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Kayak Fishing Blog

New Palm Paddlewear: Kaituna Top, Ion Pants & Descender Shoes

26/4/2015

 
Palm Ion, Palm Kaituna & Palm Descender
I have been using a wetsuit for kayak fishing over the last 3 years and have decided to upgrade. Whilst the wetsuit has served me well, and will still be used when surfing the kayak or snorkelling, it was time to invest in something that would be more comfortable to wear whilst fishing from the kayak. I decided upon paddle wear from Palm - Ion Pants in Jet Grey, a Kaituna Neoflex Top and a pair of Descender Shoes. Here is an initial overview of the clothing.......
I did not want to go down the full drysuit route as they are too bulky for me and would be too hot for summer use. I wanted flexibility so that i could fish with less layers on warm spring and summer days but add layers to keep warm when fishing in the colder autumn and winter. Being already well into Spring and the days turning ever warmer i opted to get the Palm Ion pants and Kaituna longsleeve neoflex thermal top. The Ion pants will keep my bottom half dry and the Kaituna will keep my top half warm even if I'm getting splashed whilst paddling. This will be paired with a cat later in the season for winter fishing. The Descender boots provide tough but comfortable footwear.

Lets take a closer look...... 

Palm Ion Pants in Jet Grey

Ergonomically designed with a 4D-cut for comfort when sitting in a kayak
Palm Ion Pants
The Ion Pants feature Palm's XP 3-layer fabric - durable, waterproof and breathable. The XP 3 Supplex Nylon face fabric is coated in a water-repelling, microporous polyurethane. The pores in the polyurethane are too small to allow water droplets to pass through, but large enough for water vapour to pass through to the outside air thus making the fabric waterproof yet breathable. Just what you need when paddling on warm days. 

The Ion Pants have what Palm refer to as a Twin-Waist - an inner skirt in addition to the outer waist band. This minimises water ingress and can be paired with a twin-waist cag to make a versatile two-piece drysuit. Although not guaranteed to keep you completely dry, it will keep most of the water out should you take an unexpected swim! I will be pairing the Ion Pants with a twin-waist cag later in the season ready for those colder winter sessions.

The inner elasticated skirt features an anti-ride waistband to prevent it riding up when your moving around. The outer neoprene waistband can be adjusted using the velcro tabs. The tabs hold well even when the waistband is done up much tighter than would be comfortable for use! Small drainage holes feature at the base of the join between the inner skirt and the outside, at the front and back of the Ion, to allow any water to drain back out if it gets to the inner skirt. 
Palm Ion Pants
Reflective piping and decals can be found on the legs. The Ion Pants also have heavy duty Nylon 320D reinforcement at the seat and knees, places where any wear is most likely to occur.
Palm Ion Pants
The built-in socks are made from XP 4-layer fabric with Nylon 320D reinforcement and taped seams for durability.  The ankles can be adjusted too using the velcro tabs. 
Palm Ion Pants
The socks are likely to experience the most contact with water during a kayaking session. They are also areas that are likely to experience the most wear and therefore must be worn with protective footwear, such as wetsuit boots, to prevent them being worn or torn to the point of water ingress.
Palm Ion Pants - Socks

Palm Descender Shoes

I wanted tough and comfortable footwear and after trying on the Descender shoes they seem to be perfect for my requirements.
Palm Descender Shoes
The Descender is made from 4mm Thermofibre lined Titanium Neoprene with glued and blind stitched seams.  Titanium isn't just some fancy name either because a very thin and flexible titanium coating has been added to the neoprene. This reflects body heat back towards you, reducing heat loss. Whether this will make much difference i have no idea but if it keeps my feet half a degree warmer than I'm not complaining!
Palm Descender Boots
Palm Descender
The Thermofibre lining makes the shoes really easy to slip on and get off, further helped by the pull tabs at the bridge and heel and a 'Smooth Skin' lined opening. 
Palm Descender
Velcro adjustable bridge and heel straps make sure you get a comfortable fit. Cushioned ankle pads make for further comfort. 
Picture
Palm Descender
A tough rubber diamond traction sole provides durability and will help with grip on wet surfaces. 
Palm Descender - Diamond Traction
Reinforced toe and bridge area for added durability......
Palm Descender

Palm Kaituna Longsleeve Neoflex Top

The Kaituna is made from Palm's NeoFlex material - 0.5 mm 4-way-stretch neoprene with a Thermospan liner. There are no underarm seams and a lifted collar to prevent chaffing whilst paddling. A dropped rear hem keeps your lower back covered up when in a seated position.
Palm Kaituna
Palm Kaituna
Palm Kaituna Neoflex
Palm Kaituna
The seams are flat locked for comfort and are un-noticable when worn against bare skin. 
Palm Kaituna
The soft Thermospan microfibre lining provides a nice thermal layer but with moisture wicking properties. 
Palm Kaituna Thermospan Lining

On the body.....

Standing up....
Palm Ion Pants, Palm Kaituna & Palm Descender
and sitting down in an imaginary kayak.....
Kayak Fishing Clothing - Palm Ion Pants, Palm Kaituna & Palm Descender
That last photo may look a little weird but when trying on paddle clothing it is essential that you see how it fits when your sitting down with your legs slightly bent, as you would be when paddling a kayak. Most paddle clothing is designed and cut for a comfortable fit when in a paddling position. This is particularly the case for dry trousers or drysuit legs. Excess fabric on the legs when standing up is usually taken up when seated with bent legs. Likewise, a comfortable fit when standing up often becomes tight on the knees and uncomfortable when seated with bent legs. I settled on the Ion Pants in Large, after trying other sizes, to allow for a comfortable fit when seated as above. The Descenders were brought two sizes larger than my normal size to allow for a comfortable fit with the Ion socks and a thick pair of socks if its cold. The Kaituna hugs the body well and is surprisingly warm.

Overall it works well on dry land. Hopefully it will be just as comfortable on the water! 
Palm Ion Pants
Palm Descender Shoes
Palm Kaituna Neoflex Top
brian newbury
29/4/2015 22:20:39

hi there bud just read your review I am new to kayak fishing but like the look of the dry clothing you wrote about what is the total cost of that set up including boots please many thanx brian

Cornish Kayak Angler
30/4/2015 03:04:07

Hi Brian,

The Ion pants are classed as dry pants but realistically they are not designed for constant immersion. For kayak fishing it is not likely you will be immersed in water very often, only if you fall in, and even so your likely to have got back onboard within a few minutes if your confident at re-entering your kayak - which you should be before your venturing out to fish off it. Full dry suits are more suited to immersion and are a safer, warmer option if your likely to be falling in often, particularly if your fishing in the colder months.

I brought this set of clothing from Cornwall Canoes. They didn't have them in stock but put them on special order for me and they arrived within a week! Just give them a call and they can get all Palm clothing in, along with Yak, Typhoon and others. The Ion Pants retail at £179.95 but are discounted to £154.95. Kaituna top RRP is £59.95 and were discounted to £53.96, and Descender Boots were £46.95. So the set can be brought for £255. Expensive but cheaper than a quality drysuit and more flexible. A Cag will be worn over the Kaituna when the weather turns colder to make a two-piece semi-dry suit.

Any other questions just ask,

Cheers, Liam


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  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Information Guides
    • Choosing a Fishing Kayak
    • Choosing A Paddle
    • What to Wear
    • Essential Safety Equipment
    • Paddle or Pedal Kayak?
    • Installing A Fish Finder
    • How to Anchor A Kayak
  • Kayak Modifications
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • Places to Fish
    • North Cornwall
    • West Cornwall
    • South Cornwall
  • UK Fish Identification
  • Photos
    • 2013 Photos
    • 2014 Photos
    • 2015 Photos
    • 2016 Photos
    • 2017 Photos
  • Marine Life Photography
    • Fish
    • Cnidaria
    • Echinodermata
    • Mollusca
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  • Links