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

Category: PFDs (Page 1 of 8)

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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Kokatat Hustle R PFD – First Look

June 8, 2020 / / 0 Comments

This lichen green Kokatat Hustle R PFD arrived last week at Unsponsored HQ. It was purchased here in the UK from North East Kayak and Paddles. It also arrived with a free gift. I choose the Peak UK rescue tape.

Kokatat Hustle R PFD - First Look
Kokatat Hustle R PFD – First Look

The Hustle R is Kokatat’s latest whitewater rescue vest.

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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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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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Astral Greenjacket 2020

January 10, 2020 / / 0 Comments

For 2020 Astral have made an update to the colours of the Greenjacket. In addition to the all black colour scheme from 2019 they also have this blue/red combination.

Astral Greenjacket 2020
Astral Greenjacket 2020

What do you think? It also matches one of the new colour ways for the Serpent 2.0.

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Astral Serpent 2.0 PFD

January 9, 2020 / / 4 Comments

A long time ago HF produced the Serpent PFD that was designed and developed by Allan Ellard. It was a great piece of gear that had a huge following. For 2020 Astral has developed the Serpent 2.0.

The new design is extremely similar to the original with an update in materials, some of the ergonomics and and increase of 20N in buoyancy to a total of 70N.

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Yak Taurus PFD – Review

December 26, 2019 / / 1 Comment

A brand new Yak Taurus PFD landed at Unsponsored HQ at the end of August 2019.  Since then it has seen a hundred hours of use.

Yak Taurus PFD - Review
Yak Taurus PFD – Review

When it first landed I thought that it was one of the best looking PFDs I had seen in some time. It reminded me a great deal of some of the Lotus PFDs from the 1990s in both its shape and size.

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Astral Greenjacket LE11 Cobra

October 1, 2019 / / 0 Comments

We shared a few images of the LE11 a couple of weeks ago on Unsponsored. However it has now been officially released.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3FHvCEhUmL/?igshid=1nxrn2z2xhj0s

Palm Equipment – Nevis PFD

September 27, 2019 / / 0 Comments

Palm Equipment have released an image of their new Nevis PFD. This is the same PFD that we’ve shown a few times on the site over the last year being worn by Bren Orton and others in prototype form.

Palm Equipment - Nevis PFD
Palm Equipment – Nevis PFD
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Student Kayaker Gear Guide 2019

September 18, 2019 / / 2 Comments

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.

National Student Rodeo - Rodeo Rabbit 2016 Student Kayaker Buyers Guide 2018
Bunny ears are optional

In most cases the Kayak/Canoe club in a university will be the best club to join. That can pretty much be guaranteed.

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Astral Greenjacket LE11

September 9, 2019 / / 0 Comments

Astral have a new limited edition Greenjacket for 2019/20, LE11.

Astral Greenjacket LE11
Astral Greenjacket LE11

The basic layout remains the same and from the looks of it won’t be available in the EU. Now that doesn’t mean you can’t get hold them from retailers outside of the EU.

If you want to see previous LE models check out our post from around this time last year.

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