kayaker’s
journal
IN THE HATCH BY TIM SHUFF —continued from page 23
Welcome to the Fold The new Pakboats XT-15 folding kayak at 17.7 kg (39 lbs) weighs and costs less than many of its competitors yet performs like a high-performance hard- shell. The inflatable seat and padded thigh braces provide a comfortable and snug fit. You load gear via the removable deck. $1,775 US »
pakboats.com
Dog Assistance Some dogs swim better than others but all can use a little help in rough or cold waters where they may have to swim for a long time. The Ruff Wear Big Eddy Float Coat includes a useful handle for lifting. 4 sizes, $75 US »
ruffwear.com
Superlight Sleeper Big Agnes sleeping systems shave grams by making bags without bottoms, integrating a sleeve for a matching sleeping pad instead. The minimalist Pitch Pine SL summer sack is good down to 4 de- grees C (40 F) and weighs only a pound. $280 US »
bigagnes.com
Buckets of Fun Something we just knew would be useful the first time we saw it was the SealLine Black Canyon Gear Bucket and it didn’t disappoint. Three sizes, heavy duty, waterproof and good for everything from hauling water and backcountry launder- ing to grocery shopping on the way home. $70 Cdn/USD (medium) »
seallinegear.com
GEAR WE’VE LOVED BY ALEX MATTHEWS
Spike’s Perfectly Aged Wetsuit
Send your stories of gear that never dies to
editor@adventurekayakmag.com
Spike Gladwin has a long association with Necky Kayaks as the designer of the landmark Rip, Jive and Blunt whitewater boats (among other classics) and the current head boat designer for Necky’s parent, Johnson Outdoors. When prompted, Spike admits that one of his favourite bits of gear is a “very old” Rip Curl shorty wetsuit: “I’d rather not say just how old, but over 10 years for sure. It’s pretty nasty at this point, but it really feels as if it was custom-made just for me: no chafing, no excess material, perfect fit. The saddest thing is that I actually have another one of the exact same wetsuits, but I can’t bust it out because then I wouldn’t have a backup. So I just keep wearing the same old nasty, smelly, rotten one!”
28 ADVENTURE KAYAK | EARLY SUMMER 2009
PHOTO: ALEX MATTHEWS
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