By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Perception Swifty Deluxe 9.5 is a solid entry-level drysuit that holds up well for recreational paddlers facing the chill of the Willamette…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The iRocker Carbon Fiber Paddle is a solid mid-range option for recreational paddlers looking for a lightweight tool that won’t break the bank,…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Sticky Bumps Original Surf Wax is a no-nonsense, budget-friendly option that performs surprisingly well for keeping gear dry during short exposure to…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The SPOT Gen4 is the most reliable personal locator beacon I have used while running the Class III rapids of the Sandy River…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Rip Curl Dawn Patrol 3/2mm is a solid workhorse wetsuit that handles the chill of the Oregon Coast and late-season Willamette River…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Accurate Lines Mainline 75ft is a solid entry-level drysuit that holds up well during long days on the Oregon Coast, provided you…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Badger SPF 35 Reef Safe Sport Sunscreen stands out as a reliable choice for multi-day sea kayak touring, particularly when you need…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The HO Sports Freeride Slalom Ski is a solid entry-level option for paddlers looking to dip their toes into stand-up paddleboarding during the…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Tower Carbon SUP Paddle stands out as a reliable workhorse for touring, offering a sweet spot between stiffness and weight that holds…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer After spending countless hours in the cold Columbia River and the choppy waters off Newport, Oregon, I can tell you that the Cressi…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The ISLE Carbon Fiber SUP Paddle stands out as a sturdy, vibration-dampening tool that handles the chop of the Oregon Coast and the…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Keen Newport H2 is a solid, durable workhorse for the Pacific Northwest paddler who needs reliable footwear for river launches, beach access,…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer After spending a full season testing this bag on everything from the cold Columbia River to the rough surf of the Oregon Coast,…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer After spending three full seasons dragging this bag through the salt spray of the Oregon Coast and the cold mist of the San…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer After spending three full seasons testing footwear from my Portland garage to the rocky shores of Astoria, I recommend the NRS Kicker Remix…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Accurate Lines Mainline 75ft is a solid, no-nonsense drysuit that I have relied on for cold water paddling along the Oregon Coast…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer After spending three full seasons testing these lenses in the choppy waters of the San Juan Islands and the cold, gray expanse of…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer After spending weeks testing this radio during cold-weather crossings on the Puget Sound and choppy runs up the Columbia, the Cobra MR HH500…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Stohlquist Infant Nemo Life Jacket is a top-tier choice for parents taking babies on sea kayak or SUP tours in cold Pacific…
By Ryan Calloway — 20 years of multi-discipline paddling and watersports across the Pacific Northwest, with over 500 products tested on the water in real conditions — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer After spending six months testing this kit during cold mornings on the Oregon Coast and rougher conditions on the Columbia River, the Star…
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