New Products from Top Paddlesport Manufacturers
Lotus Designs' Sherman Rodeo Vest
Any PFD named after a tank has to be bomber, right? Such is the case with
Lotus Designs' latest addition to its lifejacket fleet: the Sherman
freestyle/squirt vest. Designed to meet increasingly specific needs of
paddlers, the Sherman ($80) is the first rodeo/squirt PFD approved by the US
Coast Guard, and the vest has plenty of flotation in only the right places.
Features include a low-cut front with scooped chest; a new shoulder adjustment
system with neoprene for comfort and webbing for strength; and a stretch side-
adjustment system with a zipper. The Sherman is slab-front pullover style, and
with Lotus' shoulder-adjustment system, you can shorten or lengthen the torso
to make the vest sit exactly where you want it-out of the way of elbows,
shoulders and paddles. Info.: (704) 689-2470 or www.lotusdesigns.com.
Planetary Gear for a Water Planet
Boulder, Colo.'s Planetary Gear dropped the Bombshell Dry Top on the
paddlesports market this year, with some key innovations built into a tough
jacket with an aggressive, ergonomic cut. The Bombshell Dry Top ($279.90)
features unique synthetic-rubber gaskets (UV stable, rip-resistant,
guaranteed); waterproof-breathable fabrics chemically sealed at the seams; a
dual zippered chest pocket; and removable elbow pads incorporated into the
sleeves. This jacket is complemented with Planetary Gear's RazorBack Shorty
($79.90)-a new paddle top ergonomically designed with the same waterproof-
breathable fabrics. The Shorty features the dual-zippered front pocket and
stretch zones in the pits and down the back for unrestricted motion. Info.:
(800) 641-0500 or www.planetarygear.com.
Patagonia's Aquanot
It's hard enough trying to keep yourself decked out in the latest from
Patagonia, so here's a little help keeping your paddling-kids decked out in
the same. The Aquanot ($85) is the first drytop for kids that you can actually
let out to accommodate the youngster's growth. Constructed of 200-denier
double-ripstop nylon with a polyurethane coating, it is fully seam sealed with
extra stitch lines in the arms allowing for five inches of growth. StretchCoat
neck and wrist closures adjust with gussets and Velcro, and the waist is
elastic with a sturdy cordlock. There's even a zippered front mesh pocket so
your growing paddler can carry his or her own sunglasses and lipblock.
Patagonia manufactures an entire kid's line of outdoor activewear. Info.:
(800) PATAGONIA or www.patagonia.com.