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KOKATAT INNERCORE LONG SLEEVE : Light, Right, Warm
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If you want to impress (and repulse) even the most dedicated of Australian kayakers, tell them that you've been paddling through ice and snow for the past few months. Before you can say "kookaburras are rowdy bastards," a look of abject pity and disgust registers on their tanned faces, followed by the inevitable comment, "That's hideous. Don't know how you do it, mate!"
When I left New York for Sydney in mid-March it was still cold enough to form a thin layer of ice around the dock where I launch my boat. After nearly three weeks of blissfully warm paddling in Oz -- where I never wore anything heartier than shorts and a thin, next-to-skin rash guard -- I landed at JFK airport an hour before April Fool's Day and, no joke, was sorry to say that I could still see my breath. Bye-bye bare arms and feet, I thought, hello once again to my oft-used InnerCore Long Sleeve paddling top -- a stretchy, lightweight, high-performance base layer from Kokatat that has made these cold-weather paddling months entirely bearable.
As a marathon kayaker racer in my 14th season of winter paddling in Brooklyn's Jamaica Bay (10,000 acres of salt water nestled between JFK and Coney Island), I've experimented with countless combinations. Throughout this long, tenacious winter that refuses to yield to spring, the InnerCore Long Sleeve has been a staple in my paddling wardrobe. Made from 90% anti-microbial polyolefin and 10% spandex (hence the user-friendly stretchiness), this versatile garment wicks away moisture and works well as a stand-alone, next-to-skin rash guard on cool day. The flat-stitching on the seams prevents chafing. Because it absorbs almost no water, on windless winter days I wore it over a next-to-skin Capilene top and under a PFD. When the temperature dipped below freezing or the wind ripped, I added a Gore-Tex paddling jacket on top and was good to go.
Bottom Line: A versatile, moisture-wicking, quick-drying paddling top that you can wear alone or layered under a shell...just leave it home when you head Down Under -- J.G. (April 09)
Price: $64.00
BUY ONLINE :
Manufacturer's Site: www.kokatat.com
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When lifting weights, always remember to protect your back by activating your abdominal muscles before performing each exercise. |
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