Sprayskirt Review
Wildwasser - Monterey Neo/ Zip Bunjie
|
WILDWASSER- Monterey Neo/Zip Bunjie
When we first heard of the Neo/Zip, we were stoked! A full-on neoprene touring skirt with waterproof zipper access to the cockpit seemed like the perfect solution for both access and security. While the concept of the new Storm Zip deck zipper hit a home run with us, the execution left us wondering why the zipper pull originates from the top of the skirt—tucked well up into your drytop or paddling jacket. The whole point of a zipper is to provide convenience. Gone are the days of popping a skirt to retrieve a bite to eat, pogies, or a hat. However, with the zipper pull at the top of the skirt, it left us wrestling with our paddling jackets to zip and unzip the skirt.
Usually, full neoprene construction restricts the full-on, butt-cheeks-sliding-in-your-seat torso rotation that we crave when a fast touring boat is just greasing across the water. However, with this full-neo construction, rotation was unrestricted. We also loved the Neo/Zip’s storage pockets and the skirt’s super-comfy tunnel adjustment. Unfortunately, however, while its signature feature is genius in concept, it needs more thought in execution.
SNAP DRAGON-Glacier Trek
Snap Dragon - Glacier Trek
|
The Glacier Trek gave us everything we wanted and didn’t leave us wanting anything more. Like all successful designs, whether skirt, computer bag, or power tool, this one was pared down to its most elementary form, yet it functioned perfectly.
The Glacier Trek has a new Dragon Collar incorporated into the nylon tunnel. It’s a neoprene collar with an adjustable Velcro closure, for a comfortable yet secure fit around the chest. A sewn-in shock cord on the deck keeps the skirt tight on your boat.
Snap Dragon offers a fit guide for most kayak brands on their website, along with instructions on how to choose the right skirt if your boat isn’t listed.
With a 3.5mm Supratex neoprene deck and slippery taffeta nylon tunnel, the Glacier Trek sheds water, allows total freedom of movement, goes on and comes off easily, and provides a bombproof seal. The tunnel opening’s neoprene-and-Velcro adjustment is simple, positive, and comfortable. What more could you want in a skirt?
NRS-
Neo Touring
NRS - Neo Touring
|
We fell in love with this puppy, and like puppies, it is soft and cuddly. The secret is NRS’s 1.5mm neoprene, which is used to construct this more minimalist yet extremely functional skirt. While most companies’ neo skirts are 2mm or thicker, NRS has gone with a lighter fabric that gets the job done just fine.
It has a rugged bungee rand and sticky rubberized inner deck coating that grip the cockpit rim, preventing slippage and implosion. Watertight seams are fully taped. It comes in two tunnel sizes, small/medium and large/extra large
, and a fit guide on the website helps you pick the right skirt for your boat.
Because of its comfort and watertight fit, we found ourselves reaching for the Neo Touring 90 percent of the time. It is a superb compromise between the full-on skirts for surf play and the lighter touring skirts made for light spray. Sure, we would include Velcro microadjustments on the tunnel, and I wished it were as tight as a drum on my Dagger Meridian. However, given the fine balance between bomber and comfort that NRS has achieved, we can live without those two requests.
|
No comments have been added to this entry.
Add Comment