Buoyancy Aid Clearance

Want a deal?

Check out these exclusive clearance buoyancy aids from top brands available at Escape Watersports.

Yak Blaze

Great for beginners. It will float you, and is ideal for a low budget. 

The Blaze is a good one to go for if you think you'll only be using your kayak once or twice a year.

Yak Katarak

A bit more tailored to tourers and kayak anglers. The Katarak has a couple of handy front pockets which can be used to carry phones, radios, knives, or anything you want close to hand.

A rear pocket can house a hydration bladder for long hot days on the water.

Yak Kurve

The bread and butter for freestylers, slalom, and surfers. 

The Yak Kurve is super low profile, offering amazing freedom of movement no matter what your chosen paddling discipline is.

Yak Xipe

Designed for long distances. 

The Yak Xipe has been a firm favourite with paddlers looking for a low profile fit without sacrificing any features like pockets and zips.

Value for money. Yak Xipe now on clearance sale. #escapewatersports #yak #buoyancyaid #kayaking #kayakingadventures #sale #clearance #dealoftheday

A photo posted by Escape Watersports (@escwatersports) on Feb 20, 2016 at 3:29am PST

Palm Kaikoura

If you want to really splash out, then the Kaikoura is the way to go.

The Kaikoura hasn't changed that much over the years, because it doesn't need to. 

This has been the go to for kayak anglers, experienced touring kayakers, and coaches for a long time.

Astral V-Tour

Worth considering if you're going to be touring on lower grades of moving water, or along your local coastline throughout the summer.

The Astral V-Tour is very comfortable to wear, and offers exceptional lumbar support which is ideal when using sit on top backrests.

Top 5 Ways To Know You're A Kayaker

1. A questionable fashion sense.

If you have a wacky shirt, or insist on wearing a onesie... you're a kayaker.

2. Annoying everyone at the check in desk.

If you're the group that everyone is looking at in an airport... you're a kayaker.

3. Diet.

Grab everything from the cupboards and make it into a sandwich... you're a kayaker,

4. Dubstep is always just around the corner.

You either love it, or you know someone who loves it... you're a kayaker.

5. Your profile picture doesn't always speak to truth.

A picture paints a thousand words...

But not always... when you're a kayaker.

Which Shoe for You?

We are lucky to have a great team of experienced paddlers who are always on the water, testing our products in extreme conditions week in week out.

So which shoe do they use when they go paddling?

James Hill

"The Astral Brewer. The shoe that will not die!"

"I brought my Brewers two years ago, just before a 16 day trip down the Grand Canyon and a couple of months in Chile.

Since then they have been to Italy and the French Alps twice, spent a couple of months in Mexico, became my go to mountain bike shoe, and now get me to the pub and back in one piece!

The first three months of their life were tough. After freezing temperatures in the Grand Canyon, and solid boating and travelling in South America they achieved a rugged, worn appearance quite quickly but they have stayed in tact the whole time. The grip has proved itself worthy on most surface known to man and is only now showing signs of thinning.

I can still wear them on the river, on the bike, or in the pub two years later!
I can't ask for much more than that."

Eddy Mead

"My current favourite shoe by far is the Palm Camber."

"The Camber is super lightweight, so great for getting in and out of the boat. The sole is meant to be less grippy than the Palm Gradient shoes, but it is still plenty grippy on loose, wet slippy rocks. 

They look great and have a slightly lower profile than the other shoes on the market."

"Close second is the Gradient boot. These are built solid with some serious grip. The weight of these things still surprise me as they weigh next to nothing, which is great for a boot. 

If you are after a little more ankle support then go for the boot, if not the shoe version is just as good!"

Tom Ruddy

"The Astral Rassler, every time!"

"Such a great boot for white water kayaking. The high ankle has protected me on a number of occasions, and makes life a lot more comfortable on a portage and even just sitting in a boat.

I bought a pair of Rasslers last year to replace my old worn out shoes, after having a couple of nasty slips resulting in a few cuts, bruises, and a bad mood!
The Astral Rasslers did not disappoint.

They are super grippy underfoot, and really tough so you barely feel the rocks underneath.

So far I've managed to put them through their paces in a very wet Wales this winter. The boots drain and dry out really quickly afterwards, and to this day I still haven't fallen!"

BUT!!!

We do have some amazing one-off deals on Sanuk footwear, if you're after something a bit more casual.

Trying Something Different | Grant Harris

During the lead up to Christmas, with the weather being so bad and not being able to get out fishing, I thought I would give a bit of white water kayaking a go.

I'm so glad I did!

I borrowed a boat and spray deck from Gareth and headed down to CIWW, with Tom in tow for a bit of coaching.

The course was running on 4 cumecs (the lowest flow) and it didn't look that hard. So after having a look around the course, and a quick coffee to warm up, we made our way down the the flat water pool.

It was a strange felling sitting inside a white water kayak, rather than on a sit-on-top, and it is a lot more responsive when you start paddling.

Tom gave me a few basic paddling tips to get me going as we made our way across the flat water and into the gentle flow at the bottom of the course.

Within minutes I thought I was ready for my first run of the course!

Of course I only made it down the first few drops before I tipped over and took my very first swim.

I felt like I had been beaten up!

After a bit more coaching from Tom, and a lot more swims, I can now proudly say that I can make my way around and down the course on the lower volume without swimming.

Next step is to get on the course on higher volume, and take on a few rivers as well.

I've even started converting some more kayak fishermen over to the dark side!

What's New?

Escape Watersports has got brand new 2016 product lines in stock!

Astral

The ever popular Astral Green Jacket has been given a makeover, with sweet new colours and some added features, keeping it as a top choice for white water paddlers world wide.

The freedom of movement you get with this PFD is unreal. For those who like having kit close to hand, the front pocket has loads of space and doesn't look too bulky when full.

 The new Astral V8 and Astral Willis 515 have also landed at Escape Watersports.

The Astral V8 offers touring kayakers and sit on top paddlers a super comfortable ride, thanks to the high back with sits well over the kayak backrest.
The buoyancy aid is really lightweight, so you can barely feel it while paddling. Awesome for longer days on the water.

The Astral Willis 515 is more of a freestyle vest, designed for playboaters and surfers, or even racers who want to be a bit more streamline.
It still has a front pocket for an emergency knife or phone case, so can be used for river running as well.

Peak UK

Escape Watersports is now stocking the entire Peak UK 2016 range, and we're pretty excited!

Where do we begin?

The jackets look amazing, and they feel like they will take a lot of punishment.

For tourers, take a look at the Peak UK Adventure Double.
If you're a white water junkie, then the Peak UK Creek Jacket should be top of your list.

Summer time boating? You need the Peak UK Combi Jacket, which can be partnered with a set of Combi Sleeves for a bit of extra warmth.

Peak UK have redesigned their drysuits, adding new colours and moving the famous leg entry zipper to a more traditional shoulder zip.
Check out the Peak UK Deluxe Suit, and Peak UK Adventure for the brand new options.
Don't worry if you're a fan of the leg zip, this is still available on the updated White Water and Explorer suits.

There are new colours for the Peak UK River Guide Vest too.
This has been a coach or guide's go to PFD for years, and it just keeps getting better!

The neoskin has new logos, but essentially offers the same high quality neoprene for use as a base layer or on its own in the Summer.

Peak UK have got a few new thermals in the range, like the Stretchy Fleece garments and Tecwick Rashys.

The former feel so comfortable, and will be great all year round.

The latter is a bit more suited to warm weather boating.

If you fancy a bit of clearance stock, then don't panic, because we have plenty to offer in our warehouse sale. Check it out!