Paddling Safety Gear

Reviewed by DebW(Massachusetts)

This is a woman's life jacket (PFD) that is comfortable and well-designed. Front offset zipper means over-the-head entry and then zip up on the right side. Waist-belt and two side straps per side and shoulder straps all adjust for a secure fit.

I bought this lifejacket in December 2018 and have been using it for kayaking and canoeing all the 2019 paddling season, May through September. I love the fit. It has seven adjustment points (waist belt, 2 side straps per side, 2 shoulder straps) and doesn't ride up in the water. The foam is well distributed from my waist through my upper chest and across my whole back. It wouldn't work well with a high kayak seat because the rear foam goes down to waist level. The full coverage foam would be an advantage on whitewater—good protection while swimming. I also have an Astral YTV which puts more of the foam lower down and rides up in the water unless I make it uncomfortably tight.

Read more: Astral Layla review (1)

Featured review by Tpar

Not as flashy or as low-profile as some of the newer designs, but this one won out because it appears more robust and more up to the job when you really need it.

After 15 years, my old Lotus vest popped the zipper. I took offense at this and decided the new one should not depend on a zipper--it needed to have at least a buckle at the waist AND a buckle higher up.  I checked quite a few styles and almost ended up with a tiny, very-light Astral.  The MsFit Tour did not immediately come to mind because it is a women's design (I am male, 5'6" 175 lbs).  The knowledgeable salesman at the outdoor store assured me that it was a good choice for men too.  His explanation was that Kokatat's original OutFit does not sell as well for men or women because the newer MsFit is so much more comfortable for both sexes.  It allows more flexibility because the floatation is formed into a larger number of smaller sections. ...

Read more: Kokatat MsFit Tour reviews (2)

Reviewed by Emmanuel Colon

Will save a life if USED CORRECTLY. (Practice.)

I used this bag in Swift Water Rescue training. Works well and is easy enough to throw. Keep in mind it has plenty of rope and requires a bit of strength to throw the full distance. I only managed to throw it the full 75 feet two or three times in a day practicing with it. It's easy to coil, but it's still 75 feet of rope. Use a partner to help speed things up when coiling the rope. I really liked that the victim's end of the rope has a flotation device (foam) as well as a plastic hook for retrieving rope.

Read more: NRS NFPA Rescue Throw Bag review (1)

Reviewed by Sheila Bergin Goss

This is an extremely light and very comfortable PFD. I wear my PFD at all times, and I have found this to be comfortable in heat, easy to wear over a paddle jacket, nicely adjustable, and so far it seems quite durable.

I had wanted to get a new PFD, one that is lightweight, cool in the summer, and which has lots of pockets! I am always carrying "stuff" and find it hard to access pants pockets when seated in a canoe. When I won my choice of Astral PFD, I selected the Ronny (men's), and am very pleased with it. This PFD has three handy pockets in the front, including one which has a beverage can holder. I wonder what beverage they could have in mind? I do not drink beer when I paddle, but I have put a small water bottle in it.

Read more: Astral Ronny review (1)

Reviewed by Shenora1116

Best PFD on the market for around $100.

This is one of the best PFD I've used to date. Granted I'm not a white water nut, but I raft and canoe the swamps and Gulf of Mexico. I've used many PFD's, and never really found one that I thought would be worth buying. Until now. I used this one one a recent trip to Deer Island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. And found myself awaiting the arrival home so I could purchase it online. The 5 zip pockets came in great for stashing gear. It also has a radio pocket, which I used for my cell phone.

Read more: NRS CVest Type III PFD review (1)

Reviewed by John F

A great low price paddling PFD. It may not offer all the bells and whistles of higher end PFDs, but it is made of high quality materials with a form fitting design that provides comfort.

I first purchased two of these PFD's when I got my first canoe at the age of 17. I chose them because my parents made it very clear that I would not be allowed to use this hand-me-down canoe unless I outfitted it with the proper safety equipment. Where I bought, what I bought, was up to me. These PFD's were inexpensive, comfortable, and offered a very low profile.  A big factor for me is the profile of the PFD. I wanted something that made me feel as though I wasn't wearing a PFD, and this one was the closest to that I could find in my price range.

Read more: NRS Vapor PFD review (1)

Reviewed by Beth VanDyke

Feature-rich, value-priced PFD, perfect for kayaking.

I found this brand PFD at a well-known general sports chain store after an exhaustive search for a comfortable life vest for recreational kayaking that fit my restrictive budget and my 50s-plus female torso. I had tried out several other brand vests that I had bought then returned due to deciding I did not like the fit. I tried on the ONYX MoveMent Torsion vest in the local store, really liked the fit and the price, but did not buy it right away. Later I returned to the store, but the vest was gone so I ordered it online.

Read more: ONYX MoveVent Torsion Vest review (1)

Reviewed by Twig

A great compact vest for paddlesports.

I bought this used on eBay on a hunch that I would like the design...and I really have taken to it. I never liked fiddling with zippers on a PFD and now I much prefer pulling this on over my head. Plus, there is no zipper to break or go bad! The straps loosen and tighten very easily for a secure fit. Also, it is very short in the torso. It's made to fit a woman (who tend to have much shorter torsos, like myself) but anyone who paddles using a skirt will appreciate that this PFD doesn't push down on your skirt as much.

Read more: Astral Wondervest review (1)

Reviewed by Hellraiser69

A little about me first. I'm 6'0, weigh 248 lbs. and am a rather large guy. I enjoy kayaking, self-contained kayak trips, hiking, camping, self-contained hiking trips, etc. I'm not a pro, by any means, but I'm on a trip at least once a month and have been kayaking steady for 3 to 4 years. I did quite a bit of research when looking for a helmet. I looked for the significance between plastic, carbon fiber, fiberglass, and even Kevlar. I read some blogs from people who have hit their heads and have severely damaged their helmets, but said that if it weren't for the Kevlar type helmet, they would have been injured far worse.

Read more: Shred Ready Shaggy Helmet review (1)

Reviewed by Paula Johanson

This PFD is excellent for freedom of arm movement. It fits well over a paddle jacket. The straps can be adjusted to fit tighter when a paddler is wearing only a bathing suit. After six years of use while kayaking salt water, it's still in good shape.

The Orbit is a very well-constructed PFD. I have used mine for seven years but all the straps and seams are still strong. The bright orange fabric has faded a little in sunshine and shows a few grubby marks. It looks like what it is: a tough PFD that has been worn hundreds of times on bright sunny days, in salt water and fresh, on muddy rivers and tarry docks. It is still very buoyant and holds me up when I do safety practise. What I like best about the Orbit is the freedom of arm movement.

Read more: Kokatat Orbit Tour review (1)