a low-skill eskimo roll

[jensah84]

Haha, whatever floats your boat. (Pun intended). But i still would prefer the ordinary way then this ;)

[Trilobytze]

Seems like a good back up + suitable for slow learners who haven't pinned their roll 100% ... like me .... forget that stone age/patronising bollocks from the guys with perfect rolls ...... some of us take time to get the roll right ..... doesn't mean we shouldn't paddle! where can I get one?

[Trilobytze]

Seems like a good back up + suitable for slow learners who haven't pinned their roll 100% ... like me .... forget that stone age/patronising bollocks from the guys with perfect rolls ...... some of us take time to get the roll right ..... doesn't mean we shouldn't paddle! where can I get one?

[quedecree]

Hah!! it's a Roll BAg !! Neat trick. Would never have thought of that. Could be handy for other situations too...

[garlands8000]

thats cheating



[BarnacleBi11]

Excellent idea good to have as backup rather than punching out in rough conditions. It may only work once but it could be a life saver especially if your solo.

[meuntitled]

Great Ider as back up if roll fails. Good job !!! (why are there always some stone age people out there that talk down to safty).

[CathalFolan]

Its no harm to have one of these i suppose but you can only use it once so it isnt a real substitute for being able to roll properly and therefore pointless. So basically: LEARN HOW TO ROLL.

[fatturdburger]

How many times can you use this device in a day?

[macrumpton]

And the second time you get rolled then what do you do?

[igniukas10]

wow u have to be a mega noob to use dat

[95jjs]

the designer it is a wimp :L maybe its for just old people or somthing i dont know :P

[abbott912]

whats with the air bag?

[kayakiwi1]

If this had an outside pocket/sleeve, it could double as a paddle float, for aiding reentry.

[UBodleyBoy]

Humans certainly like to dismiss others who choose to do things differently. I notice that in outdoor circles there is a real haughty attitude of the experts towards novices.

[trinitymike]

it's great to have this, but people need to learn to roll FIRST...the trouble with tech is that it tends to follow Murphy's law; it doesn't work when it needs to the most.

[mdoflah]

Hi where can this be bought please?  we are novices. thank you

[Hotwiredbrain]

What the ........ Why use it???? just learn to roll! it's easy!

All that extra stuff on deck..... and what if it dousn't work..?

Better improve your rolling technik.

[whywetexit]

Of COURSE you should learn how to roll ! The point is this is a better backup safety device than carrying a paddle-float. I guess you do not carry a paddle-float because your roll is infallible? If you are a skilled paddler, then chances are that if you ever find yourself capsized it will be in conditions where you do NOT want to get out of your boat and do the traditional re-entry with something like a paddle-float.

[mdoflah]

@whywetexit

Hi please where can you get this? we are novices thanks.

[davemadfish]

@whywetexit sorry dude i think it has the makings of something good! but there are two points i need to raise... 1. if the conditions are intense you shouldn't be paddling if your not happy performing self-rescues many times. (including a bomb proof roll or using a paddle-float). 2. how long does it take to pack your device in intense weather? can it be used more than once per trip?

[whywetexit]

@davemadfish I totally agree with you. Written right on it are: "Avoid dangerous conditions" and "learn to roll" which are the first 2 levels of safety as you point out. This is just better than a wet-exit, not a substitute for the first safety layers.

[Hotwiredbrain]

What I see in most cases is that people learn to roll in the swimming pool during the winter but don't continue to practice and stop when the pool sesions are over.

This dousn't work and these people never get familiar and truly comfortable rolling.

I think these people buy gadgets like this. At the end these people need more and more thing to make the paddling (safer).

But off course everybody has the right to his or hers opinion so I will respect that.

[tbmavengerstuka]

@Hotwiredbrain The way I see it, just one more trick up your sleeve when the going gets tough. Ofcourse traditional rolls are always best, and so is common sense on judging the safety conditions; but the confidence from knowing you have an almost foolproof backup is one more card in your favor.

[JacksonallstarDude]

just bombproof your roll, if you can't be arsed to put in a little effort to be able to 'save your own life' don't kayak. simple.

[PracticeAlice]

Your only doing a hip flick you know, right?

[eyeojo]

er: loser

[pleutman]

good effort;if it does the job who cares!....would wearing dickhead armbands and a rubber ring help as well?

i want to get a sit on top because i can't really be arsed with all the drill either...

[BJBalzac]

just take your pfd off and use it instead ;'-)

[MomOfDamien]

I do think it was a good concept. The fact of the matter is that as much as you practice yourself and try to instruct others regarding proper technique and safety, accidents will happen. We can hope that every person going out with their kayak is doing so at their proper skill level, but no one person is responsible for another. We give them the skills needed to ensure their safety and this tool is a great product as a backup when the situation goes wrong.

[54spiritedwill54]

I don't think thats such a good idea... People might get used to having that inflatable thingy there and it will be harder to learn the roll with out the inflatable thingy

[DeathAndMajesty]

thingy

[supsaysme]

stick to normal rolling

[whywetexit]

Yeah ... and don't have any safety plans ... If you mess up your roll you *deserve* to be in trouble because you obviously didn't practice enough under enough conditions. Don't carry a paddlefloat either, for the same reason.

[LittleArtistRach]

yeah, but learning to hand roll i started with just learning to float roll similar thing to the inflatable, gradually getting smaller, to half float, quater float then it's easier to hand roll, got better and better not it's easier confidense helps, if that's building confidense then it's useful.

[jackrakino]

@whywetexit i think your crazy. tell me if i am wrong by posting on my chanel. mr j.rakino

[benja12349]

haha nice dude ;D . next time try without it ;D . its easy ;D .

[WillForsberg]

very interesting....I like it as a back up but it violates the KISS rule. couldn't you just have an inflated paddle float on your deck and use it the same way? it'd take up more space but you can use it later as a pillow and a seat cushion.

[whywetexit]

Yes, I totally agree with you. Some minor points. This is much higher volume than a paddle float, when inflated, which makes it easier to use for righting. But for someone with rolling skill, a paddlefloat is sufficient. This is small, taking up relatively little deck space. Hopefully, due to bracing and rolling skills, and intelligence to avoid trouble, one would never need this. Like a flare. So small is good (keep it small rule). The complexity is to do the small-to-big trick.

[jameseiget]

u dont mean low skill u mean no skill...thats rubbish u may aswell put an out rigger on ur kayak..that isnt a roll its a cheat nd a Pathetic excuse 2 noit having a roll..there not that difficult...

[BellaMcGuigan]

Pathetic? What about paddle floats? Rolling is about survival, not posing. Anything that gets you back to oxygen without flooding or sinking your kayak is good. Rolling skills are not the be-all and end-all of kayaking.

[norfLundaan]

i don't know anyone who hasnt been able to learn to roll within about 3 weeks of starting.. this idea is pathetic.. can't roll, don't go boating, your a danger to yourself and others

[whywetexit]

.. and I don't know any sensible, experienced kayakers who claim they can roll under all circumstances. Choices:

1. be competent enough to not need any safety equipment whatsoever, as you suggest. A fine goal.

2. pick sensible safety equipment to give yourself a second chance

To suggest that these are mutually exclusive is ... pathetic.

[welderman27]

thats pretty neat

[kiuokljoij]

now thats handy but also a waste of money. why didn't you just learn to roll?

[whywetexit]

OK, replying to the last few comments. *Of course* you should learn how to roll. If you are 100% sure you can roll under all conditions, you don't need a paddlefloat either. If you want to pull your big foam-block paddlefloat off the back deck while you are underwater, ... I think you'll find yourself in the minority. This thing is intended as a reserve option, not a first option. And a *righting aid* like this gets you out of trouble faster than a *re-entry aid*.

[tkboyz]

right on!! I think that's a cool invention that might have same some life ^^

[Alexmcgruer3]

A solid paddle float will serve the same end. I often carry one on the back deck.

Paddle floats can be used to stabalize a shaken paddler.

[HorseCaak]

ya, that's predy sad. just learn to roll and you won't have to waste your money on pussybags...

[SherlockADK]

Thats cool but I think that you should learn how to do an escimo roll with out the help of that thing

[refuserN]

Cool invention!

I do, however, think that one should learn the roll well enough so that you can do it in any condition you would find yourself in.

mikelove2k6: I would say that it differs greatly, I was doing one handed hand rolls in Avocet, Capella and Eski sea kayaks long before I made my first hand roll in the wider Alien whitewater.

I would say in general that it's easier in sea kayaks though as they often don't have as much volume around the cockpit as the shorter white water ones.

/Einar

[tridian]

nice, i can think of a few instances when this would be useful. But unfortunately it can only be used once.

[whywetexit]

Immediately after use it can be kept in the hand while you paddle, courtesy of the D-shaped handle. If you don't like it flopping around, clip it with the attached hook to your deck rigging, and if you go over again, grab it from there. When you get a chance, repack it again with a new CO2 and you're back to go.

[tridian]

ah, nice... but won't it become deflated after a while when the CO2 leaks?

[whywetexit]

It doesn't leak -- gas-rated lifejacket fabric. It actually gets harder and harder as the CO2 warms up. It comes out cold as it uncompresses.

[fucktronassbandit]

I've always relied on a friendly sea-horse to carry me to saftey. I guess on day I'm not going to be so lucky.

[XxweetezxX]

hi another hippy greenlander here..i think as did the inuit any way at all that keeps you in the boat is for the best thats why they invented all those rolls.its a bit like a high tech seal bladder. i wouldnt need this but can see that it could be a potential life saver to someone in the process of becoming more experienced with the sea.allways expect the unexpected.learn to greenland roll and you,ll never swim again.

[RD3589]

Ive just seem this for the 1st time and reckon for sea use it is a VERY valuable back up. Yes - you should be able to roll, and yes - having a paddle float aids re-entry, but we all ocasionally miss our roll and in large confused seas its worth having.

My only concern is that it's (presumably) a one use device until you get home + replace the CO2 cartridge, so better make sure you dont go in again !!

Is there a website for the manufacturer ? (out of curiosity only !)

[lookoutzero]

I've used BackUP and it works. I can't roll effectively in my seakayak, yes, I should keep trying(last time I tried until I puked). It took several seconds to inflate the large airbag the one time I tested it (maybe I didn't get a good puncture?)... so you have to keep your cool and not bolt out of the cockpit ;)

[Junebugberry]

there are a couple of very elegant and effortless rolls demonstrated at blueheresothere including a hand roll surprisingly easy to learn

[wiles94]

OMG !?!? Talk about lazy.... LEARN TO ROLL!

[whywetexit]

I'd rather be called LAZY than STUPID. It's stupid not to have a reserve option if your roll fails. How does this compare with a paddle-float as a reserve option??

[g05948]

hiya where do u get it from its gud 2 hav a bac up

[thejimihendrixexp]

that is the laziest thing i have ever seen in my life!

learn how to roll people! if u went to the river and pulled out that shit you would get laughed out of the water. no self respecting paddler uses one of those. just take the time to learn how to roll, i learned in two days for crying out loud.

[whywetexit]

It's for sea kayakers, who rarely cpasize, and usually lack a good roll. Ask some. The current rescue device, a paddle-float, just helps you get back into your boat after a capsize. The paddle-float is false security in the sort of conditions that would cause a capsize. This is better. It has "learn to roll" written on it.

[56aipc]

well then to be honest the sea kayakers out ther that don't have a good roll...should take a moment of their time to learn one...yeh it may take a while..but hey wot if that device fails?

[mikelove2k6]

Even though I can roll both sea kayaks as well as whitewater boats, I see this as a good idea. Sometimes you miss a roll. The ocean is cold. I would rather use this than get out of my boat. It wouldn't be my first choice, but a great alternative to swimming. Also, sea kayaks are much more difficult to roll than whitewater boats.

[Dunk1970]

Interesting, I find my sea kayak much easier to roll than either of my white water boats. Heh, I usually have to put in an extra support stroke to stop myself going all the way over and back upside down on the other side, since I usually come up twice as easily.

[tecnolover2642]

Huh?? From everything I've read, sea kayaks are considered easiest to roll .

[goatsedavetits]

a very good alternative, after spending the last 4 months in hospital after being knocked out on a white water course, i thing i would take one of these everywhere.

[canoewhiteh2o]

What type of floatation device is being used in this video?

[whywetexit]

Custom device. Same inflator as that in the inflatable vests under airplane seats -- with a much larger CO2 cartridge (68g). Inflator and fabric are military spec, user re-packable, need replacement CO2 (about $13).

[SamPabloKuper]

@whywetexit I see there's now a product on the market called the Roll-Aid Back-Up, which looks like yours. Good work! May I suggest you start selling through eBay and try to get listed in Google Product search? It took me a while to find your ordering page!

[Christos88]

i think its a good idea to have just in case you're too tired or don't know how to eskimo roll yet.

[ahanger]

or if you lose grip on your paddle and your gettin tired of beating on the bottom of your boat for a bow rescue!

[escapic78]

Well, has limited use but why not. I see two scenarios where this could be helpful; In whitewater or high sea conditions where there is so much air in the water that it makes bracing hard or in cold conditions where a wet exit might prove critical.

[Outdorsman]

I like it...Plan B. Way to go whywetexit. I've been trying to get my wife comfortable with rolls...now she can have a backup plan.

[whywetexit]

I think people are just as lazy about learning to roll because they have a "paddlefloat". Don't you? If an extra layer of safety means people are less likely to practice their roll, should we avoid extra layers of safety? People are taking a risk if they do not practice their roll, but given that they often don't, isn't this a sensible backup option?

[dandamanten]

I don't think thats such a good idea... People might get used to having that inflatable thingy there and it will be harder to learn the roll with out the inflatable thingy

[kttheduk]

haha, lol. thats special... i dont see the use in this thouh? welldone xxx

[MidgardEagle]

I kayaked for years (races), and never learned to do an eskimo roll. I just fell out of the boat and got back in, or into the escorting motor boat. But then again

[whywetexit]

Of course everyone should learn to roll and practice it. Are the critics above suggesting to not have a Plan B? If your roll never fails, why bother carrying a paddlefloat? It's unwise to not have a Plan B.

[captaincabbage]

its not that bad,,very critical of you lot.its a bloody good idea and an extra compact tool,no harm in more help to a situation where you may not be able to roll,,but yes everybody should roll

[akikoyyy]

That's one of the dumbest inventions ever. If you can't roll your kayak, are you going to bet your life on that contraption working? Just learn to role it and forget that thing.

[trinitymike]

Exactly..what if, after spending all that time underwater trying to get that thing to work, it doesn't..THEN you have to wet exit?

Plus, learning to roll also gets you comfortable with being upside down, so you don't panic....Sorry, dude. bad idea....

[tmctree]

where can i get this. does the inflation device only work once?

[kawai484]

Just one more bad idea...

[whywetexit]

Not an informative comment. Are you of the opinion that, after failing to do a paddle roll, one deserves the extra risk of having to get out of the boat?

[JohnMichaelShaw]

kawai484, another old school greenland kayak hippie. They look as if they're going into some sort of trance, then they carefully place the paddle on the side of the kayak, look slowly skyward, and gently lean until the boat falls over. I'm sure a huge cresting wave will honor this ritual. Then they spend the next 10 minutes blowing up a bag to stick on the end of their paddle, while the boat slams them and their core temp. plummetts. Your idea: simple, effective, and intelligent.