Gear Locker: Level Six Jacket & Pants

February-March 2006

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 Alex Matthews

Based in Ottawa, Ontario, Level Six is a small company specializing in paddling clothing and gear. While founders Tyler Lamlor and Stig Larsen have their roots firmly planted in whitewater paddling (both were members of the Canadian National Slalom Kayaking Team and represented Canada at the Sydney Olympics),Level Six has expanded its offerings in the last couple of years to include several touring-specific garments.

One of Level Six’s mandates clearly seems to be to bring a more ‘hip’ or stylish fashion sense to paddlers’ gear than most of us generally project. And judging by my wife’s reaction to the Superior paddling jacket and Georgian pants, they are right on target. As the gear editor of WaveLength, a lot of paddling equipment cycles through my office, and very little of it generates much interest from Rochelle. The Level Six outfit, however, was quite an exception, drawing comments for its fashionable look like: “very smart”, “cool”, and the highest praise of all—“let me try it on!”

My test pieces for this review were pre-production samples and some minor changes may be made for the full production run, so as always, ‘try before you buy’ to ensure that fit and features will work for your particular needs.

THE SUPERIOR PADDLING JACKET

The Superior jacket is a hip length shell, made of a sturdy 3-ply waterproof breathable fabric called ‘Eclipse’. All seams are sealed for waterproofness, and the fabric has a nice beefy, yet supple feel to it. The jacket features a double-tunnel at the waist—the nylon inner tunnel can be tucked inside a sprayskirt, while the jacket’s outer tunnel is cinched tight via a ladder-lock and webbing equipped hem, creating a good seal. Wrists are similarly equipped with an inner and outer cuff. The outer cuff is the standard Velcro-adjustable setup, while the inner is a neoprene gasket to keep water out of the sleeves. The benefit of a neoprene gasket, as opposed to a latex one, is less pressure, reduced chafing and greater durability, with little chance of a total blowout. The downside is that more water gets past a neoprene gasket than a latex unit.

Pulling the jacket on is easy, as the neck has a deep zippered opening. The collar is made from a stretchy neoprene, and the water-resistant zipper snugs the collar (a little too tightly for me) around the neck. A detachable hood is anchored with five dome snaps, and has volume adjustments to create an excellent fit. The hood seals down nicely, moves well with the head, and can be removed entirely if desired—a nice feature. There are two angled pockets with water-resistant zippers positioned high on the chest to facilitate access while wearing a pfd. Another small pocket on the left shoulder can stash small items like lip balm. Reflective piping runs along seams on the front, back and arms of the garment, providing increased visibility and attractive accents.

In use, I found the Superior excellent for winter paddling. It protected me from the elements and kept me warm. The cut of the garment is good. I liked the long inner tunnel at the waist, and the deep front zip at the neck provided good ventilation. I did wish the arms were just a touch longer, but my build is not dissimilar to that of a spider monkey’s, so no surprise there. The material itself shed water well and seemed beefy enough that it ought to provide long lasting service. In fact, the ruggedness of this item made me question how it would perform in warmer conditions, as the jacket seemed especially warm for a shell.

It’s not the lightest or most compact jacket available, but the Superior offers serious protection from harsh weather and provides a full range of motion in a package that should stand up to years of use. The detachable hood and deep front zip at the neck, make this a jacket that will find favor both on the water and in camp, offering as it does both a functional paddling jacket and a stylish and attractive rain shell.

Level Six Superior Paddling Jacket

Colors: Mustard/Charcoal, Red/Charcoal,

Navy/Charcoal. Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL

Suggested Retail: $319.99 Cdn / $249.99 US

GEORGIAN PADDLING PANT

The Georgian paddling pants are a natural addition to the Superior jacket. The Georgians are straight leg pants with taped seams, front pockets, and a high neoprene waist.

Like the Superior jacket, the Georgian pants use a double cuff system—inside the pant leg is a neoprene gasket at the ankle for increased water resistance. The outer pant leg can either be worn open for a somewhat ‘snowboarder’ style, or cinched tight to the ankle by a velcro tab, for a more traditional paddling pant look.

The front pockets on these pants were one of the first things that caught my eye, and to be honest, my first impression was that they weren’t a very good idea. I reasoned that since the pockets weren’t equipped with zippers, anything placed within them would be subject to loss, and besides, who needs jean-style pockets on paddling pants anyway? It turns out that I do. In practice, I really liked these pockets. Whenever standing around, my hands naturally gravitated into them. While hauling my boat behind me on a cart, I could easily place one hand in a pocket and warm it very effectively, then switch hands as needed without having to stop. Despite my initial skepticism, I quickly did a 180 degree flip flop and now think that the only thing that might make these pockets even better would be a light micro fleece lining.

The high neoprene waist on the Georgians was comfortable with minimal bulk, and meshed well with other layers. In use, the pants were cozy and warm, providing good protection both in the boat and on land.

While the combination of the Superior jacket and Georgian pants is certainly not a replacement for a full-on drysuit, it isn’t intended to be. In everything except the most demanding conditions (like swimming or rolling), the Level Six combo will do a good job of keeping you warm, and mostly dry. With these garments, Level Six is introducing an attractive new style to the sport of sea kayaking, and they are doing it without compromising performance or comfort. If you like the look or want to try something a little different, check out Level Six.

Level Six Georgian Paddling Pant

Colors: Charcoal/Tin, Mustard/Tin, Navy/Tin.

Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL

Suggested Retail: $189.99 Cdn/$154.99 US

Level Six Incorporated, #31-174

Colonnade Rd. South, Ottawa, Ontario

K2E 7J5. Tel: 613-274-0144

info@levelsixinc.com

www.levelsixinc.com

© Alex Matthews is our Gear Editor and co-author of the award-winning instructional DVD, ‘The Ultimate Guide to Sea Kayaking’. matthewsalex@hotmail.com.

© Photos by Rochelle Relyea