Dagger Nomad M

Size, weight, capacity

The medium Nomad is 8’6” (259cm) long and 26.5” (67cm) wide. The length is somewhat negated by the enormous rocker profile of the kayak, but the width makes the Nomad incredibly stable.

A paddler weight range of 135 – 210lbs (61 – 95kg) means this model is particularly versatile and fits a wide range of kayakers.

The Nomad Medium weighs 47.5lbs (21.5kg), surprisingly lightweight for such a sturdy kayak, very manageable for one person although you may need a hand loading it onto vehicles.

Features

Enormous amounts of bow and stern rocker on the Nomad make it incredibly maneuverable and predictable in steep, rocky creeks. The rounded, displacement hull resurfaces well, especially with Dagger’s redesigned top deck.

Inside the Nomad you will find Dagger’s highly adjustable, extremely comfortable Contour Ergo outfitting. The roto moulded seat is fitted with a leg lifter which holds you comfortably in an optimal paddling position, while a ratchet adjusted backrest supports you and gives you increased control, especially in bigger water.

Padded hip pads can be fitted with foam shims to keep them snug against you and, coupled with precision adjustable thigh braces, make edging the Nomad easy.

A safety step out wall and security handles are fitted for rescue scenarios and to make sure you can exit the kayak safely in any situation.

A drain bung at the rear of the kayak allows you to remove any water you may take on.

Performance

The Nomad design has hardly changed since the first model was introduced back in 2003, which should tell you something about how well this boat performs.

It is a boat which can be paddled in all sorts of river environments, but it’s steep creeks where it really comes into its own. The displacement hull and rocker profile make it perfect for riding through rocky rapids and paddling drops. Extra rocker on the newer version has made it even easier to keep your bow up and boof over holes and drops.

As always, the Nomad is an absolute master of staying on line and tracking well while being incredibly easy to turn and accelerate in the middle of messy rapids.

While bigger water isn’t exactly what the Nomad was designed for, it performs well on higher rivers. There’s always some give and take though, and the Nomad, being slightly shorter and less punchy than other models, doesn’t always get through features in the same way. The rocker profile and volume keep it on top of the water which sometimes means you come out of larger waves facing a different direction to how you went in.

Where the Nomad excels on larger water is the stability and forgivingness. Large eddylines and boily rapids don’t affect the Nomad in the same way as they do other boats.