Kit Reviews

Wave Sport Diesel... Buried Treasure?

11/6/2017

The Diesel has long been a popular choice amongst white water newcomers, renowned for its versatility and predictable performance on low-volume rivers and play runs, but capable of pushing steeper creeks as boating skills develop. More recently, it feels as if the Diesel’s prowess on the British rivers has been buried by an influx of larger creek boats on the market. I fear that the humble river runners, perfect for British white water, are being wrongly forgotten.

My Diesel 70 is increasingly becoming my first choice, rather than my creek boat, for most of our British rivers.

Many of the top white water kayakers in the UK are increasingly paddling long-buried treasures; river runners that have been tucked up in the garage since the early 1990s. Whilst there is no doubt that old school is cool, perhaps we don’t need to dig quite so deep to find river runners that offer a bit more fun on the UK’s low-volume rivers.

The Wave Sport Diesel is a true buried treasure. Perhaps it’s time to get digging?

Lining up for the Welsh Open Boater X. Photography by Bob Lewis

A short but glorious period of time spent in the lead! Photography by David Steen

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First Thoughts on The New Kokatat Idol 2-In-1 Drysuit and Dry Cag

31/3/2015

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Is it really possible to kill two birds with one stone? Well Kokatat have finally achieved it! Thanks to their innovative waist entry system, the new Kokatat Idol drysuit can be split in half and used as a dry cag for the summer months!

Having faced some fairly intense scepticism, with even my closest friends believing that I would drown, I have gathered a few FAQs which I will now attempt to answer:

What’s this waist entry system all about?

In stark contrast to the traditional front or rear entry drysuits, the Idol has a flexible plastic zip which runs around the waist, separating the trousers from the top.

At first I thought that the zip and the screw which seals it closed would be uncomfortable and would get in the way, but the opposite was true. The system is perfectly designed to sit between the top of the back-band in your boat and the bottom of your spraydeck and I don’t feel it at all when I'm on the water.

Starting the zip off does require a bit of a knack but it doesn't take long to get used to it and then you realise the possibilities that it opens up:

Boating abroad and regretting last night’s dinner, or feeling particularly nervous before that big drop? Just drop your kegs and deal with it! No need to strip your kit when you’ve got this kind of easy access!

Bored of your friends leaving your zip slightly open? In the Idol you can get dressed all by yourself like a real grown-up!

Irritated by the dangly arms left behind when you strip down your top half for lunch? No dangling to be seen in the Idol!

Feeling restricted by your front or rear entry zip? The Idol's flexible and well-placed zip means that it feels just like wearing a cag!

Most importantly, I have conducted some thorough and incredibly scientific tests and can confirm that it is actually completely dry!

What’s it like as a drysuit?

What’s it like as a dry cag?

Exactly the same as it is as a drysuit but with wetter legs. The Velcro flap, which protects the zip whilst in drysuit mode, folds all the way under when in cag mode and helps to prevent damage to the zip. The screw fitting is also part of the trousers, rather than the top, so the cag stays super streamlined.

What makes it worth the cost?

At £959.99 from Canoe and Kayak Store, the Kokatat Idol is not a cheap option, but after my initial reservations, I have definitely come to the conclusion that you get superb value for money:

The Idol is backed by Kokatat’s legendary lifetime warranty and reputation for outstanding customer service
You get a dry cag and a drysuit
The design and fit leaves you feeling so unrestricted that you’ll feel like you’re naked boating in the Alps

Overall, I’m absolutely smitten with my new Kokatat Idol drysuit. The only real downside is that it makes me want to swim!

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Why The Wave Sport Recon Is Worth The Weight

15/2/2015

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Many people are immediately put off from buying a Recon as a result of their not insubstantial weight (22kg). Admittedly my disability does limit me from being able to carry my own boat, but weight has still been an important consideration, given that people are now significantly less inclined to carry it for me.

Having paddled the Recon 70 for a full year, I have developed three clear reasons to explain why it’s worth the weight:

Outfitting

The Core Whiteout outfitting can be fully customised and has a ratchet leg lifter to offer incredible connectivity and comfort. This allows you to really crank the Recon up on its edge for aggressive carving and impressive control in big volume water. I’m also told that the leg lifter ‘cradles your genitals nicely’, which is always a bonus.

Quality outfitting is the only plausible explanation for this not ending in significant facial pain

It's A Whitewater Boss

Once you find your confidence with the Recon’s speed and find your aggression with edging into turns, you’ll reap the rewards. It is very much at home in the steep creeking and big volume whitewater environments with a rocker that will have you effortlessly boofing waterfalls and gliding over hungry holes.

Tanks Are Heavy For A Reason

You’d be somewhat disappointed if you drove a tank into a rock and then immediately had to get your welding kit out. It’s for this reasons that tanks are made thick, heavy and strong. My Recon has been dragged across tarmac for a year and pitoned more times than I can remember and yet the plastic is still going strong - no splits, no gouges, no dents, no aggravation.

These factors combined mean that any sweating and back ache on the way to the river will be more than made up for once you’re on the water. If you have the confidence to boss the Recon about a bit, you will be rewarded with a comfortable, fast and controlled boat which leaves you feeling confident to push your limits and have a great time doing it.

Reconing In Chile

Reconing In Italy

Reconing in Norway

Thank you so much to Wave Sport Kayaks, Adventure Technology Paddles, Canoe and Kayak Store and Paddlers First for supporting me in such an incredible year of Reconing.

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Yak Maveric Dry Cag Review

15/2/2015

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When many paddlers think of Yak, they think of numpty club kit, rather than high-end whitewater kit. It is therefore the quality, rather than the astonishingly reasonable price of the Yak Maveric cag which makes it a particularly pleasing purchase.

The cheapest price that I can find is £94.95 from Canoe and Kayak Store. Here is what you can expect for your money:

So it seems that you don’t always get what you pay for. For £94.95 the Yak Maveric offers a similar specification to other cags which are more than double the price.

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Sandiline Freeride Extreme Dry Trousers...

7/2/2015

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...because there's nothing sexier than suspenders

I had never before seen the point in dry trousers until my famously leaky brand of dry suit decided to become very very leaky. I bought the Sandiline Freeride Extreme Dry Trousers as a temporary solution before I plucked up the courage to invest in a new drysuit. I am now contemplating sticking with this cag, trouser combo for good! Here are ten reasons why:

1.	The four-layered fabric keeps your legs dry but remains breathable so that you don’t get a sweaty bum.

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3.

The knees and bum are reinforced with cordura so that you can sit and kneel on spiky things.

They have enough room around the knees and bum for ease of movement, without being too baggy.

4.	The waist band feels super secure, with its strong elastic and sticky Velcro. This does a great job of keeping the water out and I’d imagine it would also help to prevent hernias, although I haven’t done sufficient research in this area to make a guarantee.

5.	Suspenders are sexy as hell.

6.	If you have a willy, I hear that pee zips are helpful. If not, they are quite useful for letting the air out of your legs. Yes, that’s right, these trousers seal so well that you have to let the air out before paddling!

7.	The zip seems to be more flexible than metal zips and most other plastic zips so feels really comfortable and shouldn’t interfere with your privates.

8.	Built-in socks mean that you avoid latex seals and therefore maintain circulation in your feet.

9.	The cag and trouser combo is a versatile solution if done properly. For the same price as buying a relatively poor quality dry suit, you can have a high quality cag and trousers to suit all seasons.

10.	If you want your legs to look as sexy as this, then the Sandiline Freeride Extreme Dry Trousers are clearly to way to go! ;-)

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AT's New Whitewater Paddles, The Advanced Series

29/7/2014

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Low Price, High Performance

Adventure Technology (AT) have always been known amongst whitewater kayakers for producing some of the best paddles that money can buy (the Elite Series). Unfortunately for many paddlers, the budget often doesn't quite stretch far enough and we find ourselves opting for the cheaper and somewhat inferior options. Luckily for us, it seems that AT have heard our prayers and have released a totally new line of whitewater paddles, the Advanced Series. This new line is soon to hit the UK, so here are my first impressions:

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Contour Roam 2 Action Camera Review

20/4/2014

2 Comments

Good footage for a good price

Contour have never been the obvious choice if you’re choosing a camera for kayaking, but having recently re-emerged under new management, the company has a lot to offer any badass on a budget.

I recently read a review of Contour’s top-of-the-range camera, the Contour +2. I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for with action cameras, but if you’re after a camera that delivers quality footage for a fraction of the price, then the Roam 2 is a great way to go. Here’s why…

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First Thoughts On The Mobius 49

12/4/2014

1 Comment

It’s refreshing to paddle a small playboat that actually feels like it's designed for the smaller paddler, rather than feeling like a shrunken version of the medium size.

I’ve owned my Wave Sport Mobius 49 for a week now. I meant to post up my initial thoughts sooner but I haven’t been able to leave the boat alone for long enough to actually sit down at my computer.

Fortunately for my lack of self-control, all of my paddling buddies seem to be busy today so here’s a brief round-up of my initial thoughts on the Wavesport Mobius.

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Wave Sport Diesel... Buried Treasure?

First Thoughts on The New Kokatat Idol 2-In-1 Drysuit and Dry Cag

What’s this waist entry system all about?

What’s it like as a drysuit?

What’s it like as a dry cag?

What makes it worth the cost?

Why The Wave Sport Recon Is Worth The Weight

Outfitting

It's A Whitewater Boss

Tanks Are Heavy For A Reason

Reconing In Chile

Reconing In Italy

Reconing in Norway

Yak Maveric Dry Cag Review

Sandiline Freeride Extreme Dry Trousers...

...because there's nothing sexier than suspenders

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4.

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6.

7.

8.

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10.

AT's New Whitewater Paddles, The Advanced Series

Low Price, High Performance

Contour Roam 2 Action Camera Review

First Thoughts On The Mobius 49

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