Water Sports
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A wide chest band and ample cups suit a range of sizes and hold everything securely in place for pickup volleyball. $72; www.watergirlusa.com…
SUMMER RUNABOUT The oversize cockpit makes for easy entry, the desk-chair-style high backrest is ergonomic and supportive, and the front deck net holds a water bottle, sunscreen, or a map. In other words, it was easily the most comfortable boat for cruising on calm days. Plus it’s easy to tailor…
SMOOTH AND STEADY Liquid Logic consulted a flotilla’s worth of southeastern kayak instructors when designing the river-running Remix. The result is a boat that’s about as user-friendly as they come: No edginess, no surprises, and easy to keep upright in squirrely water. And if you do flip? “It’ll literally roll…
Water Runner Several two-year-old pairs of 920s are still in rotation among our staff—and this updated version proved to be just as popular. The reason is simple: The 921 is a well-built water-and-land shoe with aggressive off-road tread, rigid rubber overlays for lateral support, and generous (and well-protected) drain holes…
Light and Tough The 13-foot Revolution is part of NRS's new series of urethane boats. With ample rocker and sporty tubes, the Revolution doubles as a high-performance whitewater paddle raft and, as an oar rig, a stable deck for fishing and lounging. We put the 13-footer pictured here to the…
Constructed from just five main neoprene panels—versus ten-plus in many wetsuits—the CL5 limits the number of irritating seams and boosts your freedom of movement. This 3mm/2mm full suit has fluid-sealed seams to minimize water seepage and works best in water temperatures between 55 and 64 degrees. www.quiksilver.com…
The simple, boxy lines and unpadded top of this ensemble compliment curvy, athletic women. $66; www.jcrew.com…
START PLANNING A BIG TRIP The oversize Delta has the most internal storage and highest paddler-weight capacity of any kayak currently on the market, and handles well even when fully loaded. Thanks to its fully rockered hull, soft chined sides that wrap into a vertical wall, and the boat’s sheer…
BIG BOAT, BIG WATER Sitting inside the Everest’s wide-mouth cockpit, even our largest tester (6’1″, 195 lbs) said it swallowed him, with tons of room to spare. This multiday boat can accommodate a paddler up to 230 pounds, plus any overnight gear. With all that space, the ride is Cadillac…
Sea Change Borrowing from the best of all water worlds, Keen forged the Hydro Guide from the sole of a topsider (you’ll recognize the V-cut siping immediately), the now-ubiquitous Keen toe protector, and the Z-laced strapping of a classic river sandal. The result is an all-around amphibian suitable for both…
Patagonia's Cotton Steersman Shirt (Inga Hendrickson) On your bod Patagonia's cotton Steersman shirt, because, seriously, technical wear for a fishing shirt? patagonia.com Fishpond San Juan Vertical Chest Pack (Courtesy of Fishpond) For day trips, Fishpond's San Juan Vertical Chest Pack fits two fly boxes and a flask—more…
Forget funeral black: O’Neill lets you customize your wetsuit online, choosing from 15 colors, plus logo options. You can deck out one of two wetsuits, but we recommend the Psycho II 4/3 cold-water suit (48 to 56 degrees). Though it’s built from toasty 4mm/3mm neoprene, the Psycho is still…
Adjustable clasps provide a custom fit, while the bottoms are both sports-worthy and flattering. $78; 800-472-4746…
FOLD AND GO—AROUND THE WORLD We packed two Swifts into one duffel, checked them through to Ulan Bator, and paddled Mongolia’s lakes and rivers for a month. Conclusion: The portable Swift—which packs down to the size of a gym bag, weighs just 26 pounds, and takes less than 15 minutes…
SWOOSH! Most people can’t even remember what it was like arcing high-G turns across eddy lines. The ultrastiff Speedo returns to that classic centrifugal rush, with a slalom boat’s speed and edginess. “I was going so fast that the hull smacked the water off the backs of the waves,” said…
Rapid Attack Named for one of the classic big-water rapids on the White Nile, the Itunda blends Teva’s classic sandal-strap design with toe and arch protection that supports your foot like a shoe. The foam upper dries quickly and feels smooth on the skin, while the arched EVA top sole…
Mount your light rods with Ross’s 4.2-ounce large-arbor Evolution LT reel. rossreels.com…
Why It’s Coolhe Fever looks like a rodeo boat beamed forward in time from 1994. But ten minutes in the cockpit will remind you why those boats were so much fun. » Remember pop-ups and pirouettes? The Fever will bring back those classic tricks. » Smaller paddlers: this boat will…
Wide-set cups and full-coverage bottoms make this suit best for women with broad shoulders and muscular frames. $90; www.eddiebauer.com…
PARTY BOAT The Dirigo’s supersized rear cockpit has room for a pony keg, a well-behaved Lab, or, because it comes with a removable child-size jump seat, a water-ready grom. Primary paddlers have adjustable foot pedals, swaths of gunwale padding for your knees, and a “dashboard” complete with a cup holder…
For those who can’t disconnect, the waterproof speakers in the Multy Lynk work with any Bluetooth-enabled device. Best application: Use the boom microphone to call for help from your cell phone. vozsports.com…
Sail Away The Ventus was designed in collaboration with the U.S. Sailing Team. And while it certainly looks the part, it’s no one-trick pony. The siped outsoles and mesh-protected drain ports performed nicely kayaking around the lake, and just as well beachcombing in Florida. sperrytopsider.com…
Throw this sporty bathing suit on for surfing or volleyball. Then, to thwart tan lines, swap the top out for the Bali Bandeau ($40; not shown) in the matching print. carvedesigns.com…
Why It’s CoolOnly Riot could build a six-foot-eight kayak and call it anything other than a dedicated playboat. The Turbo’s speed and quick-curve abilities will please big-wave adrenaline junkies, while a high bow rocker and forgiving hull design provide downstream stability in rowdy rough stretches. » Riot deserves a most-innovative-outfitting…
WILD STALLIONDig in your paddle and the Fish will instantly respond. But this one isn’t for newbies: With sharp edges and cavernous volume, this DragoRossi will toss those who don’t fully commit to their tricks. That said, the Fish is packed with nifty design elements, like raised bumps on the…
A REC BOAT WITH MOJO With its behind-the-seat gear hammock and adjustable, ergonomic seat, the Bliss looks like your run-of-the-mill beginner boat. But because of its shapely lines and dual hull channels, it handles and tracks better than any other rec model we tested. I kept pace with boats twice…
The Willis freestyle vest employs Astral’s split-panel design with two independent foam sections. An inner panel hugs your ribs, while the outer panel moves with your shoulders. astralbuoyancy.com…
An Updated Classic With its fully adjustable pull-through straps, comfy (and burly) footbed, and impressive grip on slippery surfaces, the Z2 has been a perennial favorite of boatmen. This updated version has a slightly beefier outsole and is made from a more durable rubber mixture. chacousa.com…
Yes, the name says “boardshort,” which means these quick-dry bottoms are meant for ocean play. But they’re so cute, you won’t feel as if you’re wearing your bathing suit around town. columbia.com…
This high-performance, narrow-hulled speedster tracks like an osprey to a trout: fast and straight. The high-backed seat has a ratcheting backband adjustment that, cranked tight, puts you in an aggressive forward position that will let you race with rowing shells—and win. Extras are few in the stripped-down shell, but…
Why It’s CoolSharp edges and the swallowtail make a hero out of the i:3, the best carver in this collection. » For towing a swimmer, I found the sturdy rescue clips to be a reliable biner-snap away, putting this kayak on the A-list for instructors. » Good hull speed and…
ALL-ROUNDERDid Necky’s designers once work for Hasbro? Like a vintage Weeble toy, the Crux will wobble, but it won’t fall down. With minimal rocker in the stern, this one is nimble enough for tight creeks and fast enough for pushy rivers. Its round bottom softens landings. Taking a deep plunge?…
NEW-SCHOOL PERFORMANCE In the span of two days at San Diego’s Mission Beach, we put this 1970s-style Tudor singlefin through both thigh-high sets and overhead walls. The 2.5-inch-thick foam kept us moving on the small stuff and got us into big waves earlier than on a shortboard. One tester noted,…
Improving on its top-of-the-line bent-shaft freestyle paddle, Adventure Technology shaved an ounce off its standard (30-degree offset) AT2 by switching to full-carbon construction. atpaddle.com…
Adjustable Flex The Lost Rocket has a pump to adjust the air pressure inside its EPS foam core and change how it rides. It’s no gimmick: For clean waves, boost the psi to add stiffness and speed. On smaller, junkier waves, let some air out for a damper feel. The…
By Stephen Regenold They cost hundreds of dollars. Their use is limited to cold-water scenarios where you may have to swim. But for many outdoors enthusiasts — including sea kayakers, divers, and sailors in cold climates — a dry suit is an essential, life-preserving…
I've been kayaking for a few months and have been looking for a neoprene bootie that lets my feet breathe. I've tried wearing my Keens and they are definitely way too big, and the Neoprene Booties I've purchased make my feet sweat way too much. I would love something that provides protection against the sharp gravel, lets my feet breath, and will still fit comfortably in my kayak. I've heard about these so called "grip socks," but I don't know much about them or their quality. Any suggestions? John Scottsdale, AZ
By Stephen Regenold Mad River founder Jim Henry built the first Malecitecanoe in 1971. For 2011, the classic canoe design gets an update and a newhull. The Malecite, a 16.5-foot boat, is made to handle flatwater as well as currents. It tracks straight…
I'm moving from a sit-on-top to a sit-in kayak, and am looking for something I can use in summer in cold-water Maine. The Perception Carolina 12 is at the top of my wish list. But my budget says that if I go for a Pelican Pursuit 120 DXL I can buy it now. I can't get a good idea of how the Pursuit would do in close-to-shore ocean paddling, and no dealer near me has one I can try. Should I just hold out for the Carolina? –Nan Medford, NJ
By Stephen Regenold It is obscenely huge. It fastens shut and watertight with a roll-top closure. A backpack harness system lets you strap it on and hike, ferrying immense loads through airports and down backwoods portage trails alike. The SealLine Pro Packs are…
These cutting-edge hybrid, tandem, and ultra-portable boats make it easy to hit the water.
It all started back in 2005 when my college roommates and I opened our first Pabst Blue Ribbon of the night. Luke, Will, and I shared a fondness for PBR and dreaming big. The subject of the night was a circumnavigation of the world's largest freshwater lake:…
By Stephen Regenold Pump it up. Cinch the seat in place. Now, push off into the rapids. That's what it takes to start a whitewater adventure with Zoik Inflatables's AlterEgo kayak (zoikinflatables.com). The pump-up boat, made for…
In November, Budweiser tapped Jackson Kayaks founder Eric Jackson, a perennial favorite at TMG’s freestyle kayaking contest, as the face of its American Ale, ordering 8,300 kayaks to display in liquor stores across the country. (Only 11,000 were sold in the U.S. in all of 2009.) Bud’s $20,000 sponsorship will…
By Stephen Regenold It may look like an inflatable pool toy, but the pack raft, a personal watercraft with roots in aviator survival boats from World War II, is a serious tool for some backcountry explorers. Lightweight and durable, the blow-up boats…
It started with sneakers (Prada) and moved on to bikes (Gucci). Now designer brands have hit the outdoor industry head-on with Chanel’s new line of $4,000 surfboards, debuting this spring. Go ahead and paddle out on one; we’re sure the locals will respect you for it. High fashion co-opts surfboards…
When we first contemplated the idea of stand-up paddling across the Hawaiian islandchain, it sounded so simple: All we would need would be a boat, a willing and able captain, and some boards and paddles. What we've learned is that planning a trip like this requires a…
Give me a well-crafted paddle, and I’ll take a grocery cart down a Class V. Give me a clunky, over-weighted paddle, and you couldn’t pay me to roll in a kiddie pool. A poor paddle equals poor paddling. It’s that simple. As a general rule, a good creeking…
I sea kayak in the cold Pacific waters of British Columbia. Being a warm-water boy from North Carolina, I'm always freezing out there. I have a dry suit but have never found the perfect combination of layers below the suit to keep me warm while doing rolls and rescues involving submersion. I've even tried wearing my wetsuit with Sugoi thermal shirts and still been frigid. What else can I try?—JohnSalt Spring Island, BC
Ah, Venice, city of love—and site of one of the world's largest, goofiest rowing regattas, where anybody is welcome to paddle anything through the storied canals for 19 glorious, grueling miles. Into this tempest we tossed WELLS TOWER and his big brother. Their orders? Finish the damn thing without killing each other.
I was a little disappointed when Wavemaster America’s CEO, Steven Moser, told me that the Waterman stand up paddleboard (at left, red board on right) I was picking up from his house in Palos Verdes, California, was not designed for surfing steep or sizable waves.
Body Glove's Eco Loose Fit Surf Shirt ($50) scores points on many levels. Not only is the material buttery soft, the shirt is good for more than its name lets on. On a recent trip to southern Africa, I wore it diving, surfing, rock climbing, and…
By Stephen Regenold This winter, I have kicked my athletic training into high gear. In February, I am traveling to Chile to captain a team in the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race, anultra-endurance event through Tierra del Fuego. The multi-day race will include long treks, mountain-bike segments, climbing,…
Simply put, the Aquapac Waterproof Backpack ($85) is a gem: it’s compartments are easily-accessible, using it takes no frills, and it's craftsmanship is sturdy. My first impression was that this drybag-like pack would be a raft guide's nightmare. It's material felt surprisingly lightweight (read: snaggable) and…
This sounds like something Ian Fleming would've dreamed up: a vehicle that's both a surface watercraft and a self-contained submersible. It may look like a yellow submarine, but it's technically a Scubacraft with an internal-combustion engine, electric thrusters, and the capability of diving down to 100…
The New York Times has a nice slideshow-slash-gear review segment up on wetsuits. It follows two surgeons, who are also surfing buddies, as they test a variety of suits, from Patagonia to O'Neill. The Times also has other gear reviews for…
Outside's guide to the best new concepts in gear, garb, human performance, and green.
When packing for a trip, do you ever think “But what if I spontaneously want to go kayaking?” This is for you. The folks at Vagabondish give a first look at the Citibot, a kayak that weighs 24…
Wooden kayaks weigh significantly less than most modern fiberglass boats, so they are easier to handle on land and faster on water. The catch? These handcrafted works of art can cost as much as a new car. A red-cedar-strip Guillemot Kayaks Night Heron, like the one pictured here, takes Connecticut…
A British kayaker says he has the tool to safely launch Niagara-size waterfalls: horsepower.
In January, England's Olly Hicks, 26, set out from Tasmania to become the first person to row solo around Antarctica. His vessel: a 24-foot, fuel-cell-and-solar-panel-fortified boat called the Flying Carrot, which was designed to withstand 50-foot waves while navigating the storm-racked Southern Ocean. ABE STREEP caught up with Hicks—who rowed solo acr
My wife and I want to take our two dogs, a miniature poodle and a 70-pound lab, kayaking with us while we fish the marsh and inlet creeks of South Carolina. I dreing, or is there a single kayak that would accommodate us? Jeffrey Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Should we get paddle or pedal kayaks? We have demoed both but don't know enough about kayaking to make a decision. We’ll use them in backwater from the Gulf, so we’ll be dealing with tides. Fran Fort Myers, Florida
For expedition kayaker STEVE FISHER, 32, exploring for virgin whitewater can be as difficult as running it. Luckily, he found a shortcut.
Following the lead of NBA guard Stephon Marbury, whose $15 Starbury basketball shoe is sold through budget retailer Steve & Barry’s, Laird Hamilton hits S&B shelves in May with his surf line, Wonderwall. The collection will feature some 250 graphic T-shirts, polos, pants, and boardshorts—all for less than $15. “The…
Swooping through your first full-rail turn on a Hess surfboard requires a suspension of disbelief. This thing is made of wood? Hand-constructed from sustainably harvested poplar, cork, and amapola by San Francisco shaper Daniel Hess, it’s a piece of art as much as a performance wave-rider. Unlike the clunky wooden…
My husband and I are looking for a good kayak. For now, we’ll be lake kayaking/camping in Arizona. Then, we are moving to Kauai, Hawaii, in 3–5 years and want to go in the ocean. Is there a "dual-purpose" kayak we can buy? Kathy Chandler, Arizona
When should I retire my whitewater kayaking helmet? I have a Pro-Tec full cut that is old enough to vote in some states. I've never taken a serious thump while wearing it, which gives it some talismanic value. But even the best things don't last forever, so I'm probably due for a new hat. Any recommendations? Kelly Sanders, Oregon
Chile’s Peel Inlet has a long history of turning back experienced explorers. Maybe what they needed was a golf umbrella, four wheels of Dutch cheese, and a better way to brew coffee.
Chile's Peel Inlet has a long history of turning back experienced explorers. Maybe what they needed was a golf umbrella, four wheels of dutch cheese, and a better way to brew coffee. For the December 2007 feature story, "Hustle and Floe" associate editor Grayson Schaffer and cohort Reg Lake found out. Here, see an exclusive online photo gallery of
OK, so he's not the coolest guy on the river. But with another world freestyle title, a kayak-building business that's shaking up the industry, and a sweet RV to take him and his paddling offspring anywhere, Eric Jackson is high on the pile.
I’m hitting the road with a travel trailer and would like to take an inflatable kayak so I can get out on flat water along the way. What kayak would serve my purpose? Doreen Vero Beach, Florida
I’m looking for a fast and light sit-on-top kayak that tracks well. I paddle a Feelfree Move on the Russian River with a couple who have a tandem Hobie, and I can never keep up with them. What do you think about the Cobra Explorer or the Hobie pedal kayak? Chrissi Cloverdale, California
Not every playboat is for whitewater. Maximize your summer fun on lakes, rivers, and oceans with these versatile sit-on-top kayaks.
British adventure filmmaker JUSTINE CURGENVEN, 33, elevates sea kayaking to the highest level of action sports: cool videos!
Last week, the Gear Guy responded to a question about kayaking with dogs. We got such a response, that we decided to revisit the question: Can a dog still be man’s best friend out on the water?
I would like to take my Labrador retriever kayaking with me. What kayak would you suggest using? And any tips on kayaking with my dog? Inger Irvine, California