All Around Good PFD

[aft paddle]

With the cooler weather and water temps coming I'm planning on purchasing a new PFD. I need input on a what types of vests you've found good (comfort important) for use mainly on lake and slow river canoe paddling. I'm a good swimmer and rarely take a dunking who's experimenting with poling so "who knows?"
Bob

[Wldrns]

With the cooler weather and water temps coming I'm planning on purchasing a new PFD. I need input on a what types of vests you've found good (comfort important) for use mainly on lake and slow river canoe paddling. I'm a good swimmer and rarely take a dunking who's experimenting with poling so "who knows?"
Bob

I have a not-so-old PFD that I really like, it fits me well and allows great range of motion. I take good care of it (it is never used as a cushion or a seat) but as often as I use it, it is becoming a bit faded and it's time is coming. I have looked for a replacement for a long time and not found anything as comfortable. I don't need the kayaker's style with the free back, because the required amount of floatation ends up in the front where it is extremely uncomfortable and obtrusive for a single stick paddler. Most of the PFDs with an equal amount of floatation in front and back tend to be cheaper, lower quality heavy models that I don't want. I haven't yet found anything I like as well as my old PFD. Let me know what you find.

[Adk Keith]

This is what I've been using.

I haven't had to test it in a real situation yet, but it is unobtrusive and light. Stearns also makes auto inflating pfd's, and I've heard some pretty funny stories about them...

I don't swim so well so I always have it on and it's small enough so I often leave it on just during short carries.

The cons are that it doesn't make a very good cushion.

[pico23]

With the cooler weather and water temps coming I'm planning on purchasing a new PFD. I need input on a what types of vests you've found good (comfort important) for use mainly on lake and slow river canoe paddling. I'm a good swimmer and rarely take a dunking who's experimenting with poling so "who knows?"
Bob

We recently upgraded and went with an EMS PFD. Not a bad price considering all my gear is x2 so getting a good deal is important.

Now I usually avoid EMS like the plague. I used to work there just as it was making the change from a real gear store to a yuppie type clothing store with a bit of gear. I think quality and price have dropped and to tell you the truth, I usually only buy clearance stuff anyway, and in the last 5 years we've really found very little in terms of quality gear at EMS. Considering I once got a marmot shell ($400 retail) for $150, and lots of other similar deals, they just don't carry that stuff anymore. ANyway, enough rant, about the PFD.

Durability and comfort were the priorities. THe EMS is made by MTI and amazing durable. It survived 6 miles of portaging and a whole season of mixed water this year. We typically don't day paddle so these are subjected to all the increased abuses of overnight camping (basically, they get more sun, more abrasion, more dirt than the typical day paddlers PFD, while I usually keep all my gear out of the fire smoke line occasionally some smoke). They are dirty (filthy) and need to be washed, but overall the fit and durability was good, I expect a few seasons out of them and for $59 each they should be worth it.

I don't know if they are light. I suppose light and durable typically don't mesh. But if they fit you, and they have a lot of adjustability, then they should work nicely.

[charlie wilson]

A good PFD is a key item; if it fits you'll wear it, be safer yourself, and encouirage others to do the same.

Fit is kinda personal; who makes something that fits your body?
Anyway, here are a couple suggestions.

For a long while Lotus vests were simply the best designed; 'cause Phil Curry owned the company, and better, they were sewn in the USA. After selling the brand to Patagonia, Phil later started Astral, using recyclable foam and sewn in Ashville NC.

His front zips, Tempo 200 for men and WonderJacket 200 for women, are the best fitting PFDS for trim folks. The 100 series miss too many features; the 300 series too pricey for most. I'm using his new Hybrid, which is pretty nice too.

cew

[love2paddlemore]

This might sound like an off the wall choice, but I love my ExtraSport Osprey PFD. It's made for fishing and kayaking, with mesh shoulders and thin lower back pad and lots of pockets, but I find these features great for warm weather paddling. The mesh top doesn't chafe my neck, and the pockets hold so many small essentials that I don't need to carry a 5L drybag separate in the boat anymore. Everything that won't fit into my PFD pockets, except my personal water purifier, can go into my portage pack. Makes carries and transitions quicker and easier. Fastens in front with strong zipper or with two fastlok buckles. Secure either way. Doesn't ride up. Adjusts to fit well. Even has a built in emergency whistle on a lanyard, onto which I attach other things, such as pocket knife and car key.