(Extracts from original interview from Paddler Magazine 2025)
If you paddle in the UK, there’s a good chance you’ll have come across Reed Chillcheater gear, from spray skirts to fleeces and the man behind it all is Chris Reed, a sea kayaker, designer, and founder who’s been shaping gear and stories for over 25 years.
From Fashion to Function
My two brothers wanted to shoot me with their BSA air rifle and Gap Gun, so I had to make a protective leather outfit to run over the fields while they shot at me. It was important I made protective stuff right from the get-go.
I used to make my stuff as a kid, and my mum was a great influence as she always had a sewing machine out. Eventually, I thought I’d have a go at fashion, so I did a degree at Newcastle Poly back in the 80s. I then worked in the industry for ten years, Marks and Sparks, C&A, Littlewoods, British Home Stores and other large High Street companies, and for people on the markets, banging out loads of basic but fancy stuff.
I then started my own business producing a special kind of textile suitable for kids on the beaches to stop them from burning or getting cold. I had a couple of my own by now, born in the early 90s, and I found that neoprene on the North Devon beaches wasn’t a very good option for young children. I developed the Aquatherm fabric, my special invention, and put a few separate items together to start with. I sold one or two a day, and then it got bigger and bigger. I started to produce more and more, added to the range, and moved into surf lifesaving and paddle sports. Eventually, the range grew to what it is today.
As for me, I am lucky enough to live in the very beautiful North Devon with my partner Jane and Mr Socks the cat.
You began sea kayaking over 30 years ago and haven’t stopped since. What made you start?
I was a surfer, so surfing brought me to the ocean. It was just really pleasant when you started to move away from the ego-based sport of surfing into the gentle and kind bunch of people who were the sea kayakers, and I’ve never looked back since.
What kayak and equipment are you using?
Over the last ten years, I’ve moved across to using Greenland paddles, the traditional sticks that look peculiar. They were constantly ridiculed, and very few people used them, but over the last four or five years, there have been many more enquiries.
Alongside that, I paddle the Rebel kayaks as we deal with them. They are ideal for paddling day trips or weekend trips because they are not a great big heavy craft but very comfortable, easy, light, manoeuvrable, responsive kayaks. Of course, I wear my Reed gear!
What’s been your proudest achievement with Reed Chillcheater?
Keeping it British. That’s the biggie, and we have done this and are celebrating 25 years last year. From small beginnings in the shed in the garden, the compressor in the scullery, and the office in the front room, we moved into a modest workshop, a slightly bigger unit, and two and three units. All our manufacturing is UK-based, and that’s a real achievement.
We are also fully sustainable. There are plenty of awards that you can chase and win out there, but I think the way that we see our sustainability and judge our eco-footprint is that we waste nothing, and our products and raw materials travel minimal distances. We know the provenance of our filaments, knitting, and coating, there is nothing from overseas: it is all UK-based, and we waste virtually nothing. Our electricity comes predominantly from solar panels and green sources, the factories are super insulated and we are really careful about ensuring that despite the tempting idea of going overseas and having products produced for a quarter of the price, we’ve always stuck with what we do!
Which are Reed’s most popular sellers?
Undoubtedly, the spray decks are what we are better known for, but customers also love our ankle, knee and thigh-length socks, which are great sellers. Of course, as soon as the winter comes and the cold weather kicks in, the base layer fleeces; our unique transpire fleece base layers are also absolute winners.
After all your years on the ocean, what still scares you on a paddle?
The packing, the preparation. I wonder if I’ve got the right stuff, but I guess once you’ve done it dozens or hundreds of times, you get better at it. I probably underpack and rely on luck, if anything! I don’t put too much stuff in, but I’ve never been caught out yet. There’s still a chance. Yep, here I am, admitting that packing for a trip scares me.
Here’s a glimpse of Chris off the water:
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Favourite day-trip paddle? Close to home with mates.
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Top sellers from Reed Chillcheater? Spray decks and their unique fleece base layers.
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Advice to his younger self? Do it all again, however take the niche route and keep it simple.
- Ultimate achievement? He hopes to secure Reed’s future and spend more time cycling and exploring.
- If you could paddle with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be? My Dad. He would just love to have seen how good everything has got.
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Who are your kayaking buddies?
Greenie (Paul Greenway), Chris Mitchell was but he’s in America now, Darren, other great mates from Devon, and Jane. -
What three words describes you?
Alive. Happy. Tasty (like an ice cream) -
Finally, any final shoutouts?
To endless amounts of people who are just very kind and have been involved in helping in my life and business. But a huge shout out to the whole world of kayakers who I have been lucky enough to work with and get to know for the last 25 years. You are a truly great bunch of people.
What three words describes you?
Alive. Happy. Tasty (like an ice cream).
Finally, any final shoutouts?
To endless amounts of people who are just very kind and have been involved in helping in my life and business. But a huge shout out to the whole world of kayakers who I have been lucky enough to work with and get to know for the last 25 years. You are a truly great bunch of people.
by Peter Tranter