the Rockstar V offers but don’t currently have that kind of spending money, then you may be able to find an older generation Rockstar kayak, or spot a second-hand sale in the off-season. 

The Jackson Kayak Rockstar V did exactly what it aims to do. I had so much fun that it felt like I was 15 years younger for the entire time I was in the cockpit. I will be flushing my sinuses out for the next week or so because of all the rolling I did, but that’s totally worth it for the two days of joy that this thing gave me.

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