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 paddle inflatable boats or need a reliable patch kit for day trips where gear failure is an option you cannot risk,…
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 YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler is a premium investment that excels at keeping food cold during long sea kayak day trips 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 Canyon Outfitter 22 Cooler is a solid entry-level choice for weekend warriors who need roughly twenty-two quarts of ice retention without breaking…
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 Orca 40 Qt Cooler is a solid workhorse for intermediate sea kayakers who need to keep drinks cold without carrying excessive weight…
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 carrying a lunch or snacks for a day trip where getting wet is part of the plan rather than an…
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 months casting from my small boat setup near Seaside and testing this rod through heavy surf at Astoria, I recommend…
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 St. Croix Triumph Spinning Rod is my go-to choice for fishing from a kayak when I need to target trout in 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 YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler is a rugged workhorse that holds ice remarkably well even when left out in direct sun 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 Coros Vertix 2 is a robust companion for long-distance SUP tours that handles harsh weather well without getting lost when cloud cover…
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 Shimano Stradic FL 3000 is a solid workhorse for wakesurfing setups that demand smooth line retrieval without breaking the bank. At approximately…
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 303 Aerospace Protectant UV Guard is a solid choice for protecting your cockpit rim, paddle blade edges, and drysuit seals from salt…
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 PowerPro Spectra Braided Line is a solid choice for recreationalists who need to manage deck lines or anchor tethers where visibility matters…
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 snorkeling around Maui and two weekends exploring the deep end at Crater Lake, I found the Penn Battle III…
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 This repair kit is a mandatory addition to any sea kayaker’s or SUP boarder’s emergency pack who wants peace of mind during open-water…
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 Star Brite Inflatable Boat Repair Kit is a solid emergency tool for serious inflatable kayak owners who need to patch punctures quickly…
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 catching trout or salmon from a kayak while sitting still for hours in cold water, this rod offers durability at…
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 Pelican 50QT Elite Cooler is a workhorse for anglers who prioritize ice retention and durability over portability. During my week-long test trip…
By Ryan Calloway, Senior Gear Editor with over 15 years of experience testing paddling equipment across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The Short Answer If you are paddling cold water in the Pacific Northwest, the Kokatat Meridian stands as the undisputed benchmark for performance drysuits. We spent three weeks testing this suit in 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 After spending six months testing this kit during cold mornings on the Oregon Coast and rougher conditions on the Columbia River, the Star…
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 Aquaglide Bongo 20 Bouncer stands out as a budget-friendly drysuit option that punches well above its weight class, particularly for paddlers hunting…
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