While Peak UK is very well established in its native United Kingdom, it’s less well known in North America. All that is about to change, however, as Peak establishes a distribution base in Utah, and paddlers here become more aware of the brand.

The Adventurer is a full-feature, pullover jacket designed for sea kayakers. It has an integrated hood and a 2-part collar system; the interior collar is soft neoprene. It can be left open to provide some ventilation, or cinched tight via Velcro, creating a seal at the neck. The outer collar has a zip closure and a comfy micro fleece lining. The jacket’s hood adjusts easily to provide a good fit and unobstructed peripheral vision. When not in use, the hood can be rolled into the collar. While it’s a nice idea, I found the collar overly bulky with the hood stowed, and preferred to leave it out.

Latex gaskets at the cuffs provide a waterproof seal at the wrists, and neoprene over-cuffs protect the latex. The waist is a wide neoprene band that can be cinched tight, and incorporates a “double tunnel.” This consists of a second layer of fabric at the waist within the jacket, so that a sprayskirt can be sandwiched between the jacket’s inner and outer layers for a good seal against water entry.

The Adventurer is made from a waterproof-breathable fabric called X4MR and all seams are taped. The fabric is quite heavy so while the jacket promises to be very durable, it’s also fairly bulky when stowed. The cut is good, favoring a lean fit; some may find sizing a touch on the small side. The arms of the garment, in particular, felt a little snug at the elbows (and I’m skinny). The heavier fabric reinforcements at the elbows may contribute to the slight constriction, although when paddling I never felt my movements to be restricted in any way.

A large zippered mesh pocket adorns the front of the jacket (although it is covered by a PFD) and reflective stripes run the length of the arms.

With the neck tightly cinched, the Adventurer is remarkably dry. I could even roll repeatedly with very little water getting past the collar. Obviously it isn’t as waterproof as a dry top with a latex neck, and should you swim, the only thing that will keep you dry is a full-on drysuit, but the Adventurer provides more venting options and better comfort at the neck than these other garments.

Because of the latex gaskets at the wrists and the double tunnel, this jacket isn’t the easiest to quickly don or take off. It’s also warm. For these reasons it’s best suited to colder days, or when conditions cause continual splashing. The Adventurer is an excellent winter and shoulder season jacket, when you can comfortably wear it all day long without overheating, but having said that, it’s also great backup to have in your hatch anytime that conditions get stormy and cold.

Peak UK Adventurer
Colors: Red
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL.
Factory Price: $355 US

Peak UK USA
2240 S 2100 E
SLC, UT
Tel: 801-649-6148
Fax: 801-649-4853
Web: www.peakuk.com