Gear Review: Immersion Research Royale Rand Kayak Spray Skirt
Value Rating: 10
Durability Rating: 10
Overall Rating: 10
Location of Test: PNW rivers
Duration of Test: 1 year
Product Name: Royale Rand Spray Skirt
Product Brand: Immersion Research
Best Use: Whitewater Kayaking
Randed skirt with Kevlar reinforcment.
The Full Review:
Immersion research makes some of the best skirts in the industry. I have been using the IR Royale spray skirt for a year now and see very little signs of wear. This skirt has Kevlar around the edges where skirts are normally known to wear. This helps reinforce the skirt, so it will last longer. For anyone that is boating often I would recommend the upgrade. The Royale also comes with a rubber rand as opposed to the classic bungee. This design feature was made to hold a tighter seal around the cockpit to prevent implosion of the skirt when in big holes or running big drops. That being said, unless you see yourself running class 5 often, I don't think the rand is necessary. I will say that their bungee skirts are known for being the driest and a bit easier to get on.
The Good:
Durable
Tight seal
Implosion resistant
IR has great customer service
The Bad:
Nada
The Bottom Line:
The long and the short of it is that The skirts are high-quality, effective and super durable. Immersion research as a brand has a great company man vibes excellent customer service. If you want to go with a brand you can trust to go with immersion research.