The first package arrived the day before we set off on our micro adventure trip to Scotland. Our intention was to spend two days and a night canoeing the River Tweed and River Till and then spend 2-3 days kayaking the Scottish coast, up and around Berwick and St. Abbs. This would be our first trip with a complete kit of Reed Chillcheater gear, something that we were incredibly excited about.
We opened the box and happily pulled out our new paddling gear. We were set to use the Reed PFD, the Touring Cag, the Dry Trousers, Aquatherm spray deck and Transpire Fleece. As an added bonus we got two beautiful and warm Reed sweat shirts. We quickly tried everything on and the first thing we noticed was just how comfortable all of the gear was. I know that so often when donning paddling gear, especially immersion gear, it is very rigid and somewhat constricting. Well not so with the Chillcheater gear. It all fits snug, but comfortable and the Aquatherm material itself is smooth and very flexible. If you did not know better, and were coming from the land of the rigid dry suit, you would question how well this gear could work. Needless to say, we were quite stoked to get out on the water and try things out.
The first day of canoeing was damp and cold, so it was with great relief when we donned our dry trousers, Transpire fleece and touring cags and were suddenly comfortably warm. As with all high energy activities, it is a challenge to find that balance point of warmth when you put on your gear versus overheating once you are exerting yourself. I think both Richard and I felt that we had just the right layers for the damp chill temps in the 3 to 4 c range. As the day progressed, the sun faded, the rain picked up a bit and the temperatures dropped we realized that this was the perfect set of kit for this range of temperatures and activity level.
Aquatherm Touring CagAs we broke for lunch, we both talked about how comfortable the PFD was, causing us no restrictions and providing for a free range of movement with plenty of storage for expedition kit. Both of us were completely dry as the rain began to fall a bit harder. The touring cag did an excellent job of keeping us dry and providing nice ventilation with the larger zip neck, a feature that I am particularly fond of. The seals on the cuffs are just perfect, not too snug, but more than tight enough for immersion purposes.
Aquatherm Dry TrousersThe dry trousers are one of the most amazing pieces of kit that either of us have ever used. We ordered ours w/o socks and with the zip, a combination that is perfect for all but the most extreme conditions. The pants and bib fit perfectly to the point that you forget they are on. Once again, standing in the rain and wading through the water we both remarked about how comfortable the entire kit was, especially the dry trousers.
Richard loved his trousers so much, that as the temperatures dropped to 0 that night, he opted to just keep his on at camp. The great flexibility in this system is your ability to take off the Touring Cag and replace it with a camp jack, all the while continuing to wear the dry trousers. As a long time dry suit user, I especially liked this feature of the kit.
The next day saw us finish with the canoes and take to the cold North Sea. The weather was perfect for a day of rock hopping and coastal exploring. Temperatures were in the 3-4 range with the water quite chilly. We once again found all of the kit to be absolutely amazing in the kayaks. Range of motion with the PFD was excellent, and the combination of the Dry Trousers, Transpire Fleece, and Touring Cag worked brilliantly. In the sea kayaks we also got the chance to test out the Aquatherm Sprayskirts with pump hole, an absolutely fantastic idea. Having spent a good deal of time paddling solo, I greatly appreciate the ability to get back in your boat, seal up your skirt and then get to the job of pumping out water. Rarely if ever do you dump in conditions that are calm, so this is a huge safety feature in my book.
Transpire Fleece
We spent the day paddling the coastline in absolute comfort. Three days later, we were back in the chilly North Sea off of St. Abbs in the kayaks once again. Conditions were quite windy and after a bit of time we were out off the point playing in the tide race and rock hopping with complete confidence in the kit we were wearing. The Reed Chillcheater gear is nothing short of amazing and we are both very pleased to be using this kit.
As I spend more time with this gear I will provide updates on my thoughts and reactions to how the kit works and fits. For people buying Reed, my only comment on sizing is that I think it runs perhaps a 1/2 size small compared to U.S. clothing. For me, in general, I fit most bits of clothing in a size medium. However, in the Reed gear, I find most bits fit me better in a Large. I would also encourage anyone investing in a full kit to take advantage of Reed's custom fit service, where applicable, to insure you get a piece of kit that fits you like a glove. This gear is rock solid and a very worthwile investment.
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