Clothing
Reviews of clothing.
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Orange Mud Transition Towel and Seat Wrap Review
One of the awkward parts of paddling happens after you finish kayaking and need to change out of a wetsuit or wet swim trunks. If you’re like me, you usually forget bringing a towel, but if you have one, the worst is when you have it wrapped around your waist, your wetsuit is around your ankles and then the towel lets go. It’s a quick naked shuffle to the car door and you hear lots of jeering from your friends. This is where Orange Mud’s Transition Towel and Seat Wrap comes into play. Orange Mud’s Transition Towel and Seat Wrap is a towel with a built-in belt clip and a…
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Comfort Paddling Tuilik Review
I’m a huge fan of tuiliks (read The Tuilik: a Perfect Bit of Kit for Winter Kayaking), which are a combination of a hooded paddling jacket and sprayskirt. I like them because they’re warm, they give you a larger freedom of movement vs. a neoprene sprayskirt, which helps with torso rotation. They make rolling easy, because they’re buoyant. They keep your head dry, which in the cold water I paddle in (usually doesn’t get above 55°F), makes rolling more fun and warm!. Until this spring, I had only used neoprene tuiliks, but this spring, Paulo from Comfort Paddling approached me about his waterproof/breathable tuiliks. I was excited to try one and write…
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The Best Shoes for Kayaking: Two Great Wetshoes You Should Own
Over the 15 years that I’ve kayaked, I’ve used a bunch of different shoes and I’ve had my favorites, but I haven’t found a shoe that I loved enough to buy it twice until now. And, now I have two shoes that I consider the best shoes for kayaking. I’ve purchased one twice and the other one, after it wears out, I’ll purchase again. NRS Comm-3 Kayaking Wetshoe NRS’s Comm-3 Wetshoe is designed for outfitters and guided kayaking trips. It’s made from 3-mm neoprene with titanium, which means that it’s durable. I bought my first one out of a used commercial shoe fleet, guided in it for a year and wore…
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Polarmax Comp 4 Tech Fleece Review: the Perfect Layers?
Base layers have been something I’ve battled both in central Canada and now out here in Newfoundland. Balancing bulk to not look like that kid on A Christmas story and still feel comfortable rolling or bobbing around after a incident in a surf zone is a delicate balance. While there are many articles on the importance of dressing for immersion, not many are out there discussing clothing options in cold climates. (You beautiful paddlers in the warm south feel free to enjoy the pic’s and ignore remainder of the article!) My normal paddling base layers kept me warm while moving; yet restricted movement due to its bulk. Many combinations of…
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SeasonFive Phantom Review: A windproof, waterproof rash guard
SeasonFive, a recently launched watersports clothing company with a purpose of making innovative clothing to keep you on the water longer, attempts to do just that with the Phantom Long Sleeve shirt. The Phantom uses SeasonFive’s proprietary Atmos 1.0 fabric, which combines a water repellent outer fabric, a waterproof/breathable membrane and a soft inner fabric into one top. I tested the top for the last six months and used it on a 45-day kayaking expedition. This is my SeasonFive Phantom Review. SeasonFive Phantom Features In addition to the waterproof/breathable Atmos fabric, the Phantom features a zippered expansion on the shirt’s back, flat lock stitching to make the seams feel comfortable…
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The Best Pants You’ll Ever Own: Wintergreen Northern Wear Boundary Waters Shell Pants
Whether I’m backpacking, canoeing or kayaking I want a pair of pants that fits comfortably, dries quickly, packs small, looks good, offers functional pockets and is light. Typically, I end up using a pair of nylon hiking pants. In fact, I found a style I feel in love with over 10 years ago and bought three of them. Those are still going strong. Recently, I had the opportunity to test Wintergreen Northern Wear’s Boundary Waters Shell pants. Over the years, I’ve heard great things about these pants from friends who either worked for the original owners guiding dog-sledding trips or from friends who used them on expeditions. The common theme:…
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Comfy Pants for Paddling: Piragis Boundary Waters Pants Review
In the BWCA, I want pants that feel comfortable while sitting in a canoe, that dry quickly because I end up stepping out of the canoe into the water often at portages, look good for pictures and keep stuff such as compasses and maps handy for when I need it. At least, that’s my criteria for picking a pair of pants. Recently, Piragis, a retail store in Ely, Minnesota, sent me a pair of their Boundary Waters Pants to review. I put the pants through the paces starting with snowshoes hikes in the winter and finishing with spring paddling. Fabric Piragis makes the Boundary Waters Pants out of a comfortable…
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The Best Winter and Cold Water Paddling Gloves
The hardest body part to keep warm during winter paddling is the hands. Because water drips down the paddle shaft and the splashes saturate any gloves or mittens used, they need to be waterproof, or they must be waterproof enough to slow new cold water from penetrating the glove’s interior. I’ve always liked neoprene gloves or mittens to keep my hands warm verse using a poggies, because my hands stay warm when removed from the paddle shaft and I can easily manipulate items without have to touch an icy surface. I have a few favorite gloves. NRS Natural Gloves I used to use NRS Reactor gloves, because they were the…
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Mocke Racer PFD Review
The Mocke Racer is a lightweight personal flotation aid popular in the surfski racing crowd. The Mockes, a husband and wife, are well-known in the surfski racing side of paddlesports; they both boast impressive wins in many races. They designed the Racer to be comfortable, to stay out of the way while paddling and to give a racer enough flotation to help him swim if he ends up in the water. They claim the mesh allows air to flow, which keeps the paddler cool. In the water, the mesh allows for more efficient swimming, and they claim it allows the paddler to dive easily when needed. The vest consists of…
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Kigo Footwear Review
A month or so ago, Kigo Footwear sent me a pair of shoes to test. Since they arrived, I’ve used them for paddling, wading up rivers, rock-hoping, hiking, around town, traveling and for just about every activity that I do. Although, I’m not sold on the style, which looks sort-of like an aqua-sock — I end up wearing these shoes more than any others I own. Why? Because they’re easy to put on and comfy! Kigo bills the Edge as: With unisex slip-on styling, the kigo edge is designed for active men and women. The shoes provide complete foot coverage for a fully protected barefoot stride. Full coverage keeps dirt…
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Review Terramar Transport Micro-Mesh T-Shirt
A review of one of the best T-shirts in the world. The Terramar Transport Micro-Mesh T-Shirt is reviewed.
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