Gear Locker:
Shred Ready Helmets, Icom VHF
April-May 2005
This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD
by by Alex Matthews; photos by Rochelle Relyea
In an issue of Wavelength dedicated to safety, an obvious piece of gear to examine is the helmet. More and more sea kayakers are venturing into locations where a helmet is a good idea. Spirited play along rocky coastlines, in sea caves or the surf zone, should probably include the use of protective headgear. I often bring a helmet on trips on the exposed coast. When not in use, a helmet stores easily on the stern deck of a kayak, and represents great insurance against serious injury for a very modest financial investment.
Best known for their whitewater helmets, Shred Ready is an Alabama-based company that produces seven different helmet designs. Five of their models are manufactured from composite material, and two from plastic.
THE SHAGGY
This is a composite helmet made from a blend of fiberglass and aramid fibers impregnated with marine vinylester resin. Certified to CE 1385 international standard for headgear for whitewater sports, the Shaggy feels very solid, and would no doubt do an excellent job of protecting the wearer from impact. It’s a pleasing shape with a small, integrated bill that can either be worn to the front, or reversed, with the bill towards the back. I preferred the bill forward, as it provides a small degree of glare reduction from the sun.
To provide effective protection, a helmet must stay locked in place while still remaining comfortable to the wearer. So fit is one of the most important issues when considering head protection. A multi-Impact VN foam, laminated to closed-cell ‘comfort’ foam lines the interior of the Shaggy. Interchangeable closed-cell fitting pads are supplied with each helmet, and velcro to the liner, to help customize the fit. Shred Ready also has a very slick H.O.G (hand of God) retention system. This consists of an adjustable pad that fits behind the nape of the neck that can then be dialed-in for an amazingly secure fit. The pad is anchored to the helmet with monofilament line, via two small, ratcheting, blue knobs. Rotating the knobs produces a distinct click, as the line is drawn in and the pad tightens around the wearer’s head. Another small switch releases the tension on the system. The result is a truly secure fit that can be customized in moments, right out of the box.
Removable ear-flaps that fasten to the helmet with dome snaps are also supplied and provide added protection and warmth. All rivets are stainless steel and the four-point retention webbing straps are equipped with good quality adjusters and buckle. I really liked this lid because it was so easy to get a good, comfortable fit, even when adding a cold-water layer under the helmet. I basically stuffed the Shaggy on my head, dialed in the H.O.G. system, and then forgot about it. To say that a brand new, unfamiliar piece of gear almost instantly became forgotten, is to state that it exhibited no negative traits at all, but simply faded into a quiet role of competence, allowing me to get on with enjoying a day on the water. High praise indeed! My only concern is how the multiple tiny mechanical parts in the H.O.G. system will stand up to prolonged exposure to saltwater. I’ve been sure to rinse my Shaggy with fresh water after use, and so far I’ve experienced no problems. In my mind, this small amount of maintenance is well worth the remarkably quick sizing adjustment capabilities and super secure fit. Sizes: S, M, L. |
SUPER SCRAPPY
The Super Scrappy is basically the Shaggy, but with an injection molded ABS shell instead of composite construction. The Super Scrappy doesn’t feel quite as beefy or rigid as the Shaggy, but all the cool features are present, and at a lower price. And while the ABS shell isn’t as shiny, it still conforms to CE 1385 standards and the helmet comes with all the goodies like removable ear-flaps, fitting pads and the innovative H.O.G. lock retention system that delivers lightning quick sizing adjustments. Sizes: S, M, L Colors: Matte, Orange, Carbon Black, Matte Black, Pearl Blue Suggested retail price: $85.95 US Shred Ready, Inc. |
Icom VHF
A useful piece of gear that usually falls into the safety department, is a handheld VHF (Very High Frequency) marine band transceiver. VHF units can not only make it far easier to contact another party for assistance, but more importantly, they can also help paddlers make informed decisions that may keep them out of trouble in the first place. For many kayakers, the primary function of a VHF radio is simply to provide access to the marine forecast, which is an invaluable tool when trip planning. For them, the transmit function is seldom used and is largely held in reserve in case of emergency.
For other paddlers, like guides and instructors, a radio will routinely be used to send as well as receive. Keeping an open channel between a lead paddler and the sweep paddler at the rear of a group, allows leaders to stay in touch, communicate easily and make shared decisions on the fly. To operate a VHF marine transceiver, the government requires that you have a license. For more information, contact your nearest Transport Canada office, or FCC office in the U.S.
After destroying several VHF radios, I have come to the conclusion that any radio destined for use in a kayak should definitely be waterproof. Buying a less expensive, non-waterproof VHF has proven to be a false economy in my experience.
The Icom IC-M2A is specified waterproof to endure a 1 meter depth for 30 minutes (this is equivalent to JIS waterproof specification grade 7). It has a 5W output generated by the supplied BP-224 Ni-Cad battery pack, which will provide approximately 8 hours of typical operating time.
Operation of the unit is quite intuitive. Thankfully, instead of push buttons for on/off and volume functions, it has a good- sized rotary knob at the top of the unit. The transmit or PTT switch is located on the left side of the radio. The front panel has a large (35x24mm), brightly lit LCD display below a front-firing speaker. Channel selection is very easy, and a meter in the bottom right hand corner of the screen indicates battery life. Eight buttons on the front panel provide access to all other functions. Like most electronic gadgets these days, this radio has more features than I will likely ever use, but the ones that I do want, like squelch and dual scan, are quick and easy to operate.
When monitoring weather channels, the IC-M2A seemed to have a persistent high-pitched whine that was a little trying, but the unit pulled in signals with no problem. Another minor hitch was that when the radio was placed into the supplied battery charger, it clipped into the base very securely, but failed to make a good electrical contact for charging. Placing a little wedge of folded paper between the back of the radio and the charger, angled the radio enough so that contact was made, but this small glitch was a little annoying.
A really nice touch is the inclusion of an AA size battery tray that allows the radio to operate on standard alkaline batteries should the primary Ni-Cad run out of juice.
Overall, the Icom appears to be very solidly manufactured, with good fit and finish, and excellent resistance to the harsh marine environment. Bear in mind that any piece of electronic gear is subject to failure when exposed to seawater, but given care, like rinsing the IC-M2A in fresh water after use and carefully monitoring the condition of seals, the Icom should give many years of good service.
Colors: Yellow, Red or Black Glenwood Centre ICOM INTERNATIONAL |
© Alex Matthews reviews gear in each issue: matthewsalex@hotmail.com
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