Jackson Zen 3.0 Sizing by wildwildwes | Jan 16, 2020 | Whitewater, Zen | 7 comments Sizing Your Zen 3.0 Left to right bow deck line-up: Yellow JK Zen 3.0 Large Lime JK Zen 3.0 Medium Sky Blue JK Zen 3.0 Small The J.A.W. is now stocked up with all three sizes of the new Jackson Kayak Zen 3.0 ready for demo action in the Appalachian Highlands of Northeast TN, Western NC and Southwest VA! But which size to choose? If you can’t do a demo, this can help. As you can see there is a good range for overlap in the weight factor for those paddlers in the in-between size ranges. Every kayak model has different design characteristics to consider for paddlers trying to figure out what size boat would fit them best. I typically recommend paddlers in those in-between size ranges to err toward the larger size model when helping them pick the best fitting kayak for river running and creeking. However, I have already found fitting paddlers into the new Z3 is an exception to the typical with the increased volume and width of this new design. For example a 6’-0” tall person in the 200-210lbs range fits much better into the Medium Z3 than the Large Z3. The float and trim look proper and performance is on point with this fitting. I’ve also help fit two smaller paddlers into the Small Zen 3.0 at 5’-3” in height and weight ranges from 125-140lbs and they both fit and floated like a glove. I tend to believe if a person was in the 150-160lb and not much taller than 5’-9” range he/she would want to lean toward the Small Z3 size also. I can also tell you I fit and float great in the Large Z3 at 240lbs, 6’-4” in height with a 36” inseam and size 12 shoes. This model is ergonomic with room to spare for me which is a nice and rare thing for me fitting into kayaks as a big guy! Another important factor while fitting into the new Zen 3.0 is the seat position (as with many other kayak models). Getting your knees in place at the highest point in the knee pads really helps to make the boats more comfortable with the lower/wider deck profile. If the seat position is set too far toward the stern from getting your knees in this optima place you may experience feeling pinched/cramped. It is easy to adjust the seat position by removing the one wing nut and sliding the seat where you will get lined up for the best seating position. Make sure you take a moment to check that when hoping in for your first demo of the Z3. [bigcommerce_product id=”1076″ order=”ASC” orderby=”date”] I hope these tips will help you in figuring out which Zen 3.0 size will work best for you. I also will always encourage you to try out a demo or two to get the full experience in sizes before you decide on your purchase. Your local JK dealer can hook you up with a Z3 demo or if you are nearby my area in the southeast the J.A.W. is here to help with free demos also! Check our more photos of the new demo boats on the JAW Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2621861347892913&type=3 For more JK Zen 3.0 info check out: https://hub.jacksonkayak.com/products/zen-3-0/ Find J.A.W Your location Search radius 10 mi25 mi50 mi100 mi200 mi500 mi Results 102550100 Blue Sky BoatworkBlue Sky BoatworksCoolersFishingFlex Drive (FD)KennelsRecreationRentalsWhitewater 7 Comments John moorr on February 16, 2020 at 6:56 am What is the depth of the kayak. Usually jackson lists the knee depth. I think it was 16 inches on the villain, 15.5 inches on the karma, and 15 inches on the nirvana. Reply Clay Wright on February 20, 2020 at 4:15 pm Hey John – I rarely go by those measures since the angles are what really affect comfort for me. I’m really comfortable in most of our playboats but less so in the Antix and Mixmaster but I think it’s more the width / height ratio than just height. I’m pretty happy in a squirt boat or even an old school slice boat. I can measure if you like (it’s raining right now) or just give me an idea of what your concern is and I’ll try to answer. Clay Reply Paul England on May 2, 2021 at 1:37 am I weigh about 210 and I am 6’1″ with a 34 inseam. I love the size of the medium vs the large (the large seems really big to me). I paddled a Dagger Mamba 8.6 for several years and at 89 gallons it had plenty of float for me. Would the medium work for me? It is hard to find demo boats here. Thanks! Paul Reply Wesley R. Bradley on May 3, 2021 at 12:39 pm Paul, I would say the medium would work good for you. I am 6′-4″, 240lbs and 36″ inseam and the large fits/floats me with some room to spare. Reply Paul on May 8, 2021 at 1:28 pm Thanks Wesley. I am going to get to try on the Zen 3 this coming Tuesday, but I am not sure I will be able to actually demo one. After everything I have read – including the responses from you and Clay, I am leaning toward the large version. Watching videos of pro kayakers like Clay in the medium version – all guys weighing from 150 to about 180, I think me at 210 in the medium (at least 215 with gear) would be a really different story for someone at my level. I think I will be safer with the large. My only concern and my question is – whether tlots of he large is just a stretched version of the medium – which looks so nimble and fun in the videos. I once paddled a large Karma and found it a bit tank-like for me. So I am deciding on pulling the trigger on the Zen 3 or waiting for the new Dagger Code that is coming out this fall. As a big guy, I appreciate your feedback. I did find some feedback on Shred Jesse’s site – he is a big guy that really likes the large Zen 3. It is interesting that in his initial review he knocked it for being hard to roll, then in a later review commented that it was easy to roll. I am taller than him, so I think wrapping around the boat won’t be too much of an issue. My Mamba 8.6 seemed to be easy to roll. Thanks for any info you can provide! Paul Reply Wesley R. Bradley on May 10, 2021 at 10:47 am The Z3 Large is going to probably feel big for you if you thought the Karma Large felt big on you also. Rolling the Z3 does take a bit more effort than most of our other models due to its increased initial stability. It is not a huge difference, but it is noticeable to me. I can tell you in my demos over the last 8 months with the boats at pool sessions paddlers that are in the 200-215 range around your height tend to lean more toward the medium size, but your points are valid. If you can find one or each size to sit in would probably help you figure out that matter quickly. Reply Rishi on April 21, 2022 at 1:02 am Hey! I’m a novice kayaker, looking to get a Z3 for my first kayak. I’m 5’9, 160 (without gear) so literally at the top end of what the article says may work for a small. I’m going to buy the boat online so won’t have a chance to demo, should I have any concerns going with the small being at the upper limit? Is it worth considering the medium as well? Reply Submit a Comment Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ
John moorr on February 16, 2020 at 6:56 am What is the depth of the kayak. Usually jackson lists the knee depth. I think it was 16 inches on the villain, 15.5 inches on the karma, and 15 inches on the nirvana. Reply
Clay Wright on February 20, 2020 at 4:15 pm Hey John – I rarely go by those measures since the angles are what really affect comfort for me. I’m really comfortable in most of our playboats but less so in the Antix and Mixmaster but I think it’s more the width / height ratio than just height. I’m pretty happy in a squirt boat or even an old school slice boat. I can measure if you like (it’s raining right now) or just give me an idea of what your concern is and I’ll try to answer. Clay Reply
Paul England on May 2, 2021 at 1:37 am I weigh about 210 and I am 6’1″ with a 34 inseam. I love the size of the medium vs the large (the large seems really big to me). I paddled a Dagger Mamba 8.6 for several years and at 89 gallons it had plenty of float for me. Would the medium work for me? It is hard to find demo boats here. Thanks! Paul Reply
Wesley R. Bradley on May 3, 2021 at 12:39 pm Paul, I would say the medium would work good for you. I am 6′-4″, 240lbs and 36″ inseam and the large fits/floats me with some room to spare. Reply
Paul on May 8, 2021 at 1:28 pm Thanks Wesley. I am going to get to try on the Zen 3 this coming Tuesday, but I am not sure I will be able to actually demo one. After everything I have read – including the responses from you and Clay, I am leaning toward the large version. Watching videos of pro kayakers like Clay in the medium version – all guys weighing from 150 to about 180, I think me at 210 in the medium (at least 215 with gear) would be a really different story for someone at my level. I think I will be safer with the large. My only concern and my question is – whether tlots of he large is just a stretched version of the medium – which looks so nimble and fun in the videos. I once paddled a large Karma and found it a bit tank-like for me. So I am deciding on pulling the trigger on the Zen 3 or waiting for the new Dagger Code that is coming out this fall. As a big guy, I appreciate your feedback. I did find some feedback on Shred Jesse’s site – he is a big guy that really likes the large Zen 3. It is interesting that in his initial review he knocked it for being hard to roll, then in a later review commented that it was easy to roll. I am taller than him, so I think wrapping around the boat won’t be too much of an issue. My Mamba 8.6 seemed to be easy to roll. Thanks for any info you can provide! Paul Reply
Wesley R. Bradley on May 10, 2021 at 10:47 am The Z3 Large is going to probably feel big for you if you thought the Karma Large felt big on you also. Rolling the Z3 does take a bit more effort than most of our other models due to its increased initial stability. It is not a huge difference, but it is noticeable to me. I can tell you in my demos over the last 8 months with the boats at pool sessions paddlers that are in the 200-215 range around your height tend to lean more toward the medium size, but your points are valid. If you can find one or each size to sit in would probably help you figure out that matter quickly. Reply
Rishi on April 21, 2022 at 1:02 am Hey! I’m a novice kayaker, looking to get a Z3 for my first kayak. I’m 5’9, 160 (without gear) so literally at the top end of what the article says may work for a small. I’m going to buy the boat online so won’t have a chance to demo, should I have any concerns going with the small being at the upper limit? Is it worth considering the medium as well? Reply
