Peak UK Adventure Zip

I’ve yet to review a badly designed one but have yet to find my ideal buoyancy aid, instead finding various features on each that I would like to combine to create the my perfect Sea Kayaking BA.

That is, however, until I got my hands on the Peak UK Adventure Zip as part of a set for an Ocean Paddler round up review. Could this be the buoyancy aid I have been looking for?

Features
The Peak Adventure Zip is a front zip PFD with a waist strap with buckle closure and 2 side tension straps. There is also a top buckle that helps close the PFD over the zip with a neat whistle built into the actual clip itself. The shoulders are neoprene with heavy duty webbing and are also adjustable to get a snug fit. On the left shoulder strap (as you face the BA) is a D ring and a special clip for the drinking tube from a water bladder. All the straps are easy to adjust even with cold wet hands with the ends of the webbing straps featuring rubber anti-fray fittings.

The Adventure Zip has 3 main pockets – a left and right front pocket and a rear pouch pocket designed. The two front pockets are large bellows style pockets (approx 18cm tall x 16cm wide) and have horizontal plastic/plastic coated zips at the top of each pocket. These zips are covered by a flap with stretch fabric in each corner to allow the flap to be lifted up and out of the way when accessing the pocket. At the middle of the flap is a reflective webbing loop to help moving the flap with gloved hands. The side walls of the pockets are mesh to allow water to drain out. Inside each pocket is a small webbing loop with a large clip for attaching items. The webbing loop can also be used to tie in equipment.

Peak UK Adventure Zip - Back Pocket

Peak UK Adventure Zip - Drinking Tube Clip

The fabric is very heavy duty ripstop cordura/nylon in a striking red colour-way and the grey webbing is similarly tough and heavy duty. Stitching and finish is superb and I could find not obvious ‘loose’ ends or imperfections.

Test Conditions

I’ve been using the Peak Adventure Zip as my primary buoyancy aid for a couple of months now on full day and short paddles during day and night and in a range of conditions from flat calm seas to blustery F5 with large wind blown swell. Equipment carried has been a VHF, set of mini flares in a small dry bag, mobile phone in waterproof bag, rescue knife, pencil torch, granola bar or mars bar, watch, compass and water bladder.

In Use

Peak UK Adventure Zip - Bellows Pocket

The webbing loops and clips provide ample tie in points and the top opening design means it is easy to select and access items as required without fear of them falling out as found on some vertical zipped pockets (Reed Aquatic Pro for example).

The Adventure Zip is very comfortable. I can adjust it easily to create a snug fit and with the front zip, removing/donning it on the water to adjust layers is simple enough. Whilst paddling it sits low enough down with enough clearance under the arms to prevent any rubbing or chaffing. It also allows for excellent mobility/flexibilty for more dynamic strokes and paddling.

For my low light/night paddling the reflective webbing strips on the front and rear are very welcome as its the light stick pocket although my use of a Kayalite means I have yet to utilise this pocket fully.

To date the Adventure Zip has proved to be extremely tough. The fabric and fittings are all suitably chunky substantial in design to withstanding heavy duty use. There are no signs of any wear or weak spots after 2 months of regular use (the BA has received a rinse in fresh water after each paddle but no other TLC).

At the end of yesterdays paddle (and after reading some discussion on the UKRSGB forums) I took the opportunity to swim a short distance and then perform a couple of self rescues (straddle and re-entry/roll) and was pleased with the results. Swimming was fine – the BA did stayed in place with virtually no riding up although this was over a short distance. I did not ‘dead hang’ in the water so could not comment on whether the Peak Adventure has a tendency to float you face up or face down.

Peak UK Adventure Zip - Whistle

I have found one ‘superfluous’ feature in the form of a whistle built into the top front clip on the buoyancy aid. Whilst is seems like a clever idea I remain unable to actually blow the whistle without cutting it of the buoyancy aid! Maybe some yoga sessions are needed. I would prefer to see a standard whistle on a cord attached at a sensible point on the BA.

Conclusion
The Peak UK Adventure Zip has hit the mark for me. It is the closest to my ideal design I have found with large enough storage capacity, sensibly sized opening to pockets, durable and tough fabrics and fittings and a comfortable fit.

It has plenty of well thought out features and extras, without being gimmicky (with the one exception of the whistle), that make the Adventure Zip a pleasure to use. The attention to details like rubber stops on the end of the webbing straps to prevent fraying, tags on zips to ensure they are easy to operate in the cold, using loops for pocket clips that provide extra tie in points all enhance the basic sensible and comfortable design.

At approx £120 the Peak Adventure Zip is not the cheapest buoyancy aid on the market but the features and excellent build quality fully justify the price tag. The fact that now the test period is over I am planning to contact Peak UK and purchase rather than return the review model Adventure Zip I think speaks volumes.

From Peak UK

• ISO Approved.
• High performance cut.
• Tough ripstop Cordura / nylon shell with neoprene shoulders and sides.
• 50-70N of self moulding soft foam.
• Shoulder, waist and side straps.
• Two front zip pockets with gear clips.
• Large back pocket for Drinks System (included) or flares.
• Internal mesh zip pocket.
• Reflective stripes.

Sizes: S/M. L/XL. XXL
Colours: Red / Grey
Uses: Touring. Ocean. Instruction. Adventure Racing.
Peak UK Website: www.peakuk.com

Purchasing:
The Peak UK Adventure Zip is available from Bournemouth Canoes for £119

Quick review here of a couple of essentials items for transporting and storing your Sea Kayak. I’ve already reviewed a couple of Lomo items (Kayak Gloves & Aqua Boots) and the over-riding impression you are left with is superb quality for astonishingly low prices. These two smaller items are no different.

Lomo Cockpit Cover

Lomo Deck Cover

In use, the cockpit cover is tight enough to remain in place at motorway speeds, but has more give than a deck making it easy to put on. The security strap is a decent length and I tend to thread it through my deck lines and clip it back to the buckle. When the Sea Kayak stored at home, I use the cover to keep creepy crawlies out of the boat however I do like to ensure the boat is clean and dry inside before using it so I’m not creating a breeding ground for mould.

At £15 it’s good value for money, the sort of money some companies charge for nylon versions. If you are in the market for a cockpit cover it’s well worth a look. Further details via the Lomo website.

Lomo Roof Rack Straps

Roof Rack Straps

The straps use 25mm wide high-strength polypropylene webbing and double-spring cam buckle and are 3.5m long. They are sold singly at £3.50, therefore £7 a set. I’ve been using my set for several months with no sign or any wear. Further details via Lomo website.

Jet Boil PCS

Description
The Jetboil Personal Cooking System (PCS) is marketed as a compact ‘food and beverage multi-tool’. It consists of a 1 litre pot, tall and thin in design. This pot is surrounded by a neoprene sleeve with a sewn in webbing handle. When in transit a heavy duty rubber drinking lid, similar to those found on thermal mugs, is attached to the top of the pot. A plastic measuring cup attaches to the bottom to protect the base of the pot.

Jet Boil PCS Heat Exchanger

The burner unit is a small push button ignition affair which screws directly onto the bottom of the pot. It is designed to accept a 100g gas cartridge. When not in use the burner/gas canister can be stowed inside the 1litre pot.

When in use the whole unit is firmly attached together and the neoprene outer/webbing handle allow the pot to be unscrewed from the burner and used as a mug/pot even when hot – the rubber drinking cap coming into play to prevent burnt lips.

In Use

Jet Boil PCS Full Kit

The Jetboil is simple to set up. Drop the burner unit/gas cartridge out of the pot. A half turn until the burner is attached to the base of the pot. Turn on the gas and push the ignition. This can all be done in seconds.

The burner is quite ferocious for it’s size and testing showed the published 2 mins for half a litre of water to be accurate. Similarly the published 12 litres per 100g gas canister was also accurate.

Jet Boil PCS Assembled

If you are looking to cook more advanced meals, then the standalone Jetboil PCS is limited on it’s own – it’s tricky to clean out after heating food directly in the pot. However Jetboil sell a range of compatible accessories such as larger/wider pots, frying pan etc.

The ignition works very well and the construction of the unit seems very robust. My only concern in use is the relatively high centre of gravity this design has on a small base ie: the bottom of the 100g gas canister. PCS sell a fold out base support which stabilises the unit and to my mind should really be part of the basic kit.

Conclusion

Jet Boil PCS Ignition

On a personal level, I now carry the Jetboil on every paddle, with a few cuppa soup and instant coffee sachets squashed inside the pot.

From the Manufacturer:
Our ultracompact 1 liter unit is ideal for dehydrated meals, coffee or tea on the go, remote worksites, and emergency kits. Travel light and prep easy. The Personal Cooking System (PCS) is a complete food and beverage multi-tool you can hold in your hand and weighs about a pound. Lights with the click of a button, and within two minutes you’ve got two cups of boiling water ready for coffee or a quick meal. Pack components, fuel and accessories into the Nalgene-sized cup for convenient transport.

Features:
◦ 1.0 Liter FluxRing® cooking cup with insulating Cargo Cozy
◦ Adjustable burner with push-button igniter
◦ Insulating drink-through lid
◦ Insulating measuring cup bottom

Weight: 15 oz (425 g)
Volume: 32 oz (1 Liter)
Boil Time: 16 oz (1/2 Liter) = 2 minutes
Water Boiled: 12 Liters per 100g Jetpower canister
Dimensions: 4.1” x 7.1” (104 mm x 180 mm)

Jetboil Website: www.jetboil.com
Jetboil PCS Product Page: Jetboil PCS

Reed Aquatic Pro Buoyancy Aid

The Aquatic Pro is their first Buoyancy Aid has had input from a number of high profile Sea Kayakers including Nigel Dennis during it’s design/development.

Features
The Reed Aquatic Pro is a front zip style with 8 point adjustment on the shoulders, sides and waist. The upper back and shoulders have neoprene padding under them to add comfort and a more flexible fit..

Reed Aquatic Pro Front

On the front of the Buoyancy Aid are two large zipped pockets. The zips on these run from top to bottom which has advantages and drawbacks.

The bigger opening they provide makes it easy to access larger items. For example, I could stow my VHF in the pocket easily with the aerial sticking out of the slightly open zip. However, when fully opened, it is easy for items not tied in to escape so care needs to be taken.

Reed Aquatic Pro Right Pocket

Although I use an appreciate these, I can’t help feeling a sewn in D ring would be a more secure and useful addition to each pocket.

The spec given on the Reed/Chillcheater website seems to suggest that current models do have D Rings which is a welcome development of this buoyancy aid.

Reed Aquatic Pro Flare Pocket

The rear of the buoyancy aid has a large, zipped pocket along with bungee attachments and a velcro fastening loop. This pocket is ideal for a water pouch and feeding tube, or carrying a set of flares.

In Use
The Reed Aquatic Pro felt a little ‘slabby’ on the front when I first picked it up, lacking the carefully designed curves of something like the Palm Kaikoura Tour. However, once on the fit was very good indeed allowing excellent movement and flexibility. The adjustment available is very good allowing you to get a snug, comfortable fit easily.

Reed Aquatic Pro Rear

The pockets swallow up any kit I want to carry and I use the rear pocket for my water bag. Even with full front pockets there is no hinderance to paddling or mobility.

I was sceptical about the downward opening pockets and have concerns about the strength of the tie in system on my model however I am totally sold on the ease of access to kit this system provided. When I compare it to struggling to remove items from a Kaikoura with pockets fully loaded there is no comparison.

The Reed Aquatic has received a good battering over the last 12 months and stood up to the test of time extremely well. The fabric is very tough and abrasion resistant. The zips and buckles have remained intact due to their quality and chunky construction.

Conclusion

Reed Aquatic Pro Rear Pocket

The build quality is excellent and uses hard wearing materials. This is clearly designed to be a long lasting, workhorse for serious sea paddlers and at £79 it represents excellent value.

From The Manufacturer

• 210 denier outer shell with tear resistant PU reinforced coating.
• PVC, soft profiled foam, providing a low profile design for unrestricted movement.
• 8 point strap adjustment system on the shoulders, side and waist belt to keep the vest in place.
• Neoprene padded shoulders and upper back for comfort.
• Sturdy front zip for easy entry and exit with non corroding nylon teeth and slider.
• Full refelctive ’3M’ piping on front, back and shoulders.
• Front stretch flare pouch with velcro retaining loop.
• 2 secure zippered fron draining pockets over soft neoprene handwarmers. ‘D’ ring inside pockets for secure attachments.
• Large and secure back pocket for top feeding camel back drink holder or large rocket flare. Adjustable for a low profile.

Website: Reed Chillcheater

Tahe Marine Reveal

The Reveal is an expedition sea kayak from Estonian based Tahe Marine. I spent a happy few weeks reviewing the Tahe Marine Reveal last year for the excellent Ocean Paddler Magazine. (Thanks to Rich – the Editor – for kindly letting me republish my review here).

Introduction
Marketed as a “pureblooded sea-kayak from bow until stern”, the review kayak certainly generated a lot of interest in the paddlers that saw her. Jet-black and glossy from tip to tail, this could be the perfect sea kayak for Freya Hoffmeister – that or an ideal purchase for the SBS for covert operations. The build quality and overall finish is certainly impressive. The Reveal has a thinner lay-up than British manufacturers tend to use, although Tahe Marine do offer a Heavy Duty lay-up version. However, I was more interested in what lies beneath the pretty exterior, in terms of handling and outfitting.

Features

Tahe Marine Reveal Foredeck

At 18’2” the Reval is a touring / expedition boat. It features a typical three-hatch set-up for storage, providing 140 litres of space. The rear hatch is oval shaped, the day and front hatch round. The deck is well-equipped with thick bungees and decklines and a compass recess is provided forward of the front hatch, although some additions would be needed to stow split paddles on the front or rear deck.

There are, however, plenty of spare attachment points to allow for personalisation of the decklines.

On the left-hand side a skeg slider sits in an easy-to-reach position and has a very smooth action. At either end of the kayak a moulded rubber handgrip for easy carrying can be found. Finally, the sliding footrests have reasonably sized pegs and can be easily adjusted when seated in the kayak due using long ‘arms’ that click the pegs up and down the settings.

Tahe Marine Reveal Sea

The seat and backrest combination are, however, very comfortable with good padding fixed to a GRP seat. The cockpit coaming itself is on the thinner, sharper side and did get chipped carrying the kayak on my shoulder after the first paddle. I would be happy to see a slightly ‘beefier’ coaming utilised.

On The water
Once on the move, you feel the speed provided by the length and associated waterline. The Reval is a fast boat and tracked very well. When the wind did pick up, it did tend to weathercock when paddled empty. Applying a quarter/half- skeg was sufficient to bring the Reval back on course, however, and there she stuck despite some very choppy swell and gusty wind conditions. The initial stability is good, thanks to a wide, shallow v-shaped hull. Put the Reval up on its edge and there is also a reassuring amount of secondary stability, allowing for good edge control.

Tahe Marine Reveal Hull

Despite its length and size, it can be turned easily when edging is applied. In fact, I was very pleasantly surprised at just how quickly it could be turned when a hard edge and a braced handbrake or bow rudder turn was used. It was possible to carve nice tight turns around a figure- of-eight course between buoys.

Running with the wind and tide the Reval surfed the waves nicely and, for a long kayak, was fun to paddle and play with. Paddling into the swell, it coped admirably. In a confused sea on a paddle across to the Isle of Wight, the Reval held a good course and was easy to keep under control.

The height of the deck and space within the cockpit allows for a range of leg positions to be utilised. I could happily adopt more of a K1 paddling position on long straight runs, yet brace my legs well for more controlled handling. At times, I found the skeg control moulding to be a little intrusive within the cockpit area, but not to a great extent. The lower back did allow easy rolling and recovery strokes.

Tahe Marine Reveal Skeg Controller

I had two minor issues with the Reval. Firstly, the skeg control ‘handle’ extends out beyond the edge of the boat to provide an easy grip. Despite its relatively small size, I caught it with the paddle on a few occasions when manoeuvring on a medium to hard edge where the paddle shaft came close to the kayak. This would suddenly deploy the skeg fully mid-stroke. I would prefer to see a control that is flush with the side of the kayak. I was also a little disappointed with the amount of water ingress through the hatches. Researching the Reval online, I read some very positive comments regarding the hatch covers, so it may be an issue with this particular boat. Whether a 1 mm hole drilled in the bulkheads would help reduce this, as some manufacturers are beginning to do, I’m not sure.

Summary
Overall, the Reval is an interesting and enjoyable boat to paddle. Tahe Marine are a lesser known manufacturer here in the UK. However, they can certainly produce well-finished and equipped kayaks. Would I would choose the ‘stealth’ gloss black were I to purchase one? I don’t think so – one beach landing left me wishing for a white hull. Would I consider a Tahe Marine Kayak per se? It would definitely be on my short list and, retailing at just £1299.99 it presents compelling value for money at £700 cheaper than many of similar sized/spec sea kayaks.

Manufacturers Response

We at Tahe Marine very much appreciate the review of the tester. It is very rewarding to us that the test paddler found the quality and overall finish of the kayak impressive. Of course we are tremendously happy that the Reval’s good initial and secondary stability and the positive response on tracking and speed showed that the hull design receives excellent feedback. We appreciate also that some details like rubber handgrips and sliding footrests were positively noted, which were among the improvements already for season 2009. We have noted the minor issues to improve and we can guarantee that we will continue to listen to paddlers so we can develop the best value for money kayaks. Thank You!

Marek Pohla R&D Manager, Tahe Marine Team

Specs
Length: 555 cm (18’2” )
Width: 54 cm (21” )
Approx. capacity: 155 kg (340 lbs)
Weight:
Fiberglass: 23-25 kg (51-55 Ibs)
Carbon/aramide: 21-23 kg (46-51 Ibs)
Storage:
Front: 60L, hatch: 25 cm (10”)
Rear: 60L, hatch: 43×26 cm (17×10” )
Small:20L, hatch: 15 cm (6”)
Options:
Retractable skeg / rudder / skeg + rudder / Heavy duty lay-up

Website: Tahe Marine Reveal

Tahe Marine Reveal Skeg

Tahe Marine Reveal Footrest

Tahe Marine Reveal Day Hatch

Tahe Marine Logo

Tahe Marine Reveal Toggle

Tahe Marine On Roof Rack

Kayalu Gear Kayalite

By now regular readers will know I spend a substantial amount of time paddling at night.

Therefore I was more than intrigued to pick up some buzz about a new product to the market – the Kayalu Gear Kayalite – a removable, deck mounting kayak light system.

Over the last few months I have experimented with a range of cheap and not so cheap LED torches, head-torches and light sticks in a effort to create a simple, robust system for lighting my kayak at night.

Kayalu Gear Kayalite

To date, the most cost effective and reliable system for showing a white light at the rear of the kayak was a simple LED pencil torch lifted from the deck by a rolled up paddle float and held fast under the deck lines.

This provides a continuous white light from the rear of the kayak, however has two main issues. The torch is swamped with water in rougher seas and is prone to failure after a few weeks. Secondly, it sits low down and is single directional – pointing only out the the stern.

Enter the Kayalu Gear Kayalite, a high-visibility LED stern light.

Description

Tektite Mk III Light

The Kayalite features a Tektite Mark III light built into an 18″ mast with a large round base. The base of the unit has foam padding, with 2 grooves cut through it.

The mast has a cleat on one side and running though the hollow mast is a length of bungee cord. This exits at the base where it is attached to a clip and at the side of the mast where it can be fastened around the cleat.

To fix the Kayalite to your kayak you attach the clip to any suitable point (eyelet, deck loop, pad eye, topside drain plug or other fixed point of attachment) then pull the bungee tight fastening it off on the cleat.

Jamming Cleat

The tension causes the light to sit firmly on the deck, with the foam base padding adapting to the contours of the deck. Kayalu provide a eyelet bolt should you wish to fit a permanent fixing location.

The kayalite is switched on/off by rotating the top of the light.

Switching the Kayalite on provides a 360 degree bright white LED light which is designed to run for 200 hours on one set of batteries.

In Use

Fully Assembled

The Kayalite arrived fully assembled so all I was required to do was fit it to the kayak.

I paddle a P&H Cetus and decided to utilise deck lines where they fit through a centrally mounted point just in front of my rear oval hatch. Although an ideal location, attaching to deck lines is does mean that I am attaching bungee to bungee which will reduce the sturdiness of the attachment.

However I was able to create a solid attachment, with only minor ‘wobble’. I have no qualms that attaching to a more secure point would allow you to create a very stable attachment with virtually no movement in the Kayalite. Whether I would be prepared to permanently attach an eyelet to the Cetus needs further thought.

Attaching The Kayalite

The build quality of the unit seems very robust. The black, textured ABS that makes up the bulk of the mast is chunky and substantial and does not give the impression it would snap or break if manhandled.

The use of marine grade stainless steel on the small but sturdy clip is a reassuring sign of careful design.

Switching the light on and off is simple, as is removing the top of the light to replace batteries/bulbs if required.

Once positioned on the rear deck of the kayak, your ability to operate the light single handed will rely on the mounting position you have chosen.

In Position

I experimented before setting out on my first trip and ascertained I could switch the light on and off with a bit of effort – I’m not the most flexible paddler so others will find this easier than I did however I was happy that with my chosen mounting location this would not be a ‘set it and forget it’ piece of kit.

Out on the water, the Kayalite instantly proved worth it’s weight in gold. The height of the unit has been carefully chosen to strike a good balance between visibility and not impairing your night vision. I found my body/head shielded the front of the kayak from the majority of the light thrown out by the Kayalite.

However, it does throw some light out to the sides and under your arms which took a little getting used to – most notably realising that dark shape in the water was actually my own shadow and not something ominous under the surface!

First Outing

During my first paddle I switched between my old method of lighting (a torch tucked under the bungees on the rear of the kayak) and the Kayalite and found that whilst there was no loss of night vision with the torch, there was a very small amount from the kayalite. However, this was minimal and the incredible visibility offered by the kayalite vs the torch make this a vastly preferable system.

I see a few fishermen regularly on one of my night time routes and sought their opinion by paddling a couple of hundred metres out, firstly with the torch, then the kayalite. Their verdict was unanimously in favour of the kayalite – with comments mainly centred on the 360 degree light and extra height. As one quipped, the difference is:

Chalk and cheese, or should I say dark and light!

Testing Kayalite

One aspect to consider should be stowage – the round base is not removable. On one hand this offers a more sturdy design, however if you were using this on a multi-day/night trip it would not quite as easy to stow than if it had a removable base.

The final test for the Kayalite came at the end of the paddle, when I rolled several times with the unit in place. I found that my chosen mounting location mean’t that the Kayalite did not impede my roll. It was also not displaced, despite being attached to the deck lines rather than a fixed eyelet. Each time I came up and the light was still shining brightly.

Summary

To be honest, I fell in love with the kayalite on the first paddle. The Solent is a very busy section of the UK coastline with an amazing amount of traffic at all times of the year and all times of the night. Lights are a must even if only switched on when required. Combined with an LED head torch for the front light (which I switch on when I need to be seen), the Kayalite offers incredible visibility and therefore safety.

The unit has so far proven to be very durable and well made. I will continue to evaluate it’s build quality and battery/bulb lifetime over the coming months and update this review with my findings.

I guess the ultimate question should be ‘Would I paddle at night without one now?’ The answer is a very definite no! And if they were to consider producing a shorter, shielded red/green for the bow, I’d be first in line.

From The Manufacturer

Kayalu Kayalite

Mast
Mast Material: ABS black, textured
Base Cushion Material: EVA foam
Fastener: plated steel breech clip
Mast Hardware: marine-grade stainless steel
Bungee Cable: saltwater-resistant nylon coated
Bungee Rings: marine-grade stainless steel
Locking Mechanism: jam cleat
U.S. Patents Pending

Tektite Mark III (included)
Switch: Twist On/Off
Depth Rating: 1,000 feet (300 m)
Lamp: 1 LED
Lamp Life: 10,000+ hours
Burn Time: 200+ hours
Batteries: 3 AA Alkaline (included)
Materials: ABS and LEXAN
U.S. Patent #6,168,288

General Specifications
Height: 18 in. (45.72 cm)
Weight: 10 oz. (285 g)

Cost
$39.99

Further Details
www.kayalu.com

Lomo Kayak Gloves

The wrists are long enough to cover the wrist seals on cags/drysuits and have a wide neoprene/velcro fastening which is easy to use when wearing the gloves. This provides a good seal around the wrists. It’s also a useful way of securing the gloves to a deck line when you want then handy.

Reinforced Patches

These gloves are a bargain at £10 and when they do eventually wear out I would not hesitate to grab another pair.

Lomo have produced this video showing the features of the Kayak Glove:

Lomo Aqua Boot

The Lomo Aqua Wetsuit Boot is no exception. At £23 they are an absolute bargain.

The Lomo Aqua Boot are constructed from 5mm neoprene with a treaded hard sole. The heel and toe areas are re-enforced with rubber and the deep YKK zip has a neoprene gusset behind it. All the seams are stitched and glued.

In Use

Lomo Aqua Boots

The high cut of the boot means it completely covers a drysuit sock, fitting neatly under the ankle seal. This provides excellent protection for what can be a delicate area of a drysuit.

I have found that as a size 9/9.5 (UK) opting for a Size 10 boot is snug enough, with room for a baggy drysuit sock to fit inside.

A superb round-up of footwear, which speaks highly of the Lomo Aqua Boots can be found on Douglas Wilcox’s excellent blog.

From Lomo:

We think this is one of the best wetsuit boots boots on the market today. No poor quality thin soles here! This is a high quality, well made boot that we’re sure you’ll be happy with.

We originally designed this boot as a dive boot but were also quickly swamped by orders from sea kayakers who loved the sole of the boot. Its tread pattern is deep enough to give you grip on rocky ground but is designed so it wont bring stones and gravel into your boat.

5mm Neoprene Uppers
YKK Zipper
Gusseted zip opening
Glued and blind stiched seams
High Grip
Reinforced heel and toe

USES: Diving, Kayaking

Great Value Wetsuit Boots!

SIZING NOTE: These boots are quite generously sized and are, if anything, large for their size rather than small.

Palm Aleutian Surface Dry Suit

The Palm Aleutian Immersion Suit is Palm’s sea specific drysuit sporting a number of features not usually found on general purpose/white water drysuits. Over the past 3-4 months I have been putting the Aleutian through it’s paces in a range of conditions on day and night paddles.

Introduction

Paddling, particularly in the winter months, demands that we dress appropriately. You will often hear me stating that I ‘dress for the swim’, thats to say I wear suitable clothing to cope with immersion whilst I hopefully effect a self-rescue. To that end a dry-suit is a highly desireable piece of equipment.

The Palm Aleutian Immersion Suit certainly looks the business. Bright yellow XP250 fabric with black ‘wear patches’ on ankles, knees, elbows and other stategic points. With the addition of reflective piping and patches it provides an excellent level of visibility, particularly key if you plan to paddle at night.

Description

Wrist Seal

The Aleutian is fitted with latex neck and wrist seals, fitted boots and T-Zip rear entry and relief zip to ensure it remains water-tight. The wrist seals are protected by over cuffs with strong velcro seals. Ankle cuffs are present to allow you to tighten the legs over wetsuit boots. The latex neck seal is protected with a high collar (which also contains the roll-down hood). This colar sports a deep, water-proof zip.

The waist has draw cord allowing you to cynch the drysuit tighter at the waist. It also uses a twin-seal system allowing you to trap the wiast tube of your spray deck. The rubber/velcro tabs that allow you to tighten this are very strong and hard wearing.

Re-enforced Seat

The arms and legs of the Aleutian Drysuit are articluated and have hard wearing Cordura 300D patches across the elbows, knees, ankle and most of the backside/rear thigh area. The design has also ensured that there are no underarm or crotch seams to aid comfort. The arms have two 2 small pockets with waterproof zips.

The front of the Aleutian has 2 hand warmer pockets, lined with fleece and accessed via waterproof zips. A relief T-Zip is positioned to allow male paddlers to relieve themselves without removing the drysuit.

With regard to reflective patches, piping runs the length of the arms and legs. Across the shoulders and on the hood are larger reflective patches.

The hood is a roll down affair, stowed in the collar of the Jacket. It has a wired peak and is volume adjustable via a draw cord at the rear of the hood.

In Use

Neck Zip

I found the sizing interesting on the Aleutian. I’m 5’9″ so not tall, but I have very broad shoulders so needed an XL as the arms felt too short in a L. I worried it would swamp me in terms of length however it I have found the fit to be excellent. There is plenty of room to cope with a layering system under the suit without it feeling tight or restrictive. Similarly, out of the boat, clambering about on the shoreline I have not found the suit in any way restricting to my movements.

Out of the box, the latex neck seal is unlikely to fit properly. It is worth stretching this for some time before you consider trimming it. I found I needed to take a reasonable amount of the neck seal to get a tight but comfortable seal. I’ve yet to experience any discomfort from the neck seal and apart from the inevitable trickle of water when you moving your head/neck about it has remained watertight during rolling practice.

Donning the suit is relatively easy. The T-Zip was very stiff initially but eased naturally and with plenty of lubrication now runs smoothly. As with all rear-entry systems, there is an art form to being able to open and close the zip however the reasonably sized toggle and loop make this slightly easier.

Top Half

In the boat, the Aleutian Suit is very comfortable to wear. I have not felt at all restricted and have not suffered any rubbing. It has kept out some very rough weather and when combined with suitable thermal/fleece layers is very snug and warm.

In warmer conditions, when I am dressed for the swim I have experienced some condensation as the suit struggles to breathe sufficiently, however I feel this is the price you have to pay for dressing appropriately for unforeseen circumstances and is something that occurs with all drysuits. When the air temperature is lower the Aleutian has breathed well and I emerge with dry clothing after a hard paddle.

I like the reflective patches which are well positioned. With the amount of night paddling I’m currently doing I would prefer to have larger patches ate the wrists as well at the piping that already exists.

Waist & Relief Zip

With regards to durability, to date I have found the Aleutian Immersion Suit to be exceptionally hard wearing. I spent quite a bot of time during paddles jumping in and out of the boat, clambering about/kneeling/lying on the shore to take photographs so the suit gets quite a hammering. It has held up very well and has no visible signs of wear. I am careful to clean and dry the suit properly to ensure to prolong the lifespan.

I have read comments on some sea kayaking sites about other Palm drysuits suffering from delamination, however these seem confined to earlier models/fabrics and so far all comments regarding the XP250 fabric have been positive. This is something I will monitor closely, however having used an Aleutian Cag (which also uses XP250) for 18 months or so I have had not issue with delamination.

Summary

Drysuit Sock

With such a good feature set for Ocean Paddling, particularly the hood and hi-vis colours & reflective patches/piping and hard wearing yet comfortable design this is a serious contender.

Twin Waist Sea

Hood & Neck

Collar

From The Palm Website:

Designed specifically for extended use in the ocean realm, the Aleutian performs to the highest standard providing protection, visibility and comfort.

Features include:

• Natural latex gaskets at neck and wrists with adjustable over cuffs
• Articulated sleeve panelling with no underarm seams
• Flexible Ti-Zip rear entry and front relief zippers
• Ergonomic, volume adjustable, storm hood designed to provide full movement when wearing a helmet underneath.
• Water-resistant zipped front and sleeve pockets
• Velcro adjustable neoprene waistband with asymmetric cut for improved fit
• Adjustable internal waist drawcord
• Seamless crotch and pre-bent knees
• Cordura¨ 300D at elbows, seat and knees
• Breathable XP250ª Toray socks with Cordura¨ 300D soles
• Reflective detail at hood, neck, cuffs and ankles

Fabrics: XP250ª 4-layer fabric/Cordura¨ 300D reinforcement
Colours: Saffron/Black
Code: AW150
Size options: S / M / L / XL / XXL

I’ve been using the Yak Koast Buoyancy Aid for several months now. Designed as a low profile, touring buoyancy aid it utilises a side zip fastening allowing for a large pocket across the front of the PFD and one large rear pocket.

Constructed from ‘supersoft’ foam and tough ripstop nylon, the Koast is a rugged yet comfortable piece of equipment. I have found the lower profile of this buoyancy aid to be extremely comfortable to wear, allowing a full range of movement without ever feeling restricted.

Yak Koast Buoyancy Aid - Front

The front of the Yak Koast sports a single, top opening pocket which covers almost the full width of the buoyancy aid. This pocket has a top opening zip with 2 zip pulls, allowing the pocket to open from the centre point. On the front of this pocket, is a seperate knife pocket, with a downward pulling zip. The main compartment contains D rings for attaching equipment and is easily large enough to swallow my VHF along with other equipment. I have the aerial sticking out of the centre of the pocket which is ideal, as it keeps the VHF aerial central avoiding my arms catching on it during strokes – a problem I have had with some ‘side’ pockets.

The other benefit of the large, top opening is it reduces the risk of items dropping out as is the case with vertically opening pockets. The knife pocket is a reasonable size and easily holds a small to medium size diving style knife.

Also on the front of the Yak Koast is a standard lash tab suitable for attaching a torch for night paddling or a knife for easy access.

Yak Koast Buoyancy Aid - Back

The rear sports a large pocket designed primarily for a hydration pack. Their is a suitable opening and channels across the shoulder to secure the drinking tube. This pocket has a flap closure and side zip making it easy to stow the hydration system before donning the buoyancy aid.

The combination of an over the head with side zip method for donning/removing the Yak Koast is very welcome. I find it easier to put on/take off on the water (when removing or adding layers) than some front zipped buoyancy aids, although the side zip took a little getting used to doing up.

Yak Koast - Wide Neoprene Shoulder

The wide, neoprene shoulder are very low profile and extremely comfortable, with webbing and buckle adjustment. The Yak Koast also boasts multiple side adjusters to get a snug fit. These are all easy to adjust on the water, even with cold, wet hands.

The colour scheme is bright and high visibility backed up by reflective panels. This has proved invaluable during recent weeks as my sunset filled evening paddles slowly become full blown night paddles with the nights drawing in. An addition I would love to see, given it’s suitability for low light/night paddling, would be light stick holders as some other buoyancy aids are now sporting (for example, the Yak Escape).

In use, the Yak Koast has proven to be extremely comfortable. I like the lower profile and uncluttered/fussy design. I also like the fact the single, wide front pocket keeps items closer to the body, rather than smaller, bulging pockets. The fact I can keep my VHF on my person, yet out of the way by sitting central to the buoyancy aid is fantastic.

Yak Koast Buoyancy Aid - Side Zip Closed

The large, top opening means I am never concerned about accessing items, although the single pocket may not appeal to those who like to more flexibility in segregating/organising equipment. For me, it’s never been a problem however.

I’ve been reliably informed by observers that the reflective patches combined with torches on my person/boat work well and provide enhanced visibility.

As with all equipment I test, the Yak Koast has been given quite a hammering and shows no signs of damage or significant wear and tear.

Along with the Yak Conquest Cag, it makes an ideal, comfortable, durable and high visibility combination.

The final consideration is price. Compared to some of the sea kayaking/touring specific buoyancy aids on the market, this is a real contender. For example, Bournemouth Canoes are selling this at £68 – this is between £30-£60 cheaper than some of its rivals (Palm Taupo, Peak Adventure Zip, Palm Kaikoura Tour). Yak seem to have a knack of producing no-nonsense, well designed equipment at very reasonable prices.

Yak Koast Buoyancy Aid - Side Zip Open

Yak Koast Buoyancy Aid - Open Back Pocket

Yak Koast Buoyancy Aid - Lash Tab

From Yak:

Yak Koast

1. Ergonomic foam shape for maximum comfort
2. Multi point adjustment for the ultimate fit
3. Bright colour and reflective panels for excellent visibility
4. Expanding front pocket and knife pocket for additional storage
5. Vertical back pocket designed to accommodate hydration pack

Price: £70 approx

More details can be found on the Yak Website, along with details of their other Buoyancy Aids. The Yak Koast can also be seen in action in this short video clip.