Tahe Marine Reval Sea Kayak – Used

Price: $1800, including a NRS neoprene sprayskirt
Length:18′2”
Width: 21”
Weight: 51-55 lbs – feels like it’s on the lighter side
Material: Fiberglass
Company Website: Tahe Marine
Includes: Deck mounted compass ($200 retail) and skeg.

Great shape. Used on one camping trip and around 20 days on the water. High volume, lots of rocker, Kajaksport hatches (Round front, round day hatch, oval stern), three bulkheads, fully expedition ready. It’s a fast boat with plenty of space for camping. When leaned it turns like a much shorter boat. Feels very solid in rough water. Kayak is located in Grand Marais, MN and will need to be picked up.

From an old review:

The Reval (SK18) is deceptive…it looks like a tippy nightmare, only to be braved when loaded down with a year’s supply of wine gums in the hatches. However, it really isn’t an especially unstable boat. For a boat narrower than your shoulders, it is remarkably unstressful to balance, even completely unloaded. Bouncing up and down through a mile-long tide race, one tester was able to open and chug down a bottle of Lucozade…he definitely kept one hand on his paddles though! The boat is obviously fast and skootles along with the minimum of effort. Turning is again surprisingly easy, although you may need more than a sixpence. The rocker along the hull makes this a sensitive craft; edging the boat over slightly to the side initiates quick course adjustments. Paddlers not confident to edge the boat will struggle with turning the Reval (SK18) and may wish to have the optional rudder added; although perhaps this isn’t the right craft for them anyway. The Reval (SK18) surfs pretty comfortably, and with judicious application of the skeg it handles well in a ‘quartering sea’…in plain speak, when you get that irritating wind and swell coming at you from behind and to the side. To summarize, a great performer. The blurb about the Reval (SK18) which came from SSK declared that, “In the right hands, it has the ability to take you practically anywhere”. We see no reason to disagree.

For more information, contact bryan@bryanhansel.com.

La Sportiva GLACIER Backpacking/Mountain Boots

Size: US Men’s 12 (45.5)
Price: $150 (New: $250) plus $10 shipping to the US.
Worn for two weeks to break-in before I decided they were a half-size too big.

What La Sportiva says about the boots:

All leather mountain boot for heavy-duty abuse

The Glacier is a classic leather mountain boot that is great for long backpack trips, NOLS or Outward Bound courses and general mountaineering. This boot has a half steel shank and a Vibram® Ice New outsole which accepts semi-automatic crampons. The bulletproof Idro-Perwanger leather uppers repel the toughest obstacles and do a great job protecting your feet.

WEIGHT: 32.1 oz • 910 g LAST: Makalu CONSTRUCTION: Board Lasted UPPER: 2.8mm Idro-Perwanger Roughout Leather/ Vibram® rubber rand/ removable EZ Flex tongue with Dry-Best® lining LINING: Dry-Best® INSOLE: 8mm MtnFlex with half steel shank MIDSOLE: PU Aircushion SOLE: Vibram® Ice-New