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THE UK S ULTIMATE ONLINE
www.nswatersports.com 01642 520234
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PADDLESPORT STORE!
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Palm Fuse jacket
www.palmequipmenteurope.com
By Phil Carr
www.unsponsored.co.uk
The Palm Equipment Fuse jacket has had an
upgrade for 2015.The jacket is constructed
from a new lightweight three layer fabric and
the GlideSkin neoprene neck gasket has also
been improved. Gone are the harlequin
colours of 2014 and in comes a very smart jet
grey colour scheme with aqua detailing.
The neck gasket material has seen an upgrade from
last year. Having used similar neck gaskets in the past, I
have always found them to provide a pretty good seal
and this one is no different. Not a totally dry seal but
pretty close.The great advantage of www.nswatersports.com
the GlideSkin neck
gasket over latex seals is that they are generally easier
01642 520234
on the neck with a reduced chance of neck rash.
The fabric used in the Fuse is new for 2015 and is
much softer than in previous models. However, this
doesn't mean that the fabric feels weak or
compromised in any way and can still take a beating. I
have found the material to be breathable as any other
top recently tried and of course has been waterproof
as you would expect.The weight of the fabric means
that the Fuse is ideal for spring through to autumn. I
have probably pushed the envelope a little over the
last month or so but have found that if combined with
the correct layering the lighter weight fabric is not an
issue in the warmth stakes.
Tech specs
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
XP 3-layer ripstop fabric.
Pockets:YKK AquaGuard zipped
chest pocket.
Weight: 730 g (L).
Cut: 4D cut.
Neck seal: GlideSkin neoprene
gasket.
Wrist seal: latex gaskets with
Velcro adjustable cuffs.
Waist:Velcro adjustable
neoprene waistband (twin waist).
Other features: Fine seam
construction increases freedom
of movement and perforated
reflective details.
The Fuse has a number of standard key features that
can be found throughout the whitewater range. For
example the twin waist with the inner rubber strip and
outer Velcro adjustment.There is plenty of adjustment
so getting a good seal against your sprayskirt is
straightforward. It also has a chest pocket, which like
many of Palm’s other jackets, is not fully waterproof.
The new hanger that appears on the Palm Zenith also
appears on the Fuse. Being able to hang you gear up is
important. It's a small feature but still a very welcome
one nonetheless. The taping looks spot on
throughout. I’ve never had an issue with the taping on
Palm products but I know some paddlers who have
and Palm have worked hard on both the cut of the
jacket, the number of pieces used and how those
pieces are joined together.
Now all these features are all well and good but they
mean nothing if the Fuse jacket doesn't fit well. I’m 6ft
2”, 43” chest and 200lbs. I usually wear large tops from
most manufacturers and the Palm Fuse I tested was
large and for me the fit was excellent. Lifting my arms
above my head wasn’t restricted in away way by the
cut and the main body of the jacket stayed in places –
no issues with it riding out of position.
Being fully colour coordinated seems to be the in thing
in many outdoor sports. If this is your thing then the
Palm Fuse in Jet grey coordinates exactly with the new
jet grey Palm Alpha PFD. I personally love the colour.
Palm Kaituna
I have a couple of pieces of gear from Palm
Equipment that’s made from Neoflex.The
first is a Kaituna long sleeve top that I
purchased last year and then there is this
short sleeved version, which landed at
Unsponsored HQ a couple of weeks ago.
The Kaituna range of gear is designed to provided
warmth in both wet and dry conditions. When wet
the Neoflex material acts just like a wetsuit and traps a
thin layer of water between your body and the fabric.
When dry the Neoflex relies more on its brushed
almost fleece like Thermospan inner to provide
insulation.This means that the Kaituna range could be
worn as an outer layer in warmer weather or as part
of a multi layer system. Both tops have a slightly drop
tail which is great for maintaining coverage to your
lower back even when bending down.
The long sleeved version has had a considerable
amount of water time and has been used for kayaking,
canoeing, rafting and even a little bit of surfing during
the autumn last year. It was also used to extend the
temperature range of the Zenith short sleeve jacket
and the Fuse.
Being so close fitting I am sometimes concerned that
chaffing could become an issue. But even after hours
of surfing or paddling, this hasn’t been an issue. I have
found the Kaituna tops very comfortable when used
as outer or inner layers and when they have wet or
dry.The use of Neoflex has created a series of
garments that are higher versatile in their own right
but as I have found, may also add some versatility to
other gear that you use.
Palm Zenith jacket
For 2015 th e Zenith comes in both long and
short sleeved varieties the one reviewed
here is the short sleeved version.
The days are starting to become longer and the sun
seems to be out that little more. It won’t be long
until it’s time to be out on the water with a short
sleeved cag. For many years I have been using an
Immersion Research cag, which is simply awesome
but is now getting a little long in the tooth.
Last summer I decided to get a Palm Equipment
Zenith short sleeved top but I was simply far too
late. No dealer within the UK or Palm themselves