Gearlab Outdoors

Because his discomfort is my hilarious.

The wait for shorter IPIK is over.

Last September, we introduced the next-generation IPIK in 225 — lighter to lift, sharper to slice, stronger to trust.

Now, two more sizes are joining the lineup:

👉🏼 IPIK 214
For paddlers who prefer a lighter cadence, relaxed rhythm, and smooth long-distance efficiency.

👉🏼 IPIK 219
A balanced choice for everyday touring, rolling, and all-around Greenland paddling.

👉🏼 IPIK 225
For paddlers who want more blade presence in the water and stronger power through each stroke.

The next-generation IPIK is built with UD high-rigidity carbon, a refined shaft grip, an optimized connector, and the sharpest edge profile we’ve ever created.

Pre-order is now open for 214, 219, and 225 cm.
(Each production batch is limited, and orders are fulfilled in sequence.)

Choose your IPIK:
https://gearlaboutdoors.com/ipik-2

“Founder Field Journal”｜Alaska Dispatch 04
Re-discovering Distance in the Wild

"In the city, we are used to keeping our distance from nature, from others, and sometimes even from ourselves.

But in Alaska, that distance begins to shift.

The wind, rivers, cold air, and open land are no longer just scenery. They become part of the journey. And in the wilderness, people come closer too. Everyone has a role, everyone shares the weight, and everyone moves forward together."

For Gearlab Outdoors co-founder Chung-Shih Sun, returning to Alaska is more than another adventure. It is a reminder that when nature comes closer, so do the connections between people.

“Founder Field Journal”｜Alaska Dispatch 03
True Freedom Begins with Respect

This is a forest of ultimate primeval wilderness — Alaska.

But did you know? The pristine beauty before your eyes cannot be taken for granted. This place once suffered from severe waste pollution. It took the collective, painstaking efforts of many individuals to finally restore it to its original state.

When you truly step onto this land, you realize that every single action requires utmost caution. Honestly, newcomers will definitely find it hard to get used to, because here, nature is the boss. There are strict rules even for just "walking," let alone using the restroom or eating. The food we carry could alter the foraging habits of wildlife, the waste we leave behind could introduce microorganisms that don't belong here. With just one moment of carelessness, we risk destroying its most fundamental beauty.

To minimize our impact on this land, the canoe has become our primary means of transportation.

It is a very special vessel. It has no roaring engine, only the faint splash of paddles slicing through the water, forcing you to experience nature from the most humble perspective, right at the water's surface. At first, you might feel paralyzed by the heavy restrictions and regulations. But when you are actually paddling that canoe, cutting through the mist between glaciers and dense forests, a sense of "freedom" of being one with the universe will instantly wash over you.

Only then will you understand that out here, true freedom isn't about doing whatever you want. It is the liberation of the soul that comes after deeply understanding and respecting the laws of nature.

When it comes down to it, we are all just "outsiders" to this land.

The best we can do is enjoy our visit while causing absolutely no harm. This demands an incredibly high, self-imposed level of collective discipline. But so that everyone in the future can appreciate the purest, most beautiful form of this forest just as we do now:

"This restraint is the most romantic, yet necessary, unspoken agreement we carry as we ride the waves in our canoes."

“Founder Field Journal”｜Alaska Dispatch 02
Packing for the Unknown

Day 1: Everyone thought we’d be paddling by now.

Most people assume that the moment we arrive on the first day, we’d be pushing our kayaks into the water and paddling away.

But actually, we didn't.

The scale and length of this journey are far beyond what most of us have ever experienced. To ensure our safety and logistics support for the next two weeks, we had to carefully calculate, pack, and carry 14 days' worth of essentials with us.

So, we spent the entire first day doing just one thing: pre-trip preparation.
The True Test of Weight and "Letting Go"

Just looking at the sheer volume of supplies each person needed was mind-blowing:
👉🏼 Personal Food: Weighing over 20 kg per person.
👉🏼 Gear & Equipment: Another 10 to 20 kg.

Fitting dozens of kilograms of gear and food into a tiny kayak requires meticulous planning and precise calculation. We spent the whole day learning how to use different equipment and figuring out how to maximize every inch of space inside the kayak.

But the hardest lesson of all was "the art of letting go."

Before you head out, you want to bring everything. You feel like you might need this, or you can't leave that behind. But reality is brutal — the space in a kayak is strictly limited. You have to learn to filter out the noise. In the end, what stays can only be the absolute essentials.

Tomorrow, We Set Sail at Dawn!

After a full day of intense instruction, constant adjustments, and hands-on packing, we are finally all set!
Shoutout to the solid training we got today.

Tomorrow at dawn, we set off on this journey into the unknown.

“Founder Field Journal”｜Alaska Dispatch 01
Field note from Gearlab founder Chung-Shih Sun

There’s something special about returning to Alaska.

After a long flight, an even longer drive, and two years away, our co-founder Chung-Shih Sun is finally back in this small Alaskan town — ready to lead another kayaking journey into the wild.

For him, Alaska is more than just a destination. It’s the cold, crisp air, the quiet landscapes, the familiar scent of flowers in the wind, and all the memories that come rushing back the moment he arrives.

Before heading into the wilderness, he shared a few thoughts from the road. The adventure is just beginning.

Here’s his field note from Alaska:

"After a long flight and an even longer drive, we have finally made it back to this little town in Alaska.

Setting off from here, we are heading deep into the wilderness, embarking on another journey of exploration into the Alaskan wild.

Time flies. It has already been two years since we last left this place.

Yet, the moment I stepped foot here, the familiar scent in the air — a unique blend of floral fragrance and crisp, freezing air — instantly brought back all the memories.

The wilderness is waiting. The journey begins again."

Deception Pass, in your hands.

Introducing the Kalleq – Deception Pass Edition, a special regional release inspired by one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic paddling waters.

Built on the same trusted Kalleq performance, this edition features a subtle sea-map-inspired design across the blade — clean from a distance, meaningful up close.

👉🏼 Now open for pre-order.
Available only through our PNW retail partners and GearlabOutdoors.com.