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Snap Dragon Glacier Trek EZSnap Dragon introduced the Glacier Trek EZ as a new skirt for 2003. The spray deck on this skirt is a heavy-duty, 3.5mm, four-way-stretch neoprene. Attached to the deck is a tunnel made of breathable, waterproof Sympatex fabric, providing a cooler core area than a neoprene tunnel without the moisture-trapping properties of coated nylon. Snap Dragon has perfected the shape of the seal around the coaming. On this spray skirt, the bungee is sewn to the edge of the spray deck. The neoprene deck is gathered as it is sewn, creating a slight curl that makes this skirt considerably easier to install over the coaming. It was very easy to install over the fiberglass coaming but, like most spray skirts, was a bit slippery getting started on the coaming of the plastic kayak. Once in place, this spray skirt fit both cockpits exceptionally well. Around the waist area of the skirt, the top of the Sympatex tunnel is rimmed with a four-inch band of neoprene. Hook-and-loop fabric tabs are used to cinch the tunnel around the waist of the paddler. The tabs of hook fabric are at the side of the tunnel and pull forward to secure on the loop fabric sewn on the front of the tunnel. The system was simple to use, and it kept the skirt securely in place around my waist. The Glacier Trek EZ lacks elaborate features, but it does have a great safety feature—the Knee-Off safety strap. A single length of flat webbing extends across the top of the spray deck and fastens to the rand at each side of the spray deck. If the standard grab loop fails or gets inadvertently tucked under the forward edge of the spray skirt, pulling the Knee-Off safety strap releases the spray deck at the sides of the coaming. Its name, it should be pointed out, refers to its location above the knee, while the principal way of using it is to pull it by hand. On some plastic kayaks, that may be enough to completely release the spray skirt. On the fiberglass kayak used for testing, the skirt did not come completely free of the coaming, but it pulled the edge of the skirt to the point where it was easy to grab and remove. The Knee-Off strap is an optional feature that adds about $8 to the retail price. Snap Dragon Glacier Trek EZ ($135) www.snapdragondesign.com (425) 957-3575
Form and Function Paddlers searching for a spray skirt, whether it is their first purchase or a replacement for an aging skirt, have many things to consider before making a choice. Breathable fabrics are not as hot or clammy as neoprene and may provide a degree of comfort around the torso while remaining watertight. Pockets are a nice feature, as they provide a place for paddlers to stash readily accessible safety gear and other items. Pockets located on the spray deck are usually bigger, but the contents will be wet most of the time. A pocket on the tunnel may be drier but, because of PFDs and outerwear, is generally less accessible. Other features, such as secondary release systems and anti-pooling devices, enhance safety and comfort; however, as the trend toward increased functionality in spray skirts continues, it is critical to keep in mind their primary purpose: safely sealing the kayaker in and the water out. A properly fitting spray skirt provides protection from the effects of a flooded cockpit but is easy to pop off with one hand, even if that hand is cold, wet or gloved. With the many styles and choices being offered today, your next spray skirt should provide these functions and more. Tim Walsh is an avid sea kayaker and an ACA Coastal Kayak Instructor living in Seattle, WA. He can be contacted via e-mail at timpwalsh@attbi.com. |
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