@kfbrady said:
I’m still on my first Tilley that I bought in Toronto in the mid 80’s.
Be wary of washing machines.
I’m on my second Tilley. The sun ate the crown instead of me.
Forgot one item: Pentax Optio WG-1 “armored” digital camera., immersibly waterproof down to 1 atm (10 meters). Now made by Ricoh, but I bought an older used one from Ebay two years ago and it’s been great. I’ve dropped it on concrete (it bounces) and into the drink multiple times – completely carefree camera on the water, You could probably use it as a hockey puck and it wouldn’t care. I clip the attached webbing and 'biner to the deck rigging or my PFD and never give it a second thought even though I usually use a GP and it gets doused all day. The ugly knobby shell is easy to hold and the controls are simple, even wearing gloves. It’s impervious to cold and has digital anti-shake, so it’s great for paddling in any conditions – takes really good shots.
Eats batteries though, especially when shooting video, but I got several extras and they are tiny and easy to carry with me.
Oh, and one more thing…I have come to really like my quick dry short sleeve fishing shirt (the kind with the vented back) and convertible quick dry pants (I think they are made by Bass Pro Shorts brand but any would work as well). Both are lightweight and dry quickly. More comfortable than a bathing suit. The shirt minimizes my use of sun screen and because its short sleeve, doesn’t really trap much water when I roll (I’ve paddled with long sleeve sun garments that scoop up water in the sleeves). And although I always thought the zip off legs were a bit gimmicky, or at least something I’d never really use, I did use them quite a bit on a recent trip out west when I wanted, for example, to walk along the beach without getting my clothes wet in the surf.
Seals cockpit cover. I consider it a must for each boat. MEC low Moque boots, I’m also a big fan of the Cyprus and the new Scorpio HV after spending a season in it.
Kokatat Tributary Hydration System- won’t paddle without
Werner Ikelos CF paddle- worth the cost
Snapdragon EXP ocean tour skirt- hands down best skirt I have owned
Astral Blue Jacket PFD- brand new 1st season hit
Beloved certified per owned Impex Currituck
1 Like
Was just thinking yesterday about the dollar-to-pleasure ratio regarding my Dagger Alchemy. I picked up a like-new demo/rental Alchemy several years back for half price. I have gotten my money’s worth of fun from that thing several times over. It’s not perfect. It takes on too much water in the rear compartment but since I know it there are no surprises.
1 Like
My NRS flotation tubes have given me peace of mind. My Perception Sonoma 10 stays afloat when capsized. I stuck them into the stern, inflated them, and forgotten about them. Good quality.
This is a great thread that needs to be continued.
1951 Old Town Guide 18 in cedar and canvas.
1959 Coleman gas stove.
Canvas canoe packs.
LL Bean hunting shoes.
Stetson Open Road felt hat used.
A canoe trailer by Magneta.
wall tent 10x14 purchased in 1980-
Sierra Designs tent purchased in 1990.
Marmot down sleeping bag.
Wow, my original post was 7 years ago. With respect to my original list, I still love my Croc’s water sandals and mesh deck bag. I no longer use a waterproof writing tablet but would not be without my smartphone (with insurance) to take pictures, look at charts and my position, and make copious notes and memo’s regarding the many varied things that pop up into my mind while paddling. I still have and take my Klean Canteen, but know that many other brands would be fine. More generally, I almost would rather not paddle than paddle without a container of coffee for a long mid-paddle break.
1 Like
ppine, three of your items are favorites of mine, too.
I have a two-burner Coleman gas stove that my dad bought right around 1963 or perhaps a few years earlier. I’ve been using it myself for the last 40 years. White-gas stoves are so much better than propane for several reasons and I can’t fathom why propane stoves became the norm. On my stove there was always a bit of a leak at the connection where the “generator” portion of the fuel line “plugs in” to the main burner with such a crude connection, and I think that’s a common issue. A few years ago I finally got around to adding some custom-built hardware that clamps that connection together, so there’s no longer a little orange and dirty flame at that spot. I’m rather proud of my clamping invention, which connects in just a few seconds when setting up the stove for use.
Many years ago there was a discussion here about the merits of modern canoe packs versus canvas ones. I have to admit that all of the arguments for why modern canoe packs are better make perfect sense, but every time I take my traditional packs out of storage, the smell of heavy-duty, wax-treated canvas just takes me back through a lifetime of camping memories (tents, tarps, hammocks, and packs from the old days, all made from canvas). Modern gear can be great, but none of it has a distinctive odor that evokes memories. Our sense of smell is so strongly tied with memory and everyone deserves to have SOMETHING in their gear that triggers fond old memories.
I first wore a pair of hand-me-down Maine Hunting Shoes (from L.L. Bean) when I was a kid. Those boots had been purchased years before I was born and I was the third person to rely on them. Of course I outgrew them way back then, but recently I finally got a pair that I can wear now. They became my favorite cool-season boots. They are so light and comfortable, almost like moccasins, yet they are rugged and always dry inside. I love 'em.
2 Likes
Fun to revisit this thread.
Items that I am/have been happy with include (in no particular order):
Werner 205cm Bent Shaft Ikelos purchased 15 years ago.
Kokatat Storm Cag purchased 13 years ago.
10 liter Outdoor Research Airpurge Dry Compression Sack purchased 15 years ago for sleeping bag packing.
MSR Hubba Hubba NX - I’m on my third. I’m hard on tents.
MSR Gravity Flow Water Filter.
My Necky Looksha17 LV and my Sea to Summit Paddle Gloves] (my Looksha more than the gloves)
1 Like
Update since I last posted my faves 7 years ago:
-
the Perception Avatar 16 composite kayak I picked up from a guy clearing out his barn for $300. Only needed some cleaning up and a new backband and pair of neoprene inner hatch “shower caps” from Topkayaker (cost around $110) and it has been an amazing boat that feels like it was made for me and is fast, agile and just an all round pleasure in any conditions. And it has a dynamite blue-to-gold fade paint job with metal flake on the deck.
-
Picked up a two piece EastPole wooden Greenland paddle two years ago and really like that too. Nice balance and weight. Like it almost as much as my original WRC one piece but it’s more portable.
-
also feel the same way as several other commenters about Snapdragon sprayskirts being “the bomb”. Unfortunately, my Snapdragon Tour skirt, which was my fave of all time and fit perfectly the 3 kayaks I use most often, disappeared at the DelMarVa Paddlers Retreat back in October. It apparently got mixed in with some other extra boats and gear I had brought for the “loaner area” we set up for guests and instructors who had to fly in to the event and could not bring their own kit. We scoured the campground and beach on the last day and it never turned up. Unfortunately it was one of the few pieces of gear I had not sewn my name tag into (since I had not intended to share it) but somebody apparently took it home with them – I guess all black skirts look the same. Really grieving that loss – I bought it just before Snapdragon closed up shop so I can’t replace it.