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. 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.
Cold Weather Paddling Gear
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.
A pin kit is the collection of equipment that you carry to aid in a whitewater rescue that may or may not involve a pinned kayak or canoe. Within my paddling group there will be several variations of this kit, it is important that the group is not reliant on one persons kit as it may be that person or that persons boat that is in need of assistance.
The areas in which you paddle may also dictate the type and amount of kit you carry.
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.
Student Kayaker Gear Guide 2022
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 known that the new Zet Kayaks Ninja has been in development for the last few years and have seen a prototype or two in that time. So it is great to see that its development is now complete.
Zet bill the Ninja as a creek boat that can turn its hand to most things.
If you’re looking for one boat that does it all, then look no further than the Zet Ninja. Our most versatile creek boat yet. The brain child of extreme paddler Honza Choutka, the Zet Ninja is the boat to use when the rivers are steep and technical, when you want to win races or when you just want to have some fun throwing it down while mashing through rowdy bits in complete control.
The Zet Ninja has taken more than 5 years to develop and has been tested by numerous world class paddlers. It has excellent stability in squirrely water and features a fast, nimble planing hull. Its progressive bow makes it smooth to boof and skip over the top of different river features. Just the right amount of stern rocker make stern squirts possible and horizontal and vertical eddy turns easy. The Zet Ninja is fast, fun and will make you feel just like the river ninja, you know you are.
Looks like the replacement for the Green boat, the Dagger Vanguard. There isn’t a huge number of images of this kayak yet. This looks like a full production model with its decals in place.
Surviving your first Uni Club trip is all about preparation.
Surviving Your First Club Trip
Firstly do you have the right kit and/or access to the right kit? If not get the very basics sorted. It’s going to be a miserable trip if you get really cold. Make sure you have a dry set of kit to get changed into at the end of the trip, something nice and warm is always a great idea and include a hat. A large beach towel is good bit of kit to get hold of. You’ll need to put this kit into something and also be able to carry your wet kit home with you. Ikea bags and plastic “bags for life” are superb for this job.
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