Protecting against Mosquitoes and other Bities

Mosquitoes and sandflies seem to lurk in the most picturesque outdoor locations, particularly when the weather starts to warm up!

These days mosquitoes potentially carry some nasty diseases, both in Australia and in other part of the world. You want to give yourself the best chance of avoiding these diseases by not getting bitten.

Head nets

To get the best protection from your mosquito net you want one that has a fine mesh and is Permethrin treated to repel the little bites!

Permethrin is a very safe and effective insecticide, that will daze mosquitoes on contact. With repeated contact the insect will die. The dosage used on these nets has not been found to harm humans; however, if you have concerns please consult your medical practitioner. Permethrin treatment will dissipate with time and washing. You can renew the Permethrin treatment using a kit such as De-Bugger.

Dusky Sound, Fiordland NZ - sandflies tolerated with the aid of SeaToSummit Mosquito Headnet

We use the SeaToSummit Mosquito Head Net with permethrin treatment. On our expedition to the Fiordland area in NZ we gave our nets a real workout! It is an awesome area but it is also the sandfly capital. See our Youtube for tips on avoiding bites and just to see the magnificent scenery we paddled through!

Repellant

When it comes to DEET less is more! Where possible, do not put insect repellant directly on your skin - it is better to roll it on your hat, socks, the cuffs of your pants & shirt and around your collar. Repel’s range of roll-ons and gel sticks have 30% DEET - this is plenty!

DEET also dissolves plastics - be very careful of it around your plastic kayak, watch band and the knobs on your car radio (yes really!).

Repel Roll-on 30% DEET

There are non-DEET alternatives. A new repellant called Picardin is the active ingredient in Repel New Era.

Clothing

Loose clothing with a fine weave is better at protecting from mosquitoes than skin-tight clothing that mosquitoes can bite right through. Once you are off the water and in camp it is quick to pull on a pair of Cargo Pants (or over-pants if it is a cool or windy day) to keep wind and biting insects off your legs.

If camping or travelling in tropical or mosquito-prone areas you can prepare your camp clothes ahead of time with De-Bugger Permethrin treatment.

Tents and Nets

Fine mesh is essential in a tent for insect protection. If you are not in a tent - if you like to tarp, or if you are in the tropics in hard accommodation but want more insect protection, then a mosquito net is ideal. They are available in single or double sizes, to go over your bed or sleeping system and can be rigged to hang from your shelter or the centre-line rope on your tarp.

For extra protection you can also treat your mosquito net with De-Bugger Permethrin treatment.

Treatments

Even with all these precautions, some of us will still get bitten because mozzies and sandflies just love us!

Formerly I relied on Stingose and Lavender Oil (smelled nice!) but now there is a new product that works effectively to reduce the swelling and itch. It is a battery-operated device called Bite-Away, which works by heating the area of the bite to 51°C (hurts a bit!) for 3 or 6 seconds. This denatures the proteins that cause the histamine release, so it reduces the amount of itch and swelling. You may need to do this more than once but do it before you scratch the top off the bite..

Socks: Canoe, Kayak, SUP and Rafting Clothing Australia

Comfortable feet are a key element to enjoyable water sports. We recommend you always wear shoes but what to wear inside them? Here are four different types of socks I wear depending on where I am paddling and the environmental conditions.

The socks I use are:

• Bridgedale Coolmax Liners

• Adrenalin 3mm Dive Socks

• Sharkskin Chillproof Socks

• Bridgedale Expedition Heavyweight Performance Socks

Adrenalin 3mm neoprene

Adrenalin 3mm neoprene

Bridgedale Coolmax Liner

Bridgedale Coolmax Liner

Bridgedale Expedition

Bridgedale Expedition

Bridgedale Expedition

Bridgedale Expedition

Bridgedale Expedition

Size comparison (L-R) - Coolmax, Expedition, Neoprene, Thermal

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Bridgedale Coolmax Liner

Bridgedale Coolmax liners are tropical weight socks that I use in the Whitsundays and Hinchinbrook Island. They are quick dry, no pong, and most importantly they complete a shield against sandflies, protecting your ankles and lower legs when pulled up high underneath pants.

These socks come on a handy 2 pack. Coolmax is a type of Polyester that helps wick away moisture. As a ‘Liner’ they can be used as an inner layer inside your hiking socks when you are trekking.

Adrenalin 3mm Dive Socks

These are 3mm neoprene socks, but if you are allergic to neoprene go straight to the Sharkskin socks!

These work inside your kayak shoes just like a normal sock! They work great and I generally wear them with my Vaikobi or Adrenalin paddling pants in my water shoes when I know my feet will get wet. They can get smelly when they get wet but that is quite normal for paddle clothing, but they still stay warm. They can start to get cold after a long day when you are sitting in camp, but then most people would change to warm wooly socks by then.

Adrenalin 3mm neoprene socks

Sharkskin Chillproof Socks

Sharkskin socks work well, but I do commonly go for the neoprene socks if I am definitely going to get wet feet! They are good in combination with dry pants /dry suits. They are warm when wet, but they do get smelly if they have become wet.

Sharkskin Chillproof Socks

Bridgedale Expedition Heavyweight Performance Socks

Bridgedale Expedition Heavyweight socks are thick wool blend socks are the bomb for my dry pants and dry suit. If you can start the day with dry socks and finish the day with dry socks that makes winter paddling in cold water a real pleasure. Even if they do get wet beneath dry pants, if you get the opportunity to drop your pants and let the water out they still stay warm when wet, which is the key for paddle sports. After a week of paddling they do get a bit smelly.

Between the combination of all these four socks you will be set ready to go and enjoy your sea kayaking with comfortable and warm feet.

These are my thoughts - do you agree? Please comment - what are your favourite kayaking socks?

Dry Suit - Canoe, Kayak, SUP, Raft Clothing Australia - Kokatat GORE-TEX Meridian

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What did I do before I had a dry suit? Now I cannot imagine paddling or training without my Kokatat Goretex Meridian Dry Suit. If I am going to spend an extended period of time in the water coaching clients it is invaluable.

Who should have a dry suit? Anyone who participates in water sports where the water is cold. A beginner or intermediate paddler will greatly benefit from the boost in confidence and increased safety resulting from staying warm and dry.

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What to wear under your drysuit

The warmth of the dry suit relies on you base layers - fabric that remains warm when wet and dries quickly and can wick any moisture or perspiration away from your skin.

Your level of activity and the temperature of the environment will determine the level of warmth of your thermal layers - generally long sleeve top, long thermal pants and warm socks are a minimum for comfort.

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Care and Maintenance

Wash: After every use I hose the suit down (while still in it!) or use the handy outdoor showers on the foreshore. Periodic washing with a good Goretex wash such as Grangers Performance Wash is recommended - cool water, can be by hand or gentle machine wash.

Hang the suit to dry and store it loose. Do not use bleach or dry cleaning.

Zippers: to keep zippers running freely, particularly for when you need them in a hurray, they should be treated regularly with a Zipper Lubricant stick.

Gaskets: Gaskets start off tight - resist the temptation to trim them and practise stretching them over some neck-sized can or football the night before use. Treat your gaskets frequently with a protectant such as 303 Protectant.

Avoid getting sunscreen or insect repellant on the gaskets or anywhere on the drysuit. Take care of gaskets when putting on the suit and removing it - avoid wearing a watch or spiky earrings.

I get about two years solid use out of my gaskets as the suit gets a lot of use in the course of work. They then need to be replaced. Gasket replacement is best done by a professional, but can be DIY if you are handy, purchasing just the gaskets, or with a tool kit Kokatat has put together. Factory repairs can be organised within Australia.

Socks: To maintain the waterproof-ness of the suit, you need to look after the socks. Take care when changing in and out of the suit - have something to stand on such as a rubber mat to avoid small punctures. Always wear water shoes - you may find that you shoes for wearing with your drysuit will need to be a size larger than you would normally wear. If you do put a small hole in the socks, it can be sealed with Aquaseal.

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Availability and Styles

The Kokatat Goretex Meridian Dry Suit is manufactured in Arcata, California USA. *There is usually some stock available in Men’s and Women’s sizes in the Goretex Meridian, but it is best to check before ordering as not all colours or sizes may be available and will have to come from the USA.*

It is even possible to have a custom suit made for you but expect that this will take a couple of months, depending on the time of year and how busy the factory is.

There is a variety of other styles of Kokatat dry suits, plus some in different fabrics such as Hydrus 3L, imported on demand.

Styles without the double tunnel are available (Legacy Goretex). The double tunnel does pull in the waist and improve the fit for any paddler, but for canoeists, SUP paddlers and other water sports enthusiasts (or people allergic to neoprene as it is possible to leave off the neoprene protecting the latex gaskets - custom build) the Legacy style may be preferred.

Astral Designs Water Shoes - the shoes I Use and Recommend!

So important for paddle sports, finally I have found Astral Designs; they fit well, steady, dry quick enough, with great grip in wet environments!

Hiyaks & Loyaks

The Loyaks have had 2 seasons of hard wear - doing well!

Hiyaks & Loyaks

The Loyaks have had 2 seasons of hard wear - doing well!

Hiyaks & Loyak

Both with great grippy soles

Hiyaks

Loving my Hiyaks on the Goulburn!

Hiyaks

Loving my Hiyaks on the Goulburn!

Hiyaks

Loving my Hiyaks on the Goulburn!

The low cut Loyak - have been using for almost 2 seasons, they are showing a little wear but have lasted considerably longer then any other water shoes I have used in the past, even on a 13 day trip down the Colorado River to top it off!

The high cut Hiyak are great for rivers and ankle support if required, their sole is a little bit more rigid for walking on uneven surfaces! Looking forward to the white water season!

Two thumbs up!

The Colorado River - this is where you definitely want good watershoes!

Gearlab Paddles - Melbourne Dealership - Kalleq Greenland Paddle & Accessories

Greenland Paddling with the Gearlab Kalleq

A Greenland style paddle resembles a stick, flatter and wider toward the blade ends. This is an ancient style of paddle that has served the Aleut and Inuit kayakers well for more than a thousand years.

Gearlab has enhanced these traditional wood-carved paddles with precise engineering and high tech carbon fibre composite materials to create an unparalleled paddling experience.

As Melbourne’s Gearlab dealer, we supply Greenland paddles, specifically the premium Kalleq, plus a range of quality kayaking accessories, from our retail store at 37 Jetty Road, Sandringham and online.

Who is Gearlab?

Gearlab is a Taiwanese company - their staff are avid outdoor enthusiasts: kayakers, cyclists, hikers, rock climbers, surfers and paragliders. They are inspired by Taiwan’s incredible ocean-mountain-urban landscape trifecta.

Gearlab’s headquarters is set in the vibrant urban setting of Taipei, only a short distance from a variety of beautiful outdoor settings: rushing rivers, lush vegetation, craggy cliffs and an impressive set of national parks. As a subtropical island in the Pacific Ocean, Taiwan also boasts miles of magnificent ocean shoreline.

Greenland Paddles

Why choose a Greenland paddle over a Euro blade?

Many of our paddlers have reported that a Greenland paddle offers much less strain on their wrists, elbow and shoulder joints.

• The long, slim shape of Greenland paddle blades require less force to pull/push through the water and offers less wind resistance. A properly performed Greenland paddle stroke uses core strength without straining arms and shoulders.

• The symmetrical shape of Greenland blades offer greater control in the water and ease of performing paddle strokes.

• Greenland style paddles are renowned for their ease of bracing and rolling.

The Kalleq is Gearlab’s premium paddle.
It is beautifully designed and meticulously constructed from seamless carbon-fibre. It is more durable and requires less maintenance than traditional wooden Greenland paddles. The tips can be replaced (various coloured tips available).

The Kalleq is available in three sizes to suit paddlers of different height (reach): 230cm, 220cm, 210cm. The length of your paddle will be determined by your arm span, width of your kayak and preferred paddling style.
See our listing for the Kalleq to determine which size is best for you.

Kalleq Greenland Paddle

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Premium Kayak Accessories

Gearlab produce a range of quality kayaking accessories - paddle covers, deck bags / deck pods and dry bags.

Paddle Bag

The new paddle bag is fully padded to protect your beautiful carbon fibre paddle from scratches and bumps when you are travelling. Specifically designed for Greenland Paddles, it features a hard EVA shell to protect the paddle tip.

The length is adjustable to suit 2 piece paddles from 210 to 230cm, so that it doesn’t shift around.

Gearlab New Paddle Bag

Deck Pod

The Gearlab Deck Pod is a great tool for keeping your kayaking gear accessible and organised. There are handy slots for the paddle float and hand pump and even for a hydration system.

The interior features a roll-and-clip style dry bag inside the zipped compartment. the dry bag is a bright hi-vis yellow/green so it is easier to see and find your essential safety gear, snacks and other items you want to keep close at hand.

The strap and clip system holds fast, secure and it is quick to attach and remove. There is also a convenient carry handle.

Maintenance: To preserve the zip from salt water, rinse in fresh water after use.

Gearlab Deck Pod (paddle float & hand pump sold separately)

Kayak Dry Bags

This innovative convertible kayak dry bag is constructed to allow for the entire contents of the bag to remain dry, half dry storage and half quick access, or a convenient tote for gear that can get wet. This allows you to tote dry and wet gear, but keep them separate.

Three sizes are available: 10 litre, 14 litre and 18 litre (10L and 14L stocked).

Closure is a simple roll-top allowing quick access into the bag. The bright interior colour allows you to easily see and find the contents.

As well as the handle, there is also a convenient shoulder strap.

Maintenance: To clean, simply spray down the bag after use and hang to dry.

Gearlab Dry Bag showing different styles of use - interior and exterior bags