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

Category: Safety & Rescue (Page 2 of 15)

PEAKUK River Wrap PFD

The new updated River Wrap PFD from PEAKUK is due spring 2022 and will retail at £185.

PEAKUK River Wrap PFD

The PEAKUK River Wrap PFD won Product of The Year at Paddle Expo in 2021.

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Winter Is Coming – 7 Paddling Tips

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.

Winter Is Coming

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.

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Astral Green Jacket LE – Heron

Astral have a new limited edition Green Jacket for 2021 – 2022. In honour of the Green River this new LE PFD is called The Heron.

Astral Green Jacket LE - Heron
Astral Green Jacket LE – Heron
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Is My PFD Safe?

As a critical part of your safety gear it is important to make sure that your PFD is up to the job. This starts from the moment you go to buy one.

Is My PFD Safe?
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Sweet Protection Rocker 2021

One of the best helmets on the market the half cut Sweet Protection also gets a colour make over for 2021.

Matte Aquamarine

Gloss white and Dirt Black have been joined by Matte Aquamarine and Matte Chopper Orange Metallic.

Matte Chopper Orange Metallic

What do you think?

Sweet Protection Strutter 2021

Designed in 1997 the Sweet Strutter has to be one of the most recognisable helmets in the paddlesport market place.

Gloss Chopper Orange

For this year we have the same design as last year but with a couple of new colours. RRP is £179.99.

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Astral Green Jacket Vs Kokatat Hustle R

From L to R:
Astral Green Jacket, Palm Nevis, Kokatat Hustle R, and Yak Taurus PFD

When I’m at paddling events or on a river when I meet other paddlers it is pretty much guaranteed that someone will be wearing an Astral Green Jacket. After all it is a stand out design that works really well. However I have recently picked up a Kokatat Hustle R and wanted to take the opportunity of comparing the two in a little more detail.

The Astral Green Jacket and Kokatat Hustle R I have here are EU versions. For the European market the Green Jacket has a side entry feature where as the US version does not. The Kokatat Hustle R has some additional reflective SOLAS tape on the shoulder straps to meet newer ISO requirements in the EU.

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Kokatat Huck Throw Bag – First Look

We first made a post about Kokatat releasing a new throw bag way back in 2019. It has only been quite recently that the Huck began to appear in stores.

Kokatat Huck Throw Bag - First Look
Kokatat Huck Throw Bag – First Look

The Huck is a compact, mantis green coloured throw bag packed with 50 feet (15m) of ¼-inch floating polyethylene core rope with a maximum strength of 1,450 pounds. A 70 feet (21m) bag is also available.

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Palm Side Swing HMS Karabiner – First Look

The Palm Side swing HMS Karabiner looks like a fairly conventional karabiner that has had some weight shaved off and a trick anodised colour applied. I thought exactly this when it landed here at Unsponsored HQ.

Palm Side Swing HMS Karabiner - First Look
Palm Side Swing HMS Karabiner – First Look

I didn’t even look at the name, as it was obscured by the paperwork, before removing the karabiner from its display card and checking out the gate action.

Palm Side Swing HMS Karabiner – First Look
Palm Side Swing HMS Karabiner – First Look

When you pick up a karabiner it is compulsory to test out the gate action. That is the point that I realised the Palm side swing karabiner was a little bit different.

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Hiko Guardian 3.D PFD – First Look

The Hiko Guardian 3.D PFD is the latest fully featured PFD from Hiko. It is an anatomically shaped rescue PFD with a tonne of features. This one was supplied by the guys at Good 2 Go Paddlesport.

Hiko Guardian 3.D PFD - First Look
Hiko Guardian 3.D PFD – First Look
Hiko Guardian 3.D PFD - First Look
Hiko Guardian 3.D PFD – First Look
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Kokatat Rescue Life Vests – Carson Lindsay

Carson Lindsay runs through is 3:2:1:1 rescue equipment carry and how he loads it in two different PFDs.

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Palm Equipment Nevis PFD – First Look

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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