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Reviews
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Last updated: Monday, August 18, 2008
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Paddler's Gear
Outdoor Equipment
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Reviews
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Palm Lara Women’s paddle jacket
 The Palm Gear-For-Women (G4W) range has a new sister.
The Lara semi dry jacket offers women a soft neoprene neck gasket that gives a more comfortable neck seal than latex whilst still keeping water out.
Using Palm’s G4W panel cut - designed with shorter arms, reduced body length, tapered torso plus smaller seal sizing the Lara jacket like the Niaya gives women excellent freedom of movement and comfort.
Available in co-ordinated sky/ midnight the Lara’s super stretch neoprene neck prevents chaffing and is easy to get over the head - no more feeling like your hair is about to be pulled out as you get in and out. Low profile tabs on the waist and wrists (which have a latex inner) further assist ease of use and tuneable comfort.
The Lara is constructed from XP100 fabric, Palm’s most supple 3-season material, with Cordura™ panels on the shoulders and elbow to prevent wear. The inner and outer waist sections also carry their signature gripper elastic to prevent ‘ ride’ up when moving around.
So now there are two water Nymphs to choose from – the big sister Naiya (protective and adventurous) or the kid sister Lara (easy-going and sporty) – which one are you?
The Lara is available now at your local Palm stockist - for details visit:
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Reviews
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Danuu Canoe and Kayak Covers
 Danuu ‘cover me’ Kayak and canoe covers are the answer to all paddlers’ dreams! Filling a void for affordable hassle-free, kayak protection, these covers are a must-have accessory! Just drop on, tighten up and you are good to go! With five adjustable kayak cover sizes, and two adjustable canoe cover sizes, what more could you ask for?
Features
- Fully adjustable for custom fit
- Reinforced seams at all pressure points
- Light weight fabric with high tech meshing for ease of use and durability
- Cross stitching for more secure straps
- No metal parts to rust
- Easy on and off design for those on the go
- Water repellent for added protection
- Attached flag bag adds safety in transport and doubles as convenient storage when not in us.
- Most importantly covers extend the life of your craft by protecting it from the elements and harmful UV rays
Cover yours today!
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Reviews
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Polar Electro (UK) Ltd
RS800 G3
 Any paddler will see the advantages of the RS800 heart rate monitor when combined with the G3 GPS sensor. Unlike many other sports it is difficult to know just how far you have paddled and at what speed etc when on the water and particularly when training.
Worn around the arm, waist or wrapped around the webbing of your kayak, The G3 is water resistant and transmits its data wirelessly to the RS800 which at the same time has been recording your body’s performance.
The combined information is shown on the wrist mounted monitor and can be downloaded later to your Windows PC using Polar’s ProTrainer 5 where it can be analysed with further session planned and recorded.
The RS800 allows you to designate your own training zones on the monitor and interprets personal calorie and energy expenditure over one or many sessions. Apart from its performance, the monitor itself is lightweight, compact for this type of equipment and very stylish.
For those runners amongst you, there is also the S3 stride sensor that can be used with the RS800.
All in all, a brilliant piece of technology that is easy to use and produces an impressive array of useful data for anyone in serious training.
The recommended retail price is £384.50 for the complete RS800/G3 package, this does not include the S3 stride sensor.
- RS800 data screen switches between stopwatch, lap time, pace (with G3), distance (with G3), altitude, and heart rate when execising.
- G3 LED lights show signal and power modes.
- G3 Powered by AA battery with 10-15 hour life.
G3 is available separately for £124.50
Chris Poole
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Thule
Thule Hull-a-Port 835-1
 The Thule rack offers a new angle on the kayak rack. The well designed J-style carrier gets your kayak or sit-on-top on its side at an angle creating extra room on the roof for a second kayak. Handy for those of us who like to paddle in pairs without the fuss and expense of taking two cars.
Made for use with either Thule’s roof bars or the factory fitted bars on your vehicle, setting them up is five minutes work and no tools needed. Loading is easy, just lower the boat on the padded cradle and secure it down tightly with the two provided excellent ratchet tie-down straps.
New, improved pads and metal brackets make the product more stable than the previous version and once tied down the kayak will not budge giving real peace of mind even at motorway speeds.
- Thule QuickDraw ratcheting tie-down straps and buckle protectors included.
- The rack is padded to gently cradle your boat.
- Metal brackets wrap around the vehicle’s cross bar.
Works with all shapes of kayaks from white water to sea. Priced around £90.00
Steve Humphreys
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Reviews
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Mion Footwear
Warm Canyon
 A technical, high performance, cold weather approach shoe for kayakers and other water enthusiasts. Well made, light and comfortable with a warm fleece lined interior for that added touch of luxury. As well as water pursuits the shoes are excellent for everyday use, though be prepared to answer questions as friends query the odd looking wide profile of the shoe. Get used to the looks and you cannot go wrong.
360-degree lacing system features a Kevlar cord for total adjustability and increased pull strength.
The hard wearing toe design features high density EVA for added protection.
Gripstick rubber compound is used in a non-marking outsole design with multiple contact lugs for debris release.
Anatomically shaped removable insert made of Ergomorphic foam that customises to the shape of the wearer’s foot after approximately 12 hours of use.
Mens in navy, black and red. Womens in red/black, navy/black and sky blue/navy.
Tony Cornwell
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Reviews
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Gerber
Radius Multi-Plier
 When a job has to be done regardless of the weather conditions, reach for the new butterfly opening Gerber Radius Multi-Plier. Alternatively, you can sit in front of the TV and delight in the precise way this multi-tool opens and closes – it’s one of those objects you cannot ignore playing with sub-consciously.
No denying that it is a very handy and rugged tool that could be invaluable for a kayaking weekend away. An excellent locking system ensures full protection during use and the quality feel is enhanced with the stainless steel and Nyglass construction, and titanium grey finish.
Rugged softgrip oversize handles provide a strong non-slip grip that matches the user’s hand and grips fast in wet conditions.
Spring action needle-nosed pliers neatly fit into the casing.
All four stainless steel tool components of the multitool are easily accessible with thumb studs and assist systems without having to open the tool.
Expect to pay around £60.00
Andy Pearson
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Bollé - Upshot
 Polarised photochromic Bollé Upshot sunglasses
Very stylish, elegant sunglasses for the recreational, touring and sea kayaking fraternity. Superb lenses providing 100% UVA/B protection reduce glare from all directions on the water with the lenses being coated both sides and an industrial strength coating for greater scratch resistance. Very neat good looking light high-grade nylon frames means a very comfortable fit with the thermogrip rubber temples and nose pads providing firm adhesion with no slip.
Part of the Bollé Sports collection, the Upshots are more casual in the sense that you can wear them for everyday use and look good in them.
The Upshots come in a pouch with a microfibre cleaning cloth. There is a comprehensive range of Upshot sunglasses with differing lenses and colours with prices ranging from a retail price of £75 to the featured glasses at £99.
Bollé - Warrant
 Bollé Warrant interchangeable lens sunglasses
Two lenses: Competivision gun (developed for tennis – muting all colours except yellow) plus polarised smoke lens.
Bollé Warrant interchangeable lens sunglasses come from the Bollé Performance collection and feel a much more serious affair than the Bollé Upshots. The Warrants make you feel like you should be doing something serious like running marathons, triathlons and other insane things like that!
The Warrants are designed around dual Bollé Toric lenses that have two different base curves, one vertical and one horizontal that follow the curve of the eye. That allows the wearer the excellent comfort and vision without the distortion that can cause headaches, nausea, loss of balance and dizziness. With the larger lenses closely conforming to the contours of the face, they are more suitable for faster sports such as cycling and white water kayaking with excellent protection from UV rays, insects, dust and wind.
The warrants come in a case with holders for three pairs of lenses and a microfibre cleaning cloth and swapping the lenses is routine.
RRP £120
Andy Pearson
www.bolle.com
Sundog goes Ballistic
 These glasses are real heavy duty without the heavy, due to the lightweight frames. The Ballistics are for the extreme athlete, (or people who like to look like extreme athletes), who need all-round performance coupled with the ability for the sunglasses to stay in place no matter what the pace or position of the competitor. Perfect for the white water maniacs who disappear over huge waterfalls and feel at home on Grade 5 water, these sunglasses are difficult to budge owing to the snap release adjustable and removable head strap, air-cushioned brow, nose gasket for shock absorption and the hydrophilic temple tips to grip tight and prevent slipping.
Even if by some miracle they do come away, they have a toggle system that keeps the glasses afloat in fresh or seawater.
The ballistics are equipped with Cristec polarised lens technology that filter 100% of harmful UVA/B rays that are shatterproof and gives exceptional clarity with minimal glare with multi-vent aeration lens system to reduce fogging.
Ballistic is available in six frame colour/lens colour combinations and is supplied with a custom neoprene case including an anti-fog lens cleaner stick and microfibre cleaning cloth – all for a recommended retail price of £79.99.
Sundog is the ‘recommended eyewear’ of the PGA, British Triathlon, Ironman UK and UK Sailing Academy.
Tony Cornwell
Sundog Eyewear
01243 555880 or email: sales@sundogeyewear.co.uk
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Reviews
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Mion Current sandal
 Opening the box for the first time brought raised eyebrows, “these look just like the creature that wrapped itself around John Hurt’s face in the film ‘Alien’” was my first impression. Still, as long as nothing bursts from my rib cage after lunch I will give them a try I thought.
Slipping into the sandal for the first time and the draw cord tightens the individual structural ribs around your foot giving a very stable, personalised and secure feeling with no buckles or straps. First impression is that the sandal is incredibly light and has a feeling of being almost like polystyrene.
Martin Keen, of Keen Footwear fame has developed the feather light design by rejecting the more traditional leather and nylon uppers and instead using polyethylene foam for the sculpted upper structure and encasing it with waterproof materials. Drop them overboard and they float!
To further the custom feel of the sandals, the anatomically shaped removable ergomorphic foot bed gradually takes the shape of your foot after a week or so. Cleverly, this is permanent so the shoe fits only you, hence the name Mion, pronounced ‘my own’.
Underneath, the outsole consisting of the excellent Gripstick rubber actually increases its grip when wet and the tread design channels water out from under the foot. Complimenting this, when the sandals are flexed, each lug breaks into mini-lugs for a terrific amount of grip on a variety of surfaces, especially wet ones.
The Currents are a unique sandal, but you may either love or hate the looks. However, even if you hate the looks, they do offer unique benefits, making an easy transition from water to land. For any paddler or anybody concerned with watersports, the Mions offer great protection, comfort and grip. A very functional product.
Peter Tranter
www.mionfootwear.com
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Reviews
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Aquapac MP3 player case
 Aquapac have an enviable reputation when it comes to keeping possessions dry and with every man and his dog, owning an iPod, they have come up with the MP3 player case.
With its clear front panel, the MP3 player case gives users the usual ability to operate controls and click wheels of their MP3 players with a built-in external headphone jack sealing off the case and keeping your MP3 player safe from water.
Perfect for paddlers, Aquapac offers a tough neoprene ZipPac that allows the case to be worn as a belt or across the torso.
The plastic quick-action sealing system, called the Aquaclip®, makes each case 100% waterproof with a simple twist of two levers. The innovative design of the Aquaclip® ensures that the Aquapac always stays in one piece, even when open, eliminating the need for loose screws or folding of the case. All Aquapac cases sealed with the Aquaclip® are guaranteed submersible to at least 5m (15ft).
If you like your music on the move in wet conditions, then this is the perfect solution.
Price:
MP3 player case: £30
MP3 player case and ZipPac combo: £40
Visit www.aquapac.net to see details of the complete Aquapac range.
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Reviews
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Highlander Neptune
 Highlander, the camping and outdoor brand, have revealed a new range of waterproof rucksacks and holdalls that are lightweight, durable and versatile to keep your kit dry at all times. Available in a choice of four flavours:
- Nautilus bum bag
- Triton drysack
- Poseidon rucksack
- Neptune holdall
All have fully ultra-sonically welded seams and waterproof zips, to ensure the contents stay dry and protected at all times.
We tested the Neptune Holdall that has a gulping 70 litre capacity that swallowed six spray decks and buoyancy aids plus a few other bits and ends and still had room for more. Everything is secured by wrap round clip belts and can either be carried with the handles at either end and on the top or by means of a shoulder strap.
On the front is a dual front pocket for small items that are protected by waterproof zips. Finished off in grey with vibrant blue panels - it is an essential piece of kit that holds huge amounts of luggage whilst when empty is small enough to be fitted into the stowage area of any touring kayak.
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Keen Barbados
 Part of Keen’s Waterfront range which includes the Antigua, Trinidad and St Barts, these are sandals with a difference. Toes in sandals, particularly big ones, are vulnerable and often become victim to misfortune when exposed. Keen see the obvious weakness and build in their patented toe cap which not only provides protection but also a main visual point.
The super soft cut EVA midsole cushions the foot and the lightweight design gives you the confidence for longer excursions. The sandals also have an AEGIS Microbe Shield SBR Lining that fights off odour and bacteria. The package is topped off with the polyester webbing straps and all this is machine washable. Perfect for the summer.
Diane Poyner
RRP £20.00
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Eight out of ten feet prefer them
Keen Boulder
 The Boulder is built light on weight, not on features. With running shoe comfort and sandal breathability, it is at home in the water as well as on the trail. The minimalist upper is lined to prevent hotspots and the removable footbed is EVA and will not absorb any water when trail gives way to river.
It took a few days to break the Boulders in, though only because they rubbed at the Achilles, however, wear socks! I found the shoe to be much more comfortable with socks and don’t worry about wetness as the design allows the socks to dry pretty quickly.
The recent floods her in East Anglia has led them to be put to the test on all types of surface where they have retained their great traction, despite being in and out of water, the shoes dry as quickly as the socks, and they remain stainless and though not exactly smelling of roses – they are odourless despite the flood water.
There are a few minor problems the first being the accumulation of debris in the toeguard (another reason to wear socks) and the second with the elastic cord which became loose every now and then.
Those are minor niggles though and the overall impression is that of an extremely competent shoe that is well designed for the environment in which it operates and a good looking piece of footwear to boot. The image above shows the men’s version – mine however, came in a very attractive grey and light blue combination – very neat!
- Removable metatomical footbed.
- Dual density compression molded EVA midsole.
- Patented toe protection.
- 4mm multi-directional non-marking outsole lug pattern .
- Washable synthetic upper.
- Quick draw elastic cord lace system.
- ÆGIS Microbe Shield® treated SBR lining.
RRP - £69.99
Sharon Sutcliffe
Keen Arroyo
 The Arroyo elevates performance footwear to the next level. It combines all of the support and function one would expect from a functional trail shoe with the open breathability of a sandal and KEEN’s patented toe protection. This redefines the meaning of Hybrid.
The Arroyo is built on a very durable sole with plenty of cushioning and support with reinforcement through the arch. This supported my weight and gave a little bounce to the step which when combined with the light weight of the shoes makes walking in these shoes effortless – it's just like wearing shoes, but with much better ventilation and comfort.
Arroyos are flexible, durable, quick-drying and stay firmly in place thanks to the drawcord laces that run through a webbing strap that also tightens the heel to the back of the foot minimising slippage. The all round secure feel is maximised with the rubber toe guard, which gives all Keen shoes their unique look and a firm favourite with myself and many other Keen fans.
The only drawback I can see with this shoe is the likeness to the Keen Taos, as I can barely see any difference – unless of course I am missing something – even the colour is similar and more importantly: the quality.
The Taos was the first pair of Keen shoes that we tested a couple of years ago and we were very impressed then. So Keen must have their reasons and as an addition to the range, the Arroyo fits in with all the other excellent attributes of Keen’s product line.
- Removable metatomical footbed.
- Patented toe protection.
- 4mm multi directional lugs.
- Washable waterproof leather upper.
- Secure foot lace capture system .
- S3 heel support structure.
- Torsion stability ESS shank.
- ÆGIS Microbe Shield® treated SBR lining.
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Reviews
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Kayak Y Deck
 We’ve all had the same problems from time to time with spraydecks: difficulty in attaching them, particularly with frozen unwilling hands and sometimes becoming loose, particularly in white water situations.
Well Ka-y-ak Spraydecks have come up with a solution they think may well help.
The deck has a side mounted clamping lever makes it possible to tailor-fit the deck to your precise kayak cockpit size. I found this easier to do by attaching the deck to the kayak before you get in. This allows you to alter the drawcord and ensure a perfectly tight fit by pushing the handle down which tightens the cord around the cockpit rim. To release, just simply pull the handle back up again. To optimise the deck further, there is webbing stretching across the deck that can be adjusted and tightened by the use of clasps
The result is a very strong watertight grip on the cockpit rim which is also easy to release when needed, though the experienced amongst you may well still be feeling around the front of the deck for the pull-cord!
One size fits nearly nearly all white water and freestyle boats and there is a touring version with shoulder straps.
A genuinely good idea that we found easy to use
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Reviews
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Aquatherm spray deck
 Superstretch Aquatherm Spray Deck with Adjustable Waist. A lightweight revolutionary design. Ideal for slalom, sea kayaking, polo, touring and recreational use. Draw cord waistband – that’s what the company blurb said anyway.
I have been using the aquatherm deck on a weekly basis now for the last month or so and it would take a great deal to wrench it away from me. This is one of the finest spray decks I have used!
What do I like about this deck – well where do we start. For starters it is very light and when packed takes up very little room due to the thin nature of the material used in the construction which Chillcheater claims is 20 times more abrasion resistant than neoprene. The same fabric makes it very easy to stretch and attach to the kayak with the minimum of fuss and when it is on – forms a fantastic fitting tight seal. If you are paddling a touring kayak with a wide cockpit a good tip is to wet the deck which will make it even easier to attach.
The other advantage is the competitive cost of around £40-45 which is cheaper than many decks on the market. The adjustable waist is the finishing touch that brings it nice and snug to your body. I have been very impressed with the deck’s durability and how comfortable it is.
Combined with all the above I would quite happily recommend this spraydeck to anyone whether a beginner or experienced – it will make your paddling life much easier and more comfortable.
Custom Fitting
Reed Chillcheater keep a number of standard boat cockpit sizes, but please check with them. If your boat is more unusual, then you may need you to trace the outer edge of your cockpit and mark on your seat position on newspaper and mail it to them. Details on the web site.
Price: £44.00
Andy Pearson
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Reviews
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Two into one
 Sanyo has launched the new splash-resistant Xacti VPC-CA6 – a pocket sized MPEG-4 digital movie camera and six million pixel still camera. The camera is designed specifically to appeal to those who enjoy a range of outdoor activities and according to Sanyo the can be operated with wet hands, which should make it ideal for paddlers. However, the manual states that the guarantee doesn't cover the camera being sprinkled with water, so beware just how wet you get it!
This is the problem with this camera – which at times is excellent but on other functions – not so good.
What is very good is the styling. this camera definitely gets noticed and a real head-turner and with good reason: it is small, looks very funky in its white and orange trim.
The camera is equipped with a two inch LCD screen and one of the best screens that I have seen in terms of clarity and brightness. However, it has to be because the camera has no viewfinder and in bright sunshine even a screen of this contrast can look very washed out. What doesn’t help is that the screen only flips out one way and therefore cannot be tilted or flipped which is another limitation in terms of shooting video in particular as your eye has to be in line with the viewfinder. Also when closed, the display curiously points outward, offering it no protection from getting scratched and full of finger prints.
The stereo microphones are included on the back of the LCD display. They both point in the same direction and are only separated by an inch or so. The microphones should really have been put on the front or top as the right one is blocked off by the camera and so will not pick up any more ‘right’ sound than the left one. Sound is recorded at 48KHz 16bit in AAC format.
In the box you'll find a battery charger, 1GB SD card and CD containing Ulead DVD Moviefactory 4.0 SE, Photo Explorer 8.5 Basic and Motion Director 1.1. An hand-strap is also included. There's no dock included but with a mains charger, AV and USB leads, it shouldn’t be missed.
Main controls are at the rear of the camera and fall under the thumb with ‘photo’ and ‘video’, buttons dominating, however, watch out for your forefinger straying in front of the lens because a good grip is difficult at times. The zoom button is hard to operate with smoothness due to its position and it in video mode should have a pause function. The camera lacks instant buttons for macro and flash selection, however a well designed intuitive three-stage menu is used. The camera powers up very quickly in just over a second
Test pictures are smooth and detailed and the video was good with the 30 frames per second capture producing a natural movement, however, quality is not as good as miniDV standards due to the lower resolution of 640x480 pixels. A real drawback though is the lack of a tripod mounting on the underneath of the camera where instead, there is a flap which accommodates the memory card and battery which is nice and small with a good duration.
I use an Apple laptop and the camera worked instantly with the resident Apple iLife software suite making it very easy to download both images and video straight away. One bonus of video on a memory card is that it is faster and easier to transfer to your hard drive instead of waiting in real time as with miniDV tapes.
So there we go – a real Jeckyl and Hyde – a camera that produces good results but is let down by a lack of some functions and a good looking camera that is held back by some design oddities. You pick which is important to you.
Features
- MPEG-4 30 fps digital movies or 6 MegaPixel still images
- Capture still and video images simultaneously!
- 2.0-inch TFT LCD display and 5.0x optical zoom lens
- Advanced anti-shake control
- 9-Image Display Function
Retail price: £300.00
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