PADDLER 8
REVIEWS
Zen : £ 179 Stratos shorty : £ 129 Benny Board shorts : £ 54
NRS Zen PFD , Stratos shorty cag & Benny Board shorts www . nrseurope . com By Zac Green
The NRS Zen got put through its paces during my time on the Zambezi . There are three pockets : a clamshell-shaped one on the front panel , a handwarmer section between the two layers and a zip closure pocket in the second panel . I found that putting bigger items , such as a sling , in the bigger pocket on the second layer didn ’ t affect the bulk of the vest at all while also being very quick to access in a pinch . The clamshell pocket fits the rest of my safety gear nicely , with many attachment points for knives , carabiners and prusiks .
The side entry is set up very well with colour-coded buckles to ensure it is fastened correctly . I found myself leaving the buckles done up and putting it on over my head as I found it simpler and quicker .
The vest features a rescue strap , and thankfully I didn ’ t have to use it under pressure , but it is well made and looks tidy when tightened .
It is made of nylon with Cordura reinforcements and has aged very well in the time I ’ ve been using it with no rips or fraying straps , no matter how many bramble bushes I ’ ve walked through .
STRATOS SHORTY
The NRS Stratos shorty was perfect for Zambia as the temperature wasn ’ t a problem , but it did a great job of keeping my boat dry .
I ’ m impressed with how the cag is cut ; I am a mediumlarge most of the time , but the medium was slim fitting , and my shoulders were rarely restricted unless I was in a position I probably shouldn ’ t have been .
One of my favourite things about NRS cags is the materials they use for the double waist tunnel . The
sticky neoprene and small Velcro tabs get a watertight seal against a spray deck that doesn ’ t shift around whilst on the water .
I had only ever worn gear with latex seals and never glide skin neoprene , and I was surprised at how little water got it . I certainly wasn ’ t dry , but I spent a lot of time upside down in fairness . The comfort surprised me most as latex often irritates my neck after a long day out , but the neoprene was far more enjoyable to wear .
The Silk weight short-sleeved top quickly became my favourite t-shirt for both paddling and in the gym . It is super flexible and dries much quicker than other base layers while managing to smell fresh . It fits a bit bigger , particularly around the hem , which prevents the dreaded chaffing above your hips from the backband of a boat which was a great touch .
BENNY BOARD SHORTS
The NRS Benny Board shorts are some of my comfier shorts , and they are incredibly stretchy and are great for all day in and out of boats . The lacing closure system works well , along with the zipper fly . The back pocket didn ’ t get much use on the water but was great for a travel wallet or a phone while out and about .