NRS Vapor PFD

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. I also wanted something that was made of material that would be comfortable to wear. The inner side of the PFD uses a black material similar to neoprene, which is much better on the skin than the nylon most PFDs use. 

The PFD fits well size wise. The differences between the various sizes does not affect flotation. It simply alters the length of the straps. The PFD uses 6 straps to fit to the wearer, with a thick belt around the midsection, one smaller one right underneath, and then one on each shoulder. This system makes it very easy to adjust the PFD to the wearer's desire, and it doesn't take long to adjust as the design is simple. 

The downside is simple: the PFD does not have many pockets or options for attachments like the Kokatat brand. There is one pocket that is big enough for a point and shoot camera, and then the 4-way attachment point for knives.