The outfitting is totaly diffrent. I'm wondering if anyone has any feedback on the thigh braces that swing out from the center and the backband that come at a downward angel. How does it feel? Likes & dislikes?

Saddle-Up!
Whitewaterules

first the backband:
my first DR boat I kind of squished the backband getting into it, and it made the band ride low and not aggressively tilted forward. Essentially, it made it feel like an old Bomber Gear or Planetary Gear backband.

Now I have a new one, and it's raised up higher and kept in the stock aggro position. I have really grown accustomed to it, but must be careful every time I get into the boat so that I don't squish this one (holding it with my thumb as I get into the boat takes care of that...)

The thigh hooks:
again, my first DR boat I just took them out because I had one of the super early versions that did not bend at all. It freaked me out a bit, even though I could slide out like in a slalom race boat.
When I got the upgraded thigh hooks (version 2 with the red outer plastic) I kept them in the back of the boat until I reached a playspot. This is how I got used to them. Each time I reached a play spot I'd put them on and began to like how they held my pelvis in the boat like a climbing harness (instead of cranking on my foot blocks and knees).

Starting in the summer of 2005 I just started using the thigh hooks while running rivers after watching almost ALL of the kids that I teach borrow my boat and continuously demonstrate that the wet exit is basically the same with them in.

As for comfort, they were a little tight at first until I figured out how to swing them all the way back into position, then tilt the actual thigh pad itself a bit forward. It took me a little while to find the \"sweet spot\", but I managed to do it.

I've seen one guy with pretty big legs put spacers underneath the bottom part to give him a little more room.

I also know a guy who leaves them attached to the seat, but has them swiveled out of the way (in the center) while he is running down river. The knee wells, backband, and foot brace are enough for him while doing that. Then he just slips pivots the thigh hooks into place when he gets to the playspot.

That's my experience with them. I\"m kind of anxious to see what other folks have to say.