The Paddler Magazine Issue 80 Autumn/Fall 2024 | Page 6

PADDLER 6

REVIEWS

Yak Apollo Cag www . yakadventureequipment . com By Jessica Ashley

As we head into autumn , this cag is perfect for those cooler days . What ’ s even better is that it is waterproof , as , let ’ s face it , in the UK , you never know when you will be hit with a sudden downpour !

Yak is a reputable , well-known brand in the watersports industry , and I was lucky enough to get my hands on this cag for an autumn / winter full of paddling . I love the colour and the design . It ’ s comfortable kit , and you can see the thought process put into this product . I ’ ve worn it while paddleboarding , but I can also see myself using it when sailing and kayaking .

The Apollo Cag is designed as a high-performing sea kayaking and touring cag . But it is stylish and comfortable enough to wear as an everyday cag and for different disciplines such as SUP , kayak , canoe , or sailing in . It is designed by paddlers for long days out on the water , and so , if the weather takes a turn , the hi-vis detailing is perfect for when the conditions change and the visibility becomes poor . The storm hood is also a fluorescent yellow , ensuring that the paddler can be seen if the conditions change .

It has a fully adjustable waistband , lightweight inner skirt , latex inner wrist seal , and adjustable cuffs , which is perfect as this is sold as a unisex item . Being a petite woman , sometimes unisex clothing comes up quite big , but as I can tighten this all up , I can make it fit my body shape perfectly . The only thing I found was that the sleeves were a bit long for me , but once I tightened the adjustable cuffs , it was fine and not noticeable .

Yak Dry Holdall 60L

By Helen Nightingale

This mid-size waterproof holdall has proved perfect for all the wet kit accumulated during this year ’ s wet start to autumn . I took it out for testing on an afternoon of torrential rain .

The smart , black-and-grey PVC holdall has a Velcro seal at the top opening , which then rolls down and is held in place with sturdy plastic buckles at each end . This makes it easy to get items in , and the Velcro design makes it easy to squish all the excess air out of the bag when sealing .

The flexible material means the bag lends itself to use on a variety of styles of board and for stashing post-paddle kit . I took it out on a social paddle on the back of my 20 ” race board . If it fits on that , it ’ ll fit on most . I can get cold on socials , so I like to take a spare jumper and windproof with me . The partially filled bag worked well , and everything inside stayed dry despite how hard it rained .

There is a zip pocket on the side of the bag for quick access to small items . The zip is designated as ‘ water resistant ’ but may let some water in very wet circumstances , as the teeth are not sealed , so I ’ d suggest

The waistband is also designed to be worn in combination with a spray skirt , which would be perfect for those intending to use it for kayaking . It has quite a high collar , which I thought would rub , but as it is fleece-lined , it was actually quite cosy and kept me warm – perhaps a little too warm when I had zipped everything up ! But it can be worn with the zip open , and I think it looks stylish as well as fit for purpose .

Sizing : I got a small . I am a UK size 8-10 and quite petite . I would say it is a little long on the arms and loose around the body , but for winter , it would be perfect to fit layers underneath . I like a looser fit on my cags , as I have had women-specific ones . I find it hard to get them off over my head !

It comes in sizes small to extra-extra-large and in two different colours : blue or red . I love both the colours , but looking at their website , the red is so very eye-catching ! Price : Around £ 150.00

using it for well-wrapped snacks . As the zip is situated at the top of the holdall , it is worth ensuring that water isn ’ t pooling on top of the zip by rotating the bag slightly when mounting it on your SUP . It was encouraging to see water beading on the surface of the PVC rather than soaking through . The material feels strong and good quality , and the seals are well-made .

I ’ m very impressed with the amount of kit the bag can hold . It easily stored two soaked buoyancy aids , cags , wet clothes , towels , and changing mats and still had space for more . There will be plenty of space once it gets to dry suit season . This size bag will also be good for touring . It is big enough to fit essentials like a tiny tent , small sleeping bag , stove , spare 4- piece paddle , dry robe , and so on , but it is not too big to be too bulky .

There ’ s also a stylish Molle system feature . Three neon green stripes under the buckles are for clipping useful items like water bottles or quick-access items .

One easily adjustable shoulder strap , with a shoulder pad that covers the buckle , attaches to the bag on opposite sides . There are also a couple of handles with a comfy carry pad . It was no problem getting the bag on and off the board , which does make a difference on routes with a lot of portages . Prices : 40L : £ 54 ; 60L : £ 58 ; 90L : £ 60