Outdoor Research

Posted by Greg on May 25, 2008

I participate in the Outdoor Research Connectors program. What this means is that OR provides me with kayak/kayak-camping specific gear each year, and provides a Pro-deal discount on additional gear that I purchase. In return, I use my gear hard and provide OR with detailed feedback on the gear via their Lab Rat Program. This is a good symbiotic relationship. I highly respect that OR goes to great lengths to obtain field input in order to constantly improve their products. This is what sponsorship is all about.

For my Newfoundland trip, I used the following Outdoor Research items:

Mens Foray Pants (GoreTex Rain Pants with full side zips for ventilation — just the ticket for the weather in Newfoundland)
HydroSeal DryComp Airx Sacks (a dry compression sack that allows air to be purged for reducing the size of bulky items while keeping them dry)
HydroSeal Dry bags in various sizes (dry storage for my gear stowed in the hatches)
My beloved “Black Bart” Seattle Sombrero (a bit too hot for summer in Florida but perfect for sun and rain in cooler climates)

While kayaking around the Avalon peninsula in Newfoundland and circumnavigating Iceland in 2007, my favorite headgear was an OR black fuzzy-rubber baseball cap — warm and dry. It works great under the hood of my Kokatat drysuit (you can see the hat peaking out from under my hood in the banner image at the top of the page). I’ll be wearing this on my 2008 Newfoundland circumnavigation as well. This product is not longer made, but the Drifter Cap, a GoreTex Paclite version is now available.