Unlocking the River in the new Jackson Antix 3 

The Jackson Antix 3 medium is a fantastic new half slice. It builds upon the high level of performance shown by the previous iterations of the Antix. This boat makes the river more exciting and fun with its aggressive edges, playboat hull, spicy stern, and rockered bow. For those who are looking to put away their old family sedan and get into the latest dynamic sports car, the Antix 3 will make your half slice dreams come true and put a smile on your face time and time again!

I moved the seat all the way back as soon as I got the boat, which is something I always do with half slices. If you’re gonna go to the party, you should go all in for a full night bender! The boat comes with a thick foam pad on the seat that lifts you about a half inch up. I prefer to sit low in my seat so I removed the pad. 

The Boat

Stern – A

The Antix 3 stern is playful and friendly. It engages easily, allowing for effortless squirts. It is well balanced and catches the water to allow you a stable ride when vertical. For those that love to back surf, the stern lacks the rocker needed to do this well so it pearls into a backender quickly. Going downriver, the stern doesn’t grab when you are paddling aggressively. The moment you float or get into a boily eddy, the edges and low volume can add some challenge. Paddling aggressively is a theme with this boat. If you are working the boat, the stern will perform magnificently. 

Hull – A

This boat has a playboat hull so it is a kayak for the aggressive paddler that wants to do cool stuff. This boat wants you to play the river. It is a fantastic surfing boat, spinning easily on waves and in holes. The sharp edges allow you to carve precise turns, make quick maneuvers, and carve back and forth on a wave with ease. The boat is pretty stable but also easy to roll. If you are looking for a high performance hull, look no further. 

Bow – A+

The bow is probably this boat’s best feature, especially in comparison to other half slices. It has a good amount of volume, which allows the bow to stay on the surface nicely when going down river or when front surfing. The rocker profile is a fantastic balance of high enough to help with downriver paddling but low enough that you can get the bow under when trying to ender or loop. The bow was one of the main draws for me when choosing this boat. Some other half slices I tried previously have bows that are extremely difficult to get under with a high amount of rocker and volume. I don’t want to be limited to just stern moves and the Antix 3 really is a kayak where anything is possible! 

Outfitting – A

The Jackson outfitting is outstanding. The Bees Knees are easily adjusted with the velcro to find the right setting for your leg and they hold your knees firmly in place. The seat comes with a ½ inch foam pad on it, which is comfortable but had me sitting higher than I like. I removed the pad and sit in a better position for me.

The hip pads are a nice shape and hold you in place well. They are easy to adjust and don’t wobble when in the boat. The backband is very good as well. The cord that pulls them tight is easily adjusted. The foot plate is supported by another cord and comes with foam for shorter paddlers. The footbrace does wobble some while paddling, which again is why I prefer the more solid bulkhead system used by other companies. However, I do appreciate that this system is lighter than the traditional heavy metal bulkhead so it’s a trade off. 

Comfort – B- 

I am giving a mixed review on comfort. My feet have a good amount of room and the seat is comfortable. However, the deck near my knees feels low and pushes my knees wide, which causes strain on my hips. Most other half slices have more room in the knee area, making them more comfortable to sit in. I removed the seat pad to lower my center of gravity and moving the seat all the way back helped immensely to create some extra knee room.

Boat Characteristic Comparison

From my previous review of the Skuxx, I absolutely love that boat. However, the superior outfitting that Jackson kayaks have, lower bow volume, along with the incredible reputation that the Antix 3 has for being a high level all river play machine, caused me to choose the Antix 3. It is obvious to me that the Skuxx and the Antix 3 are both excellent half slices that shine in different ways and here is my comparison to help you choose the correct boat for you.

The Antix 3 medium is definitely smaller than the Skuxx with volume and width so the two boats paddle differently. The Antix 3 is a half slice with a playboat hull. The edge for surfing in waves and holes definitely goes to the Antix 3. The Skuxx stays on the surface and runs rapids smoother with the bigger bow and the wider hull providing stability. The boats feel similar speedwise and both are very easy to squirt with the seat all the way back. 

Antix 3 M	Skuxx
Stability – B+	Stability – A+
Agility – A+	Agility – A+
Speed – B+	Speed – B+
Squirting – A+	Squirting – A+++
Balance on the Stern – A+	Balance on the Stern – A+
Carving – A+	Carving – A+
Rolling – A+	Rolling – B
Leaning – A+	Leaning – A
Boofing – A	Boofing – A+
Comfort – B-	Comfort – A
Friendliness – B+	Friendliness – A
Downriver – B+	Downriver – A
Overall Surfing – A++	Overall Surfing – A+

The Antix 3 is a boat that will make kayaking more exciting and fun. The dynamic hull will push you to match it with aggressiveness and creativity. If you are looking to add even more fun to your days on the river, you should definitely check this boat out. Take out the demo Antix 3 at Calleva’s River Store and unlock the river for yourself!

Author’s Note 

For reference, I am about 6 feet tall, weigh 180 lbs, and have size 10.5-11 feet.

The half slice kayaks that I have spent a lot of time in are the medium Rewind, Firecracker 242, and Skuxx. There are obviously some excellent designs that I haven’t tried so I always recommend demoing boats to see which one works best for you.