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Articles - Palm Amp Buoyancy Aid Tried & Tested
Palm's Amp EV Buoyancy Aid in action
Canoe & Kayak Test Team - Posted on 02 Feb 2010
Palm Equipment Amp Buoyancy Aid
RRP: £129.95
More Info: www.palmequipmenteurope.com
Palm have always turned out forward thinkung and technical buoyancy aids and we’ve been big fans of many of their models over the years with the Canyon, Xtrem Vest and Fusion Vests all springing to mind. So when, during a recent visit, we got the chance to take one of their latest offerings, the Amp AV, away for a test we jumped at the chance.
We’ve always seen a healthy degree of development in each new generation of Palm’s products but the Amp and its sibling in the range the Xtrem EV really seem to have taken a massive leap forward. The thing that really stands out is that for a product that is bursting with super-technical features it looks really clean and simple. And we don’t mean clean as in shiny and new, we mean clean as in no unnecessary loops, straps, dangly bits, clippy bits etc to get in the way, and worse, act as potential snags in a swim situation.
The Amp is a pullover style vest and we’ve had issues with getting this style of vest on whilst wearing a dry-suit in the past. Not so with the Amp,
we simply loosened off all the straps, pulled it easily on and then zip, zip, pulled the straps to get a snug fit and we were ready for action. And what a fit! The Flex foam panels wrap around your body and provide an amazingly comfortable fit, with all the buoyancy being in the right place and leaving your upper torso and arms free to enjoy total freedom of movement. We’ve pretty much done this next comment to death over the years of reviewing buoyancy aids, but you really do forget that you’re wearing it.
OK now to the technical bits. All the straps, two on each side and shoulder straps have Easy Glide adjustment, which makes tightening and loosening quick and easy. The continuous loop fail-safe shoulder straps are tested up to 500kg. The shoulder straps also have a great ‘Tough Grip’ padded covering, which keeps your boat firmly in place and your shoulder comfy when shouldering your boat during long walk ins or portages. There’s even two ‘strap keeper’ pockets built in, so you can tuck away and flappy strap after you’ve adjusted it, The removable and reversible Quick-relea
se chest harness sits in the exact right place and has the usual cam buckle and load spreader.
The back of the vest is excellent the harness and quick-release belt is totally built in so there is no doubt where you have to attach in a rescue situation and there’s no danger of clipping a krab to a webbing loop by accident. It’s really clean and a great development in a safer product.
There is a handy zippered pocket on each side of the chest, complete with attachment points and a rescue whistle in one. The main central pocket has a divider to keep thngs separate and make it easy to access kit in a hurry. It’s a good size and the outer flap has a foam pad in it, so it stays stiff, again making it easy to access quickly and easily.
Conclusion
This is a superb bit of kit that addresses the real needs and safety concerns of a modern whitewater paddler. The attention to detail is of the highest order and construction and quality seems top notch. It’s rare for is not to find at least one fault or niggle with a bit of gear, but this time the Amp keeps a well-deserved clean sheet.
If you found this useful then check out these other great gear reviews Dry Suits, Creek Kayaks, Palm Helix BA. To find your nearest dealer head to the Marketplace
Check out this useful video review of Palm's Extrem EV buoyancy aid
RRP: £129.95
More Info: www.palmequipmenteurope.com
Palm have always turned out forward thinkung and technical buoyancy aids and we’ve been big fans of many of their models over the years with the Canyon, Xtrem Vest and Fusion Vests all springing to mind. So when, during a recent visit, we got the chance to take one of their latest offerings, the Amp AV, away for a test we jumped at the chance.
We’ve always seen a healthy degree of development in each new generation of Palm’s products but the Amp and its sibling in the range the Xtrem EV really seem to have taken a massive leap forward. The thing that really stands out is that for a product that is bursting with super-technical features it looks really clean and simple. And we don’t mean clean as in shiny and new, we mean clean as in no unnecessary loops, straps, dangly bits, clippy bits etc to get in the way, and worse, act as potential snags in a swim situation.
The Amp is a pullover style vest and we’ve had issues with getting this style of vest on whilst wearing a dry-suit in the past. Not so with the Amp,
we simply loosened off all the straps, pulled it easily on and then zip, zip, pulled the straps to get a snug fit and we were ready for action. And what a fit! The Flex foam panels wrap around your body and provide an amazingly comfortable fit, with all the buoyancy being in the right place and leaving your upper torso and arms free to enjoy total freedom of movement. We’ve pretty much done this next comment to death over the years of reviewing buoyancy aids, but you really do forget that you’re wearing it.OK now to the technical bits. All the straps, two on each side and shoulder straps have Easy Glide adjustment, which makes tightening and loosening quick and easy. The continuous loop fail-safe shoulder straps are tested up to 500kg. The shoulder straps also have a great ‘Tough Grip’ padded covering, which keeps your boat firmly in place and your shoulder comfy when shouldering your boat during long walk ins or portages. There’s even two ‘strap keeper’ pockets built in, so you can tuck away and flappy strap after you’ve adjusted it, The removable and reversible Quick-relea
se chest harness sits in the exact right place and has the usual cam buckle and load spreader.The back of the vest is excellent the harness and quick-release belt is totally built in so there is no doubt where you have to attach in a rescue situation and there’s no danger of clipping a krab to a webbing loop by accident. It’s really clean and a great development in a safer product.
There is a handy zippered pocket on each side of the chest, complete with attachment points and a rescue whistle in one. The main central pocket has a divider to keep thngs separate and make it easy to access kit in a hurry. It’s a good size and the outer flap has a foam pad in it, so it stays stiff, again making it easy to access quickly and easily.
Conclusion
This is a superb bit of kit that addresses the real needs and safety concerns of a modern whitewater paddler. The attention to detail is of the highest order and construction and quality seems top notch. It’s rare for is not to find at least one fault or niggle with a bit of gear, but this time the Amp keeps a well-deserved clean sheet.
If you found this useful then check out these other great gear reviews Dry Suits, Creek Kayaks, Palm Helix BA. To find your nearest dealer head to the Marketplace
Check out this useful video review of Palm's Extrem EV buoyancy aid
