The Palm Spark Suit – and why it’s my favourite piece of kit !

The Palm Spark Suit and why it’s by far my favorite piece of kit.

Just a few short months ago when Palms idea for a new performance orientated dry suit specifically aimed at Freestyle Paddlers first emerged onto the public domain, it was thought to be a huge mistake, mainly due to the lack of latex seals on the ankle and neck gaskets. However over the past winter it has proved itself to be one of the most ground-breaking pieces of kit ever sold.

Over the past few years I have unfortunately collected a reputation as a professional destroyer of kit, however I would like to point out this is not necessarily through misuse but much more to do with overuse of my kit. This is the first dry suit I have ever owned, I’ve tried several over the past few years and have never found one that allowed me enough range of movement, which is why this suit piqued my interest but  I must admit I too was completely skeptical as too how this “semi” dry suit would fair.

 

Predominately being a freestyle kayaker I inevitably spend most of my time immersed in water and as such have always wondered why manufacturers choose to place semi dry seals on kit aimed at freestyle paddlers, I’ve used semi dry seals in the past and have always found that despite being very comfortable they are completely and utterly useless at keeping the user dry.

Which is why I was pleasantly surprised when I came to use the glide skin gaskets that Palm have used, For the first time in using a non latex I actually felt the glide skin gasket form a good seal against my neck, It proved to be truly exceptional at keeping me dry and despite being used twice a day everyday for the past 8 months it still maintains it’s elasticity. It’s far more comfortable than a latex and just as dry, the fact that it doesn’t degrade over time has made me a full convert to the glide skin revolution.

 

I feel the cut of Palms’ garments has improved drastically over the past year with the new range of kit. And just as with other products throughout the Palm range this suit does not disappoint. A clean cut provides a full range of movement without having excess material flapping around allowing for the most dynamic of freestyle moves to be thrown. The material is reasonably light whilst still maintaining a positive feel that re-assures you that it’s a piece of kit that will be with you for a long time. The zip is hardly noticeable and an added bonus for those that have a slight degree of flexibility, it can be zipped up and down by oneself … who needs friends ?

 

I haven’t spent a vast amount of time swimming in this suit but when I did I found the neoprene ankle seals to work surprisingly well, provided they where pulled further up the leg, The suit is also available with optional socks which could be worth a look at if you are going to be spending an added amount of time in the water.

 

Overall I couldn’t be happier with my spark suit. It’s one of the few pieces of kit that has truly stood the test of time with my paddling tendencies and my only hope is that Palm continue their trend for bright colors and add some additional color choices to the spark suit range. Cough Harlequin Cough.

 

Thanks for reading,

See you on the water,

Bren

With thanks to Dale Mears for the photos.