Kayakoutfitting.com introduces the new Spare Air Extreme.

Yeah your telling yourself. People have tried compressed air devices for rescue and the technology just isn't there. Actually the technology has been there all along waiting for the right company to do it. Spare Air has been making small rescue air devices for the diving industry for over 20 years. We are proud to announce that we are the premier kayaking retailer of this great new product. We've tested it. Its solid. It works. It will save lives.

Frequently asked Questions about the Spare Air Extreme

Like a standard SCUBA regulator, just inhale on the mouthpiece.

How many Breaths will it give me?

Probably the first and most frequently asked question. There really is no short answer. It varies based on an individuals lung capacity and the situation. At an average lung capacity it will provide approximately 10-15 breaths to someone at a resting heart rate (about 30 breaths for the 1.7 model).   It will give you enough air to work on getting out of an emergency where you are held underwater for a short period of time. There will never be an average emergency with an average lung capacity and an average amount of adrenaline pumping. Basically it will give you one cubic foot of air when filled to 3000 psi. How many breaths that will last for you is impossible to predict. I have seen tragic river situations in which hours of supplied air would not have changed the outcome. There are also river emergencies were a mere one breath makes the difference between life and death. A personal experience of how important that that one breath can be is what motivated the designer of the Spare Air to design the product. What we can guarantee you is that it is 100% safer than breathing water!

Spare Air Extreme units have a one-year warranty from the date of purchase. The Spare Air Extreme is made by Submersible Systems. They have been in business for 23 years and you may already be familiar with their Spare Air products which have been the standard in SCUBA diving industry for decades as the preferred redundant safety device. Of course a warranty is always only as good as the company giving it. In the case of the Spare Air Extreme we feel that you can trust not only your wallet but you life on its depend-ability. We do, and if we didn't we wouldn't be selling it.

The Neoprene mounting vest is included with your purchase. It is designed to be worn over your cold weather gear and under your PFD. Prior to offering the SA Extreme we tested it for several weeks play boating and squirt boating and were very impressed. We found the design of the vest and location of the cylinder to be outstanding. The cylinder is very high on the chest making it such that most freestyle PFD's will not be affected by it. Mounting under the PFD keeps the mouthpiece snug against your body where you need it. The mouthpiece is located to the left of your center such that you will not accidentally hit it with your chin even during aggressive body throws, but turn your head down and left and the mouthpiece is right there.

Is it re-usable?

Yes, of course. Just like a SCUBA tank it is designed for continuous use and can be filled at many SCUBA diving shops. A major innovation with this product is that the cylinder is DOT approved. Being DOT approved is crucial to diving shops concerned with the liability and safety of filling a cylinder. This DOT approval has been a hindrance to prior competing attempts at a compressed air device.

If you are a certified diver you can bring it to any Spare Air SCUBA dealer/ dive shop to have it refilled. For decades Spare Air has been the standard redundant safety device in the diving industry and chances are that your local diving shop is already familiar with the product and a dealer. If you are a SCUBA diver and/or have your own SCUBA tank you can fill the SA Extreme yourself by using the separately purchased fill adapter.

If you are not a certified SCUBA diver do not distress. Read on.

The paintball industry commonly uses SCUBA tanks to fill guns. Many SCUBA shops will allow a user to fill a tank without a diving certification provided the tank meets DOT specs and the user signs some waivers. Check with your local SCUBA diving shop in the yellow pages. Ask them if they are a Spare Air dealer or are familiar with the Spare Air and if they will fill a DOT approved S.A. Extreme that has a current hydrostatic test for emergency use only for someone that is not a certified diver.

If you purchase through us we will make every reasonable effort to re-fill it for you for free forever if it is reasonably convenient. We are in Chattanooga TN and frequent the Ocoee river and can also be found at the usual kayaker haunts like the Gauley in the fall and Colorado in the spring.

How do you fill it?

Your unit will be shipped to you with only a nominal amount of air and it must be filled before it is useable for an emergency. A compressed cylinder can not be send by mail. It can be filled at any dealer. See if there is a dealer close to you.

With the optional refill adapter purchased separately it can be refilled at your leisure from a SCUBA tank.

Additionally adapters are available to fill off of Fire/Rescue cascades. Contact us for more about filling off of a cascade system.

At only 2 lb. (for both breathing unit and vest) You wont even know you are wearing it!!! The unit itself without the vest is barely over a pound. The vest holds it snug and high on your chest and once it is on you will not be conscious that it is there.

Do I need training to use it?

While not mandatory, scuba certification is recommended. A diver certification would certainly help you in getting it filled at your destination if you are traveling.

It is important that you consider this a rescue device and not a recreational device. Near water surface level its as simple as putting your mouth on it and breathing. If you were to use it for extending free dive time when snorkeling there are absolute risks to someone without diving training.

$250 for the Spare Air Extreme and mounting vest.

Also available is a larger cylinder that is 1.7 cubic feet capacity and fits in the same mounting vest (included). $260

Fill adapters to fill off a scuba tank are sold separately and are $42.

Also available is a travel kit for flying on an airplane. The cylinder must be open and disconnected to be carried on an airplane. The travel kit includes all necessary spare gaskets that could be damaged when unscrewing the cylinder from the regulator as well as a carrying bag.

This page is under construction and more info will be put up as time allows.

We will not be adding a "add to cart" link for this product until next week, but they are here in stock and ready to go. We request that you e mail us with your interest in ordering so that we may also ensure that all your questions are answered. E MAIL

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