This is a site for my kayak expedition related rants.
I do a lot of testing and preperation for those times when I do get to do a trip.
I am not much of a writer so most of the content will be sparse and of poor quality.
email:
stevie
--at--
brooklynkayak.com
For info about the picture of me:
http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/guille/wiki.pl?Balance_Brace
I haven't posted in a long time and I have to post off topic, but this is just too important.
A while back I was comparing products on the web and came across a product on Amazon that you wouldn't think would receive a review, but sure enough it did and what a review.
I looked up the reviewers profile and found that he had a lot of other reviews. His earlier reviews were more serious, but most were a fun read.
He reviews items like "Snickers" bars, Wite-out, Crocks, toy swords, ...
Expedition Paddle Gear Review - Exped Wallcreeper 200623oF, Goose Down 90/10 700 fillspring/fall sleeping bag
Picture courtesy Exped
Most camping paddlers tend to avoid down sleeping bags because of the tendency of down to absorb water and paddling tends to be a wet activity. Down looses it's insulation properties when it gets wet. I have experienced my own horror of a wet down sleeping bag and have heard many others as well.
Synthetic sleeping bags don't absorb much water and when damp, they still provide some insulation and dry faster than down.
The problem with synthetic bags is they take up more than twice as much space in the kayak hatch, too much space to consider anything warmer than a 45 degree F USA rated summer bag on a long expedition.
I had always been a big fan of the concept of the down bags with waterproof breathable shells, like the Exped WB series that I had mentioned in an earlier post. The problem is, these waterproof breathable down bags are out of my price range and often don't breath well so condensation can be a problem. Besides, how waterproof does your sleeping bag need to be when used in a tent? You just need a bag that repels any water that should happen to splash on it in extremely wet conditions. A well designed tent should keep the splash to a minimum.
After spending a couple of cold autumn and spring nights in my summer synthetic sleeping bag, I decided that I had to save up and get something warmer that would not take up much room in a kayak hatch.
One bag that caught my attention was the Exped Wallcreeper series. This design seems about perfect for me and the type camping I do, in particular the 23 degree 700 goose down version should cover me for all the three season camping that I do.
Most people think the design gimmicky, weird looking and a bit silly. I think it is a great multi-use design and I found a place that had the 2006 models on sale so I snapped one up at a very good price: http://www.moontrail.com
This place is a good source for quality camping gear as they are are a no-hype company and publish their own honest reviews and details of the gear they sell. They carry good gear for serious outdoors people.
What this Wallcreeper apart from other sleeping bags: 1) Water Blocking breathable Pertex Quantum shell - Pertex Quantum is not as waterproof as Gortex, EVent or other waterproof breathable materials, but is more breathable, so helps keep condensation from reducing the insulation factor. It is also soft, very light, durable, airs out better and should be more comfortable in warmer weather. Pertex Quantum is a popular material for top of the line ultralight sleeping bags, sports windshirts and jackets. It is highly breathable, light weight and repels a light rain.
2) Converts into a rectangular comforter - Means you only need to carry one bag for two people in the summer and sometimes a comforter is all a solo paddler needs.
3) Converts into a warm sleeveless jacket/vest with hood and hand warmer pockets - This means that you don't have to get out of your sleeping bag when you leave the tent for a pee or on cold mornings to make breakfast. It's also a warm addition on cold nights before you go to bed. Reduces pack size by substituting as a thick down hooded vest when needed.
4) The big storage bag that it comes with is made of light no-see-em mesh - use the storage bag as a bug shelter with or without a tarp, when you really want to cut down on your weight and don't need a tent.
5) It has very good/warm draft tubes and hood. Keeps cold out very well on the neck, sleeve zippers and head. No drafts and that is important when the temperature drops. Some have complained that there is a slight draft at the foot opening, but I find no issue when the foot opening is tied properly.
My short term tests
I consider it warm down to 30 degrees F, (-1 degree C), warm enough for most three season trips. On a very windy low 20's night I started to feel a bit cold, but not shivering, but I woke up a few times. I am sort of a warm sleeper. I would compare it to a good USA 30 degree F rating.
I don't do much winter camping, but when I camped in my secret NYC camping spot in December, I combined it with another bag. I used it layered with a light and inexpensive down hood-less Campmor sleeping bag. This allowed me to sleep warm to below 20 degrees F and I'm sure would have been fine down to 0 degree F or lower.
I'm sure the newer model Wallcreepers are even better in some ways, but probably more expensive.
It is pool kayak rolling session time so I thought I'd post a link to some rolling hints that I have gathered. I keep them in google docs format so I can change them and add more as time goes on: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddngx6wc_33fbzfswgc
For those that have considered a tuilik or akuilisaq, but have been put off by one thing or another, check out the new kid on the block: Bug Head Tuiliks
Custom made gear to fit your requirements and size.
As an example, I never liked the tunnel on modern style sprayskirts, they restrict movement and rotation. But, I don't like the way an akuilisaq can implode when launching in surf.
So Bug Head made me an akuilisaq with a modern hard gripping bottom casing, the best of both worlds. It is very well made and more comfy than a sprayskirt.
They also have lighter neoprene tuiliks. Easier to paddle with as you don't have so much weight on your arms and you can hear much better with the hood on than a 3mm Brooks.
They make other items, some you may have not thought of before or some you may have wished somebody made.
Sebago Canoe Club's Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatic Center Pool Sessions Dec 2008 to April 2009
Photo by Bonnie Aldinger
Sebago Canoe Club will be sponsoring kayak pool sessions again this year at the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatic Center.
They will take place every Sunday from Noon to 2:00PM starting on December 7th and continuing until the last Sunday in April.
It is open to all paddlers, Sebago CC membership is not required. This is for ALL skill levels, including beginners. It is for people who would like to practice kayak and possibly canoe skills. There will be skilled paddlers to help you work on what ever you like or work on nothing at all.
You do not have to own a kayak nor have any experience.
We will bring as many kayaks as we can car-top and we will all take turns. There will mostly be sea kayaks, but white water and others can be brought as well.
We'll be practicing beginner to advanced skills and/or just have fun messin' around in boats. RSVP IS REQUIRED, preferably by email, at the bottom of this page. The earlier the better, we do have a limit. Also, please notify me if you will be canceling. The cost is $20 per person. No cost if you just want to watch.
There is an additional ACA insurance fee for those that aren't already ACA members. Seabgo members are already ACA members. The ACA is allowing a one time $10 introductory membership good for all ACA activities for the next 6 months. Or you can just pay an individual fee of $4 for a single event participation. We'll be washing the boats out thoroughly before they get in the pool. A hose will be provided.
For those meeting at the Sebago Canoe Club to load boats and car pool, we will meet at at 10:00 AM. Others meet at the rear of the pool before 11:30AM to help move/prep boats and get ready for our time slot.
Please be on time as it takes away from other peoples pool time if your late. *Changes this year*
Swim caps will be worn by all this year. There will probably be loaners available courtesy of Phil Giller.
We will usually be limited to 12 people per session and will only have 6 boats in the pool at one time. So we will all be taking turns. The diving pool will not be available on most days this year.
Anticosti Circumnavigation by Sea Kayak July-August 2009
An attempt to circumnavigate Anticosti Island by sea kayak.
The Island of Anticosti, situated in the entrance of the N.W. arm of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, is approximately 350 miles in circumference. It is sparsely populated, only one town and only dirt and gravel roads. There are several outposts, some with supplies and telephone service.
There is a high concentration of white tailed deer, seals, mosquitoes, black flies, bees and whales, probably ticks, but no bears.
It has a beautiful coastline, lots of fresh water streams to collect water from and lots of dead wood to cook with.
The coastline can be quite shallow with extended reefs, requiring camps to be set up at high tide and paddling a good distance from shore in many places. Anticosti is famous for it's shipwrecks and even sea kayaks get damaged on the reefs.
Just a quick video post form the "Slowest Kayak Circumnavigation of Long Island, NY".
Ilene, a BCU *4 paddler, gets distracted by what she thinks is another paddler about to go over the top of her. While she is trying to avoid the collision she gets creamed in the dumping surf. Pete in the meantime seems to make an effortless landing.
This video is probably only interesting to the participants and their friends:-)
Small convenient, durable, takes high res photos and home video camcorder quality video.
Likes - Waterproof, durable, 5x optical lens allows you to shoot things farther away than other waterproof cameras. It fits in a PFD/BA/life preserver pocket.
Dislikes - No optical viewfinder, only the LCD screen which can't be viewed in bright light. I found that you can use the top of the camera as a guide for centering the image properly if the LCD is not an option. The photo shutter button is an a position that makes the camera jump when being pressed causing blurred images. There is a 2 second delay option that helps overcome this.
I started with the four suction cup version as I though tI'd need the extra security. It ended up being too big for the narrow bow of a kayak so I ended up just using one suction cup, extension and knuckle. It works great and stays put all day long. The safety strap assures that if I do get wrecked in the surf I will still ba able to retrieve my camera.
I got mine for approx. $100 US less than list price. No other drysuit has the features this has for the price.
Likes - Neck gasket is the most comfortable made. Many people believe that it isn't as waterproof as the standard latex neck gasket. I found it to be just as waterproof. I tested extensively. I did a lot rolling and balance braces and stayed dry inside. The tunnel helps keep water from leaking past the top of your sprayskirt. This is a really great feature. My previous drysuit didn't have this and I had to pump water a lot in surf and rolling sessions.
The relief zipper is nice.
No dislikes yet.
Below is a video of me doing some tests of the drysuit. I was using the Xacti camera with the Stickypod mount. Note, the water wasn't really so cold that I had to wear the scuba hood, but it allows me to do a lot more rolling before vertigo sets in. I tend to get vertigo if I do a lot of rolling in cool water. I rolled without it the first day and only lasted about 20 minutes before I started spinning. The nose plugs aren't necessary either and I usually try to roll a few times each day without, but if I roll a lot in fresh water, it really starts to irritate the sinuses.
I did about 8 rolling sessions of approx 30 minutes each over two weekends. Enough to show that the neck gasket works well.
I think I have come up with a device that is perfect for expedition paddlers. Even backpackers and other campers may appreciate it. It is an inexpensive, compact and reliable stove, windscreen and stand combination.
