Welcome to “The Product Pro-File” at Kayak Session! This new section is all about helping paddlers learn more about the latest products on the paddlesports market. By chatting with designers and experts within the brands, we uncover the design and function behind these products. Explore the stories, craftsmanship, and innovative features that make these products stand out. Join us as we bring you exclusive insights to help you to make the right decisions for your paddling sessions.
We, at Kayak Session got a chat with Marketing Head at PEAK PS where we managed to learn a bit more about the new PS Suit. The latest product to be brought to Peak’s Drysuit line.
Hi Mark, welcome to the Product Pro-File. What’s your background and how do you find yourself here at PEAK PS?
“I’m Mark Proctor, a wanna be pro cyclist but with a background in canoe slalom, paddled at an international level and coached multiple athletes to U23 World Medals.
I moved to work with Peak PS in 2022 after wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of elite sport. I work for Peak on a full time basis hoping to add value across the company, whether that be through my marginal gains approach in kit development or my appetite for coaching and helping get Paddle Peak to be an established canoe club. We also share some of the same values when it comes to sustainability and reducing our impact on the planet.
I was lucky enough to be sponsored by Peak when I was paddling and have always had a connection with the company. I remember my birthday trip to Hpp (Holme Pierrepont) back when I was 12 and being so excited to get some Peak shorts. It’s funny how life goes around hey….”
Did you have a certain paddler in mind when creating the PS Suit?
We’ve tried to make it a suit that ticks lots of boxes across all Paddle Sports (PS). For sure, it has features which make it look appealing for SUP paddlers as mentioned earlier, but with the One Piece having a latex neck it makes it a highly versatile suit which can work across many different activities in the paddle sport world.
The PS Suit comes in a variety of models? What are these and can they be used in multi-discipline?
The PS Suit (Paddlesports Suit) comes in sizes L10. L12. L14. S. M. L. & XL. The idea of the suit came from SUP’ing really, with the idea of reducing the number of extras on the front of the garment to make it easier to slip back up the board, with less chance of anything snagging and therefore helping keep the garment going for longer. Compared to our other suits it is designed with a standing position in mind. We’ve added a waist webbing belt and got rid of the waist seal, which is historically designed around spray decks, something you don’t use on a SUP. That doesn’t mean you can’t use this suit in your boat though, we’ve tried and tested it along with our decks on some of the best Whitewater in the UK and it stood up to the test.
Because of the suit having less ‘stuff’ on it, it also means the price is less compared to our other suits, giving customers and paddlers a different avenue to go down when it comes to One Piece Suits.
Can the PS Suit be used for most paddle sports other than SUP? For instance could it be used in harsh winter conditions or competitive paddling environments.
Absolutely, we’ve tried and tested the suit across many disciplines, and although the suit doesn’t have a double waist seal, it still worked well when paddling on whitewater. I’d suggest it wouldn’t be a suit for hard whitewater winter kayaking, but given the seals the suit comes with, it wouldn’t be the water inside your one piece which would be compromised, it would be water getting into the boat which could get you cold.
PEAK use the unique leg entry for their suits, what advantages does this style have? Have any disadvantages come from feedback on user use?
The leg entry idea came from the idea of basically needing a pee whilst wearing a suit and how to make things happen a little quicker than a standard shoulder entry suit. It’s not for everyone, hence why we still offer suits with both style entries.
But it does make things easier for those days you are in a suit for hours on end, when you might need the toilet a few times or you simply want to get some breeze up and through your suit whilst chilling on the bank.
There is a knack to getting the suits, but once you get it then it becomes second nature. We’ve had a few customers mention this but the pros far outweigh the cons.
Other than the leg entry, can we see any more unique features incorporated into the PS Suit compared to previous models?
This is our first PS Suit; so, we could say this is the beginning of the learning process. However, we are over 30 years old now as a company so plenty of experience has gone into this suit. We like to mix things up and think outside the box. We’d like to think this suit encompasses that. The Paddlesports industry has changed dramatically over the last few years, and we hope you can see that with this suit.
Along with reducing the amount of ‘stuff’ on the front of the garment which help make it easier to slide on your front up onto a paddle board, and help reduce the cost of the suit, it also aligns with our long-term vision of becoming more sustainable. We need to reduce our waste and you can see that in our current range.
Are there any environmentally friendly materials used in the production of these suits?
We use a PFC (perfluorinated compound – think non stick) free DWR (durable water repellent) finish on these suits (like most all our products), which reduces the impact on the environment compared to those with a PFC finish. Our neck and wrists come with Bioprene seals, which is a type of Neoprene made by using the calcium in seashells as the main ingredient instead of oil in your standard neoprene.
And like mentioned above, we reduced the extras on this suit meaning you are producing less whilst still getting a dry one-piece at the end of it. This is just the start!
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Check Out the PS Suit on PEAK’s Website Here
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Check out below some technical info on the PS Suit! Including the features, colours and much more.
Features;
- Articulated standing cut with pre bent elbows, seat & knees ideal for SUP
- Fully taped seams
- Breathable and durable X4 midweight recycled nylon with 20m waterproofing and 5,000 g/m2/24hrs .b1 breathability rating
- Reinforced X4 midnight knees, seat and ankles
- PFC free DWR finish
- Latex inner neck with super stretch Bioprene cone outers
- Stylish and functional sewn hole drainage system between neck seals
- Evo latex inner wrists with superstretch Bioprene cone outers
- Concealed internal waist webbing belt
- Patented easy entry and easy pee fully waterproof YKK 10mm Aquaseal leg entry zipX4 breathable, waterproof and durable fully taped socks with flatlocked seams
- DBS boot ready Bioprene outer ankle, with adjustable Velcro closure
Colours;
Black
