gear
Thermal Throwdown
If you’ve recently grappled with Mother Nature only to be dealt a stone-cold, underwater smackdown, you likely considered your costume at some point. And we’re not talking golden tassels here. You need a burly outer layer to protect those flying elbows and to keep you paddling, primed for the next round. The main matchup you’ll have to wrestle with then is between a wetsuit or a drysuit. On one hand, the nimble neoprene coveralls offer immersion ease, comfort and durability that have earned real rafter respect season after season. If you can stand the gasket headlock however, the one-piece challenger puts cold water into submission. Drysuits also can lay a big hit on your wallet. Fortunately, new materials mean you don’t have to be Ted “The Million-Dollar Man” DiBiase to get yourself into dry zippered bliss—or neoprene nirvana. Take a gander at the latest options and get back into the octagon already. – Dave Shively 62 | canoekayak.com | whitewater 2009
This page: Camaro Seamless Surfer, right, incorporates 5-, 4-, and 3-mm stitch-free, bamboo-lined neoprene using Seamless Bonding Construction, making for a superwarm, and super-comfy coldwater wetsuit for surf or river. ($399, camaro.at); Peak UK Creek One Piece, left, adds bottoms and an innovative leg-entry system (the zipper runs up the inside of one leg and down the other) to its proven Creek Jacket, featuring beefy X4HD multi-layer material with slots for motocross-style upper spine, shoulder and elbow pads ($799, peakukus.com). the full view: for 360-degree shots of these suits (and a few others), visit canoekayak.com. photograph by art brewer
drysuits
Level 6 Barrier
$799, levelsixinc.com Last year, Level Six co-founder Tyler Lawlor wasn’t sure what reception a small test run of drysuits would have in the tight market for these big-ticket items. To Lawlor’s surprise, the Ottawa-based company is now pumping out the Barrier Dry Suit as one of its top-selling pieces. Chalk that up to an eXhaust three-layer, DWR-treated, waterproof/breathable laminate shell. Working off the base of the Mack Dry Top, which uses the same thick latex gaskets with neoprene covers, the comfortably fitted and stylishly cut Barrier also boasts a double tunnel with a new dual cinch system (no more Velcro dependency) as well as protected YKK brass, waterproof back/shoulder-entry and relief zippers, a pair of hip-side hand warmer pockets and rugged Cordura-soled booties. Available in charcoal-, red- and navy-tin.
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wetsuits
kokatat gore-tex meridian
$999, kokatat.com No drysuit discussion would be complete without a nod to the one that set the expedition standard for many kayakers, Kokatat’s Gore-Tex Meridian. Much of the credit here is due to the trusted Gore-Tex name on the Evolution 3.21-ounce, threelayer nylon fabric and the lifetime warranty it carries. Not that Kokatat hasn’t honed the sealed seam construction and features like the waterproof Optiseal metal zipper, selfdraining Cordura seat/knee patches and adjustable neoprene overskirt and overcuffs. Don’t forget about custom build-ons like suspenders, female dropseat zippers, reflective tape or sleeve pockets. If you don’t have a G to drop on cold-water protection, Kokatat unveils its new TROPOS T3 version of the Meridian ($679), offering a comparable threelayer base material to the original ($859, $999 with booties and relief zipper, pictured).
Immersion Research Double D $830, $880 in plaid, immersionresearch.com
The late, great Daniel DeLaVergne always prodded Immersion Research to produce a dry suit, testing a prototype on the Stikine that became the Confluence, Pa.-based company’s original ’07 model. This year, IR doubles down on DeLaVergne’s namesake “Double D” with a new, lightweight protected back-entry TIZIP zipper, and an updated four-layer, coated and heavier-laminated Entrant (waterproof/breathable) shell material. The suit still features the articulated cut and hand-trimmed stitched and taped seams of IR’s popular Comp LX top, plus a neoprene waistband, booties and a relief zipper. Available in gunmetal grey, mango and a new limited-edition plaid print.
camaro farmer john freefall
nrs rescue wetsuit
bomber gear sbr
If you don’t feel like going into a freefall over the latest and greatest, check out the Camaro Farmer John Freefall, a traditional-style suit beefed up by innovative Austrian design. Camaro uses seamless construction and 3-mm neoprene to keep you extra snug under drytop or paddle jacket. The ecofriendly bamboo lining will feel like crawling into a down comforter, even if you’re pumping through raging Class V snowmelt. We like this piece for surf kayaking or sitting on top of an oar setup on a windy day. Flexible material in the back, shoulders, knees and sides–basically everywhere you need to be flexible for paddle strokes—prevents wear and tear. But even if your Freefall does get a worn spot, Camaro guarantees its product with repairs made directly at its factory. Available in men’s and women’s sizing.
River-runners who could use a little thicker skin when heading into the harshest elements need look no further than NRS’ Rescue Wetsuit, which provides the company’s highest available level of insulation. That’s due to glued and stitched seams a 3-mm Terraprene (petroleum-free) neoprene with blended titanium. Zippers halfway up the forearms and calves make this baby easy to get into. Add the mobility of PowerSpan neoprene panels across the shoulders and down the back and arms, plus a reinforced 5-mm padded seat with padded and urethane-protected outer knees/shins and you get a piece of body armor worthy of any abuse and exposure you can dish out, whether it’s kicking your way downriver on a river board or taking waves up the gut in your cataraft.
Rick Franken drew on his experience working with the renowned wetsuit crafters at Rip Curl, then made a few notable river tweaks. The result is Bomber Gear’s new men’s SBR, a tough, warm and very flexible suit at a price you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. The suit combines a 3-mm neoprene core with superstretch 2-mm neoprene on the legs (articulated for a seated position with protective neoprene on knees and butt) and down the length of the articulated, paddle-ready sleeves. Also, taking a page from the drysuit book, Franken added a relief zipper in both the men’s and women’s versions. “Most guys just pee in their wetsuits now, but sitting on a raft, you don’t want to sit in pee in your boat,” says Franken, whose small Colorado company is highly adaptable to boaters’ needs. “I’m just trying to be the mediator for what the paddling world is asking for.” Available in both full and sleeveless.
$190, camaro.at
$275-295, nrsweb.com
$120, bombergear.com
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gear
out to dry
1. Astral Buoyancy redefines creeking comfort and safety with its new Greenjacket. A locked-down lower-torso foam panel under a second, adjustable outer panel means a mobile and customized fit. This USCG-approved vest has 15.5 pounds of floatation and plenty of ‘oh crap’ features, including a 1,200-pound tested rescue harness, Spectra front safety loop and a handy pocket for a 6-foot tow line. And you’ll love the reinforced shoulder protection when it’s time to lug your boat back to the river ($210, astralbuoyancy.com). 2. Weighing in at 3.8 ounces, Gerber’s new blunt-tipped, serrated Rivermate rocks like Bon Jovi, with its rust-resistant titanium-coated blade. But unlike the Jersey frontman, it won’t get ‘slippery when wet,’ thanks to an improved non-slip grip ($43, gerbergear.com). 3. Nothing says you mean business like a full-face helmet. Predator’s new Six certainly does not mess around, combining the rock-solid protection of a carbonreinforced fiberglass shell with the fail-safe padding of a polystyrene impact liner. This streamlined lid weighs in at a svelte 1.75 pounds, and features a wide field of view and detachable visor for keen visibility ($249, predatorhelmets.com). 4. Funk it and forget it with Kokatat’s smooth and fast-wicking, long-sleeve OuterCore top, featuring Polartec’s new Power Dry fabric that infuses silver yarns to inhibit odor-causing bacteria growth. Stinky hippie boaters can rest double easy knowing it’s made with 65 percent recycled materials ($72, kokatat.com).
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5. Teva’s new Cherry Bomb booties are equally at home in underwater wrestling matches (see p. 62) as they are scaling the slippery slopes around the nefarious California drop for which they’re named. At 24 oz., they can make the playboat squeeze, but the SSR rubber foot-wrapping outsole is better suited for your next manky put-in slog ($65, teva.com). 6. Need a little Nookie? Get some with the Assault Drytop, one of the most-bomber tops on the market. The fully taped inner tunnel and adjustable outer waist layer keep you sealed over your sprayskirt, while the innovative deck clips keep skirts from sliding down. The “Enduro mesh” reinforced elbow pads, developed using motocross technology, keep a barrier between you and those bone-splitting river rocks. Nookie’s new Xtetra4 fabric is not just breathable, it keeps you drip-free all day. And the retro-reflective material is as stylie as it gets ($323, nookie.co.uk). 7. Does your pigskin toss strike closer than your horseshoe huck? If so, unleash your inner Elway using the “overhand style deployment” of Salamander’s new River Dart, utilizing a tapered-end design and a patented Pop-Top closure. Available in various bag sizes and rope configurations, from the Doug Flutie-sized 70-foot bag with polypropylene core and 1000-pound strength to the Big Ben (Roethlisberger) proportions of a 90-foot rope with a Spectra core tested to 2500 pounds ($45-$83, salamanderpaddlegear.com). —DS
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fresh fleet
wave sport / pyranha / jackson fluid / liquidlogic
the ’09s reviewed Wave Sport does some serious Diesel conversion, bringing this rugged and reliable craft to new levels of clean-running performance. The Karnali continues the storied Pyranha creekboat evolution with versatile tweaks to a proven platform. Volume and power blend in a bomber, boof-ready package, clearing the airspace for waterfall flight plans worthy of a Super Hero. Cape sold separately. South African innovation takes ocean surfing to the river. Speed and innovative edges make this wave monster one relevant Element.
Ben Stookesberry and the JK Super Hero on California’s Middle Kings.
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darin mcquoid
North Carolina crafters bring the Space Cadet back to the future, establishing a new meaning to Southern comfort with a very frisky Biscuit.
gear wave sport diesel 70
($995 in roto-molded plastic, wavesport.com) L: 7’10”; W: 25.5”; 70 gal., 40 lbs., fits paddlers weighing 120-190 lbs. Also available in 60- and 80- gallon versions. A Bruce Springsteen song comes to mind with the new, remodeled Diesel: Born to Run. This is one sporty ride ready to run rivers. The designers like to think of it as an SUV of sorts, but we feel the combination of downriver speed and responsiveness is much more Porsche Cayenne than washedoff Jeep. Robert Peerson and the Wave Sport design team didn’t scrap the original 65- and 75-gallon Diesel molds so much as take “all of the attributes of the old Diesel and put them on steroids,” as Bryan Kirk puts it. They must’ve found the same juice as A-Rod, because the 2.0 versions are a big improvement on the original 2005 models. Specifically, the new boats have a new rocker profile and more flared sidewalls for increased maneuverability, as well as peaked bow- and stern-decks that provide more knee room for a more comfortable ride and spread the volume enough to make you forget you’re carrying 70 gallons. Wave Sport huckers who favor big-water buoyancy over speed may still be better served by the Habitat’s steep-creek specifics. But if you want the four-wheel versatility of a downriver beast that can auto-catch waves on the fly (not to mention stellar, easily-adjusting, out-of-box outfitting with a new thigh-brace system), fill ‘er up with Diesel.
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gear pyranha karnali
($1,099 in Large, pictured, and Medium, roto-molded, high-density superlinear plastic, pyranha.com) L: 8’5”/8’4”; W: 26.2”/25.5”; 80/74 gal., 48/46 lbs. Himalayan inspiration is nothing new to Graham Mackereth, who began producing his first whitewater boat, the original Everest model, in 1976 for the famed British Dudh Kosi expedition. Mackereth, now 59 and still Pyranha’s managing director, has labeled his latest do-everything expedition machine after Nepal’s Karnali River, which flows from a sacred Tibetan source considered by many religions to be the center of the universe. Despite that rich history though, Mackereth says this is no retro ride. Rather it’s a boat designed to bring creekboat performance to the people. The Karnali is the same volume (with the same Connect 30 outfitting) and only 2 inches longer than the Burn, Pyranha’s top-selling creeker for the last three years. The Burn will remain in the lineup unchanged with the Karnali entering the Pyranha stable as a comparable option for those paddlers who don’t feel comfortable with the Burn’s pronounced edges. “You build on the depths of experience and sometimes you do push too far for some people,” Mackareth explains. “But as far as we’re concerned, we’re evolutionary, not revolutionary.” Certainly the Karnali’s softer chine profile makes it a more forgiving ride. Don’t mistake softer edges for a rounded hull; you can still easily surf this boat. And when heading straight downhill, the Karnali carries speed and punches holes. The Burn-like rocker and high deck also boost resurfacing and keep you well atop the chop, while the roomier storage space and longer cockpit behind the seat make overnight self-supports easier. The Karnali is a subtle move from the specialized, high-performing creeker into a worthy option for the ‘one-boat quiver’ that can still tackle the Himalayas.
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gear jackson kayak super hero
($1,199 in cross-linked plastic, jacksonkayak.com) L: 8’; W: 26.5”; 87 gal., 47 lbs., fits paddlers 155-280 lbs. The Jackson Kayak Super Hero is a big toy for big boys, namely, those who push the scales well beyond the 170-195-pound range, and also like to push big-water limits. You feel the floatation first and foremost. This boat draws on the bulbous lines of the Hero and super-sizes them. The shorter length relative to other creekers, substantial rocker, and aggressive “thruster chines” provide spot-on handling without sacrificing speed in pushy water. “It performs unlike any other boat on the market,” says Ben Stookesberry, who has logged plenty of miles—and thousands of vertical feet—in the Super Hero since its release last April. “It’s maneuverable in the steep lower-volume stuff like the North Fork San Joaquin in California, yet it’s a big-water river-runner under totally different circumstances, like the Rondu Gorge on the Indus in Pakistan.” The massive deck volume was welcome on that Himalayan freight train, though it also could hamper some paddlers’ stroke mechanics, at least until they get their fit dialed. “I had to adjust my seat a little to get my knees right into the molded and padded knee space,” Stookesberry says. “Being properly positioned in the boat can definitely make the difference between being in the driver’s seat and being in the back seat.” The flip side is that with the Boat Armor outfitting, Sweet Cheeks seat and improved thigh pads, all you need to do to ensure a snug and comfortable ride is put your butt inside. Also for ’09, owner Eric Jackson dropped the coin to move the big ovens in-house, allowing Jackson Kayak to mold bomb-proof cross-linked plastic at its own facility. That, says E.J., means higher quality boats.
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Celliers Kruger
gear
Andrew Pollock carves #2 on the Zambezi River.
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Fluid Element
($930 in roto-molded, medium-density superlinear plastic, fluidkayaks.com) L: 6’7”; W: 25.25”; 54 gal., 31 lbs., fits 140-210 lbs. Fluid has developed a surfboat that fits the waterman mentality: Able to switch effortlessly from river to ocean. One of the most innovative boats this season, the Element is a bit shorter than the average composite surf kayak, giving up speed to those purpose-built craft, but river playboaters will have a hard time telling the difference. They’ll also appreciate the familiar spread-leg position when they go to sea (most surf kayaks have a much less stable, knees-together fit). Add the optional fins—available at 4WFS.com–and your speed increases markedly. This makes it easier to rip the line, at the expense of some looseness. You’re not going to be able to cartwheel ‘til you’re dizzy at the local playhole–though the Element loops surprisingly well–but carving on a wave has never been more fun. Pronounced edges mean you’re basically sitting on a short board. The sidewalls won’t touch the wave, which means they won’t slow you down. Just take off late–the way we like to–and lean into your edge. You’ll get mini barrels ’til you’re blistered. And the Element outfitting is pure Fluid–super comfy with adjustable hip padding and a form-fitting seat, plenty of foot room and backband cranks placed ingeniously between your legs. The nylon cord in this mechanism doesn’t look very durable, but replacing it every couple of seasons should be a simple fix. You’re going to want to keep this one for a long time. Let’s talk about air. If you don’t want to ride the line-or can create enough speed on the shoulder to release your edges–the hull features extra release edges like your playboat for popping gargantuan blunts. If you’re into hole play, look elsewhere. But if you have an affinity for waves, river or ocean, the Element is your ride.
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gear liquidlogic biscuit 45/55/65
($1,049 in roto-molded superlinear plastic) L: 5’11”/6’1”/6’3”; W: 24”/25”/26”; 45/55/65 gal., 30/32/34 lbs. Just when you thought playboat innovation had stagnated, the master chefs at Liquidlogic bring out a piping-hot new design to keep play progression moving along. Designer Shane Benedict says the Biscuit is most closely related to the Space Cadet, but with some serious adjustments to make this Biscuit roll, with greater speed, stability and more comfort. “The Cadet went from full-width to the ends quickly. With the Biscuit we held the edge wider and made it more gradual, so it’s faster on edge and with less stern rocker,” Benedict says. Those edges are also a lot softer, thanks to the Biscuit’s most noticeable design feature—a ‘bumper’ that deflects water off the edges and definitely makes it loose and easy to initiate tricks. The effects of the bumper trickle up: a rigid and defined sidewall surface from bumper to cockpit means the right flex to pop and bounce into blunts, as well as inset knee space for a much less-splayed stance—which, combined with LL’s cushy, form-fitting outfitting and ample foot room, means ridiculous, all-day down-home comfort on the gravy wave of your choice.
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