Level Six Loki | Drysuit Overview by Noah Brown
Since developing a strong passion with kayaking on The Great Lakes, my season was always limited by water temperature. I have a severe latex allergy, trying to find gear that was safe and wouldn’t cause a reaction was extremely hard. Most companies would simply tell me to use a 3rd party shop to outfit with neoprene gaskets. I honestly didn’t like the idea of a new dry suit being modified by a 3rd party not covered by warranty.
The Level Six Loki is Latex, Neoprene & PFAs free. Being able to kayak year round here on The Great Lakes has been something I’ve wanted to do for years, the Loki is my answer.
The Latex free Lycra neck & wrist gaskets are very dry and comfortable. I tested the Loki in 35°F water and was totally confident in these gaskets. I honestly could have paddled around for hours in this suit, it’s that comfortable. The Lycra gaskets are also more durable than their latex counterparts. The build quality is exceptional, this suit was designed to be used.
As paddlers we are connected to water on a personal level, we do everything we can to protect our precious resources. Something we often overlook is how our dry gear can affect both our water and bodies in a negative way. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances aka PFAs, are known as forever chemicals. They are the reason for a number of health defects such as cancer, reproductive and developmental effects, immune system suppression, liver damage, asthma, and an increased risk of high blood pressure.
Level Six is committed to eliminating these chemicals from all their dry gear. The Loki is the first to utilize fully recycled and PFAS-free fabric and a new C0 PFAS-free DWR coating.
I’m excited about the future of dry wear at Level Six, they have their customers best interest. I’d also like to thank them for thinking outside the box to develop a drysuit for people who would like to extend their season without having to suffer an allergic reactions.
About the Author
Noah Brown
Makes content of his kayak journeys on social media account @greatlakesseakayaker, which promotes The Great Lakes State through the eyes of a sea kayaker.
His day job is co-owner of a coffee roaster and Landscaping/consultation company