Our kit

The Big 5 kayak challenge has been fortunate enough to get great sponsors over our 2 years and 10 expeditions.  We have tested our/their kit in unforgiving and sometimes extreme conditions and can say they have survived the big 5 test. In return we provide a high profile project for major and global brands to associate with. We also provide professional product images and video for our sponsors.  We also provide product development feedback to our sponsors on their kit.

Over time some sponsors have changed and consequently the main listings here represent our current sponsors who have believed in our challenges and invested their support.  We thank them.

Kayaks

The Big 5 Kayak challenge team have been supplied sea kayaks from top brand Prijon through their UK distributor Avoncraft canoes and kayaks. Their plastic kayaks are blow moulded and are extremely tough and ideal for expedition kayaking with a rock hopping involved.  They have a broad range of models for different conditions, paddling ability and expedition requirements (speed, capacity etc).

Prijon – team members paddle the classic Seayak, Kodiak and Marlin models

We summarise their characteristics as follows;
•    Seayak – forgiving in all conditions, stable, not as quick as the Marlin
•    Kodiak, highest capacity of the fleet, stable, not as quick as the Marlin
•    Marlin – new lines, fast, wet ride, not ideal for beginners on bigger sea

Their sea kayaks include great features such as:
•    The best backrest we have used by any manufacturer
•    A front mounted screw pocket hatch in front of paddler
•    Front and back netting and good deck lines
•    Good capacity in the front and back hatches
•    Great hatch system with neoprene inner covers
•    Footrest system is sturdy and robust
•    Rudder system rather than skeg prevents standard skeg jamming and increases space in rear hatch

All of these kayaks are well proven designs and the team have paddled them in challenging conditions.  They can all be purchased via www.prokayak.co.uk

Canoes

Eqsuif Canoes are simply amazing combining brilliant design and performance. Their range overs from white water playboats OC1’s to traditional tourers. We paddled the Yukon River in these canoes and also did all our training in them.  To endorse them further Richard was so impressed with them that he added one to his personal fleet of craft, The Pocket Canyon.  The Esquif canoe sponsorship deal was arranged by our close friends and importer Square Rock.

Bikes

Our bikes were provided by Transition Cycles of Bedford and GIANT cycles who sponsored us. We are extremely grateful for their support as we found out on Day 1 having new bikes that go well was a godsend. With advice from Stephen from Transition Cycles we selected the GIANT TCX 2 cyclocross bikes. They feature a number of benefits including dual brakes on the handlebars and also on the drop bars. Their geometry is designed for speed but they are rugged enough to survive the rigours of off-road and bumpy terrain.

We were also equipped with fitted out with plenty of spares and accessories to keep us on the road. Particularly worth a mention is ENDURA Cycling kit which almost certainly saved us walking like John Wayne after a days riding in the saddle.  Their padded shorts are simply amazing.

Exposure Lights have equipped the team with some of their uber powerful front lighting systems - they are powerful enough to shoot an aircraft down. thanks

Expedition Kit

The big 5 kayak challenge team have been lucky enough to be sponsored by some amazing outdoor and adventure brands including;

Leatherman are a main kit supplier and have provided some of their excellent multi-tools. They have also provided their knives with integral tools which are also handy and have been a favourite for DS bags (Deep Shit) bags.

Night-ize have provided reflective and illumination products for our cycling and sea kayaking legs. They have also provided their head torches which have significant benefits over the competition since they are waterproof and seriously tough.

Paramo clothing Systems are simply like a best friend that you can rely on to stick by with you in all conditions. We have used them on all the Big 5 kayak challenge 2010 expeditions and they have kept us warm, dry and comfortable. One attraction with them is that they have their patented reversible system on the base and mid layers which is useful. We paddled a fair proportion of the Yukon expedition using Paramo trousers and smocks as our main paddling kit. They also make great pillows.

Trangia Stoves have supplied their cooking systems including the high altitude bottle systems to the team. They are great as all kit including kettle and pans stacks together and fits neatly in the back of our hatches. For our international expeditions there is also the added bonus that obtaining fuel for the burner is straight forward.

Vango Force 10 provide our expedition tents, matts and sleeping bags. The 2009 deal was extended this year with additional kit such as solar showers and water carriers added to our kit list.  Our Vango sleeping bags use Primaloft synthetic down filling which is warm but also able to cope with damp or wet conditions and maintain its integrity. The Vango Force 10 tents have been tested in all conditions. Generally we opt for free standing tents so they can be pitched on beaches, rocks and other hand standing areas where pegs might not be so easy.

Zippo lighters have provided their support to the team, easy to use in all weathers and will pretty much run on any fuel.

Buff headwear have also sponsored us. They are fantastic and versatile headwear with about 15 different configurations.  Best of all it has been designed specifically for us with our own logos and those of our charities, The Marine Conservation Society and the River Access Campaign. We will be selling these so contact us if you want one…£15 Squids.They have a wicked Dolphin in water print as the base design.  

Safety and other Equipment

The Big 5 kayak challenge team use a number of different bits of essential safety equipment particularly for open water crossings.  

ICOM – provide waterproof and floating VHF radios which are absolutely essential. They come complete with integral rechargeable battery units and also a separate battery cage taking AA batteries.

McMurdo Marine – McMurdo provide our FastFind TM EPIRB (emergency Positioning Indicator Indicator Rescue Beacon).  When you hit the button on EPIRB’s the whole world stops and the emergency services scramble for you.

Marine Flares – Our marine flares are provided by one of the major suppliers in the marine world, Comet Marine. We have the 3 in 1 use cartridge flare system with 3 different signals in one.  These guys mean business with their kit being used on massive passenger liner ferries through to us in our little kayaks.

LifeSaver Water systems have provided 2 of their fresh water purification bottle systems. These ingenious bits of kit filter a large volume of water through a protective membrane to remove bacteria and other nasties.  They allow us to refill from streams and reduce the water we need to carry. As used by the British Army and other expeditions.

Mactra Marine Equipment are providing the team with a KATADYN hand pump desalinating water maker thus turning the water, water everywhere and never a drop to drink story into a thing of the past. This is great for us to again provide piece of mind and reduce our need to carry large and heavy volumes of water.

Garmin GPS charting handheld

An excellent piece of kit with colour screen, chart capability and the ability to track journeys, speed and courses which is critical on longer sea crossings or night paddles. They have quite literally saved our bacon!

Garmin Forerunner 405 watches

The Garmin Fore Runner watches are great for monitoring heart rate and also position over time on expedition. One slight draw back is the battery life required for the GPS system but it was sufficient to track our channel crossing over a 5 hour crossing.

Clothing and decks

Typhoon have provided their new kayaking dry-suits which have been designed by kayakers for kayakers. They are excellent for all conditions. We have used them on long open sea crossings such as Scotland to Ireland and for elements of the Yukon River expedition.

Sealskinz who manufacture waterproof clothing with inbuilt 100% waterproof membranes have sponsored the team and have provided us with waterproof socks, beanie hats and gloves.  They have been brilliant for keeping our extremities warm, shame they don’t make over shoulder boulder holders!!

The Big 5 Kayak Challenge team are currently looking for sponsors for our expedition cags, safety kit and waterproofs for our remaining expeditions and new ones. In return we can provide product placement images, video and a high profile expedition.

Other kayaking kit

Aquabound have provided paddles for use on the Big 5 Kayak challenge expeditions. The team have been averaging about 5 mph in challenging sea states.  We have used a wide range of their paddles include the Swell and Surge blades.

Bending Branches are beautifully crafted canoe paddles available with lots of different options on blade size, shaft style and material and consequently how they feel. We used these blades on theYukon and they powered us well for 700 Miles (ok so there was some flow on the river!!)

Otterbox have provided us with waterproof and practically unbreakable hard cases to keep valuables safe and dry.

Our waterproof bags and specialist containers have been provided by Aquapac and include a wide range of waterproof containers. The bags have a patented waterproof seal which won the Queens Award for Export are have proven excellent for radio’s, cameras and other valuables.  They have also provided the team with some of their new double skinned waterproof backpacks which are just simply brilliant.

Photography and Video

Camera Armour have also supported the team providing external rubberized protection for digital SLR cameras and also waterproof carry cases for kit as well.

Olympus have sponsored the team with their compact and waterproof Tough camera range. Like many small digital cameras these have zoom and video functions. Since they are waterproof they are perfect for buoyancy Aid pockets and deck bags.  They extended the sponsorship in 2010 with the provision of their new Olympus PEN camera with a waterproof housing which is excellent.

Predator Technology have supplied the team with their brilliant Predator Camera system. It includes a watertight head unit with a bullet cam eye that can be mounted almost anywhere using a Velcro mountain system and fittings. For hands free use for a wide range of extreme sports it is excellent.  It also features a fog free lens which is great for watersports and uses SD cards to record in digital format.

Sanyo have provided their Xacti range of handheld waterproof video cameras for the team. They have captured a huge range of incidents, adventure and life on expedition. We have over 100 hours of expedition footage and aim to produce some films over the coming year.

The team also use a new Sony Z5 range of video cameras for filming from support boats and dry land situations. It is too damn expensive and valuable to live on our kayaks!

Flights

Canadian Affair have been fantastic with providing sponsorship for our main international flights. They have been brilliant with support and a great team who have helped sort out our logistics.

Previous kit sponsors

The Big 5 kayak challenge acknowledge the support of the following companies on their 2009 expeditions covering 5 different locations and 1600 miles of expedition kayaking.

Ainsworth Paddles
Jam Cam Cameras
Phoenix Spraydecks
PEAKUK
SPOT Satellite Trackers
TEVA
Windpaddle