A few images from last weekend are emerging of a new Liquidlogic kayak. The Mullet as shown in the image below looks like a classic short river running play boat.
Category: Gear (Page 67 of 135)
Another new Palm Equipment product in for review at Unsponsored HQ. This is the new Palm folding knife.
The image below shows the Palm Folding knife with a Spyderco UK Penknife (Orange FRN), and Spyderco Ladybug.
It seems that Unsponsored HQ is starting to resemble a little bit of a shoe shop. Following on from the arrival of footwear from Baffin, Astral, and NRS we have the arrival of the new Palm Gradient boots.
From Palm:
A boot which will eat up hike-ins‚ precarious scouts and tough portages. Confidence inspiring ankle support with protective scratch rubber reinforcement and a secure lace-up fit (good with or without drysuit socks)‚ the Gradient still maintains a low profile to fit comfortably in your kayak. Built upon our Vibram sole made from HydroGrip rubber. The ultimate in wet traction.
I was lucky enough to try the 9R prototype back in August and ever since have been in love with the boat. I have had the opportunity to try it in a number of different situations – steep creeks to big volume, river running to racing to expeditions, and it just keeps surprising me by how well it performs.
My previous boat was very forgiving and a bit overkill for the sort of kayaking I was doing 90% of the time in the UK (Tees, Kent, Leven etc). I often get frustrated with people buying big creek boats too early in their kayaking careers and then relying on the boat to get them down things rather than being proactive and learning the skills themselves, even if it means risking swimming a bit more. I figured I should practice what I preach and find a less forgiving boat which would help me learn more skills and push my boating further. The narrow shape and edginess of the 9R means that it definitely fits this category.
Over the last few weeks the footwear of choice for all boating duties have been the NRS Velocity Boots. NRS have released both the Velocity and Crush watershoes for 2015. We have both types here at Unsponsored HQ.
The Velocity boots have seen a fair bit of water time. Here is what I think so far.
Over the last two weeks I have welded up a number of boats here at Unsponsored HQ. So I thought I would share some of the work carried out “Welding – A Review” if you like.
The first boat a Dagger Mamba was welded twice. Once on the nose which also included getting a huge dent out and again on the hull under the seat.
Losing a GoPro because the sticky mount has failed is not a nice experience. I have been there. Using a leash or tethering system has become a key part of using a GoPro, especially when attached to a kayak, paddle or helmet. Since the release of the Blackout housing and GoPro Hero 4 the usual place to add a leash to tether the camera has gone.
GoPro have removed access to the metal bar that acts as part of the hinge, this was used by many to attach a thin piece of cord although some cases have failed due to this. There are two alternatives to using the hinge that depend upon the thumbscrew on the QR mount.
Having a good kit bag is pretty important to me. It keeps my wet and often dirty kit safe and secure and helps prevent kit (or the inside of my car) being damaged.
A while back I bought an NRS Bills bag, which is an awesome bit of kit. Absolutley cavernous and very well put together. However if out for a quick paddle it is probably too big.
Recently I purchased a fluid bazooka because after a few beaterings it became apparent that to run the bigger rivers in wales I’d need a bigger boat!
The Bazooka is one of the smaller white water boats on the market coming in a just over 2 and a half metres but has shed loads of volume. It’s a boat designed for steep technical rivers but will still look after you on bigger rivers.
The guys from Whitewater The Canoe Centre have one of the first Ace of Spades kayaks and have kindly agreed to these images being shared on Unsponsored.
The Ace of Spades is the first boat from new kayak company Spade Kayaks. They deploy the blow moulded technique to produce the Ace.
The new 2015 Palm Horizon shorts landed a month or so ago at Unsponsored HQ. Since then they have been used several times, even when it was a little too cold for shorts.
First of all these are lined shorts, the inner shorts are made from soft fleece but the waist band is neoprene. This band sits nice and high and gives good lower back coverage when sitting down. I find this to be probably the most important feature in a pair of shorts that will be used for kayaking/canoeing. Sometimes board shorts don’t give the additional coverage. The shorts’ waist is fastened/adjusted by a lacing system in the same style as many board shorts. What is quite nice is that the laces cannot easily be pulled through the lace holes.
Andy Butler takes a P&H Hammer On The Mawddach. The P&H Hammer is a 13ft sea kayak. Could it also be a great river runner or creeker?
Pure Land Expeditions
Northshore Watersports
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