[img]images/reviews/peakuk-creek-top/peak-uk-creektop-th.jpg[/img]Playak Article Discussion: Review: PeakUK Creek Top

Independent Review: PeakUK Creek Top.

I own this top have had since it was released took 3 months of hammering bought from peak uk shop and i must say i can agree with this review perfectly.
I love this cag best one i have ever owned awesome watertight to the max and very breathable. Very good movement to the extent still happily play all day in this cag and be dry warm and sweat free.

This is one sweet dry top. Very comfortable once you have it on. The optional
pads that can be inserted into the elbow, shoulder and upper spine slots make it
interesting to put on. Well worth it though. My son and I were paddling on the
North fork of the American River and the water was 37 degrees. I was practicing
rolling all day and felt neary a chill on my upper body. I had a little water
leakage around my hood but under the dry top I was bone dry and warm. The neck
gasket felt a little snug for the first hour or so. Didn't have to trim it
though (I have a large). My son wears a medium and I had to trim off three
rings on his gasket so his headed wouldn't explode. The Peak UK guy (Ken) recommended
to trim gasket only. He advised against stretching the gasket as this weakens the gaskets.
A very friendly guy who hooked me up with pads for the creek dry tops. I bought a Kokatat
Rogue top a fews weeks ago but returned it after receiving these dry tops. These
tops are more rugged and reinforced at the high wear areas as compared to the
Rogue. The Rogue is a fine top but this Peak UK top appears to be at step just
above the Rogue. A full length neoprene neck cover, slightly thicker (IMO) neck
gasket and overall denser fabric throughout. This is a quality piece of gear.

Last week my son and I along with our good friend Kevin paddled the Gorge on the South Fork of the American River. Weather was terrific. Sunny in the high 60's, windy and downright frigid water. We were practicing rolling and bracing up at swimmer's rapid for 30 minutes before heading down the into the Gorge. The first five miles are tame and we were all rolling and practicing our braces. Well actually my son was coaching Kevin and I. We were in the water a great deal. Kevin's been paddling 26 years and my son was teaching him skills. By the time we arrived at Fowler's Rock I had rolled about 50 to 60 times, Kevin a little less. I was bone dry and warm and was only wearing a 2mm farmer john and a long sleeve under armour shirt. Kevin was wearing a dry top with a cinch neck gasket and was wet underneath. This was the first day my son had worn his PeakUK Creek top. I had installed the pads a few days earlier. We all were cruising well through the class 3 stuff. I ended up swimming at Satans while Kevin and Dylan paddled through just fine. We got down to Bouncing Rock (I hate that bitch... Swam there numerous times when I miss the sneak.) Kevin ran the sneak and my son got pulled into the hole with his Kingpin. His boat knifed straight up vertical and penciled right back into the hole. He rolled up a moment later and waited for me. I missed the sneak and ended up flipping but managed to roll after an unsuccessful first attempt. Dylan's coaching difinietly helped. We all quickly eddied out to talk about it and Dylan described his plunge into rocks with his right shoulder underwater in the hole. He said he hit his shoulder so hard he almost lost it but fortunately his shoulder pad took all the force. The honecomb pattern on the pad was left indented on the top. No damage whatsoever was made to the top. Those pads invaribly saved his shoulder from serious damage. At the take out his shoulder was fine with neary a bruise and the dry top had no marks on it whatsoever. This dry top is phenomenal. Good job Peak UK!!

I have bee using the X3 Delux (their predecessor of this) for the last 3 years very good cag has stood up to very well and is still going strong so very good value for money, good cut and great styling.