ABOUT US

For over 30 years Peak UK have been manufacturing world-leading kayaking clothing and equipment. Come and have a look at what we are all about...

World Class Innovators

Peak UK was formed back in 1990 when it’s founder Pete Astles was an up and coming slalom racer, funding his sport by working in a local kayak store. He fell ill and could not train for a few months, so became bored. As the products in the store were badly designed and sized poorly he decided to try making some garments of his own. With help from a sewing machinist friend they soon made a prototype jacket and PFD. His fellow slalom racers all wanted these jackets and PFDs, and that’s how it all began...


Pete borrowed some cash from his father, purchased a sewing machine, some fabric and foam, then learned how to make garments, for the first few years making almost all of them himself, buying new machines and learning how to operate them as he went along. Now almost 30 years later Peak UK is one of the world’s leading brands of kayaking wear.


The Peak UK Kayaking Company is located in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales, near to the River Derwent at Darley Bridge. In 2012 we proudly built our very own purpose built factory on the edge of the Peak District National Park. The new premises enabled us to pioneer our production of custom kayaking gear in time for the London 2012 Olympic Games and our newest innovation, the Racer ST, which claimed gold and silver at Rio in 2016.


Our home, the Derwent Valley, is a World Heritage Site. The Industrial Textile Revolution began here more than 200 years ago. We are proud to have brought back a new textile revolution to the area.