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Paddling tips, tricks, news and gear reviews from an Unsponsored point of view

Category: Safety & Rescue (Page 1 of 13)

Palm Equipment Nevis PFD – First Look

June 22, 2020 / / 1 Comment

Hot on the heals of the Kokatat Hustle R is the Palm Equipment Nevis PFD. We now have one of the very first at Unsponsored HQ for review.

Palm Equipment Nevis PFD - First Look
Palm Equipment Nevis PFD – First Look

The Nevis is an over the head slab PFD with a number of features I have not seen before in a PFD.

The Nevis PFD is the culmination of research from UCLan, design by Barney Caulfield and testing worldwide by Bren Orton. At its core is the Delta Fit adjustment system. Two wings that wrap your ribs, reducing pressure on your abdomen, helping you to breathe and increasing mobility. Set-up to go in five fluid steps, with fewer buckles (including new load tested aircraft grade aluminium hardware). The Nevis has the world’s first Piggyback adjustable quick release chest harness, improving upon the latest research, so that releasing your harness doesn’t affect the fit of your PFD. The Nevis sets a new standard in fit and safety.

Palm Equipment
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Level Six Quickthrow Pro

May 11, 2020 / / 1 Comment

Level Six have released a brand new throw line that uses 20m of static Dyneema rope that glows in the dark.

Level Six Quickthrow Pro
Level Six Quickthrow Pro

The 3/8” 20 M rope features an 11% stretch threshold and boasts a 1700KG breaking strength. The mesh panels allow quick draining and drying, and the gusseted zipped opening system is designed to make re-packing your throw bag quick and easy.

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Breaking Down A Rescue

May 5, 2020 / / 0 Comments
Breaking Down A Rescue
Breaking Down A Rescue

Last Spring we were running the South Yuba in California, when things went a little sideways. Luckily it didn’t go worse because I was able to rope Evan out before he had to swim some gnarly rapids. In this video I decided to breakdown a few steps I took to allow me to be able to successfully get Evan out, and hopefully they will help you whenever you need to help someone out!

Dane Jackson
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Palm Equipment APC Ring – First Look

May 3, 2020 / / 0 Comments

At the end of last week I purchased a Palm Equipment APC Ring. The APC Ring is a fat anodised aluminium O-ring for your PFD chest harness providing an easy to recognise attachment point.

At the time of ordering there wasn’t any detail on the how strong this ring actually was. But it seems that either the Palm website has been updated with more detail or I missed it in the first place.

Palm Equipment APC Ring - First Look
Palm Equipment APC Ring – First Look
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Whetman Equipment Bait Ring

April 25, 2020 / / 0 Comments

We have a Whetman Equipment Bait Ring winging its way to Unsponsored HQ.

Whetman Equipment Bait Ring

This 12mm aluminium ring has an internal diameter of 45mm and a minimum breaking strength of 25kN.

It is also UK made.

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Pin Kit/Rescue Gear

April 9, 2020 / / 13 Comments

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.

Pin Kit/Rescue Gear
Pin Kit/Rescue Gear
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Kayak Safety Features – Run Down

March 17, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Kayak design has moved on so much since I started to paddle some 30+ years ago. The level or difficulty at which people paddle is owed in some part to the change in kayak design over the years.

Kayak Safety Features

I currently paddle a Dagger Phantom and despite it being used for pretty much the same stuff as my first plastic kayak – an Ace Swing, yet the technology and features are simply worlds apart.

So if you are looking for a kayak packed full of safety features what are you actually looking for?

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A New Vision With Palm’s Nevis PFD

March 6, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Introducing the new Nevis PFD from Palm Equipment. Featuring the world’s first Piggyback harness and the brand new Delta Fit system, this award-winning PFD raises the bar for whitewater safety.

Palm Equipment - Nevis PFD
A New Vision With Palm’s Nevis PFD

The Nevis is the culmination of over three years of development, based on research by University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). Designed by Barney Caulfield and tested worldwide by leading whitewater kayakers including Palm athlete Bren Orton.

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PFD Chest Harness Best Practice

March 2, 2020 / / 1 Comment

Chest harnesses are a familiar part of all whitewater rescue PFDs these days, allowing you to enter the water attached to a tether, or to help with bank belays.

PFD Chest Harness Best Practice
PFD Chest Harness Best Practice

Research by Loel Colins and Chris Onions at the University of Central Lancashire found that 25% of chest harness releases failed to release properly under low load.

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HF Weasel Throwline – New Colour

February 22, 2020 / / 0 Comments

The HF Weasel is HF’s smallest and most compact throw bag with a decent length of line. If space within your boat is at a premium then this bag may be the one for you. The Weasel fits even in the smallest kayak or can be fixed and carried on a waist belt (HF Swifty Belt).

HF Weasel Throwline - New Colour
HF Weasel Throwline – New Colour

If a throw bag is needed in a emergency you probably won’t have any time for a second go! Therefore the most important factors when using a throwbag is how well it throws, and how easy it is to get the bag to land on target. In both cases the HF Weasel fits the bill. I found the bag easy to throw both under and over arm. The rope pays out nicely during a throw and is also easy to repack if you do need (or have time) to have a second go.

The Weasel has been available for a number of years in both red and black. For 2020 we have a new colour option.

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Kokatat Maximus Centurion Rescue PFD Limited Edition

February 19, 2020 / / 1 Comment

Check out the this latest iteration of the  Kokatat Maximus Centurion Rescue PFD Limited Edition. This design comes from paddler and designer Marcus Cline.

Kokatat Maximus Centurion Rescue PFD Limited Edition
Kokatat Maximus Centurion Rescue PFD Limited Edition
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HF Porter

January 28, 2020 / / 0 Comments
HF Porter
HF Porter

HF have a new throw bag belt. The HF Porter has been specially developed for pro water rescue teams and raft guides.

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