Paddling tips, tricks, news and gear reviews from an Unsponsored point of view
Over the course of the weekend a paddler got into difficulty on the Kisdon Force section of the River Swale, resulting in a need for medical help and helicopter extraction.
Thankfully here in the UK we have volunteers and paid professionals who can help us get out of sticky situations.
Last week saw a delivery of Peak UK gear at Unsponsored HQ. This included the Peak UK River Guide Vest PFD.
We first saw the new line up of gear from Peak UK bask in 2015 at the Paddle Expo in Germany. To say we were impressed was on understatement. One of the designs on display was an updated version of the very popular River Guide vest, and it is this very item that we have in for review at the moment.
It’s been some time since we last had a dry top from Peak UK at Unsponsored HQ.
This one is Peak UK’s best selling Deluxe dry top.
The Deluxe retails at £225.
The limited edition Astral Greenjacket PFDs are always worth seeing, but this Astral Greenjacket LE9 in my opinion is the best yet.
Peak UK have been making custom designed gear for years. This recent design shown on social media today is simply outstanding.
Since 2011 we’ve been pioneering sublimation printed custom designed waterproof equipment. Not only great for teams, clubs and squads, but also a fantastic way to stand out from the crowd.
Here’s a sneak peek at a few of the processes it takes and the finished results. As Garth Algar said in Wayne’s World, “Foxy!!” Get in touch to start your own unique look.
It’s no secret that in the world of paddling, females are the minority. Therefore it is very hard for us to find comfort in most paddling kits, as they are generally tailored to a male figure. I’m sure many ladies will agree with me that finding a snug fitting yet practical drysuit is probably one of the most challenging parts of being a paddler. But as the female paddling community continues to grow, the increase in women’s kit means a huge improvement in the overall experience for us all.
When I first began kayaking, I was 13 years-old and strongly against cold weather paddling. It only took a couple of winter club trips to persuade my Dad that a wetsuit just didn’t cut it. When choosing my first suit, I felt DamX was the best option, as their suits are made to measure. I loved my suit, but as I progressed, I found it to be restricting, mainly due to its weight.
Soul Waterman, the Canadian based company founded by Olympic kayaker Corran Addison, is announcing the first ever custom kayak design program the industry has ever seen.
“We’re not talking about adding or cutting the seam a little to adjust volume,” stated Corran. “This is a real bone fide custom designed kayak to each individuals needs.”
Soul Waterman have two tandem kayak designs in their collection for 2017. The first is the Dos Amigos, Soul’s take on the classic Topolino Duo. The second is the Terrible Two, which has been designed to get kids out on the water a little more easily.
Buy one of these:
and then convert it to one of these:
You may have seen a number of images of a new kayak from Titan Kayaks posted on social media over the last few weeks. We have managed to get some information about this boat prior to its official release in the new year.
Titan has stepped up there range with there new Rival, thus entering the 9ft creek boat game in a big way. Full details are a little sketchy, but here is what we have so far.
Mike Arvidson managed to get a paddle of the new large Jackson Kayak Antix.
Specification:
Max paddler(lbs) 150 to 225
Cockpit Size 36 1/4 x 25 5/8
Height 14
Length 8’1
Model Year 2017
MSRP (US $) $1,199.00
Volume 72
Weight (Pounds) 42
Width 27
Palm Equipment’s new Arun Baselayer arrived at Unsponsored HQ in May 2015 and has been used on a regular basis since.
The Arun is part of Palm’s new 3 layer system and is available for both men and women. Both retail at £29.95.
From Palm:
Core 1 baselayers use Channel Flow technology to rapidly draw water away from your skin‚ helping to keep you dry‚ warm‚ and comfortable. Made from soft‚ supple polyester‚ with ActiveSeam stitching‚ the Arun moves and stretches as you do‚ for a new level of layering comfort.
If your outifitting isn’t right your kayak/canoe will not paddle as well as it possibly could. Below is a series of Outfitting Media videos showing outfitting setup for a number of different brands of boat.
You can also find over 100 posts in our Outfitting archive.
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