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.