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#1
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Hi Charlie,
I see you've had plenty of advice but trust me you're not the only one in your boat (could come as a surprise as I don't think there's usually space for more than one in an I:3)!! Most of us female paddlers have very similar problems with kit. It's the problem with doing a sport that has been male dominated for so many years & it's only in relatively recent times that more women have been getting involved! Much of the advice is sound but as many say it's much down to personal preference. I've been trying to find a new BA of late - it's a minefield. Palm amongst others have had pretty poor IMO attempts as making some female BA's - I still can't been my Palm Fusion for comfort & fit. Quite a few of the other females I paddle with got these after trying mine & love their's too so it's definately worth a look. There are some new ones on the market this year which may be better but I'm yet to be convinced! As for cags - very much personal preference. I use reed chillcheater which someone else mentioned - more than anything 'cos they will make to measure - I had one with a shorter body & arms & narrower waist than their standard off the shelf ones at no extra cost & made within a week! They're definatley more comfy IMO but probably in all honesty not quite so durable as other materials - just don't scramble through any thorn bushes!!!! Also highly recommend their after sales service (note the thorn bush!). Other advice you've had here is good too on that though. A Paddle - I appreciate people are trying to stop you from making an expensive & inappropriate purchase here. You could buy cheap to get by initially, however - if you're really enjoying this sport & wanting to stay with it, bear in mind this is the tool of your trade. The paddle has to be an extention of you. You MUST feel comfortable with it, I think this is somewhere you shouldn't skimp too much (I'm not saying go buy the top model, just don't buy anything that's too cheap). You'll probably be looking around a 191 - 194cm length (I'm 5'3" & use 194), you say you're not comfortable with a 60 feather - try others. Everyone used to use 90's but most of us are moving to less feather as this puts much less strain on the wrists - after years of paddling with 90's you're far more likely to suffer tendonitis & the like. Many people now paddle with 45's. You're obviously paddling with a club - ask to borrow everyone's paddles & give them a good 20 minutes paddling each (& longer if you can). Bear in mind cheaper paddles are heavier & more rigid so harder work to lift & you get a lot less feel from the water. This is why often lighter (often more expensive) paddles feel more wierd at first - all of a sudden you're getting so much more feedback & you don't know how to inturpret this - however it'll be a godsend later in your paddling!!! Think I've gone on long enough! Good luck with all the purchases & hope it all goes well. (ps the yak helmets are good)!!! ;-) Jasmine Charlie wrote: I'm going off to buy most of my kit next week (at Eddy Lines if you live in the Welsh sticks like me!) and was after some recommendations. Basically I need: A cag (I'm thinking semi dry, I don't like being wet, and I fall in alot!) A buoyancy aid (How much buoyancy should I get? Should I go for one with a harness? Is it a case of the more you spend, the more change it will have of saving your life?) A paddle (I've been borrowing the clubs basic ones. What feather should I get if I want to do basic whitewater and basic surf? Also, does my height affect the length of the shaft? I'm 5ft tall!) A deck (First neoprene! I've seen one with a yellow knee strap, is this a good idea? Or should I go for the pyrahna one to match my boat? If I've got an I:3 221 so I need a keyhole deck?) A helmet (I like the Yak one, this is what loads of the guys I paddle with use, and it fits me well. Anyone know a site with the price better than £35?) I think that's it! Yell if I've left anything out. I'm looking for general advise about purchasing, but also if there are any ladies out there with kit that they think works really well for them, could they post too? Pleeeeeeeeease? I find some of the men's kit really uncomfortable, especially the buoyancy aids! Charlie. |
#2
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Jasmine Waters wrote:
A Paddle - I appreciate people are trying to stop you from making an expensive & inappropriate purchase here. You could buy cheap to get by initially, however - if you're really enjoying this sport & wanting to stay with it, bear in mind this is the tool of your trade. The paddle has to be an extention of you. You MUST feel comfortable with it, I think this is somewhere you shouldn't skimp too much (I'm not saying go buy the top model, just don't buy anything that's too cheap). Agreed, though I'll note that a friend with decades of experience is just in the process of replacing his sea paddle, and despite the decades of experience still isn't completely sure what he wants... I agree with Jasmine not to buy any old thing, but a basic "economy" paddle from e.g. Lendal[1] (say, Polypro Logiks on an economy glass shaft) is still a decent paddle, and probably much better than a noname thing. It's a damn site cheaper than their top models though! Pete. [1] I use Lendal for examples because I'm personally familiar with them and have found their kit does for me. Beyond that, it's not a particular recommendation over other paddles, and they're certainly not the only game in town. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/ |
#3
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![]() "Jasmine Waters" wrote in message ... I see you've had plenty of advice but trust me you're not the only one in your boat (could come as a surprise as I don't think there's usually space for more than one in an I:3)!! Most of us female paddlers have very similar problems with kit. It's the problem with doing a sport that has been male dominated for so many years & it's only in relatively recent times that more women have been getting involved! I'm definaly feeling that particular vibe. I've been trying on some paddling trousers and they're all about a foot too long! You can tell that they're designed by men because even the ladies ones are far too long! I reckon I'm going to have to have the trousers custom made. I've been trying to find a new BA of late - it's a minefield. Palm amongst others have had pretty poor IMO attempts as making some female BA's - I still can't been my Palm Fusion for comfort & fit. Write, I'll make sure they show me that one. Nice colour too. (Should I be worried about that?) I really hate the way that companies only seem to make ladies gear in biks and pale blues. Dammit, I want manly colours to match my nice red boat! (Only a woman could say that, right?) As for cags - very much personal preference. I use reed chillcheater which someone else mentioned - more than anything 'cos they will make to measure - I had one with a shorter body & arms & narrower waist than their standard off the shelf ones at no extra cost & made within a week! If I don't find one I like when I go shopping I'll proberbly consider this. It's a really good idea for the companies to custom fit items. (ps the yak helmets are good)!!! ;-) I bought one after a reccomendation from a bloke in the club actually. I just had to take his advice, he's rather good looking! Ta for the advise! Chalrie. Jasmine |
#4
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Two things.
If you are a newbie I would not put a tow rope on deck or around your waste. You may be advertising a skill you are not ready to practice in moving or tormented water yet. You need the rope but stowing it away may be the best idea for now. The feather on the paddle for white water is normally very small. often flat it would likely be 10 perhaps 30 degrees. a sea paddle will be longer 220 CM for me at 5'8" and my feathere angle is about 60 or 70 degrees for the sea. When in white water I try to borrow a shorter paddle with little or no feather. I use my junky WW paddle or a sea paddle when on the river. not the best. |
#5
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![]() The feather on the paddle for white water is normally very small. often flat it would likely be 10 perhaps 30 degrees. a sea paddle will be longer 220 CM for me at 5'8" and my feathere angle is about 60 or 70 degrees for the sea. When in white water I try to borrow a shorter paddle with little or no feather. Can you clarify? Amongst the group that we paddle with all the paddles are 90 degree through to 45 degree, one or two 30 degree, but I can't think of any who paddle with flat paddles - ie with no feather at all - there are some at the pool we use, but three of the kayak groups I know who use the same pool all bring their own paddles with either 45 or 90 degree blades. Not looking for an argument, just not clear as to what you are saying because it doesn't match what I see locally. Ewan Scott |
#6
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Ewan Scott wrote:
Amongst the group that we paddle with all the paddles are 90 degree through to 45 degree, one or two 30 degree, but I can't think of any who paddle with flat paddles - ie with no feather at all I've got a variable feather paddle for sea kayaking: I use it flat if there's a following wind or no wind, and into the wind will set it at about 70, or a bit less (back towards 60) if there's not too much of a blow. Traditional Greenland paddles are all flat, but OTOH they're much narrower than typical modern paddles so it's less of an issue. My river/surf paddle is 67. I do like paddling flat for the sake of my wrists but in surf it's hard enough banging out through breakers in a wee boat to start with, adding extra wind resistance when the wind is almost always blowing on to the shore is just adding salt to the wound! Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/ |
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