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My son needs a kayak cag, but I haven't the faintest idea what I'm looking for.
A google search shows anything from £22 to £190. Some with hoods some without; some popover, some zip up; some ribbed cuffs and waist, some not etc.
The only thing sonny boy know is that the club DO NOT want ones that attach to the bat, apparently that's a spray deck jacket??
Any help appreciated! Thanks
Also depends on the type of boat being paddled - particularly if you’re going to do an Eskimo roll and therefore want leaktight at cuffs, collar and waist? For touring and sea kayaking, features like hoods and being made from breathable fabrics like Gore-Tex but that comes at a price.
As above, it totally depends what sort of paddling he'll be doing. And as I've been well told on this forum previously, it's not all about whitewaterrrr. 🙂
I'll give the following opinion IF it is river kayaking he's doing. If its not then ignore me. 🙂
1) ask the club what they recommend, based on where they'll be taking him and what sort of boat
2) that said, this is a fair starting point:
https://www.canoeandkayakstore.co.uk/products/yak-zeus-cag-1#product-tabs--wrapper
Rubber dry neck seal ( hard to tell from the photo). Usually with rings to assist cutting to size, don't cut too early or too much.
Ditto wrist seals
Double waist. Put the cag on, roll up the outer seal, pull spraydeck over inner seal, roll outer seal over spraydeck to make semi waterproof.
No hood
I had a yak for years and it was good.
If it's easy river pooling then a spray cag rather than a dry cag is ok. ( crappy velcro neck and wrist seals)
If it's sea then a hood sounds good.
Breathable is theoretically useful but not sure it really is for a beginner on a river.
You mention zips, where are these zips?
Talk to the club. See what the coaches are wearing. Don't get too sucked in to 'oooh, expensive'.
What type of paddling is probably the first question to answer.
He paddles in the Thames mainly, doing marathon and sprint races.
No white water, and no sea kayaking.
As suggested, I'll go along with him and see/ask what the more experienced paddlers use.
Thanks all.
Agree with going along and seeing what others are using. However for sprint and marathon racing, I am not sure I would want a “cag” I.E a waterproof top. Sounds really hot when you are working hard. Quite a few paddle co’s do thin lined neoprene paddle tops.
However, if they are looking for Something keep the rain off during training session, when hanging around a basic touring jacket would suffice I would imagine.
The yak cag / rubber seals/ double waist tunnel are all white water specific features which aim to keep u dry as possible.
I used to wear lightweight running waterproofs for K1/flat water paddling, without hood preferred as you want to be able to look around without getting a faceful of flappy nylon. Waterproof shorts also good as you inevitably end up with a crotch-full of cold water dripping down from the spray deck that then collects in the seat.
K1 makes sense now - I was puzzled why he didn't already have a cag, as for whitewater or sea kayak it's the first bit of kit you'd have. In a K1, he'll be working hard and a cag hasn't been necessary until the weather cools. Something to keep the wind off, with minimum restriction on movement. My son used a light Pertex cag, with small velcro closures on wrist and neck, that my wife sewed up for him. A light running top would work. This is an example of a cag purpose designed for K1.
Peak PS are normally a good shout for this kind of kit. If you dont want the racer cut (all in one deck and cag) then go for the marathon range. I think they do a waterproof version and a lighter windproof one and neither are silly money. Very like bike jackets actually but with sealed wrists and cut loose on the sholuder for paddling action. Great company based in Derbyshire. Used to be Peak UK.
Edit Marathon H20 is 100 quid at Escape Watersports
Good kit for k1 paddling is craft base layer that you can often source half price, merlin had some recently. Cheap cycling gilet, thin running type wind jacket. For when it’s colder icon speedflex jacket is good but not cheap. When it’s really cold rooster sailing jackets are good and not expensive. Light weight ones are best. Essential winter kit is pogies, icon ones are really good.
If he is a fairly new paddler, and perhaps not working super hard in a session He will need a thicker jacket like the rooster, or palm do a basic one for about £40