THE CASCADE PFD by MTI ADVENTUREWEAR
The Cascade PFD by MTI Adventurewear was the perfect life jacket for our 1,000 mile canoe race. It never felt bulky, which was important for us during our 18 hour days. The shoulder design was great for keeping us cool on the hot days and prevented bunching on the cold days when we were wearing several layers. The Z straps on the side and shoulder straps took some time to adjust so that it didn’t dig in to our torsos, but once it was set, the fit was great. While this product is not specifically designed for women, we found that the shape was not confining in the chest. The fleece lined pocket was an excellent addition. The pocket was large enough for us to carry all of the emergency gear that was required to be attached to each person in the race. The accessibility from both sides was key, and the zippers ensured that the gear stayed put. We weren’t able to use the pocket for warming our hands all that often, but on cold trips that involve a lot of stop and go, this feature would be much appreciated. There is a daisy chain on the back that would have been useful for attaching a light or something small, but we did not use this feature either. For trips with a lot of portaging, consider what you attach to the back so that you don’t have to fight to get packs on. I tried attaching my emergency bivy to it, but didn’t like the swinging and weight on my back. Overall we would highly recommend this PFD to anyone. It’s priced at $139.99 on the MTI Adventurewear website and comes in grey/red, pink, and blue. Whether you are planning an extended trip or going out for the day, this is a smart option.
DRY BAGS by UNIGEAR
These bags are available in 5L, 10L, 20L, and 40L sizes from UniGear. They are thinner than many of the other brands of dry bags, but they held up very well and neither of us experienced any punctures or tearing near the handles or straps. The three smallest sizes have a strap that can go over the shoulder.The 40L bag has padded backpack straps and is arguably the most useful. It is large enough for clothes and a sleeping bag that packs down small. A larger size would be nicer for other trips, but we liked having separate bags for our clothes and gear so we didn't have to dig through one large bag. We used the smallest size for our food during the day and it was perfect. It kept our food dry, even when it was pouring. It is big enough to fit a water bottle and food while still being able to roll the top down, but it takes some adjusting to fit much else. Overall these dry bags work well and are reasonably priced. You can find them here or on Amazon.