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Xero Aqua X Sport Shoes for Canoeing and Kayaking
Back in July Xero sent over a pair of Aqua X Sport water shoes for me to test out over the summer. I’ve been using their Z-Trail sandals, so I was excited to try out this pair of water shoes. I had considered the Aqua X in the past, especially for paddling in moving water where I may want a closed toe and for sea kayaking. During the summer, I used these on canoeing day trips. Features of the Xero Aqua X Sport The Aqua X Sport water shoe features an open mesh upper that breathes well and sheds water out of the shoe. The tongue is non-absorbent. When combined…
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Marmot Ether DriClime Hoody Review
I’ve been a big fan of Marmot’s DriClime Windshirt. It has been a staple of my outdoor clothing system for years. I think it is one of the best layers for shoulder-season canoe trips. It’s warm, breathable, and blocks the wind. You can use it as a base layer against your skin, as an insulation layer under a hardshell, or as an outer layer to block the wind. Over the last two or so decades, I’ve owned multiple and have worn them constantly and year-round. I usually wear them so much that they become threadbare. Earlier this year, I went to buy a new one and discovered that Marmot discontinued…
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GSI Coffee Rocket Review
The GSI Coffee Rocket is a small, compact and collapsible, pour-over coffee maker for camping. It’s one of the many portable coffee makers that I’ve used over the years, and it’s currently my favorite. After about a month or so of use at home and in the field, I’ve come to appreciate the simplicity of this one-person camp coffee maker. I like it so much that it has replaced an Aeropress for making coffee at home. Plus, it’s cheap! It’s just $11 at REI last I checked. It’s also available on Amazon. The Coffee Rocket is a small, polypropylene and nylon coffee maker with a stainless-steel filter. It’s designed to…
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Sea to Summit 50L Big River Dry Backpack
The brand-new Sea to Summit 50L Big River Dry Backpack just arrived at my door. I was excited to see it because I’ve been looking for a lightweight 40-to-50-liter portage pack for canoeing. I’ve written about my dream portage pack before. The 50L Big River Dry Backpack fits the bill. Description The Big River Dry Backpack is a 50-liter pack that weighs 26 ounces. It’s made of a beefy 420D nylon that’s bonded to a TPU lining. This gives the exterior good abrasion, tear and puncture protection while providing a waterproof construction. The TPU lining is bright white which makes the interior of the pack nice and bright for packing…
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Kayak Paddle Size
Kayak paddle size can be personal, but it’s an important consideration if you are going to get the most out of your kayaking. Many stores end up sizing paddles too long, and you want to avoid that if you don’t want to have to buy two paddles — one the right size and the other too long. The below image in this article is an example of a store that got it wrong. The problem with paddles that are too long is that they are harder to get into the right positions for some strokes — particularly any strokes that require a vertical shaft such as draws. Longer paddles also…
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Nitecore’s EDC27 is Slim, Flat, and Perfect for Your Vest
Over and over, Nitecore has innovated in the flashlight and electronic category and has found its way into my paddling kit. With the introduction of the EDC27, a everyday carry (EDC) flashlight, I’m now using three different Nitecore devices for various trips. The first device is lightweight NU25 headlamp that I carry on all my canoe and kayak camping trips. The next is the NB10000 power bank. The final is the EDC27. What is the EDC27? The Nitecore EDC27 is a high-performance EDC (everyday carry) flashlight. This flashlight has an ultra-slim and flat design that’s easy to carry in your life vest, but is packed with features. It’s most eye-catching…
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DIY Sawyer Gravity Filter
One of the challenges of a group paddling trip is treating enough water for everyone. According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine you need about 3.7 liters of fluids a day for each man and 2.7 liters for each women. For my family, that’s around two gallons to three gallons of water a day. To meet the need, we’ve been using a DIY Sawyer gravity filter system. I’ve experimented with it over the last several years and think that I’ve finally found the right combination of gear to make it work for us. Note: I’ve updated my system. Read my DIY Gravity Water Filter System article…
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Alpine Start Instant Coffee Review
After hearing about First Ascent Instant Coffee blasting into space to quench the thirst of decaffeinated astronauts aboard the International Space Station, I decided to order some up from REI. I figured if it was good enough for astronauts, it’s good enough instant coffee for canoe and kayak trips. Unfortunately, REI only had Alpine Start Instant Coffee REI had three flavors: Alpine Start Original, Dirty Chai Latte and Instant Coconut Creamer Latte. The Lattes came with five instant packages and the Alpine Start came with eight. Each cost $9 at the time of this review. You could also buy a bulk bag of 30 servings of Alpine Start. I’m an…
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Right On Trek Mac and Cheese Review
A challenge with canoe and kayak travel can be finding good food to take canoeing or good food for kayaking. That’s where Right On Trek has come to the rescue. I’ve reviewed their service in the past (Read: Adventure Meals by RightOnTrek Review). The short of that review was that I like it. Recently, they revamped their backcountry meals and sent me over a few samples to try. I thought the Right On Trek Mac and Cheese deserved it’s own review. Spoiler: It’s great! Here’s how Right on Trek describes their take on the classic Mac and Cheese recipe: A no-compromise version of a classic comfort food. Our Mac and…
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Flextailpump Tiny Pump Review
For last several years I’ve been using an inflatable air mattress for camping (I like my Exped Ultra 3), which is more comfortable than the self-inflating Therm-a-rests that I’ve used in the past. Since I started using it, I’ve used several methods of inflation, including pump sacks and the Exped Mini Pump. I’ve had the Flextailpump (yes, they smash everything together into one word) for awhile, and I used it again last weekend. Without further ado, here’s my Tiny Pump review. Is it the tiny camping mattress pump that could? The Flextailpump Tiny Pump is a lightweight, rechargeable electric pump designed to inflate camping mattresses. It comes with a bunch…
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Duk Gear Phone Case Review
Earlier this year, Duk Gear sent me out a phone case for review. I used the case over the last few month for kayaking and canoeing. These are my impressions. What is it? The Duk Gear Waterproof Phone Case is a soft plastic phone case that floats. It holds an IPX8 certification which means that it can be submerged in depths greater than 1 meter. The manufacturer determines the distance, and Duk Gear says it is waterproof up to 65 feet. The plastic is touchscreen compatible. It has a clear plastic opening on the back for your phone’s camera. It comes with a carabiner and lanyard. Multiple colors are available.…
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Best Deck Bag for Kayaking
The best deck bag for kayaking is no deck bag. Seriously, don’t buy one. They all are a terrible idea. Instead get an underdeck bag. See below for why you don’t want a deck bag, and for a recommendation if — and only if — you ignore everything in this article and decided you need a deck bag. The best underdeck bag for kayaking is the North Water Underdeck Bag (read our review: North Water Underdeck Bag Review). The primary reason is that they make your deck higher, which interferes with paddling. This is especially true on kayaks with high decks already. While I think that you should have a…
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Nitecore UT27 Headlamp Review
Nitecore’s latest headlamp, the Nitecore UT27 Headlamp, offers a lot that paddlers will get excited about. I got my hands on a pre-release copy of the headlamp and this review will focus on my initial impressions. The Nitecore UT27 features a waterproof (IP66) and lightweight body with the total weight of 2.61 ounces (74g) including the headlamp, headband, and battery pack. The battery pack has a built-in USB-C charging port, and the headlamp accepts both the rechargeable battery or three AAA batteries. Like many modern headlamps, the UT27 has both a spotlight and a floodlight for different situations. The spotlight uses a 3,000K bulb for a slightly yellow or warmish…
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Fenix E12 Flashlight Review
The Fenix E12 V2.0 AA Flashlight for Everyday Carry is a flashlight designed to fit in your pocket and be forgotten until you need it. Because it weighs less than 1 ounce without the battery, it made me wonder if it would be a good replacement for a headlamp. So, let’s dig deep into a Fenix E12 Flashlight for Everyday Carry Review. As with my other Fenix reviews, I received this flashlight in exchange for an honest review (see Fenix PD36R Flashlight Review and Fenix HM65R Headlamp Review). While I love headlamps, there are downsides. One of the downsides has to do with people who use headlamps but aren’t familiar…
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Best Waterproof Map Case for Paddling
Wet paper maps equal a bad day when paddling. That means if you use paper maps for canoeing or kayaking that you should use a map case. Map cases also protect waterproof maps from blowing away or sticking together when they dry together. Instead of an article that lists every single waterproof map case that you could use for paddling, like all the affiliate marketing sites do, we’re going to tell you the BEST waterproof map case for paddling. This is part of Best Series articles (as an example see: Best Pump for Kayaking) in which we tell you what the best currently available piece of gear is. Best Waterproof…
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