Palm Tika: Setting a new high for women’s paddlesports

On our recent visit to Palm HQ we had a good look at the Palm Tika PFD. This newest design from the team at Palm is intended for female paddlers with its unique shape and useful features, we think it fits the bill!

Design

The first thing that struck us was the unique, wrap-around fit of the Tika, which has been made to be as unrestrictive as possible whilst providing a great deal of comfort. The Tika has a tapered profile which complements the female form and would suit a wide range of paddlesports but especially canoeing, kayaking and SUPing.

Another key point to mention is that the Tika has been manufactured using Gaia and EPE PVC-free foam, this ensures that the environemntal impact of this PFD is not too negative and does not compromise the quality of the Tika. The Tika also utilises nylon 420D ripstop fabric, this provides durability, strength and is UV resistant.

I feel that the Tika is a step in the right direction for womens specific paddlesport equipment in that this particular PFD is not simply a product for male paddlers rebranded but a buoyancy aid designed from the outset for female paddlers. Palm also consulted various female paddlers during the design process to ensure the Tika is a suitable fit for different individuals and that it has the appropriate features for its target market.

Features

Following in the footsteps of similar Palm buoyancy aids such as the Peyto and Meander, the Tika is a front entry PFD with a zip, which as you would expect, is extremely easy to put on and take off. In terms of features, both shoulder straps are padded and can be adjusted depending in the requirements of the paddler. There are two straps to tighten the lower section of the PFD and a 3D anti-ride up waist belt below the zip which would prevent the PFD from lifting up when in the water.

As with the Peyto, the Tika has two front pockets, these are fairly low-profile yet spacious and are ideal for snacks, keys, wallets, phones etc. There are also a number of soft touch panels (similar to the Palm Riff PFD) on the Tika located around the two pockets. Other features include: a fleece-lined hand warmer pocket will ensure your hands won’t get cold on any long distance trips, reflective details mean you will always be seen by others when out on the water especially during the shorter days of winter and also two webbing lash points provide extra strorage for more gear.

Conclusion

To sum up, the Palm Tika is shaping up to be a really promising PFD and is quite possibly creating its own niche in the paddlesports market. We are looking forward to having it in the shop and seeing what our customers think. The Tika comes in several colours: Tangerine, Teal and Purple and will be available in store before Christmas and would make the perfect gift the female paddler in your life!