We are delighted to welcome a new manufacturer to our product range: Welcome to Innsbruck, HIKO!
HIKO's story began in 1990 because, at the time, decent paddling equipment simply wasn't available in the Czech Republic. So Ivan and Marcela Hilgert had materials shipped from the USA to Prague and began sewing their first life jackets at night on their kitchen table. Business took off, and HIKO gradually grew into the innovative company it is today. "We make what we need to do what we love" – the slogan from HIKO's Instagram page perfectly encapsulates their development.
But now to the nitty-gritty. What new products do we have in our range for you!?
HIKO's story began in 1990 because, at the time, decent paddling equipment simply wasn't available in the Czech Republic. So Ivan and Marcela Hilgert had materials shipped from the USA to Prague and began sewing their first life jackets at night on their kitchen table. Business took off, and HIKO gradually grew into the innovative company it is today. "We make what we need to do what we love" – the slogan from HIKO's Instagram page perfectly encapsulates their development.
But now to the nitty-gritty. What new products do we have in our range for you!?
Whitewater products
We find the Guardian life jacket extremely exciting. It's a truly top-of-the-line life jacket designed for extreme conditions. Like the Astral Greenjacket, it's available in three colors—blue, red, and black—and three sizes, covering a weight range from 30 to over 80 kilograms. The vest is extremely comfortable and offers plenty of storage space for safety equipment without feeling bulky. A particularly nice feature is the wide cut at the shoulders, which allows for complete freedom of movement for the arms. We also think the integrated whistle is a great detail.
We now also offer the Symbio Shirt . This smart neoprene shirt features flexible Neospan sleeves and sides, ensuring a comfortable fit even during intense activity. The real highlight, however, is the use of breathable Lycra fabric under the arms – finally, a neoprene shirt that doesn't trap heat! Clever, we thought, and that's why this stylish long-sleeved shirt is now available for both men and women .
Anyone looking for a dry jacket that offers excellent value for money should take a look at the HIKO Nimue (women's version) or Paladin (men's) jacket. As is typical for dry jackets, it features latex seals at the wrists and neck. The material is pleasantly flexible, and Velcro closures allow for easy adjustment to the wearer's waist size.
We now also offer the Symbio Shirt . This smart neoprene shirt features flexible Neospan sleeves and sides, ensuring a comfortable fit even during intense activity. The real highlight, however, is the use of breathable Lycra fabric under the arms – finally, a neoprene shirt that doesn't trap heat! Clever, we thought, and that's why this stylish long-sleeved shirt is now available for both men and women .
Anyone looking for a dry jacket that offers excellent value for money should take a look at the HIKO Nimue (women's version) or Paladin (men's) jacket. As is typical for dry jackets, it features latex seals at the wrists and neck. The material is pleasantly flexible, and Velcro closures allow for easy adjustment to the wearer's waist size.
Lifestyle
In water we live. We couldn't have come up with a better quote from HIKO. We think everyone can absolutely identify with these four words in this order. Because they simply embody the feeling after a long day of paddling where everything went well. The feeling when you nail the boof perfectly. When the roll works flawlessly in a tricky situation. Someone who "only" paddles Class III whitewater knows it just as well as someone who's tackling their first 10-meter waterfall. It's there when you close your spray skirt and feel a little nervous. And also when you're scouting a spot and realize that today is the perfect day for it. And of course, when you're sitting around the campfire in the evening, the river rushing in the background, and you think to yourself, wow, I've been pretty lucky in life.