NRS High Tide Jacket

The NRS High Tide Jacket is a single layer smock-style paddling jacket  It is made from 40 denier HypoTex fabric which is waterproof and windproof, and allows moisture and perspiration to transfer through the fabric while maintaining its waterproof and windproof properties.

The wide neck opening makes it easy to get on or off and the half length zipper is non-corrosive. There are also two handy (splash-proof!) sleeve pockets that are accessible when you are wearing a PFD.

The jacket is adjustable in a number of areas:

•  The hood has three points of adjustment to get it to sit comfortably and has a good peak to keep the rain off
• Waist toggle 
• Hook and loop (velcro) closure of the polyurethane wrist cuffs so you can tighten or loosen the wrist closure (this is a splash jacket not a dry top)

Colours are bright for good visibility on the water - Citron (fluoro yellow) and Fern (green). When you are not wearing your jacket it is lightweight enough that it is compact to stow. 

Hook and Loop closure on cuff

This jacket is a good entry-level lightweight (or summer-weight) paddling jacket for kayakers. Its smock style is comfortable and it comes in a wide range of sizes (small to XXL).

Aquatherm Touring Cag

The Reed Chillcheater Aquatherm Touring Cag is a uniquely soft and comfortable cag. It is constructed from Aquatherm, Reed ChillCheater's flexible, polyurethane fabric, which provides a thermal barrier similar to a traditional wetsuit, but is lighter, more flexible and is easier to get on and off. The smooth outer surface sheds water quickly, minimising the effects of windchill. One of the best things about this fabric is that it typically does not give an allergic response that some people have with neoprene or latex.

Sea Starter Course

Breaksea Islands - SW Tasmania

Breaksea Islands - SW Tasmania

Sea Starter Course

Just arrived! Bass Strait crossing

There is a snap on / off hood with a stiffened brim with adjustable straps at the sides to get a snug fit. Reflective strips are on the hood and cuffs for added safety. All seams are stitched and taped for strength and water tightness. The body has an adjustable twin waist seal for fixing over your spray deck and dry pants.

The Aquatherm Touring Cag is not intended as a dry cag as it has a front baffle neck seal, which, with its wider neck gape when undone, allows for good ventilation on long journeys and warmer conditions. The neck can be closed with either a press-stud (popper) or zip. Super stretch aquatherm dry seals on the cuff and neck offer a comfortable fit over a broader area of your wrist and neck, giving a comfortable seal without the sometimes tighter pressure associated with traditional latex seals. The seals are tough and durable and non splitting.

This is a very comfortable cag for day trips and expeditions - we recommend the zipper neck and the yellow colour for high visibility.

Kokatat GoreTex Passage Anorak

This paddling jackets tick all the boxes!

The Kokatat Goretex Passage Anorak is made of breathable GoreTex fabric with a stretchy neoprene waistband that can be tightened to fit using velcro tabs and has a double layered skirt to fit around your spraydeck waist tube. 

It is a pullover style jacket, with generous neck zip and storm flap to keep off the spray, and a wide-brimmed hood to keep the rain off and wind off the back of the neck.

There are reflective patches on the sleeves and bellows pockets (pleated - they expand!) on the sleeves with clips inside so you can lanyard to them. Latex seals on the wrists keep the water out.

The Kokatat Passage Anorak has the same construction and features of the Kokatat Tectour Anorak (pictured in the gallery below) that it replaces, which has given me good service over 4 years in a commercial (hard use!) setting.

Colours for Kokatat Passage Anorak are vibrant blues and greens.

The Passage is the rolls-royce of paddling jackets - definitely a quality product. It is comfortable in bleak conditions and being breathable is comfortable on windy days even when not-so cold! A fantastic jacket for both work and play.

Bathurst Harbour - SW Tasmania

Port Davey - SW Tasmania

Bathurst Harbour - SW Tasmania

Gippsland Lakes

Port Phillip Bay - Annulus

Checking for leaks!

Port Davey - SW Tasmania

Sandringham Harbour

Kokatat Hydrus 3L Tempest Pants

If you are paddling or boating in cold, wet or windy weather, keeping your legs warm in waterproof and windproof pants greatly enhances your enjoyment. Particularly if you are out fishing from your kayak or dinghy, cooling down from sitting waiting for a bite!

The '3L' refers to the 3 layers of the Hydrus fabric:

• A super tough nylon woven outer layer provides long lasting abrasion protection and features a durable water repellent (DWR) coating which repels water.
• The mid-layer utilizes a proprietary polyurethane micro-porous coating, allowing water vapor to transfer from the inner layer to the outer.
• The soft, knit polyester inner layer is engineered to help manage moisture, moving it from the inside out. 

Expeditioning in damp locations, where it is sometimes difficult to get gear dry, these Kokatat Hydrus 3L Tempest pants with socks ensure that your clothing stays dry and comfy to put back on the next day. This is a benefit not to be underestimated as we know from paddling in 'summer' in the SW Tasmanian Wilderness of Bathurst Harbour - beautiful landscapes - very damp and misty!

They also great to keep you dry in camp and in breaks when you are standing around out of the kayak.

These pants are breathable and like any shell-wear, you should wear a thermal layer next to your skin to help wick the moisture/perspiration away. Don't forget socks!

These pants are generously cut so they are comfortable sitting down and have a neoprene waist with velcro to tighten the fit, and also around the ankle. A front relief zip is also an option.

Care and Maintenance

After use in salt water you should always rinse down the outside of the pants in fresh water.

Always take care of when putting on dry pants and dry suits that you are treating the socks kindly - do not step onto gravel or other sharp surfaces and always wear shoes / wet shoes / booties. It is a great idea to carry some protective sheet or cloth to stand on when getting changed in and out of the pants.

If you do eventually put a pin hole in your suit or just through wear and tear over time, the hole is repairable using Aquaseal.