weekend adventure guide gear ✔
PRISTINE WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM Simple two-part chlorine dioxide water treatment drops are safe and effective. They’re also lighter than pump-based filters. $30 US,
pristinewatertreatment.com
YAKIMA BOWDOWN
This rooftop kayak cradle folds flat for the best possible aerodynamics and clearance from Monday to Friday so you’re ready to go when the weekend comes. $250 US,
yakima.com
OPTIMUS NOVA+ This burn-anything stove is durable and simmer-ready for backcountry gourmands. $150 US,
optimus.se
MEC OASIS
The lightweight, clamshell-shape Oasis provides adequate shelter from sun and rain. But with full no-see-um netting, it really lives up to its name in bug season. $119 Cdn,
mec.ca
GSI GOURMET BACKPACKING COOK SYSTEM An all-in-one cookset for two. Includes nonstick pot, frying pan, strainer lid, bowls, cups and a clever pot-gripper. $60 US,
gsioutdoors.com
boats
If your idea of an expedition is a weekend trip, then there’s no need to paddle a cumbersome, oversized sea kayak. Just about every manufacturer offers full-featured, scaled-down boats.
New this spring, the Perception Tribute 14.0 ($995 US/Cdn, $1220 US/Cdn with rudder, 46 pounds,
perceptionkayaks.com) is a sporty yet beginner-friendly kayak designed for smaller paddlers. Upgraded outfitting, a roomier cockpit and dual hatches and bulkheads give the new Tribute greater comfort and storage than its 12-foot predecessor. Full perimeter decklines and bungees aid with rescues and reentries.
ClearWater Design offers a range of polyethylene sea kayaks perfect for weekend trips on sheltered waters. The 15.5-foot, twin-hatched St. Lawrence ($1,299 Cdn, $1,099 US, 54 pounds,
clearwaterdesignboats.com) has excellent glide and carrying capacity. Its no-frills outfitting puts a high premium on comfort for more relaxed, quiet water paddlers.
For those who love the crisp lines of composite layups, enter the Impex Hesper ($2,595 US in fibreglass, 47 pounds,
impexkayaks.com). Besides being beautiful to look at and remarkably responsive, the Hesper’s 14-foot, shallow V-shaped hull and moderate chines make it comfortably stable at rest or on edge. Its three rubber-hatched storage compartments have a combined volume of 250 litres—plenty of room for the most decadent of weekend trips.
34 ADVENTURE KAYAK | EARLY SUMMER 2009
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48