Welcome to “The Product Pro-File” at Kayak Session! This new section is all about helping paddlers learn more about the latest products on the paddlesports market. By chatting with designers and experts within the brands, we uncover the design and function behind these products. Explore the stories, craftsmanship, and innovative features that make these products stand out. Join us as we bring you exclusive insights to help you to make the right decisions for your paddling sessions.
We caught up with Matyas Hilgert, Head of Production and Product Development at HIKO, to learn more about the new Throw Bag series they have released.
Hi Matyas, welcome to the Product Pro-File at KS. Tell us a bit about yourself and your background? How do you find yourself here at HIKO today?
“I did not find myself at Hiko, I was born here. My parents started Hiko in 1990 and since I can remember the most frequent discussions spun around how to create this or that piece of gear or how to make an existing one work better. It is like a puzzle. You have a pallet of pieces lying in front of you. They are disorganised, some do not fit and some you haven’t discovered yet. Your goal is to assemble them into a system that works and looks like it has always been there – a system that looks natural and beautiful. I am not sure when exactly but creating this system became my obsession.”
HIKO launched the Hawk, Eagle and Falcon this year? Tell us more about the DNA of the new throwbag line.
That is the second part that makes this super fun and allows you to immerse yourself in the designing process – you get to meet and talk to awesome people while doing something you enjoy. The new line of bags is a product of countless conversations with kayakers, rescue professionals, and climbers, too. Although they all use throw ropes (ok, not climbers) everyone has some time drastically different opinions on how to use them, what is the better opening system, how it should be attached to a belt, and whether to have a rope with a core or without. At first, you get the feeling that it is impossible to build a product that would make everyone happy. When you really listen though and go deep into the fundamentals of what creates what stand on what feature it starts to come to the surface – We are looking for the same thing.
If I were to use a math analogy – we were looking at the common denominator of all the needs and problems people experience when using their throw ropes. Hawk, Eagle and Falcon are the prime numbers.
Are the three new throwbags split up into different paddle sport categories or are they all developed for whitewater kayakers?
Yes, although you can easily launch one at someone swimming in a lake too;) All three lines are suitable for kayakers, raft guides, instructors or rescue professionals working or enjoying life in and around whitewater. The difference is purely preferential. You are either looking for a long-range rope (up to 25m) or something compact (as low as 10m with 8mm rope). Some people prefer stiffer rope with a core, and some like the way the hollow rope spreads flat in hand. That is where we went with variety – for all other features we believe the bag design offers the best solution for all.
What specific features can we find on the new throwbag series that we didn’t before, and one’s you are the proudest of?
Reinforced envelope-like closure is definitely one – like an on/off switch the bag is either opened and closed with nothing in between that would hinder the rope’s uncoiling. It reduces the wrinkling of material that often leads to deterioration.
Floatation foam spread across the side of the bag that serves an additional purpose – maintaining the bag’s shape even when empty.
The size of the bag – for how much rope they are packing they are relatively much smaller to that commonly used.
Rope to bag attachment – easy detachment and attachment of the rope in situation where you need to use the rope alone. Regardless of how close you tie the knot there are no excessive loops or knots outside the body of the bag that could pose entrapment danger.
What part did you personally play in the process of the Hawk, Eagle and Falcon?
The solvent. My role was making sense of all the input from professionals and athletes that were part of this project and then look for patterns. Then translating those patterns into functional features and finally figuring out how to blend all those features into a functional piece of equipment. From step #1 till the end it was a team effort.
How long does that take to develop such products (from decision to design, and testing to production)?
That is difficult to say because before we start putting things on paper they are cooking at low temperatures in our minds. At a certain point, we feel like we have connected enough specific pieces to start conceptualising, having meetings, and building a project around it. Sometimes you have the whole thing in two weeks, sometimes it takes 2 years. The birds of prey took us about 8 months from the first sit down but they have been on our mind for the last three years.
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Check Out the Throwbag series on HIKO’s Website Here
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Check out below some technical info on the 3 new throwbags! Including the features, colours and much more.
HAWK Features;
One of three birds of pray that successfully challenged the status quo in what is considered the best throw rope design, HAWK Throw Rope is equipped with soft-in-hand hollow 10 mm thick and polypropylen rope . The bag is itself is packed with innovative features designed to make the bag faster to deploy, easier to store, more durable a more reliable than ever before. Developed with guides and rescue professional this throw rope means serious business, however, there is no harm in it being really good looking too.
+ Reinforced entry with an innovative collapsing mechanism is secured by a military grade buckle. It is quick, reliable, durable and surprisingly compact.
+ The wall of the bag is reinforced with PE foam keeping the bag afloat, saving valuable space inside and maintaining the shape of the bag for easier feed of the rope.
+ The combination of high tensile sling with a metal ring at the inside of the bag provides an easy access to the knot. Exposed loop for a carabiner attachment remains consistent no matter how you tie the rope to the metal ring.
+ The end of each rope is visibly marked and you have the option to secure it in one of two loops located near opening.
+ The bag is compatible with the NEST belt system
+ 10 mm in diameter Polypropylen hollow rope.
Colours;
Orange & Black
EAGLE Features;
One of three birds of pray that successfully challenged the status quo in what is considered the best throw rope design, EAGLE Throw Rope is equipped with a solid feel 10mm thick and and polypropylen rope with a core. The bag is itself is packed with innovative features designed to make the bag faster to deploy, easier to store, more durable a more reliable than ever before. Developed with guides and rescue professional this throw rope means serious business, however, there is no harm in it being really good looking too.
+ Reinforced entry with an innovative collapsing mechanism is secured by a military grade buckle. It is quick, reliable, durable and surprisingly compact.
+ The wall of the bag is reinforced with PE foam keeping the bag afloat, saving valuable space inside and maintaining the shape of the bag for easier feed of the rope.
+ The combination of high tensile sling with a metal ring at the inside of the bag provides an easy access to the knot. Exposed loop for a carabiner attachment remains consistent no matter how you tie the rope to the metal ring.
+ The end of each rope is visibly marked and you have the option to secure it in one of two loops located near opening.
+ The bag is compatible with the NEST belt system
+ 10 mm diameter Polypropylen rope with core
Colours;
Orange & Black
Falcon Features;
One of three birds of pray that successfully challenged the status quo in what is considered the best throw rope design, FALCON Throw Rope is equipped with solid yet compact 8 mm strong and long polypropylen rope with core. The bag is itself is packed with innovative features designed to make the bag faster to deploy, easier to store, more durable a more reliable than ever before. Developed with guides and rescue professional this throw rope means serious business, however, there is no harm in it being really good looking too.
+ Reinforced entry with an innovative collapsing mechanism is secured by a military grade buckle. It is quick, reliable, durable and surprisingly compact.
+ The wall of the bag is reinforced with PE foam keeping the bag afloat, saving valuable space inside and maintaining the shape of the bag for easier feed of the rope.
+ The combination of high tensile sling with a metal ring at the inside of the bag provides an easy access to the knot. Exposed loop for a carabiner attachment remains consistent no matter how you tie the rope to the metal ring.
+ The end of each rope is visibly marked and you have the option to secure it in one of two loops located near opening.
+ The bag is compatible with the NEST belt system
+ 8 mm in diameter Polypropylen rope with core.
