Safety = No Compromise

The practical wisdom gathered from years of whitewater experience is the guide to everything we do at Hydroscapes.

We believe that safety means No Compromise.. that means No Compromise anywhere in the process.

No Compromise means gear that is reliable. It means using the best components and materials. It means close attention to detail. It means rigorous testing in the environment the gear is designed for. Of course, No Compromise also means an ethical manufacturing process, a personal service and a guarantee.

Dependable safety gear minimises the risks we take whilst kayaking .

Safety = No Compromise

Our Story

Kev England, the founder of Hydroscapes, began kayaking on slalom sites in the UK at the age of 10 and now has over 20 years of class V whitewater experience.

Kev’s innovative designs were a direct response to the increased level of risk due to rapid development of the sport.

As the sport continues to grow the level of risk involved increases and so the requirements of safety gear have increased.

For the last 10 years Kev has been constantly improving Hydroscapes gear because when t comes to personal safety there can be No Compromise.

Our Story

No Compromise Design

Hydroscapes’ first product, the Full On Vest, was born in Canada in 2003.
The lucky few owners of these first vests helped with the redesign and evolution of the Full On vest.

Now based in New Zealand, a partnership with Andy Milne of Cactus Climbing Equipment, has lead to a highly refined PFD.

Many rounds of design, prototype, test and redesign including destructive testing, and swim testing have culminated in the world’s safest whitewater PFD.

Check it out
No Compromise Design

Manufacture

Hydroscapes products are built in New Zealand, in a carbon neutral factory where people enjoy their work.

We use the best materials, best components and strongest thread.

State of the art machines, experienced staff, and multiple quality control stages are all part of our No Compromise approach to manufacture and ensure that each piece of Hydroscapes gear is dependable and will last for a long time… Guaranteed.

Manufacture

Innovation

Hydroscapes are the first PFD manufacturer to integrate a torso lock harness system as standard on their Full On vest.

This unique system ensures a solid attachment at the shoulder for pin extractions and removes any chance of the vest being pulled off during a rescue.

The Hydroscapes Full On vest is the first PFD on the market to offer truly effective impact protection by using integrated body armour.

This armour protectects the top of the spine, shoulder blades and ribs without restricting movement.

Innovation
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Introducing Hydroscapes HQ!

April 15, 2012 in Blog, Uncategorized Leave a reply

We’ve recently relocated to a bigger and better premises and we’d like you to come and check it out!
We’re located 5.5 km from the centre of Hokitika town, at the junction between Lake Kaniere Road and Kowhitirangi Road, so if your’e paddling in the Hokitika area you’re gonna drive past Hydroscapes HQ…

With the convenience of our new location we decided that is was worth us stocking a few of the essential items that people might need on a paddling road trip. But the Hydroscapes HQ is much more than a gear shop….we’re here to offer advice on local rivers, and help you get the most out of the West Coast Rivers, safely!

We’ve got a limited range of “hand picked” products from other manufacturers: Bombproof implosion bar sprayskirts from Ras Dex, paddles by Rochfort paddles, helmets by NFA Headgear, dry bags from Ortlieb and Seal Line, Gerber river knives and saws, aquaseal, etc, so its worth dropping in for a look.

Here’s Soph preparing an order for Paddlerzone. As you’ll have noticed its a pretty small place and we don’t intend to open 40 hours a week, so call ahead to make sure we can open for you! 037557669.

Cumec Magazine People’s Choice New Product Of The Year Award, 2011.

September 10, 2011 in Blog, Uncategorized Leave a reply

Check it out! The Hydroscapes Full On Vest gets the Cumec Magazine People’s Choice Product of the Year 2011 Award!!!
A big thank you goes out to all the people who bought and used Hydroscapes Gear this year and voted for the Full On Vest.
Keep checking the website for new products, ‘coz we’re planning on winning it again next year!!!