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 Airhead Manta Ray Towable is a versatile inflatable tow boat that bridges the gap between rigid plastic sea kayaks for beginners and…
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 Airhead Mach 1 Kneeboard is a durable, entry-level board that holds its shape well for casual lake days but struggles to track…
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 Connelly Concept is a compact neoprene foot warmer designed specifically to keep toes dry when storing an inflatable SUP or kayak inside…
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 O’Brien Recon Impact Vest is a surprisingly robust option for snorkeling adventures where you need impact protection from coral or rocks without…
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 Astral Women’s Layla Life Jacket is a solid choice for recreational kayakers who need reliable buoyancy without the bulk of heavy rescue…
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 weeks dragging this unit through cold mornings on Crater Lake and windy afternoons at Seaside, I recommend the Humminbird HELIX…
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 Atoll 11ft Fishing SUP is a solid entry-level board that holds its shape well for beginners looking to explore calm inland lakes…
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 Ruffwear Float Coat Life Jacket is a solid choice for kayak anglers and touring paddlers who need reliable buoyancy without sacrificing too…
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 O’Neill Psycho One 3/2mm wetsuit is my go-to choice for cold-water kayaking when the air temp drops below fifty degrees but I…
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 Jetboil Flash Cooking System is a reliable workhorse for solo paddlers who need to boil water quickly without adding significant bulk 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 Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a rugged companion for coastal kayakers who need to track heart rate during cold-weather immersion sessions or…
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 DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is a solid action camera for capturing your adventures on the Willamette or deep down the Columbia…
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 Outward Hound Granby Splash is a solid entry-level drysuit that punches above its weight class for recreational paddlers who need reliable protection…
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 days running Class III to IV rapids on the Deschutes River this summer, the O’Brien Vortex Kneeboard proved itself…
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 If you are hitting the Willamette River or the Oregon Coast when water temperatures drop below fifty degrees, this PFD is a serious…
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 Thurso Surf Tranquility Yoga SUP is a solid entry-level stand-up board that handles moderate wind well enough for yoga practice or light…
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 Radar Lithium Slalom Ski is a compact, high-performance board that I have found to be an excellent tool for beginners transitioning from…
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 Necky Chatham 16 is a solid performer for sea kayakers who need reliable protection without breaking the bank, but it shines brightest…
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 AT Exception Xception Curved is a solid entry-level stand-up paddleboard that handles choppy coastal swells well enough for weekend warriors who aren’t…
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 Aquapac waterproof phone case proved its worth during a grueling three-day expedition where I faced wind speeds up to 18 knots and…
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