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o Eyewear o Dry/Wetsuit DpFD Plan your clothing according to the clime. In moderate climates (like New Zealand, the Channel and Galapagos Islands), a dry top and shorts should be adequate, but also bring a wetsuit along for changing conditions. In warmer places, minimal clothing is needed and everything is stowed in the boat or lashed to the deck in dry bags. Once you get to Greenland or Alaska, however, you can expect to encounter everything from pack ice to bone-chilling winds that come out of nowhere and when, you least expect them. At a minimum, bring a top-quality drysuit and a spray skirt to keep the frigid water from dripping off your paddle down into your things. Most important: a good pair of water shoes. You'll be in and out of the water, and potentially portaging through the bush. 5.10'S Nemo t909-798-4222, www.five-ten.com. $85) has AquaStealth rubber soles for super traction, as well as an anatomical heel-pad for fit and heel protection while paddling. For warm weather Teva's Spitfire LC (800-367·8382, www.teva.com. $79.95) with Lateral Control (LC) toe piece, heel shank stabilizer and the Universal Strapping System are good, high performance sandals. Expect to find everything from flat to blinding light on the water, so bring a pair of Costa Del Mar Islander sunglass- es (800.846-0013, www.aceoptics.com. $159) with polarized, large lenses to watch the waves and whatever might rise from beneath them. In terms of what to wear, Kokatat (800-225·9749, www.kokatat.com) makes great dry· and wetsuits, and has a reputation for immediately fixing any problems. If you're paddling the deep freeze of Alaska, their Gore·Tex Front Entry Drysuit ($625) with articulat- ed legs and arms for paddling action will keep you warm. The Gore-Tex Wave ($328) with Kokatars new Evolution Face Fabric for quiet paddling stays dry in a closed cockpit. Lotus by Patagonia (800-638-6464, www.patagonia.com) has created a bril- liantly comfortable new PFD called the Low Rider ($115) designed to fit snugly without rid- ing up around your ears. Kokatat also makes the Outfit Tour PFD ($119) with reflective tape on the front and back to help you get found in open water. Now comes the big decision: what kind of boat do you want? Plastic or com- posite (layers of fiberglass, cloth and kevlar)? Criteria for choosing a boat are weight, length and cost, which usually translate to speed, maneuverability, tracking and stability. In the world of sea kayaks, the less you pay the more you get-weightwise that is. Generally speaking, although plastic or polyethylene boats are less expensive ($750-$t.500) and durable, they also are heavier than composite boats. Composite boats are lighter and strong, but they can cost three to four times more than the plastic job you may be contemplating. The level of commitment here is really the question. If you plan to paddle a lot, you'll want to spend more. If you plan to hug the coastline and do a lot of cove exploration or wave surf- ing, then a short boat is much more maneuverable, but usually sacrifices some stability. Not only are long boats more stable, but when you are out on the open ocean and looking to cover a lot of ground, they are usually much faster and provide a smoother ride by bridg- ing small waves rather than riding them. Although 17· to 18·foot boats are deSigned for covering open water, they are also maneuverable enough to hug the coastline. One expedition-proven cult classic is the 18-foot Nigel Dennis Explorer, available from Great River Outfitters (248-683.4770, www.grokayaks.com.$2.600).OrtryNecky.shigh·performance. low· profile Arluk 1.8 (604- 850-1206, www.necky.com. Kevlar $2,895) with a small cockpit that makes it especially sea- worthy. Perception's Eclipse, available in plastic or composite, is a maneuverable boat that tracks well and will fit basically everyone. If you're smaller, consider The Shadow (864-859- 7518, www.perceptionkayaks.com. composite: $2,599.99). When choosing paddles, Werner's Molokai (800-275.3311, www.wernerpad- dles.com) paddles are good for strong serious paddlers. The Camano is better for the more casual paddler. Snapdragon's neoprene SupraTex spray skirt (425-957-3575, www.snap- dragondesign.com, $80) is rapidly becoming a standard for paddlers because of its versa- tility and sealing. Whenever you are getting a spray skirt make sure that you are getting the right size and model for your boat by consulting the skirt manufacturer's fit chart. Keep your gear dry with a built-in purge and frame or mount option, the Ultimate Tripper dry bag from Knudson Integrated Portage Systems, (888-727.8857, www.knupac.com. $249.95) with 7,000 cubic inches of volume, holds it all.-Peter Kray