Gear Bag Lowe Pro DryZone 200
It’s a pretty gutsy move for Lowe Pro to launch a soft-sided camera backpack that they claim is completely waterproof. They are telling their hundreds of thousands of loyal pro and amateur photographers that it is okay to trust their $10,000-plus worth of gear to a rubber zipper. Before I’d piled my electronics inside, trusting their R&D department, I did a little testing of my own. At daypack size, the DryZone 200 holds a pro-sized SLR and a pile of lenses up to a 300mm f/2.8, a monster to
carry anywhere. It is also ideal for digital video, with plenty of room for camera and accessories. Wrapped in the backpack shell and frame is a waterproof plastic-coated nylon bag. It is a three-step process to access your gear—flip up the nylon shell and peel open the watertight zipper and inside that is the familiar Lowe Pro case liner with pockets and dividers to organize your gear. Compared to a Pelican Case, the only real other option, the DryZone 200 makes it more of a hassle to access your equipment and, maybe more importantly, put it away quickly. But that’s the only beef. Everything else is great. The harness system is fully adjustable with top-notch padding and contouring. There are tons of pockets, latch points and a tripod holder. And yes, it’s waterproof. $250.00 Cdn.
www.lowepro.com.
The Down River Bidet by Adrian Meissner Wilderness Services
It can be difficult to bring the luxuries of home on extended river trips. But there are some things we just can’t do without. The most obvious is toilet paper, otherwise known as T.P., S*#T tickets or “gold.” With T.P. there are inherent concerns such as how much to bring, whether to burn or bury and how to keep it dry.
Adrian Meissner Wilderness Services has developed a way to bring posh luxury and social harmony to the backcountry with the Down River Bidet (DRB). This clever innovation is a combination of an olive barrel, sea kayak bilge pump and surgical tubing. Already popular with the Euro elite, the DRB provides a paperless answer to the burning ring of fire from last night’s chili as well as the potential fisticuffs between trip members over the last coveted roll of squeezable three-ply. The DRB can even be utilized as a trip-dynamic strengthening tool—one person doing the deed and the other pumping to maximize water pressure (although athletic individuals are capable of doing the feat alone). The biggest challenges are accepting this eco-friendly alternative and getting used to having your fanny be fan-dried by the wind. Look for future endeavors in the realm of human hygiene by Adrian Meissner Wilderness Services. Ppriceless.
downriverbidet@yahoo.ca.
Sportz II Truck Tent by Napier Enterprises
Whether it is the narrow backseat of a Tercel or the loft of a VW Bus, sleeping in the confines of a vehi- cle is a rite of passage into the paddling community signifying commitment and obsession. It’s a quest for a little bit of shuteye amidst moulding paddling gear, crumpled chocolate bar wrappers and empty chip bags. Napier Enterprises has given true meaning to the term “car camping” by offering a line of tents that attach directly to your vehicle. The Sportz II Truck Tent is designed to fit into the bed of virtually any pickup truck. The fully enclosed, well-ventilated nylon tent latches solidly onto your pickup bed with a breathable water- resistant fly. A sewn-in canopy extends from over the door of the tent and creates a sheltered area directly behind the truck to relax in or set up a drying line.
Having an elevated sleeping platform distances you from potentially thawing or wet ground. Pick your site wisely because once you’re set up you won’t be driving too far. The tent is not designed to keep you as dry as a four-season model but will stand up in stormy weather conditions. Storage for the equipment you pulled out of the bed may be an issue—stash it in the cab, under the truck or canopy or beside you as a tent partner. The ultimate result is a drier, more rest- ed paddler, ready to take on another day. $179.95 US.
www.napierenterprises.com.
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