By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The FCS II Performer PC Medium Tri Fins offer a solid balance between board feel and release safety for wakesurfers hitting local ramps…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Old Town Castine 135 is a solid workhorse for sea kayaking that handles cold coastal crossings well when fitted out correctly, though…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Werner Corryvreckan Carbon is a robust entry-level drysuit designed for sea kayakers who need reliable protection against cold Pacific Northwest waters without…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Rip Curl Dawn Patrol 3/2mm is a solid choice for open-water SUPers who need reliable warmth without sacrificing mobility during cold-weather sessions….
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The O’Brien Winch Handle and Rope Combo is a solid utility tool for whitewater guides who need to manage lines or deploy rescue…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Red Paddle Co Ride 10.6 is an excellent soft-shell kayak designed specifically for warm weather stability and touring distances up to twenty…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The RAD Sportz Kayak and Canoe Car Top Carrier is a sturdy, budget-friendly solution for anglers or weekend warriors who need to haul…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Naturehike Cloud Up 2 Tent is a capable ultralight shelter that performed adequately during my two-week solo trip to Crater Lake, but…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer After running multiple whitewater drops on the Deschutes and getting soaked during sudden squalls off Newport, I can say this case holds up…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer If you are upgrading from a foam PFD that gets heavy when wet or one that slides off during a rough crossing, the…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Thule Hull-a-Port XT is a solid choice for anglers who need to keep their tackle boxes dry while crossing open bays or…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Kent Child Life Jacket stands out as a durable entry-level option for younger paddlers navigating local rivers or calm coastal bays, but…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Pelican Argo 100X EXO is a solid entry-level snorkel vest that holds its shape well during surface swimming but lacks the advanced…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Canyon Outfitter 22 Cooler is a solid entry-level choice for weekend warriors who need roughly twenty-two quarts of ice retention without breaking…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer If you are tired of hauling a heavy manual pump to remote launch sites or pumping up your inflatable SUP for four hours…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Aquaglide Bongo 20 Bouncer is a solid entry-level inflatable kayak that handles moderate chop well but struggles under heavy load or high…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Bell Northstar Carbon is a solid choice for sea kayakers who need reliable warmth when air temps drop below freezing and water…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer After spending weeks lugging these around from my morning Deschutes runs to afternoon SUP sessions at Lake Billy Chinook, I consider the Keen…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The NDK Romany 16 is a solid entry-level sea kayak that shines for beginners tackling calm coastal bays or lake days where you…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer After spending a season hauling this kit through rough coastal crossings from Astoria down to Brookings where waves topped my cockpit at five…
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