I have been kayaking recreational kayak with no need for a pfd when fishing or site seeing except for what is recomended by law. Now, I have a WW unit and would like to know what the favorite PDF of choice is. I just spent all of my lunch money on a spray skirt and helmet, now I am looking for a good floater for me.... what are your recommendations.
Matt'yak
PDF; What would you recommend???
PDF; What would you recommend???
Life is a garden....dig it!!
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Arthur Bowie
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- Posts: 47
- Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2005 10:48 am
- Name: Arthur Bowie
- Location: Bentonville, Arkansas
There are lots of good, high quality lifejackets/pfd to choose from. Probably most important feature is that it fits you and you are comfortable wearing it. If you will spend at least $50 with a good dealer, you'll get pretty decent quality and selection of fit/comfort.
If you intend to spend much time on whitewater, it is better to spend more to get a good rescue pfd and then take a SWR course to learn how useful the heavier construction and quick release harness can be. Costs of rescue pfd are generally 150 to 200, one time is all it takes to more than pay the extra cost.
Rescue PFD Study
http://www.whitewater-rescue.com/aboutu ... 13&par06=0
Extrasport both Swiftwater and Whitewater series I use Universal Rescue and it is most comfortable of any that I have tried. Others with more floatation or longer body are good but may rub armpits or interfer with rim of boat.
http://www.extrasport.com/
NRS has Lotus P-vest on sale right now for $144.
http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp? ... eptid=1017
Pack Rat in Fayetteville has their demo day March 31 and likely to have good selection available and probably a discount for the day.
If you intend to spend much time on whitewater, it is better to spend more to get a good rescue pfd and then take a SWR course to learn how useful the heavier construction and quick release harness can be. Costs of rescue pfd are generally 150 to 200, one time is all it takes to more than pay the extra cost.
Rescue PFD Study
http://www.whitewater-rescue.com/aboutu ... 13&par06=0
Extrasport both Swiftwater and Whitewater series I use Universal Rescue and it is most comfortable of any that I have tried. Others with more floatation or longer body are good but may rub armpits or interfer with rim of boat.
http://www.extrasport.com/
NRS has Lotus P-vest on sale right now for $144.
http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp? ... eptid=1017
Pack Rat in Fayetteville has their demo day March 31 and likely to have good selection available and probably a discount for the day.
Arthur
No recommends here, just some points.
I have different ones I use depending on where and what. My main one is high on the chest. Floating in it is low in the water but upright with no effort. Out of the way of the yak skirt. I do not like it at all in the raft. I want my arms free and not tight so jumping around is possible to paddle or reach off both sides. I often raft with kids.
Many yak oriented pfds wear low with open shoulders. That may be more of an issue if you do them flippy swirly playboy moves, which I don't. These do not seem to float me as upright with out some effort.
Some of the rescue jackets we used in class were great. Float well not too restrictive on movement. Would you really use their features? Only use it once in a situation as Arthur said to decide it was worth it, but you can not use this feature without a knowledgable partner. I am saving for one of those next.
So lots depends on how and what you are doing. How you want and need to float in the water. What you want to be able to do in your boat. Jus' sum stuff to consider.
I have different ones I use depending on where and what. My main one is high on the chest. Floating in it is low in the water but upright with no effort. Out of the way of the yak skirt. I do not like it at all in the raft. I want my arms free and not tight so jumping around is possible to paddle or reach off both sides. I often raft with kids.
Many yak oriented pfds wear low with open shoulders. That may be more of an issue if you do them flippy swirly playboy moves, which I don't. These do not seem to float me as upright with out some effort.
Some of the rescue jackets we used in class were great. Float well not too restrictive on movement. Would you really use their features? Only use it once in a situation as Arthur said to decide it was worth it, but you can not use this feature without a knowledgable partner. I am saving for one of those next.
So lots depends on how and what you are doing. How you want and need to float in the water. What you want to be able to do in your boat. Jus' sum stuff to consider.
You sure this is on the right channel?
Whatever PFD you buy will last a long, long time. I recommend going well above the $50 price-range and purchasing a very good, well-fitting PFD and planning on using it for a decade... If you buy a cheap one, you'll be leaving it at home before too long because it won't really fit your needs. Buy the best you can afford!! Hopefully, you'll be spending a LOT of time in it for a loooonnnggg time!
Crane
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Arthur Bowie
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- Posts: 47
- Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2005 10:48 am
- Name: Arthur Bowie
- Location: Bentonville, Arkansas
[quote="Clif"], but you can not use this feature without a knowledgable partner. [/quote]
solo uses includes:
1. towing a boat or paddle
2. self bely on the bank
3. while in a pin, hook yourself into a rescue line even if goober threw it.
4. I know there are other solo applications also, just had another brain fart.
solo uses includes:
1. towing a boat or paddle
2. self bely on the bank
3. while in a pin, hook yourself into a rescue line even if goober threw it.
4. I know there are other solo applications also, just had another brain fart.
Arthur
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SharkAttack
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- Posts: 24
- Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2006 6:55 pm
- Location: Round Mountain, AR
Don't be too proud to get one that is big enough for you. If it seems to pinch your neck & gut you won't want to keep it on all day long. If you're a big ol boy you might want to keep with a front zipper. A couple of years ago I saved up & bought a Stoquest with a zipper that starts just beside my right nipple. Being right handed that thing was a b i c to zip up. Lotus makes a good ww jacket now that zips up the front & still has the knife attachment thingy on the front.
Just a thought from a big'ol bubbahide.
Wes
Just a thought from a big'ol bubbahide.
Wes
"It's not the thing you fling, but the fling itself"
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okieboater
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- Posts: 1944
- Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2005 9:21 pm
- Name: David L. Reid
- Location: Jenks, Oklahoma
Arthur is right on point with his observations.
I mostly wear my rescue vest just in case I get pinned.
A professional boater I know got pinned on a river in Ecuador. It was a bow down stream pin with a big powerful rooster tail coming over his head. He could not see out or slide back and out of his kayak, things were going bad.
His wife was able to get on the bank above the pin, she put rocks in the throw bag and finally got a rope toss that hit his hands. He hooked up to his rescue vest cow tail and got support from the rope to get his head up and got out of the kayak.
True, the cow tail has towed boats and paddles and come in handy on some rescues.
But, mainly having a way to hook up solid to a rope thrown to me in a pin is why I wear a rescue PFD.
I mostly wear my rescue vest just in case I get pinned.
A professional boater I know got pinned on a river in Ecuador. It was a bow down stream pin with a big powerful rooster tail coming over his head. He could not see out or slide back and out of his kayak, things were going bad.
His wife was able to get on the bank above the pin, she put rocks in the throw bag and finally got a rope toss that hit his hands. He hooked up to his rescue vest cow tail and got support from the rope to get his head up and got out of the kayak.
True, the cow tail has towed boats and paddles and come in handy on some rescues.
But, mainly having a way to hook up solid to a rope thrown to me in a pin is why I wear a rescue PFD.
Okieboater AKA Dave Reid
We are not sure when childhood ends and adulthood begins.
We are sure that when retirement begins, childhood restarts
We are not sure when childhood ends and adulthood begins.
We are sure that when retirement begins, childhood restarts
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james fleming
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- Posts: 44
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2006 2:10 am
- Location: Stirling, Scotland.
- Contact:
Hey guys...
I use something like this:
From te Palm web site. They do all different types, not just extreme white water.
I use something like this:
From te Palm web site. They do all different types, not just extreme white water.
I just ordered a Astral 300R rescue vest http://www.astralbuoyancy.com/02/. Latest reviews looked good, talked to several paddlers happily wearing them, and it fit me good. The company seems to respond quickly to paddler's feedback.
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