I got to start off 2026 with one of our Full Immersion Sea Kayak 1 Courses, and I had a boat in mind that I wanted to check out. The Melker Varmdo HV, and I knew this was my opportunity to take it out. The class and timing was perfect, everyone had their own day …
At the beginning of the cold season I got the Level Six Emperor Drysuit and wanted to share my thoughts on this suit design. The Emperor is made to be the most durable suit on the market, with Cordura reinforcements on the seat, shoulders, knees and elbows. This suit also has two built-in pockets, a …
Many paddlers often ask about the best footwear for paddling. With so many options, sandals, neoprene boots, sneakers, or hiking boots, it can be tough to decide. Here’s a breakdown of my preferred choices and the reasons behind them. Sandals – I personally enjoy wearing sandals for summer paddling because they are cool, dry quickly, …
River : Kalama Red Barn 365CFS Paddler : Nathan Watt Boat : Jackson Clutch Gear : Immersion Research Devils Club dry suit, Sweet Rocker Helmet, Astral River Shoes, Werner Paddle. With Alder Creek now being one of the only white water retailers in Portland we’ve picked up Jackson, Liquid Logic, and Pyranha. With this influx …
I recently got my hands on the Level Six Kenora Semi-dry top, and I was super excited to get it right before I went on a five day trip to the San Juans. First off, the reason why I was excited is this is my first time using a semi-dry top for a trip and …
OOhhh BOY, am I excited about this one! After paddling with an Aqua Bound Aerial whitewater paddle, I was super stoked to see the Aqua Bound Tetra come out, Aqua Bound’s newest high end flatwater/touring paddle. The list of similarities with the Aerial and Tetra is short but notable. They both have the sticky textured …
