Eureka Canoepak SS115
The typical summer camp way of waterproofing your canoe tripping gear for rain or capsize is double-wrapping your things in garbage bags and then stuffing them into worn, mouse-chewed canvas packs with shoe laces for shoulder straps. This method didn’t work for us then and it doesn’t work now. To quote little Freddy with the wet sleeping bag, “It SUCKS!” And you wonder why kids send letters begging to come home. The new, large-capacity Eureka Canoepak SS115 is the surest way to never hear from your kids again. The Pak has 115 litres of volume, con- toured shoulder straps, padded waist belt and two orange lines with grab loops for your hands that work somewhat like the leather tumplines of old, allowing you to rearrange some of the weight on your shoulders while you walk. It’s made of rugged, kid-proof vinyl with burly rubber grab handles and D-ring lashpoints for attaching cool campy trinkets like mugs, dream catchers, bandannas and Justin Timberlake keychains. Staring into the depths of the SS115, I admit to wondering if you could stuff a kid inside. If you think little Freddy might not be able to carry this huge pack, Eureka offers a smaller SS75 as well as a full line of regular drybags. $175 Cdn, $125 US.
www.eurekatent.com.—SM
Spitz Sunflower Seeds
Suffering overwhelming bouts of “river fever”? In attempts to reduce road rage en route to the put-in and maintain relationships with friends who are never on time, try eating sunflower seeds. Frustration is released, time is consumed and nutrients are gained—iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium and vitamin E. The sunflower, Helianthus asteraceae, is originally native to South America, but is now grown and distrib- uted almost worldwide. Some tall-growing breeds can attain a height of three metres (12 feet) and a blos- som width of one metre. Blossoms are composed of yellow “ray” flowers and yellow, brown or purple “disk” flowers. The daily orientation of the flower to the sun is the result of differential stem growth. A plant-growth regulator accumulates on the shaded side of the stem when unequal light conditions prevail. This accumulation causes the darker side to grow faster than the sun side, resulting in a sun-bowing stem and flower. Cool, eh?
Spitz offers a large selection of flavoured and salted sunflower seeds to match every taste. Spitz are a Canadian-made product grown without the use of sprays or chemicals. Spitz seeds have the best shell “snap” even after a full summer season of humid, hot dashboard storage. The seeds can be found at most filling stations or pecked from backyard feeders. Although discarded shells can make a mess, the release of river fever creates a more pleasurable and relaxed driving experience for everyone. $1.09 Cdn for a 113 gram bag.
www.spitz.ca. —Mike Lamarche
Salus Marine Wear Gjoa PFD
I don’t have breasts, not even flabby man breasts, and definitely nothing you’d mistake for pectoral muscles. Anyone who’s met me is now nodding because they know I’m built more like a drinking straw than an hourglass. Most PFDs fit me, so I don’t know first hand what all the complaining is about, but put a bunch of women together in the same shuttle vehicle and sooner than later the conversation turns to, “does your PDF squash your boobs?” You may already find yourself penning a how-crude-of-me letter, but ask any woman paddler and you’ll realize this is a serious issue. Steve Wagner, president and designer at Salus Marine Wear, doesn’t have breasts either, but gruelling anatomical research produced the clever cut of the new Gjoa, a PFD that fits women like a Wonderbra. The Gjoa (pronounced YO-ah, the name of explorer Roald Amundsen’s ship which was the first to navigate the Northwest Passage) is a full-bodied, side-zip/pullover, Canadian Coast Guard–approved paddling vest. The contoured princess seams divide the front of the PFD into three hinged panels that wrap your torso, while the chest foam thins to reduce bulk, and accommodate and support. “We almost released the Gjoa as a women’s-only PDF but so many men found it comfortable we didn’t want to pigeonhole it,” said Wagner. Salus uses nylon webbing throughout, Drylex mesh lining, and Cordura outer fabric, making the Gjoa strong enough for a man. But really, it’s made for a woman. Gold, red and moss green. $159 Cdn.
www.salusmarine.com. —SM
2003 Fall 41
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 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52