Sweet Protection
Everything we loved about Sweet Protection’s Supernova Dry Top (reviewed here, in Rapid’s Summer/Fall issue ) is also offered in drysuit form with the Intergalactic. It’s made of tough Gore-Tex fabric and reinforced for serious protection. The suit is designed specifically for kayakers so the fit is perfect for a kayaker’s paddling position. The entry zipper sits a little lower on the shoulder than on most other drysuit designs, so it doesn’t dig in when portaging and is easy to get in and out of.
Immersion Research
Immersion Research has lots of new gear for 2015, and one of our favorites is the 7Figure Dry Top. They’re made from a PU coated polyester fabric that IR says makes the tops incredibly durable—they’ve been testing them to see what it takes to cause leaks and found that the 7Figure isn’t susceptible to pinhole leaks like some other fabrics. There’s a sticky silicone band in the waist to keep it from riding up and quality gaskets at the neck and wrist.
NRS
We wrote about NRS’ comfortable new Crush shoes yesterday (click here to view) and are also excited to try their new Velocity, a burly expedition shoe with tough, supportive uppers:
Pro-Tec
Despite pausing North American distribution in 2008, Pro-Tec’s ultra-classic whitewater helmets have still seen on rivers across the continent. For 2014, they’re bringing them back, with a reintroduction in North American. Pro-Tec has several models, including more modern styles, but is proud to still be offering a retro style in their Full Cut design.
MSR
The brand new WindBoiler stove from MSR will be a great option for multi-day whitewater trips, thanks to a compact design and integrated pot for cooking. The stove earns its name because of a built-in heat exchanger that MSR says lets it function efficiently in wind and weather conditions that shut other stoves down.
