Paddling Apparel

Reviewed by BigRed

A super comfortable, sunproof, and fast-drying hoodie that works as well as for home, hut, and camp lounging as on the river.

On our May 2018 raft trip through Cataract Canyon, most of the guides and some of the repeat clients wore these hoodies all day out on the river, often with the hood up as full protection from the relentless Utah sun. My wife and I ordered a pair after getting back to Tucson and haven’t been out on a river since. But right now these shirts are on closeout at NRS for a nice price, so maybe it’s worth sharing what experience I have with it. The rugged guides and clients from the river trip will model the shirt in various colors.

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Featured review by Jay Tawbush

I use these pants for whitewater kayaking. The ability to stay dry is a must, when paddling in Alabama during the winter. I have had these pants for two months and love them. Best practice, stay in your boat, but if you swim these pants will work.

Before I began using these pants I had been suffering form having no way to paddle in the COLD waters in Alabama. After a friend purchased a pair I had to get some myself. I now have the ability to paddle on the colder days of winter.   The built-in socks are also nice to have, keeping your feet from in the freezing water on those frigid swims. A must for every paddler looking to stay dry. 

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Reviewed by Schifferj

An awesome, all weather DRY glove!

My Fire Department Swift Water Rescue team trains in the river 12 months of the year and is called on for rescue efforts in all conditions. These gloves work well in snow, sleet, ice cold water — you name it they work!   When our swift water team was formed we specced out some cheap neoprene gloves in an attempt to save the taxpayers money. As it turns out those gloves were near unusable during the winter months and a lot of  the guys were going gloveless rather than wear neoprene.   We then went to the NRS Maverick Glove which remains dry provided you spend the extra thirty seconds or so required to get a good seal over your dry suit wrist seals.

Read more: NRS Maverick Glove review (1)

Featured review by Meghan Elizabeth

Great blister and sun protection, but the palms "pill" quickly.

I like these fingerless gloves a lot, but I'm not sure I will buy another pair when these wear out. They do keep my hands from getting blistered, and the fingerless design allows for good digital dexterity. However, I don't like that the material on the palms is white—after one use they looked pretty grubby, and the suede was "pilling" (like a sweater).  On hot days, it is nice to wear these because you can dip your hands in the water and the fabric retains it so it keeps you cool. Transversely, that same quality is not so great when you'd rather be warm and dry! I would recommend them if blisters are a big problem for you. They are better in hot weather than cold.

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Reviewed by Mel R

This versatile, quick-drying romper is perfect for hiking and swimming, with UV and SEA Chlorine protection. It transitions effortlessly from land to water, reducing the need for extra gear and simplifying outdoor adventures. Totally recommend this game changing romper!

Versatility This romper truly redefines versatility in outdoor gear. Designed for both hiking and swimming, this romper has quickly become my go-to outfit for any adventure, whether I’m trekking through trails or taking a dip in the water. The first thing I noticed was how lightweight the fabric is. It feels almost weightless, which makes it ideal for wearing in the water. Despite being so light, it doesn't compromise on functionality. The fabric features UV protection, which is a must when you're out in the sun for hours.

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Reviewed by Dale Van Valkenburg

Best drysuit I've ever owned.

This is my second Stohlquist drysuit, and it's a replacement for a Stohlquist Multi-Sport that I got on sale nearly 10 years ago. The Multi-Sport was imported from China, was very difficult to put on or take off, and ultimately leaked like a sieve through the fabric when I used it on a Memorial Day Middle Fork Salmon trip (i.e.; when I really needed it) in 2013, about 7 years into my ownership. It supposedly was under a lifetime warranty, but to Stohlquist that meant lifetime of the product, which, coincidentally, was deemed to be 7 years.

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Reviewed by Paula Johanson

This paddle jacket is completely windproof and rainproof. It keeps me warm on rainy days paddling, when I wear it over a shortie wetsuit or over a merino wool shirt and shorts. This men's jacket suits women too. It's a fairly close-fitting style, so buy a size larger if you plan to layer it over a thick sweater.

Kayaking on the West Coast near Vancouver and Seattle means needing rain gear — the real thing, not cheap stuff. This jacket is listed as "Made of eXhaust 2.5-ply waterproof-breathable nylon." I wear it in the rain without getting any water seeping in at wrists, waists, or seams. The jacket is also completely wind-proof. In a men's medium I have enough room to wear a light sweater under the jacket, and usually I wear just a long sleeve merino wool shirt. Don't know how "breathable" this jacket really is in challenging conditions, but it's breathable enough for me.

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Reviewed by Siltloam

A surprisingly good pair of gloves for the price. Decent fit and breathable enough in most conditions. Have held up really well over the past few years.

I bought these because they were on sale and I need something to stop my hands from blistering. I get terrible blisters on the sides of my thumbs and between my thumb and first finger when I kayak or canoe without gloves. I’ve been using them for about three years now, and they have minimal visible wear. There’s nothing that stands out as making these gloves super awesome, but they perfectly fulfilled my expectations and perform the task I got them for without me ever having to think about it.

Read more: Stohlquist Contact Fingerless review (1)

Reviewed by Sheila Bergin Goss

This is a reasonably priced paddle jacket, very roomy and comfortable for paddling. I use to for cool weather canoeing, and it has served me well for that use. I have room for a light fleece under it, and room for a PFD over it. Though I am a woman, I use men's jackets, as I really prefer LONG sleeves.

The jacket is very comfortable to wear while paddling, even as I wear it under a PFD. The sleeves have a roomy cut, and the velcro splash cuffs are soft, and not irritating as some velcro cuffs can be. The neck is very soft, and the quarter-zip zipper is a fine length. I have used the jacket in air temps of 34-50, comfortably. The pocket on the left sleeve is very handy, and easy to access. This is just a lightweight jacket, and I opted for a model without a hood (I find hoods impair my lateral visibility too much). The fabric is definitely lightweight, and since I have only used the jacket for this past season, I can only anticipate that it will reflect the quality of the jacket overall, and will hold up well.

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Reviewed by Twig

An excellent splash top that I was able to purchase at a steep discount.

I have one (in grey) and also the long-sleeve version (red and white). They were both sold at a steep discount on STP, which is why I bought them without really realizing the utility. But I have since discovered that paddling jackets are far superior to wearing a regular rain jacket or shell, because the arm and neck gaskets keep water from running down your sleeves as you lift your arms to take a stroke. They are also cut so that you have plenty of space in the shoulders, which doesn't limit your paddling movements like a regular jacket might.

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