Paddling tips, tricks, news and gear reviews from an Unsponsored point of view
PeakUK have continued to develop their ever popular PFD range. The River Guide PFD is just one of many that has had a re-design over the last few years. In addition to the Red/Grey colour scheme PeakUK have introduced Blue/Lime to match the new deluxe drysuit.
I spent a fair bit of time on the Yak stand talking to the guys about their range of products, the design team and the direction the company wants to move in. To say I was impressed would be an understatement.
Put it simply they want to make the best designed and functional kayaking/canoeing gear available and with the 2015/2016 line up they may have just smashed it.
We don’t see much in the of Kokatat here in the UK so it was great to check out the neat Kokatat stand. On display up front was the Kokatat Maximus Centurion PFD.
Now the Maximus Centurion isn’t new as its been available since last year. Previous models have been available in navy or yellow, but this one in orange looks the business.
The Yak Highback PFD shown here is a prototype so some tweaks no doubt will be made before it is finally released in 2106.
From the front the PFD looks pretty conventional. Quality fabric, good cut, two large storage pockets and plenty of adjustment. However turn it around and it’s a different story.
If it aint broke don’t fix it. Wise words and something that Astral have done. They’ve looked at the Astral Greenjacket 2016 and just moved it on a little adding to the design to take it up yet another notch.
Some of Palm Equipment’s whitewater PFDs have shipped with an incorrect sized chest harness attached.
This potentially affects:
FXr PFDs
Extrem men’s PFDs purchased from 2014 onwards.
The newest member to Team Unsponsored is at the age where she is ready to hit the water. With that in mind Unsponsored will be seeing a few more small person gear reviews over the next few months/years.
Astral have released details of the 8th limited edition (LE8) Green Jacket design. The LE8 Rise Up is a tribute to the spirit and energy of wild places.
What do you think?
It’s been a few years since Palm release a basic PFD. The Palm Equipment Alpha PFD is exactly that, a no frills back to basics PFD that is also ICF approved so can be used by paddlers in whitewater slalom.
Yak are the kayaking/canoeing side of the Crewsaver company. In the past Yak have catered for the middle to lower end of the market with some fantastic hardwearing kit for centre and club use. Although functional and hardwearing they didn’t have the same appeal as some of the more well known brands. Over the last few months I have been testing a few pieces of Yak gear including the Riwaka dry top, Chinook dry trousers and Hallertau PFD.
Some of the colours used will put some off, there is no denying that the GREEN of the dry tops and PFD takes a little bit of getting used to.
Yak Riwaka Dry Top
The Yak Riwaka in a very loud GREEN has arrived at Unsponsored HQ. Now this is the third bit of gear from Yak that has landed here the HQ in as many weeks and once again Yak have made a really good impression (I need to find out who is designing this stuff!) – here’s why.
This post has been rattling round my head for the last few months as I have debated on whether to put it out. A conversation with a couple of fellow paddlers has prompted me to make the post.
First things first the risk of being snagged or caught up in a strainer or similar is something that all paddlers need to think about and although the risk is minimal the risk still exists. Any kit that you wear has the potential of being snagged and all steps should be made to keep loops of tape, laces etc tucked away and out of danger. However I sometimes find that it is necessary or advantageous to have some pieces of kit on the outside of my PFD rather than in a pocket.
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