Palm Equipment have updated the Gradient to version 3.0. This includes a brand new Vibram sole. This is a ground up design and not a small updated to the current Gradient river shoe.
Category: Footwear (Page 1 of 5)
We’ve just about hit that time of the year in the UK when it gets darker earlier and earlier, the weather has begun to turn and the water is that little bit colder – Winter Is Coming. Last week on the water was very cold and today the rivers are up and snow has hit the UK.
Being cold is not just uncomfortable it can also be life threatening. Having the right gear for the right conditions is key at any time of the year but the margin for error during the colder seasons is much tighter.
It’s defintely a good time to start to look at your cold weather paddling gear and assess whether it is going to be up to the job.
We do a fair bit of mountainbiking at Unsponsored HQ when there isn’t much water around and we have been using Five Ten shoes from the very start.
The newest addition to the flat pedal mountain bike range is the Five Ten Trail Cross. The version we have here is the Mid version which has much better ankle protection in the form of D30 inserts.
We have had at least one pair of Astral Brewers at Unsponsored HQ since there launch back in around 2013.
In that time I think we have had three pairs, so it is about time we published a full review.
Continue readingThe newest addition to the flat pedal mountain bike range is the Five Ten Trail Cross LT. The version we have here is the LT version which is more trainer like that the Mid Pro we reviewed on the site a couple of months back.
Size wise I still think that these run a little large. I usually wear Five Ten or Salomon in a UK size 10 and did originally order a pair of Trail Cross Mid in that size. However I found that the shoe is super long. I sent them straight back and now have a pair of UK 9.5s which after my first ride out fit great. So these LT versions are also 9.5 and as expected fit well.
Continue readingAlthough this buyers guide is directed at students in reality it will apply to anyone thinking about taking up the sport. Over the next few weeks many students will be starting Uni and will be looking at joining a club.
In most cases the Kayak/Canoe club in a university will be the best club to join. That can pretty much be guaranteed.
Continue readingHere we have the new Astral Brewer 2.0 in Basalt Black. These are the next step in the evolution of the Astral Brewer. Although the two versions I have look very similar in many respects the 2.0 has taken on a more rounded and developed look. It definitely looks more like a “normal” shoe than the original Astral Brewer.
This shoe comes equipped with Astral’s proprietary super-sticky G Rubber outsole. My original pair came equipped with Five Ten’s stealth sole, however later iterations were also supplied with the super-sticky G Rubber.
Although this buyers guide is directed at students in reality it will apply to anyone thinking about taking up the sport. Over the next few weeks many students will be starting Uni and will be looking at joining a club. In most cases the Kayak/Canoe club in a university will be the best club to join. That can pretty much be guaranteed.
We’ve just about hit that time of the year in the UK when it gets darker earlier and earlier, the weather has begun to turn and the water is that little bit colder – Winter Is Coming. It’s a great time to start to look at your cold weather paddling gear and assess whether it is going to be up to the job.
Being cold is not just uncomfortable it can also be life threatening. Having the right gear for the right conditions is key at any time of the year but the margin for error during the colder seasons is much tighter.
Although this buyers guide is directed at students in reality it will apply to anyone thinking about taking up the sport. Over the next few weeks many students will be starting Uni and will be looking at joining a club. In most cases the Kayak/Canoe club in a university will be the best club to join.
Peak UK have launched their new Racer ST. This revolutionary garment was four years in development and collaboration between Peak UK, British Canoeing and the English Institute of Sport.
The Racer ST combines a cag, deck and PFD into one single piece of gear. We’ve seen and used cag decks (top decks)from Peak UK in the past and they have been a firm favourite at Unsponsored HQ, but adding the PFD element takes this to a whole new level.
The PFD/Cag/Deck combo was used by Joe Clarke, David Florence & Richard Hounslow in Rio this year.
North East Kayaks & Paddles
Pure Land Expeditions
Northshore Watersports
Recent Comments