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Nothing can ruin a great day of paddling like being ill-prepared. When it was time to replace my kayaking dry wear, I looked to NRS for just the right gear. NRS, originally called Northwest River Supplies, has evolved to provide purpose-driven, user-focused solutions that enhance experiences on the water. Since 1972, they have done just that.
Making My Selections
As I looked over the NRS Catalog, I selected the NRS Orion Paddling Jacket. I had seen the jacket on one of my paddling partners on a seven day paddling trip on Lake Superior. I remember being envious at the protection as I took waves to the face and wishing I had a hood as the wind blew through my wet beanie. The double seal wrists and hood were the main selling points for me so into my cart it went.
For my pants, I decided on the NRS Freefall Dry Pant. I loved that they were not bibs so I could easily get them up and down for personal business on those long day’s of paddling (without having to remove my top). The integrated waterproof socks were exactly what I wanted and a great upgrade from the cheap rain pants I had been wearing to keep dry. I knew in a critical situation on the big water, I needed the proper gear to stay safe and warm.
NRS Orion Paddling Jacket Details
I already knew I was going to love the Orion Paddling Jacket after ogling over my friend’s for a week. When it arrived, I took some time to really get to know the top. The neoprene neck seal was so comfortable! There was plenty of material for me to lightly trim the neck seal for a perfect fit. The hood has plenty of room for a bulky hat or a helmet and is adjustable with elastic cords in every direction. The 1/4 zip offers plenty of room for donning the jacket. There is a mesh drain in the chest and back for any water that splashes into the hood and neck area. With this design, you will never have pooling water between layers. The face shield is awesome and easy to breath through while protecting your face from wind and water.
As you move down on the jacket, you find there are two pockets for small essentials, one on each sleeve. The wrist consists of an inner latex seal and an outer neoprene seal. The inner seal was easily trimmable for a perfect fit and the outer seal was perfect splash protection. The wrist has a mesh drainage patch for any water that may sneak past the outer seal, but I never had that issue.
The waist band on the Orion Padding Jacket is designed to be high waisted to fit over your spray skirt. It is designed with a double tunnel waist band. The inner tunnel has an drawstring bungee to keep it tight and neatly tucked into your pants. The outer tunnel lays over top of your skirt tunnel and is adjustable with Velcro on either side of the waist. This design is awesome and not a drop of water entered my cockpit despite some horseplay and splashing that happened with my paddling group. The jacket had plenty of room for movement without being overly large.
NRS Freefall Dry Pant Details
While the Orion Paddling Jacket was a pretty sure thing, I had never held a pair of the Freefall Dry Pants. I was so pleasantly surprised at the design and comfort of these pants! I have to start by saying that I am 6 feet tall, so for these pants to be long enough for me was a miracle in itself. Aside from the length, the pants were well made throughout and NRS clearly thought of everything a paddler would want.
The waist band has a double tunnel, similar to the top. The inner tunnel of the pants goes under the inner tunnel of the top. The top then tucks into the space between the pants inner and outer tunnel. It’s genius and a great layered protection from water leakage. The top edge of the outer tunnel is then covered with the spray skirt and the top. There is no way water is getting in there, even if I dumped my kayak.
The Freefall Dry Pant also have an integrated waterproof sock. It is made of a thin, waterproof material that fits over my socks and into neoprene paddling boots. There was excessive material in the integrated waterproof sock which caused there to be some bunched up material inside my bootie. The integrated sock allows for me to wear my own preference of footwear depending on the situations. In addition to the water proof sock, the ankle has and elastic hem to pull over top of your boots. During my testing of these pants, I made sure to step into deep water to test this out. I was so surprised that even my outer neoprene booties were dry inside. My feet stayed warm and dry, a real luxury during winter paddling in Michigan!
The pants have a great pocket on the thigh with watertight zipper. The pants have multiple drainage holes anywhere there is a layered area (waist band, pocket, knee area) so that you never have pooling water. The attention to detail and function in these pants is incredible.
NRS Dry Wear: The Ultimate Fit and Comfort
I found that both pieces of my NRS dry wear were so comfortable. The top has a “paddler fit.” This means the shoulders had plenty of room for every direction of movement. Not only did I test this while paddling but also while launching my boat, loading my kayaks overhead and stowing all of my gear. This top was comfortable and top notch! The neoprene GlideSkin neck seal was super comfortable and was easy to don. The hood’s face shield has an offset zipper and a fleece lining for the ultimate comfort on your mouth and nose. The layered waistband was not too bulky and set right at the thinnest part of my waist. The nature of the dry wear means it will take some work to put on and off. The adjustable waistband was easy to loosen for both pieces to be removed without a struggle.
Technical Specs: NRS Freefall Dry Pant
| Weight: | 1.7 lbs |
|---|---|
| Fit: | Relaxed fit |
| Material: | HyproTex ™ 2.5 |
| Material Type: | HyproTex™ |
| Waterproof: | Yes |
| Breathable: | Yes |
| Waist System: | Nylon tunnel and neoprene waist with double-pull hook-and-loop closure |
| Ankle Closures: | Gathered elastic |
| Pockets: | 1 Thigh |
| Latex Ankle Gaskets: | No |
| Socks: | Eclipse™ |
| Gender Sizing: | Women |
| Women’s Rise: | High Rise |
Technical Specs: Orion Paddling Jacket
| Material: | Eclipse™ |
|---|---|
| Material Type: | Eclipse™ |
| Waterproof: | Yes |
| Breathable: | Yes |
| Neck Closure: | GlideSkin™ neoprene gasket |
| Wrist Closure: | Latex gaskets with volcano-style neoprene overcuffs |
| Waist System: | Double-pull hook-and-loop closure |
| Double Tunnel: | Yes |
| Pockets: |
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| Latex Neck Gasket: | No |
| Latex Wrist Gaskets: | Yes |
| Reflective Detailing: | Yes |
| Gender Sizing: | Women |
| Features: |
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NRS Dry Wear: My Final Thoughts
NRS made both the Orion Paddling Jacket and the Freefall Dry Pant to be user friendly and completely reliable. From my head to my toes, I feel like I finally have the perfect gear for my winter paddling. The reflective details on the top provide an added layer of security in case I need a rescue. The Great Lake State is a wonderful place to live with endless opportunities for kayak touring. Having the perfect gear makes it even better. The 4 layer Eclipse fabric is durable and resistant to punctures, but also breathable. The neatly taped seams provide extra water proofing. All of this and the clothing is amazingly light and wearable. I am super impressed with this dry wear and even more excited get back out on the water!
I thought that both the top and pants have reasonable prices. The NRS Orion Paddling Jacket retails at $375. The Freefall Dry pant retails at $244.95. These are small prices to pay for the extraordinary safety and protection they provide during cold weather paddling. If you want to check out then our for yourself, they are available at www.backcountry.com and www.amazon.com.