Unsponsored

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

Tag: SUP (Page 11 of 13)

Palm Gradient Boots – First Look

27 April 2015 / / 1 Comment

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.

Palm Gradient

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.

Palm Gradient Boots

Continue reading

Palm Horizon Shorts – Review

21 April 2015 / / 0 Comments

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.

Palm Equipment Horizon Shorts 14

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.

Palm Equipment Horizon Shorts 8

Continue reading

Thule Wing Bars – Review

20 April 2015 / / 17 Comments

A change of car has forced me to seek out a new set of roofbars. I wanted the best set of roof bars for my car without going silly on the cost. This time I have went for the Thule Wing bars. These are known as the Thule Aeroblades in some parts of the word. I love cars that can have a set of roof bars bolted to them, either to fittings hidden within the roof or roof rails. The new Unsponsored HQ paddle wagon/family transporter is a very sensible two litre 184bhp BMW 320d Sport.

Thule Wing Bars

Continue reading

NRS Crush – Review

19 April 2015 / / 5 Comments

The new NRS Crush Watershoe landed at Unsponsored HQ a few weeks ago. Since then they have been used both off an on the water.

NRS Crush Shoe Review

Continue reading

NRS Crush – First Look

2 April 2015 / / 0 Comments

The new NRS Crush Watershoe landed at Unsponsored HQ today.

unsponsored-NRS-Crush-Watershoe-2015-6

unsponsored-NRS-Crush-Watershoe-2015-1

Continue reading

Molly’s Nipple Rapid Spotlight

1 April 2015 / / 0 Comments

Molly's Nipple Rapid

Molly’s Nipple, one of the most Iconic rapids on the Slave. The story is that one of the early paddlers on this river had met a local girl named Molly and one day, while laying on the rocks next to the drop, he decided it somehow looked like one of her nipples… I don’t see it but you’ll just have to check it out in person!

Continue reading

Palm Equipment Kaituna Neoflex – First Look

30 March 2015 / / 0 Comments

I have a couple of bits of gear from Palm Equipment. The first is a Kaituna longsleeve top that I purchased last year and then there is this short sleeved version which landed at Unsponsored HQ a couple of weeks ago.

unsponsored_palm_kaituna5

Continue reading

Palm Equipment Horizon Shorts (2015) – First Look

28 March 2015 / / 0 Comments

The new 2015 Palm Equipment Horizon shorts have just landed at Unsponsored HQ. I have a bit of time to look at them and am waiting on the warmer weather to arrived to try them out on the river. In the meantime here’s a quick run down.

Palm Equipment Horizon Shorts 14

The outer short is contrasted from Nylon 200d, this is very similar to the fabrics used in dry trousers and dry tops. As they are shorts none of the seams are sealed.

Continue reading

Palm Equipment – Gradient And Camber

24 March 2015 / / 0 Comments

Gradient And Camber

The new shoes from Palm Equipment, the Gradient and Camber, have started to land with retailers within the UK. There are some arriving at Unsponsored HQ for testing very shortly.

Continue reading

Palm Equipment Zenith (Short Sleeved) 2015 – A Closer Look

22 March 2015 / / 0 Comments

The days are starting to get a little longer and the sun seems to be out that little more. It won’t be long until it’s time to be out on the water with a short sleeved cag. For many years I have been using an Immersion Research cag which is simply awesome but is now getting a little long in the tooth. Last summer I decided to get a Palm Equipment Zenith short sleeved top but was simply far too late. No dealer within the UK or Palm themselves had a top left in my size. Roll on just under a year and Palm have released the 2015 version of the Zenith.

unsponsored Palm Equipment Zenith

Continue reading

IR Arch Rival Drysuit (2014 Edition, OX Fabric) – Review

20 March 2015 / / 0 Comments

I bought myself an IR (Immersion Research) Arch Rival drysuit for a trip to South America, and it got some pretty heavy use over the 6 months I was there as it’s not always as warm as it looks!

It’s had some long multi-days and endless hikes through forests full of spikes, been in strong sunlight pretty much the entire time and all the abuse you’d expect from a long paddling trip. I’d guess I used it around 3-4 times a week (as my cag had no neck seal) and the river water is usually really cold!

IR Arch Rival Drysuit Rio Cochamo

Continue reading

Things To Hang Off Your PFD

1 March 2015 / / 29 Comments

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.

Things To Hang Off Your PFD
Things To Hang Off Your PFD

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.

Continue reading
« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2025 Unsponsored

Theme by Anders Norén — Up ↑