February in our part of Idaho means slightly warmer temps accompanied by violent mood swings from rain to snow to hail to sun. Spring still seems a long way off, but almost every day there’s a brief window when the sun emerges and you can imagine tulip shoots discovering daylight and rivers swelling with runoff. Think of this Spring 2014 apparel sneak peek as one of those welcome sun breaks.

We spent the better part of the last two years designing and refining what we think is the best lineup of paddling apparel ever made. Then we took it to California to put it through its paces and take pretty pictures. We recruited our friends and pro-team paddlers Erik Boomer and Tyler Bradt, as well as their girlfriends, Sarah McNair-Landry and Tania Heater, to help. All four had recently returned from major expeditions and were ready to enjoy simpler times in the Golden State.

We rented a classic Volkswagen camper, bought a dream catcher at a gas station in Nevada and turned the crew loose with a pile of gear and duffels stuffed with NRS’s new H2Core and HydroSkin apparel.

H2Core is the first and only comprehensive layering system designed specifically for paddlers. Perfectly placed seams create friction-free zones where other clothing rubs paddlers wrong. Advanced fabrics wick moisture, dry quickly and protect you from harmful UV rays.

Our expanded and improved HydroSkin line gives you a range of options between wearing no immersion protection and wiggling into a wetsuit. Three neoprene thicknesses and a variety of tops and bottoms let you layer to match the weather and water, while paddler-specific designs ensure friction-free comfort and freedom of motion.

Be sure to watch for the paper look book in your mailbox, and for the multimedia digital look book online, early next week.