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SUPhilosophy with…
Dave Adams
What determines quality? For me its longevity and
dependability. You need gear to do its intended job
but also stand the test of time. So how long is long
enough? In my opinion your paddling kit has, at
the very least, to fit in with continuous usage, day
after day, for at least one season of maybe three
months. Doesn't sound very long does it? But the
reality for a lot of what’s out there is products have
much shorter life spans – I’ve tried/used a truck
load and seen this to be the case time and again.
OK, not everyone manages to get afloat every single
day but it’s worth spending a few more quid, if you
can, on your wetsuit or PFD (for instance) so those
prolonged sessions don’t take their toll your kit. In
the case of products mentioned any malfunction
with have a detrimental effect on your paddling
safety. Those essentials from said ‘popular sporty
style supermarket’ might well seem like a bargain
at the time – and indeed, thirty quid on a wetsuit
for your holiday is perceived good value – and it
might do a longer stint than you’d expect. Yet some
of the more expensive stuff is not up to muster and
that's what really gets my goat.
There are so many things within SUP that
need addressing. We’re still seeing paddlers
take to the water swinging their blades the
wrong way round – and that’s just for
starters. For my first rant though I’m going
to comment on the softer end of the stand
up paddle goods spectrum. Plenty of gear is
available but many choose those cheaper
options. So let’s talk equipment (wetsuits,
drysuits, booties and so on) and more
specifically the quality of such items, or lack
of it!
There are a lot of rubbish, low quality products
around – much of it supposedly designed to help
with safety. If you can’t depend on a piece of
equipment to at least keep you warm or afloat then
what’s the point of using it in the first place? You
may as well chuck those tenner’s down the drain, or
at least give me a bell for my bank details and you
can transfer the cash to my account.
You need to be comfortable and confident with
everything you use when going in/on the water –
not just your SUP and paddle. Don’t scrimp for the
sake of a few bob, and don’t just plump for the
brightest, shiniest thing. There’s plenty of info
available about what works and what’s not so much
cop. Do a bit of research, ask a few questions (but be
wary of brand tie ins from supposed team
riders/ambassadors) and you should end up armed
with the knowledge to make the best purchase.
Over the course of a season you’ll get your money’s
worth if you’re regularly paddling with d ecent gear.
Look at the bigger picture, consider why we need all
this kit and then go find
yourself a proper retailer
selling proper brands who
have proven track records
with this kind of thing.
Leave the cheap stuff on
the shelf where it belongs.
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