The motivation for this product review was the question "is it possible to fuse femininity with paddling?" If we take a look at the American market it becomes clear that it definitely is! America currently has a wide range of paddling gear specific to women; it is just unfortunate that the European market is once again lagging behind. It certainly is possible to design and produce great looking, functional paddling gear for both men AND women.

Although fashion and looks are important, products should above all be comfortable and functional. Neo-prene suits specifically designed for women have been available in Europe for a long time. But is that all? What about the rest? Differences in cut and design between men and women's paddling gear should apply to nearly every item in the entire range of paddle equipment.

Some manufacturers such as Immersion Research (IR), NRS, Kokatat and Stohlquist are very active in developing paddling gear specifically for women. Items already available include neoprene bras, layering, life jackets (PFD's), helmets and paddle jackets. Admittedly, it is difficult for companies to establish them-selves on the European market. However, we have done our research into the area and have received some very positive feedback.

Darko says: "Tasty girls should do something to look sexy on the river...;-))"

Firstly we need to ask ourselves, "what are the main differences between men and women?" The obvi-ous answer is their body size and shape. Women have narrower shoulders, thinner necks, shorter sleeve and torso length, fuller hips and smaller waists. Because of these differences women often encounter a wide range of problems when forced to use gear designed for men. Smaller women encounter even more problems since the smallest men's sizes are often still too big for them! The main problems women en-counter are bulking at the shoulders, sleeves, ankles, cuffs, torso and waist.

Hanka in the Giarsun-gorge of river Inn in Switzerland

Here is a more detailed list of the problems women encounter with specific items:

• Lifejackets (PFD's): Cutting/rubbing in shoulder and armpit region. Foam irritates in the chest area. Women forced to use oversized PFD's take a serious safety risk due to "riding up" of PFD.
• Spray Skirts: If skirts are too large/long they often need to be folded over to avoid interference with breasts.
• Paddle Jackets: The bulking of excess material in the shoulder region often causes rubbing, chaff-ing and uncomfortable pressure points.
• Helmets: Most women have smaller and differently shaped heads: most helmets don't fit properly.
• Layering: Since these items are mostly skin tight, anatomical differences become particularly important. Generally items are too long, or are bulky in the shoulder region.
• Gloves: Women have smaller hands and especially smaller fingers: most gloves are too big.
• Pants: The length and cut are usually not specific to the female anatomy.
  

These are some of the problems that speak for the further development of products specific to women and above all their establishment on the European market. Equipment manufacturers for many other sports such as snowboarding, running, surfing, etc. have recognized and are exploiting this lucrative gap in the market.

There are currently a large range of different colors available in the available range of paddling gear. Al-though a large number of these colors appeal to women, it is not just the color of a product that makes it appealing. Functionality remains the most vital selling point, and simply producing men's gear in pastel and bright colors does not mean they will also satisfy the women's market.

Although it's very hard to find women's products on the European market, we have made a lot of inquiries and have received some positive responses. A number of different manufacturers have kindly allowed us to test a number of products from their exclusively women's range. Most of the following reports contain very positive feedback. This is due to our selection of predominantly leading manufacturers and also the fact that that it is usually only well established, renowned companies that will produce specifically women's equipment.

Test Reports

Helmets:

Shred Ready Vixen

This helmet is designed for women or people with smaller heads and is produced by Shred Ready.
It's called the "Vixen". This helmet, like all other Shred Ready helmets, is CE-certified. It's made out of a Shredlar Armid Fiber/ fiberglass composite construction and closed-cell EPP foam. During testing we found this helmet to be very robust. Involuntary contact with rocks left no deep scratches or cracks and provided excellent head protection. The retention system is especially com-mendable. A "riding up" or getting out of place is nearly impossible. The helmet has a high level of adjustability allowing it to fit to every head. Due to its innovative retention system it sits exactly where you want it to, even during a washing in a hole. It is available in traditional or feminine colors, like Glacier, Tangerine, Saphir und Pink.

Paddle Jackets:

Paddle jackets for women are produced by Immersion Research, Stohlquist and Kokatat. We have tested a long jacket from IR and a short one from Stohlquist.

The company System-X from England put a Women's Competition Long Sleeve at our disposal for testing.
This long-sleeved jacket is a 3-season jacket and is made with a 3-layer waterproof and breathable structure. Its special cut has been designed specifically for women. It has no latex neck gasket; instead it has a unique neoprene gasket. On the inner side of the all-neoprene neck gasket is a small strip of latex which is responsible for the right fit and additional water-tightness. The "Competition Jackets" as opposed to the "Season Jackets" are fitted with latex cuffs with a neoprene covering. It features a double skirt and smooth-skin neoprene waistband that will fit to each individual body shape so that you can achieve a precision fit. It comes in a variety of 3 different colors and is also available in a short-sleeved and men's cut (including men's colors).

in Huningue - Soul & Style

While first testing, this jacket impressed simply because of its precision fit and very well produced seams. Because of its special cut there is no bulking anywhere. Once in the water this jacket didn't fail to im-press. The seams are well made and the material sheds water very effectively. The all-neoprene gasket is very watertight and compares well with its latex counterparts, minus the usual rubbing or chafing. Even a long test run in a hole couldn't change our opinion of this jacket. The "Women's Competition Jacket LS" by IR was really convincing!

short-sleeved jacket by Stohlquist

This short-sleeved jacket by Stohlquist has also been designed specifically for the needs of women. There was no irritation due to too much or too little material anywhere. The neck gasket is made of neoprene and has long Velcro fastener down the chest. For a short-sleeved jacket without latex gaskets it is amazingly watertight and very comfortable. The material is robust, the seams are taped throughout and the jacket is well manufactured.

Layering:

In this category we tested mainly products of NRS. We received a Women's SS Hydroskin, a Women's Hydroskin Sport Short and a Women's Rashguard SS.

Hydroskin® is a special kind of neoprene fabrication developed by NRS. It's a waterproof, breathable and insulating fabric built with 4 layers. The inside layer is a micro fleece lining, called MicroPlush™, followed by an adhesive containing titanium particles that reflect heat, then a 0.5 mm neoprene layer and on the outer side is a Lycra®/nylon blend that allows increased mobility. Rashguard is a LycraDry® fabric with MicroPlush™ and without neoprene.

The design of these shorts catches your eye before you even put them on. The cut is such that the length of material is greater in the back than in the front. This prevents the bulking of material while bending forward while at the same time protecting the back from the cold/wet. The cut is specifically designed for women, especially in the crotch region, and the leg length is a little shorter for added comfort.
At the present time (winter) we were only able to test them as a second layer. But for exactly this reason they had to fit particularly well.
Because of the MicroPlush™ in the Hydroskin® it was warm, soft and comfortable to wear. The seams are flat-stitched which also adds extra softness and comfort. There was no rubbing or pressure points after long wearing as second layer but still allowed the full range of movement. It's great as a single layer in warm weather or as a warm comfortable under layer on cold days.

Giarsun-gorge, river Inn. "After the Preussenschleuder"

This short-sleeved, Women's SS Hydroskin, is, like the shorts, warm, soft and comfortable. It also has the added advantage of being wind proof. While testing we also noted it had good moisture transportation. This piece also has an "only for women" cut. It's tailored, has flat-stitched seams and fits very well. And it looks great, too. Nobody will be able to miss that you're a hot girl. The cut satisfies the special require-ments of paddling without restricting movement. It has a Lycra® underarm region which eliminates bind-ing and a stand-up collar for better water protection. The length is also designed specifically for paddling requirements. No more sitting on layering or freezing of kidneys. You can wear it as a layer during cold days or by itself in summer.

Another short-sleeved layer is the Women's Rashguard (SS). It's fabric made of LycraDry® and contains no neoprene, so you can do any move you want. It also has a cut specifically for women. The moisture transportation is also very good but it's not windproof like the Hydroskin®, however it dries very fast so it can keep you warm. Like the SS Hydroskin, the positions of the flat-stitched seams combine comfort and stretch for paddling without restrictions. The elastic finishes of the sleeves allow this piece to stay in place so you can wear it by itself on hot days or as a layer on the cold ones.
We did however experience that the sizing of the W's Rashguard SS is different to the W's Hydroskin SS and that the fit of the W's Hydroskin SS is much better. The W's Rashguard SS is actually a little larger although it's labeled as the same size and it also fits differently. Apart from that it's very comfortable too.

We have also tested the Women's Long Sleeve Thermo Skin by Immersion Research.

This thick long-sleeved top is a fabric using Rashguard too. But IR uses an additional 0.5 mil of neoprene layer and a heat reflectiving metalite inner coating. That's why you will get really hot! It's skin-tight and really comfortable to wear because of the women's cut, the flat-stitched seams and the high neck. Rubbing and pressure points are a shady past with this piece. The Thermo Skin has a longer cut on the back than on the front to meet the requirements of paddlers. During our testing in winter it was just fine to wear as a stand alone top. If it were to get even colder outside you could wear it with additional layering and nothing would stop you from paddling in extreme weather conditions.

Hanka on the Koefelser Section of the Oetztaler Ache at summer level.

PFD's:

• - Stohlquist, Lotus (produce only for the American market; therefore they are Coast Guard approved and not CE-certified).
• - 2004 Palm is selling a PFD especially for woman as a first on the European market.

Videos:

There is a new instructional video for women who want to learn about playboating by Anna Levesque and is called 'Girls at Play'. It's designed for women due to the specific anatomical and athletic differences between men and women. Women usually need more precise handling and better timing. Anna told me about her video: "The motivation for making 'Girls at Play' came from a passion to share my knowledge and experience with other female paddlers. There were no resources for women paddlers, so I decided to create one! I would have liked to have an instructional resource for women when I was learning to paddle. I also think women get discouraged about paddling because they feel that they have to be like the guys. I wanted to convey the message that women are different and that is ok. We can still enjoy kayaking even though we aren't always as tough or as fearless as the guys. 'Girls at Play' is very different from any other video on the market. The video is unique because it focuses on elements of freestyle technique that women struggle with most and brings to light the mental and emotional challenges that women face in kayaking. Until 'Girls at Play', there was no media space to openly discuss issues like crying on the river! A lot of men have told me that they face some of the same challenges but don't feel comfortable talking about them. "
You can get more information's at www.watergirlsatplay.com.

Buying Sources:

- Immersion Research: www.Systemxkayaks.co.uk or Gert Spilker, Freiburg / www.gertspilker.de / Telephone: +49-761-2922500

- Shred Ready: Gert Spilker, Freiburg, Germany.

- More information about Shred Ready und Immersion Research and the complete listing of all dealers in Europe you will find at the website of the European import company System-X http://www.systemxkayak.co.uk.

- NRS Europe (D, A, CH): Thomas Gradl / www.nrseurope.com / Tel.: 0049-8662-419500

The complete listing of the products from NRS and the online store you get under http://www.nrscatalog.com (worldwide).

Worldwide

All the articles which are not available in Europe can mostly be ordered with your credit card at the online-shops of the manufacturer. The costs for shipping are higher than buying one in Europe, but the state of the US $ at the moment can be very beneficial for importing from America. When ordering from the US and importing to Europe you have to bear in mind that you have to pay taxes and customs duty. German customers can get more information's at www.zoll-d.de.

Another famous online shop is www.outdoorplay.com. They have a separate shop especially for women.

Because the US and UK stores generally use different sizing charts we have given you the most important conversions:

by Hanka Mansfeld
© Pictures: Darko, Hanka, Kayak-Industry