Noel Davis

The ZRE Power Surge paddle is amazing. It is incredibly light and strong. I have not used it enough to give it a solid evaluation but first impressions (including a 6 mile paddle) is very-very positive.

Also it is very cool, so much so I took it to work with me to show my friends like I was 6 years old and still had show and tell. I love peoples reaction to it. First they look at it and seem somewhat impressed. Then you hand them the paddle and their jaw drops. They say wow it does not weigh anything, or it doesn't feel real. Or if they are Luke they immediately try to flex it on the bumper of your car and say wow it's stiff too.

ZRE had impressive customer service on the purchase also. I ordered on Saturday and received it on Wednesday with basic shipping.

Posted by Noel at 08:37 AM | Permalink

This week I have had a flurry of gear purchases. I have been trying to figure out the most important things to get the soonest. There is a little less than three months before the Suwannee river challenge. So the question is what do I need the most for 52 miles downriver on the Suwannee?

I bought:

A new expedition hull for the Klepper. This is made by Wayland and was purchased with extra keel strips. Afterall when going down the river the frame will not float that well without a sound hull.

A spray skirt. Not sure I really need this for the Suwannee. But shipping is expensive from Poland so I combined the order.

Quantum Engineering Stern Wheels Cart. Can we say "Portage at big shoals" (sounds like a cheap western)

Platypus 2+ Water Bottle. This one does not have a ziplock thing at the top. so there is nothing to pop open.

REI Outdoor Research Deluxe Spring Ring Headnet. Bugs are almost as bad a cigarettes when you have to breath them.

and last but not least (in price second only to the hull)

ZRE Power Surge carbon fiber canoe paddle

Posted by Noel at 11:23 PM | Permalink

REI sent me my new pants. The REI Sahara Convertible Pants are all that I hoped for, very light weight and cool. They don't stay wet and have blocked the sun. Great pants for summer fun.

Posted by Noel at 01:59 PM | Permalink

I had high hopes for these water bottles (tanks). But they were flawed in a major way. The top of the tank has a zip lock closed opening. The opening has a very annoying habit of popping open and dumping all the water out. If you grab the bag by anything but the top it comes open. And I am not confident that the weight of the water inside it would not pop it open if it bounced around lying on its side. So they are going back to REI and I am going to try some of the smaller Platypus Water Tanks.

Posted by Noel at 07:21 AM | Permalink

I have put up a HTML copy of my gear spreadsheet onto the website. I made a link on the right hand side or you can just go here.

I am going to try and keep this up to date as I purchase gear and make decisions on what to get.

Feel free to send me an email if you have any suggestions.

Posted by Noel at 06:08 AM | Permalink

Posted by Noel at 06:11 PM | Permalink