The Jackson Antix 3.0 is a half slice built to do almost everything on a river, from a first surf to lines you are not ready for yet. Jackson took the half slice that outsold everything else in the category and made it lighter and more nimble, and the result is a kayak that grows with a paddler instead of being outgrown.

Three sizes cover paddlers from 95 to 230 pounds, which is a wide enough spread that most households can find two that fit.

What a half slice is for

A half slice has full volume up front and a cut-away, low-volume stern. The bow floats over what is coming at you, and the tail sinks when you want it to. That combination is what lets one kayak run a river downstream like a river runner and then stern squirt, pivot and splat on the way through.

For most paddlers it is the kayak that makes play feel available for the first time, because you do not have to choose between getting down the river and messing around on the way.

The double rails

The Antix 3.0 borrows its double rails from the Rockstar V. Flat on the water, the rails give it a loose, skatey feel that lets the kayak slide and spin. Put it on edge and they bite, so carving holds a line instead of washing out.

They also help the kayak skip out over holes and eddy lines rather than catching in them. That is the feel people describe as confidence: the kayak does what you asked a half second sooner than you expected.

Rocker, and a drier ride

Jackson added bow rocker and took stern rocker away, and both changes do specific things.

Extra bow rocker lifts the nose over waves and holes, so you take less water in the face and the kayak resurfaces faster after a boof. Lower stern rocker adds speed down the river and makes squirts, pivots and splats easier to initiate, because there is less hull fighting you when the tail goes down.

A wider planing hull underneath floats the whole kayak higher, which is the part that shows up as stability for a newer paddler and as speed for an experienced one.

The stern does two jobs

The stern is dual volume. There is more volume around your hips, which keeps the handling forgiving and predictable when you are just trying to get down the rapid. The tail behind that is extremely low volume with extra surface area, which is what makes downriver play easy.

You also get to choose which half you use. Sit forward in the seat for a forgiving downriver feel, or slide back to put your weight over the slicy stern and use all of it. Same kayak, two personalities, adjusted with the seat.

Specifications

Outfitting

It comes with Jackson's full whitewater outfitting: an adjustable hybrid seat, the Sure-Lock backband, Bees Knees thigh braces and a Uni-Shock bulkhead. The bow is roomier than the kayak it replaced and the knee position sits higher, which longer-legged paddlers notice within one lap.

Getting the size right matters more than any other decision here. The ranges overlap on purpose, and where you land inside a range changes how the kayak behaves. Heavier in the range makes the stern easier to sink. Lighter in the range makes it more forgiving.

Gearing up around it

A whitewater kayak needs three things with it. A paddling-specific life jacket, a helmet certified to CE EN 1385 with a multi-impact liner, and a spray skirt sized to both your cockpit and your waist. We wrote that up in full in Whitewater Safety Gear: PFD, Helmet and Spray Skirt.

For this kayak specifically, measure the cockpit rim before ordering a skirt. The Antix 3.0 cockpit runs from 34 by 19 inches in the Small to 36 by 22 in the Large, so the size that fit your last kayak may not fit this one.

Jackson Antix 3.0 Questions, Answered

What sizes does the Antix 3.0 come in?

Three. The Small fits paddlers from 95 to 160 pounds, the Medium from 130 to 200, and the Large from 165 to 230.

How much does it weigh?

36 pounds in the Small, 40 in the Medium and 45 in the Large.

Is it a good kayak to learn in?

Yes, and that is a large part of the design brief. A newer paddler can learn to surf, boof and splat in it, and an advanced paddler can push it as far as they want to go. Jackson built it to handle almost every type of whitewater paddling rather than specialising.

What do the double rails do?

They come from the Rockstar V. Flat, they give a loose and skatey feel. On edge, they bite for aggressive carving. They also help the kayak skip out over holes and eddy lines instead of catching.

What does a dual-volume stern change?

More volume around your hips keeps handling forgiving and predictable. The tail behind it is extremely low volume with extra surface area, which is what makes downriver play easy. You get both behaviours in one hull.

Can I change how it feels without changing kayaks?

Yes, with the seat. Sit forward for a more forgiving downriver feel, or slide back to use the full slicy stern for maximum playfulness.

What outfitting comes with it?

The standard Jackson whitewater package: an adjustable hybrid seat, Sure-Lock backband, Bees Knees thigh braces and a Uni-Shock bulkhead.

How does the Jackson Antix 3.0 ship?

Two ways. If you are inside our delivery area, local delivery shows up as a shipping option at checkout and we bring the kayak to you ourselves. We call ahead to set a meet-up, and since we do the unloading there is nothing for you to inspect or sign at the curb. Otherwise it ships LTL freight with a carrier running a 99.9% damage-free rate. On a freight delivery, look it over before you sign the receipt and write down any damage you see. That one step protects your claim. Then email clear photos to helpdesk@cfoutdoors.com within 2 hours. We email the full details once your order is placed.