PaddleXaminer is a veteran owned publication based in Los Angeles, California. We provide stories, gear reviews, and news for adventurers on and off the water.
© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved
PaddleXaminer is a veteran owned publication based in Los Angeles, California. We provide stories, gear reviews, and news for adventurers on and off the water.
© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved
PaddleXaminer is a veteran owned publication based in Los Angeles, California. We provide stories, gear reviews, and news for adventurers on and off the water.
© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved
Located in scenic Morro Bay, California, All Good was founded in 2006 with a collection of all-natural skincare products made from simple plant-based ingredients. The brand offers a diverse range of chemical-free zinc sunscreens and muscle recovery sprays, lip balms, lotions and coconut oils. Each of All Good’s products is designed to complement an active, healthy lifestyle with their organically grown formulas.
All Good made a strong commitment to social and environmental responsibility from the beginning. The brand is a B Corporation and a member of 1% for the Planet. They also endorse campaigns for safe cosmetics by testing their products on people rather than animals.
In 2017, All Good released a range of reef friendly water resistant sunscreens free of oxybenzone, a chemical known to cause coral reef bleaching. Each formula is made with zinc oxide plus organic botanical ingredients and received a top rating from the Environmental Working Group.
We’ve had an extraordinary Indian Summer here in Southern California giving me ample opportunity to try out a few different reef friendly sunscreen styles from All Good. My favorite was the Sunscreen Butter SPF 50+. The Zinc-based sunscreen comes in a stick application for easy use. No need to worry about getting your hands slippery and fumbling your paddle after applying the sunscreen. The packaging is also super easy to carry in a backpack. Small enough to be manageable, yet providing an ample amount of product for multiple sessions outdoors. I found the Sunscreen Butter was non-greasy, moisturizing and did not leave an annoying residue on my skin.
Another standout was the All Good SPF 15 Lip Balm. The zinc oxide-based product goes on clear and comes in four flavors: original, tangerine, spearmint and chai. There is also a Sport and Kid’s Sunscreen, each SPF 30.
All Good is an authentic California lifestyle brand with a clear vision designed to inspire others to live in a true balance with nature. Learn more about the great brand and their full range of products at AllGoodProducts.com
The first Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Denver, Colorado has come and gone. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsor Flagship Consulting I was able to make the trip from Los Angeles to the Mile High City where I did my best to log some additional miles as I crisscrossed the multiple levels of the Colorado Convention Center in search of new gear and products to highlight for readers. Trade shows like Outdoor Retailer are not open to the public. Their primary purpose it to provide a venue for companies operating in the outdoor space to showcase their products, particularly new offerings, to retailers. It is therefore incumbent on humble “working media” representatives as we are known in trade show parlance to open a window and pull back the curtain on what went down inside the hallowed convention center halls.
Paddling, camping and more!
The number of items on display throughout the entire Outdoor Retailer Summer Market trade show is simply massive. Even with the lane marker signage suspended from the ceiling throughout the cavernous hall in the upper level of the Colorado Convention Center it takes some practice navigating the space. A number of items are worth highlighting, particularly those in the base camping space that are sure to capture the attention of paddlers.
The Eureka Boondocker Hotel 6 base camp tent.
The Eureka Camping Boondocker Hotel six person tent is a base campers dream accommodation. As the name suggests, this tent is has a max capacity of six adults. Base camping with a smaller group? You’ll be doing it in style with plenty of room to stretch out and store gear with this tent, particularly when utilizing its generous gear vestibule. If you’re planning a weekend at the beach or an off the grid base camping excursion, the Eureka Boondocker tent is your ticket to adventure.
Camping with a smaller footprint? I got a sneak peek at the new Crazy Pod from Crazy Creek. The Crazy Pod is a self-contained tent hammock for solo adventurers. Hammock camping is a popular way to go for outrigger paddlers. One of the several amazing features on the Crazy Pod is the ability to roll back the rain fly from inside the hammock! There is also an internal sleeping pad sleeve to keep your camp mattress in position. Definitely on the shortlist for best new gear of 2019!
The Watershed McKenzie dry bag.
Numerous dry bag options were on display and my favorite is a new design from the good folks at Watershed Drybags. There are a lot of options when it comes to sourcing drybags and after my review of the Watershed Ocoee earlier this year I’m convinced this North Carolina brand is the way to go. Unlike many manufactures, Watershed is committed to designing, testing and producing their products in the United States. Their gear is used by the U.S. military and NATO allies overseas and their latest offering is the McKenzie, a dry bag designed to attack to bicycle handlebars which will likely work well for the outrigger canoe community too! It’s not a handlebar bag, its an ama bag!
Stay tuned for a complete product review of the Watershed McKenzie in the near future!
Going solar at Outdoor Retailer!
Two additional great base camping gear items are the SunSoaker flexible solar panel and the inflatable solar lights from MPOWERD.
The SunSoaker flexible solar panel is a lightweight and compact solar panel perfect for camping or long days at the beach. It comes in a reusable storage tube which offers great protection for the solar panel when not in use. The SunSoaker does not store power. Think of it as a portable, solar-powered electrical outlet. It is currently available in a 5 Watt and 10 Watt configuration. I received a sample of the 10 Watt model and have a solid first impression of the device, based on initial testing at home.
For readers who wish to purchase product for themselves or their family, SunSoaker is offering a 20% discount (one time discount per customer), using promo code: SunOR2018_20
The inflatable solar lights from MPOWERD are exactly that. Compact, lightweight and waterproof, these little bubble lights are sure to replace all battery-powered camping / outdoor lights in the near future. There is even a model with a USB port for charging your devices.
PaddleXaminer is a veteran owned publication based in Los Angeles, California. We provide stories, gear reviews, and news for adventurers on and off the water.
© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved
PaddleXaminer is a veteran owned publication based in Los Angeles, California. We provide stories, gear reviews, and news for adventurers on and off the water.
© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved
PaddleXaminer is a veteran owned publication based in Los Angeles, California. We provide stories, gear reviews, and news for adventurers on and off the water.
© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved
PaddleXaminer is a veteran owned publication based in Los Angeles, California. We provide stories, gear reviews, and news for adventurers on and off the water.
© PaddleXaminer 2023 – All Rights Reserved
Photo by Matt Zhou on Unsplash
Earlier this year Sperry introduced Sperry Sport, a new collection of footwear engineered for performance and designed for outdoors enthusiasts. As a brand that was born on the water back in 1935, Sperry continues its heritage of innovation with this new collection.
Built to withstand the rigors and demands of a wide range of activities on the water and the shoreline, each style offers traction control made with non-marking rubber. Performance details such as hydrophobic materials, for easy to clean, quick dry comfort and versatility; enhanced wet traction; and an anti-vibration midsole that offers enhanced cushioning, are hallmarks of the new collection. Every style has been rigorously wear tested and designed in collaboration with water sport athletes.
“We built the gear for people to play on the world’s biggest playground,” said Sean McDowell, SVP of Product Creation.
Our Take
PaddleXaminer had the opportunity to test out three designs from the Sperry Sport range over the course late spring and early summer: the Water Strider, Wave Rocker, and the Seven Seas 3 Eye Sneaker. Each model is built with a unique set of design specifications while retaining the overall functionality of being great for a range of water sports. Our favorite attribute of the range as a whole is that each model can easily be your one shoe for the entire day.
Water Strider
A foot hugging, all around shoe constructed with ultra-fast drying hydrophobic materials, the Water Strider is a fantastic options for paddlers seeking well build, durable easy on & off footwear. Recreational paddlers will enjoy the ease of use afforded by the Water Strider. It is also a great après paddling shoe for padding around the boat ramp, rinsing off your craft and transitioning to errands, dinner and drinks with friends, or whatever comes your way.
Waver Rocker
For those who seek excellent foot protection and great traction, the Waver Rocker model will surely suit your needs. Think pack raft expeditions and long summer days spent in and out of the water. The unique hexagonal mesh outer layer envelopes a soft, internal sock to hold our foot firmly in place with a high degree of comfort and performance. If you’re a paddler who likes to adventure hard, this shoe will meet you every step of the way.
Seven Seas 3 Eye Sneaker
Modeled on a classic deck shoe design, the Seven Seas 3 Eye Sneaker is an elegant looking water shoe option which easily transitions from the aquatic to the terrestrial environment and back again. Perfect for recreational paddlers who enjoy a quick draining/quick drying shoe with a touch of sophistication for activities around the water as much as in it, the Seven Seas 3 Eye Sneaker should be in your inventory.