Gear Bag
by Rapid staff
SPECIAL: CREEKING GEAR Seven things to get you in there and going down
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WERNER 1 Sho-Gun
As the top dogs in Japan’s military, Shoguns were the de facto rulers of Japan between the 12th and 19th centuries. Their full job title was: “Commander in Chief of the Expeditionary Forces Against the Barbarians,” and, really, could you think of a more appropriately named paddle to be wielding as you set out on a creeking expedition? Beyond historical credentials, the Sho-Gun’s large foam-core Kevlar blades make it Werner’s creeking and river running weapon of choice—smooth, tough and buoyant, even in aerated creeks.
Straight fibreglass shaft $325 US; bent carbon shaft $425 US.
www.wernerpaddles.com
MERRELL 2 Ultra-Sport
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The Merrell Ultra-Sport sole’s deep lugs provide good traction in muck yet don’t protrude to prevent you from getting your feet into the end of your boat. A sturdy “toe bumper” eases the pain of penitent canoeists and the mesh uppers hug your feet thanks to a clever lacing system that pulls on supportive straps that wrap around the heel and are anchored to the sole. Softer, stickier rubber in the Vibram soles would provide better grip on wet rocks, but would surely wear out faster. Bottom line: The Ultra-Sport is a low-profile water shoe that fits like a sneaker, giving you one less thing to complain about bushwhacking to the put-in that’s always “just a little further.”
Men’s and women’s $120 Cdn. $80 US.
www.merrell.com
JOHNSON AND SON 3 Old-fashioned Deep Woods OFF
Sure, there are good reasons why you can’t buy bug dope that’s 90 per cent DEET
anymore. But you’re bushwhacking through swamps to throw yourself down a seldom- run class V creek where the best evac scenarios are measured in days, are you really going to worry about the long-term effects of a possible carcinogen? When you frantically reach for the little bottle, you’ll know you’re in the deep woods, or as the French side says, the “regions sauvages.”
Found in the basements of old-time canoe trippers everywhere.
HYDROSCAPES RIVER GEAR 4 Full On Vest
It only makes sense that the most rugged rescue vest comes from a place called the Rock. Newfoundland’s Hydroscapes released the Full On Vest as their first product in 2003 and have since added more features in the same sturdy handmade construction. Articulated body armour—borrowed from downhill mountain biking—protects the shoulders, upper spine and ribs from bumpy inverted runs. Around back, the high placement of the strong-swimmer-belt D-ring results in a better towing angle and leaves room for Hydroscapes’ attachable Rescue Rocket throwbag. Down below, the heavy- duty waist belt will support additional leg loops for rappelling into, or out of, full-on situations. Supplementary shoulder straps continue down the front of the vest and loop around the waist belt so the belt will tighten and prevent the vest from sliding over your head when the straps are yanked on. Everyone we showed the vest to said, “Wow, that’s a full-on vest.” Yup.
$ 295 Cdn.
www.hydroscapes.net
BACKROAD 5 Mapbooks
Backroad Mapbooks were born on a drizzly morning in 1993 down a dizzying web of logging roads in southern B.C. Two brothers got very lost; then very inspired. Surely there
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www.rapidmag.com
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