LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk | Do! Gear We Use By LOCALadk Staff Astral has always made great quality and well thought out PFD's so when we saw that they were now offering a kayak shoe We were eager to give it a try. It is made of a very durable Cordura and Airmesh which gives the shoe strength and breath ability. As a water shoe and especially one designed with a white water boater in mind, the BREWER combines both function and style. It is constructed of Stealth Rubber which allows for incredible grip when you need it the most. Another plus is the drainage design which allows for water to flush at the back of the heel as well as through sidewall drainage. Minimal rock and debris in but maximum water out. I wear them barefooted and like the feel, but they can also be worn with socks for a more comfortable fit and feel post paddle. The BREWER has quickly become my go to kayak shoe so now I just need to decide if I like the black laces or the bright blue ones, yes they give you both. Our white water expert Matt says the Brewer fits great inside a whitewater boat, dries fast, sticks to wet rock like crazy and looks good strutting through the door at your favorite post paddling digs. He loves them and finds himself wearing them not only on the river but the ride home as well. Bottom line is we like them and think you might too. The name ain't bad either. www.astraldesigns.com The Nikon AW100 Field Report www.nikonusa.com Shortly after we began our report on the Nikon AW100 in the Spring issue, Larry Abele, one of our readers, wrote in telling us about his experience with this little camera. To us here at LOCALadk, this is the great, real-world kind of feedback we love and find useful. All of the photo's below were taken by Larry using the Nikon AW100. Thanks Larry! "Hey folks...I've owned a Nikon AW100 for a couple of years now, and find it to be an excellent all around camera. It takes excellent underwater photos as well as video. I've submerged it in saltwater, and carried it at twenty below while cross country skiing. The camera has a number of different modes and I find the sports and food setting very helpful, and I have had photos printed to 16"x20" with excellent results. I've heard a few people complain battery life is a little short, but I purchased a second battery for $12 and can take hundreds of shots in a weekend. Some of the photos you see here were taken in some pretty brutal conditions, but this little Nikon has never let me down. I consider it a great camera at any price. Larry" Underwater lily pads in Round Lake LOCALadk Magazine Summer 2013 43

• Cover