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We’ve very pleased to announce that the Duct Tape Kayak Project made a return appearance to the Canoe & Kayak Magazine website this week! Check out the link to read this great article about the new-and-improved Duct Tape Kayak and our sponsorship of Heroes on the Water! We hope to see you at our upcoming events including the Plymouth Waterfront Festival and thanks for your support! -Kayak Dave
Click here to donate to the Duct Tape Kayak Project and help support Heroes on the Water!
The next ‘big thing’ in fitness
Kayaking may not be the next Billy Blank’s Boot Camp or P90X, but there is no hiding the physical and mental benefits of kayaking. The sport of paddling challenges muscle groups not normally utilized during traditional exercise including the upper body, essential core muscles, and upper legs. With proper form, kayaking can act as a great low-impact high intensity workout.
Low impact
Unlike high impact workouts like running, crossfit, and weight training, kayaking is a low-impact exercise. With proper kayaking form, paddlers can achieve a high endurance workout with very little impact to joints, bones, and connective tissues. It is kayaking’s low-impact appeal which makes the sport ideal for seniors with limited flexibility, individuals with arthritis or soft-tissue injuries, or individuals attempting to avoid chances of mechanical injury.
High intensity
You can achieve aerobic fitness goals, lose weight, and burn calories all from the high endurance features of kayaking. A person can burn about 350 calories in average conditions and up to 600 calories an hour in rougher conditions. Paddlers can turn up the intensity of their workout by sprinting or introducing resistance. Olympic gold medalist Greg Barton would pull small buckets behind his kayak to build endurance on the water. Another way to add resistance is by paddling directly into a head wind.
US Olympic gold medalist Greg Barton
Proper form
Proper kayaking form is critical in making sure you are not only utilizing all necessary muscle groups but reducing the risk of injury. Kayak Dave wrote an excellent editorial about proper kayaking form in an earlier article. This is what he suggests:
What muscles should I be using?
A common delusion is that kayaking is “all arms.” In fact, with the use of proper form, arms are a very little part of the kayak stroke. A paddler using proper torso rotation will engage key muscle groups in the abdomen, lower back, upper legs, hips, and glutes. In addition, miscellaneous muscles such as deltoids, trapezius, and obliques will be engaged throughout a fluid paddle stroke.
How do you use legs in kayaking?
When the paddle blade enters the water, torso rotation begins. At this point, the paddler begins to pull him or herself through the water with each stroke. In the motion of pulling and rotating through the water, the paddler will engage each leg… How? Much like a bicycle motion, a kayaker will essentially push against a foot brace with each stroke. For example, when a kayaker leans forward for a stroke and places the blade on the right side of the kayak, he will push off of right foot pedal—using it as leverage to help draw the blade though the water. After the right blade is exits the water, he will repeat the process with his left stroke—this time using this left foot and foot brace. With the kayaker’s legs acting in the bicycle motion with each stroke, his upper legs and glutes do most of the work.
Any questions, suggestions, comments?? We’d love to hear what you have to say!
Like what you’ve read? Share it!
-Alex
This sunsets in Plymouth this past week have been nothing short of spectacular and I figured that I’d throw together a quick gallery to share some of what I saw! It started with a glorious sunset paddle on Plymouth Harbor the night that the Mayflower finally came back home. Follow that up with three straight nights of sunset SUP on Billington Sea and you have the makings for a pretty awesome week of “after work” paddling. If only this weather would last forever!
Happy Paddling!
-Kayak Dave
Overview
“Technical performance and classic style blended perfectly to bring you the shoe whitewater kayakers have been waiting for.” –Astral Buoyancy
The Deets:
Review:
Some may be surprised that the piece of safety gear most often left behind by paddlers is not a PFD, pump, or paddle float…it’s a good pair of water shoes! Close-toed shoes protect your feet from many ground-level hazards including sharp rocks, broken glass, and the occasional razor clam shell. I’ve seen my share of nasty foot wounds in my guiding days and you don’t want any part of dealing with them…that’s why I never step into my kayak without my water shoes on and I require all of my clients to do the same. Unfortunately, a good pair of water shoes is hard to come by but I’m happy to report that I’ve finally found “the one” in the new Brewer water shoe by Astral Buoyancy! Why are the Brewers so great?? Well, because they’re wicked comfortable, highly functional, and they have that “cool factor” that makes paddlers want to wear them!
The one thing that I could never figure out about water shoes is why so many of them are so uncomfortable. It’s as if the designers focused so intensely on making a cheap shoe that could get wet that they forgot that the bones of the project was to make a SHOE that people will be walking around in. Thankfully, Astral recognized this and made their Brewer water shoes for walking! I’ll admit that the upper part of the heel rubbed me a little raw in places that first week but my feet got used to it and the experience was no worse than breaking into a good pair of hiking boots. Otherwise, I’ve found the Brewers to be extremely comfortable. The “balanced geometry” mid-sole is just that; firm enough to provide sufficient support while cushy enough to keep your feet happy. Next-in-line after Comfort is Peace-of-Mind which the Brewers provide in spades with their “stealth rubber” outsoles. The docks at the shop can get baby-$#!@ slick but the Brewers make it feel like carpet!
Stealth Rubber soles provide amazing grip!
There are at least two tests in the function department that each of my past water shoes have failed. The first is to survive an entire paddling season without blowing apart at the seams. This is a tall order considering that kayaking is my life in the summer months and I tend to “put a lot of miles” on my gear. I won’t lie…I was concerned about the durability of the Brewers when I first saw them but they have put my anxiety to rest! I’ve been wearing my Brewers every day for the past two months. That’s everything from walking around the shop, kayaking, SUPing, even over to my girlfriend’s house for dinner. There’s not even a trace of wear on them including the stealth rubber soles which are just as gripy as they were the day I took them out of the box. We’ll see just how long they hold up but they’ve already exceeded my expectations!
However, I’m more impressed by the fact that the Brewers passed my second, more-important test…keeping the sand out! Sand has been the bane of my existence as a kayaking instructor. It seems to get into everything and I absolutely hate when it gets in my water shoes. Therefore, for a water shoe to be great it must keep the sand out. So I took the Brewers on a “death march” through the nastiest pond muck, mud flats, and sandbars that I could find with every expectation that all of these wonderful things would end up between my toes. The Brewers, mush to my pleasant surprise, actually kept the vast majority of all of that grossness out! This should be reason enough to make the Brewers your next pair of water shoes!!!
SUPing with Brewers!
The “cool factor” that the Brewers bring to the table is not something to scoff at. If something looks cool then people are apt to wear it and when that applies to safety gear like PFDs and water shoes I’m a huge supporter of trendy! Case in point: a few weeks back I took a group of teenagers out for an Intro to SUP clinic. Like most teenagers, they moaned and groaned about how goofy their classic, slipper-style water shoes looked as they flashed the “unimpressed” face when I told them that they had to wear them. You should have seen their eyes light up when I showed off my new Brewers. “Those are water shoes?? They’re sooo cool!!” (that’s a direct quote). The skateboard style of the Brewers is certainly appealing and the broad color selection from inconspicuous black on white to flashy navy on azul provides something for every taste. Throw in the alternate pair of laces and you get all sorts of hip, mix-and-match options. True to form, Astral gets another A+ for style!
Now for the gripe section (I know, the Brewers are awesome but this has to be done). My first comment has to do with sizing. A lot of my paddling buddies have wide feet (there must be something in the water around here) and it would be great to see wider sizes so that they can experience the greatness of the Brewers on their feet. My second issue with the Brewers is that the laces pose a bit of an entrapment hazard as they could theoretically get caught on something as you attempt to wet exit your kayak. I mitigate this risk by tucking in my laces to help prevent them from getting caught but I could envision other closure systems that would be safer than laces. That it all.
Laces pose a potential entrapment hazard…tuck them in to be safe!
The Brewers are yet another great product that paddlers get to enjoy thanks to the folks at Astral. These are definitely the best water shoes that I’ve ever owned. They’re wicked comfortable, highly functional, and have style to boot! So far, I’ve been most impressed with the durability of the Brewers, the gripiness of their “stealth rubber” soles, and the fact that they actually keep the vast majority of sand and muck out. You should buy a pair for yourself, your paddling partners, and even your fashionista teenage daughters. You will not be disappointed.
Happy Paddling (and wear your water shoes)!
-Kayak Dave
Pros: Comfortable, Durable, Stylish, Lightweight, Low-profile, Gripy sole, Versatile.
Cons: Wide sizes not yet available. Laces pose entrapment hazard.
Sizing: Fit true to size.
KayakDave Rating:
Subaru Forester
My choice for “Small SUV” is based on reliability, AWD, ground clearance and the ability to accommodate a wide bar spread for those of us who are sea kayakers. Over the past 25 years, my wife and I have had 7 Subarus. I have had a 2005 Forester and currently drive a 2011 Forester. The ’05 had integral roof rails and the 2011 has raised roof rails. Both have allowed a huge bar spread.
I considered a Honda CRV and ruled it out because for years they have narrow set attachment points that are fine for a white water kayak, skis or a bike. We have also had an Outback with raised roof rails that was equally good. Another plus for the Forester is that for a little more money you can get the Premium edition which has 8-way adjustable seats with a separate lumbar support & a molded cargo tray that welcomes sand and wet gear.
–Boreal Alvik
There is a select breed of individuals driving on the road today who would purchase a car or SUV second to a kayak, many of which, I would imagine, are readers of this blog. These adventure bound people are looking for cars with many key features including cargo space, roof top capability, roof height, ground clearance, AWD/4WD capability, fuel economy, and of course… price.
From the passenger cars available on the market today there are very few that fit into the adventure category. I have compiled a list of the top featured cars for the adventure spirited driver. I personally call this category of vehicle the AUV (Adventure Utility Vehicle).
Your feedback is appreciated! If you own one of the cars listed and want to make a comment on your personal experiences, we would love to hear about it.
All quoted reviews and photos courtesy of Edmunds.com
Hatchback-Wagon
Subaru Outback
“With its generous cargo capacity and commendable off-road performance, the 2014 Subaru Outback wagon offers far more utility than many competing crossover SUVs. It’s a good option for families, especially those who enjoy the great outdoors.” (Also see the Subaru Forester)
Volvo XC70 AWD
“The current generation Volvo XC70 is ruggedly handsome, and it continues to offer many of the same virtues as previous versions: confidence-inspiring all-wheel drive, top-notch safety, a luxurious cabin and enough cargo space to satisfy all but the most haul-happy families.”
Small SUV
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
“The Outlander remains a good choice for buyers with performance-oriented criteria, including sporty handling and V6 power. The 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander is also among the roomiest cargo haulers in its class, and it offers plenty of standard and optional features, including a rear-seat entertainment system as well as a navigation system and 40GB music server.”
Ford Escape
“With the original Escape, Ford successfully combined the styling and four-wheel-drive capability of a traditional SUV with the size, practicality and driving characteristics of a midsize car. For the urban dweller in need of something comfortable, versatile, fun to drive and capable of doing some light-duty off-roading or towing, it fills the bill perfectly.”
Large SUV
Jeep Grand Cherokee
“The Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of the most appealing five-passenger midsize SUVs on the market. Unlike similarly sized crossovers, it stands out with its significant off-roading and towing capabilities. Its well-trimmed cabin is comfy for five, and it can handle a daily commute as easily as it does an off-road trail.”
Ford Explorer
“[The Explorer] drives well, gets good fuel economy for its class and still retains the versatility that made people like SUVs in the first place. Fitted with most of its optional high-tech features, the Explorer is also one of the most advanced SUVs available, luxury brand or not.”
Luxury
Cadillac SRX Crossover AWD
“One of the SRX’s most appealing traits is its healthy roster of standard equipment. There are four available trim levels for the SRX… Even the base model comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, a power driver seat, 60/40-split-folding and reclining rear seatbacks, dual-zone automatic climate control and an eight-speaker Bose sound system.”
Land Rover LR2
“The LR2’s small size makes it maneuverable in urban environments. At the same time, the LR2 still retains the superior off-road ability for which Land Rovers are known. Land Rover endowed the LR2 with technologies to make it both capable and confident when the journey is off the beaten path.”
Small Car
Subaru Impreza 5-door
“The Impreza’s most notable edge is its distinctive powertrain, as this model has always been available with all-wheel drive. This provides it with extra traction in slippery conditions and, on higher-horsepower models, works in combination with the Impreza’s well-sorted chassis to provide entertaining handling.”
Subaru XV Crosstrek
“The Subaru XV Crosstrek is an all-new model for 2013. While Subaru’s all-wheel-drive lineup has developed a reputation for being unflappable in the face of some truly nasty driving conditions, this variation of the Impreza takes things to another level in dicey situations both on- and off-road.”
We were very lucky to have the talented Taylor Kloss, the founder of TEK Photography blog, along for an impromptu photo shoot at the shop this past weekend! Taylor had just returned from her cross-country adventure and I invited her to join us and some other college friends for a mid-summer cookout. However, I didn’t expect that she would be bringing along her new “Nikon D-1million” camera to grab so many amazing images of the group as we enjoyed our evening by the lake! The soft colors in this picture of Alex on a SUP definitely capture the cool summer mood…
🙂
Be sure to check out the rest of the shoot at the TEK Photography blog!!
-Kayak Dave
Is it really August already?? It’s funny because I probably wouldn’t have noticed had it not been for the big, giant Outdoor Retailer 2013 alert on my Google calendar! Nothing like a gear convention to wake you up from Summer Dreaming J…
Anyway…I guess another year has gone by but it certainly doesn’t seem that long ago that the KayakDave.com staff was buzzing about what the “new” Wilderness Systems Aspire series would be like in the weeks leading up to OR. There was very little info out there but we went ahead and made our predictions anyway. As it turned out, the Aspire 105 was a huge success and remains one of the best-selling recreational kayaks at the shop!
Wilderness Systems Focus (Image Courtesy of WS)
This year, Wilderness Systems continued their trend of revealing precious little about their latest skunk-works project but it feels like they’re poised to steal the OR spotlight once again with the release of their new Focus Series of light-touring kayaks. The Focus is a hybrid of sorts that was designed to have the “stability and predictability of the WS Tsunami and the speed and efficiency of the WS Tempest.” It will feature their highly touted (and comfortable) Phase 3 Airpro seat, a molded-in deck pod, and optional rudder. However, the thing that I like most about the Focus is how it carries its length with squared-off bow and stern to maximize waterline. This leads me to believe that the Focus will be quick for its length and a good choice for touring in quiet backwaters such as marshes, lazy rivers, and lakes. It will be interesting to see which of the three sizes (145, 150, & 155) performs best and how they compare to other kayaks in its class such as the Dagger Alchemy.
Stay tuned for a full review of the Focus in the near future!
-Kayak Dave
Astral has made a tradition of blowing the kayaking world away each year with a new Limited Edition Greenjacket PFD. This year is no exception with the LE7 Greenjacket being a dead sexy piece of artwork. Apparently the “Hawk Eye” design was inspired by Astral athlete Pat Keller as a “tribute to art and craft of Class V+ exploratory kayaking, where map interpretation and solid navigation skills are the foundations of a successful mission.” Here’s what it looks like:
Astral LE7 Greenjacket (Image Courtesy of Astral Buoyancy)
I think that the embroidery on the LE7 is magnificent with the mountain/river scape on the back, corresponding topo map on the front clam shell pocket, and even a small hawk on the shoulder. The cool blue, grey, and black color tones create a sense of tranquility and mystery that juxtaposes nicely with the hot orange accents which I associate with daring adventure. It’s so cool looking that it makes me wish that I had held out to buy my new greenjacket until the LE7 had been released!
Nick sporting the new Astral LE7 Greenjacket at the Great River Race
FYI to our readers…you can expect a full review of the 2013 greenjacket in the very near future 🙂
-Kayak Dave
The Deets
Material: Carbonlite 2000 (thermoformed plastic)
Style: Touring/Sea Kayak
Length: 16’6”
Width: 22”
Weight: 50 lbs
Cockpit Size: 31.5 x 16.5 inches
Max Capacity: 340lbs
Hull Type: Hard “V”
MSRP: $2,699
Manufacturer’s comments
“The Fathom is a must for any paddler looking for a responsive, lively kayak that will not only please but delight you with its smooth yet playful nature and it stylish elegant lines.” –Eddyline Kayaks
Tom Derrer taking a spin in the Fathom
The Review
Outfitting
The Eddyline Fathom is a brilliantly crafted sea kayak that blends both speed and stability with the features necessary in a touring kayak. Outfitted with three spacious hatches and plenty of cargo space, the Fathom is designed with the multi-day tripper in mind. The keyhole cockpit is spacious and very adjustable to accommodate a variety of paddlers. Its roomy seating area is perfect for larger paddlers with longer legs and larger feet. For smaller paddlers, the Fathom can easily be adjusted to provide a lower-volume feel.
Performance
With hard lines throughout, the Fathom is reminiscent of a traditional Greenland-style kayak with hints of British inspired design. The stability profile on the Fathom is very impressive. From moderate to experienced paddlers, the Fathom provides ample initial stability without comprising responsiveness. In addition, its hard chines allow the craft to remain on edge for premier secondary stability. The combined stability is moderate overall which gives the Fathom a playful yet secure feeling. Due to its versatility, the Fathom would make an excellent companion in long distance, multi-day adventures. If day tripping is not your forte, the Fathom packs a ton of on water performance for fitness, instructing, rolling, surf, and play.
Tracking & Skeg
In terms of tracking, the Fathom performs exceptionally well due to its hard “V” shaped hull design. In addition, the Fathom is outfitted with a manually operated drop skeg, putting the paddler in control when facing headwinds or converging currents. The drop skeg’s operation is smooth, functional, and very reliable.
Construction
Eddyline manufactures kayaks of superior quality and the Fathom is no exception. Built of Eddyline’s staple Carbonlite 2000 thermoformed plastic, the Fathom both looks and performs like a composite kayak. The thermoformed construction is both stiff, light weight, and impact resistant.
Overview
One of the most versatile kayaks on the market, the Eddyline Fathom will never leave you wanting more. Its performance ranks above par and offers many great outfitting features and options. In addition, its lightweight, rigid construction puts the Fathom in line next to composite touring kayaks. Overall, the Fathom is a great touring, play, or fitness kayak for any moderate-to-experienced paddler big or small.
Pros: versatile, primary and secondary stability, great outfitting features, overall construction and build quality, wears well over time
Cons: Not suited for beginners, high price point
-Alex