C-Forum

What's everyone paddling with right now in terms and pfds and why?

Pros / cons and misc thoughts.

In particular the Stohlquist X-Traxt which I'm looking at?

Looking to replace the old lotus now that it seems to have less then opt floation.

Thanks in advance!

I had an X-tract many moons ago. It's a good, basic, functional piece.
I have an Astral Green Jacket for creeking now. I think it's probably the best thought out piece of gear I own. Very comfortable, loaded with functional features, well made. I like that it's designed to be used with a tether, but has a pocket for stowing the tether (In the two months I've owned it, I've used the tether several times as an anchor while setting safety, etc- so it's not just for towing)

... a NRS Guide.

It's got 22lbs of float, and is a lot longer than most. I really like having the extra padding covering vital areas. It took a little getting use to extra bulk, but that big boy feeling passed after breaking it in.

Why?

I was look for maximum body coverage, and having the float down low. While I haven't objectively tested each jacket, IMHO the further down your body the higher your head floats. It seems that we (OC1/C1) have gotten lost by most manufacturers, who offer either kayak vests (way too short wasted) or raft style (ugly-inflexible) PFD's.

AND was a gift from a dear friend.

I've got two Green Jackets.

Pros
-Way more features than I'll ever use. It's a vest I can "grow" into.
-Very good range of motion
-Good enough flotation for me, but I'm a small guy

Cons
-Pull-over design. It's a little difficult to get in, especially in winter gear, but it's not a deal breaker.
-Side pockets are kind of awkward to get at

2nd Vote on the NRS Guide, Long Body wears down below the Belly Button at the waistline, Not as stylish as all the Low profile Jackets But comfortable and Plenty of Flotation for those Out of Boat Experiences we sometimes encounter Big pockets, I just wish it was offered in red !

Kokatat Ronin. low profile. well made. comfortable. simple. fair value.

My next one will be the Ronin pro.

Waldens ridge has some pretty good deals on PFD's. Check em out.

I've had two Ronin Pro's and a Green jacket; I'd have no trouble reccomending either; but personally will be replacing my Ronin Pro with another Green Jacket (the CE certified side opening one) or getting an astral Sea-Wolf and rescue harness; as i find i can make the astral stay nice and low on my body (easily as low as a galasport C1 cut racer vest), wheras the ronin never feels quite so secure when I have it low down.

For the money, you won't better the Green-Jacket... If you really want to go all out, the Hydroscapes Full-On is the very best you can get (and at a mere NZ$775, [US$608] it bloody well wants to be!)

You might also look at the Palm Equipment Amp Vest and Extrem Jacket, I hate the blasted things, but by paddlers with for a certain sizes and shapes of torso, they're becoming well regarded...

And the most important piece of advice i can give (and forgive me if this is already obvious) but try all your possible choices on, in a range of sizes (not just the one you think/like to think is your size); because certain designs of PFD simply do not fit certain shapes of torso very well!

To Sum Up: Try a Green Jacket on, you'll be pleasantly suprised.

I have a green jacket. I like it. I wouldn't tell one NOT to get one, but...

It's awfully heavy. It's the first rescue vest I've ever owned. Are they all this heavy?

Shep wrote:I have a green jacket. I like it. I wouldn't tell one NOT to get one, but...

It's awfully heavy. It's the first rescue vest I've ever owned. Are they all this heavy?

It's lighter than pretty much all of the older designs, and most of the newer ones.

It'll never compete on weight against race/freestyle vests though.

I got an Astral Green.
The main selling point for me were that it is much lower profile in the chest are compared to the Stohlquist when loaded with all the safety gear (prussiks, pulleys, biners and all that stuff), making reentry in a raft should one ever flip or get ejected (not that this kind of stuff ever happens to me... ...), much easier.
If money is no object, then check out the Hydroscapes PFD. I had one of their first gen PFD's, nicest life jacket I ever had.
http://www.whitewater-safety.com/category/products

TGG!

Beware of the link in Gonzo's post! (http://www.whitewater-safety.com/category/products)

As soon as I clicked on it I got one of those fake "Your computer may be infected with malware!! Click "Yes" to let us download some crap onto your computer that you'll have a hades of a time getting rid of"

I shut everything down quick before it finished running .... I hope.

clarion wrote:Beware of the link in Gonzo's post! (http://www.whitewater-safety.com/category/products)

As soon as I clicked on it I got one of those fake "Your computer may be infected with malware!! Click "Yes" to let us download some crap onto your computer that you'll have a hades of a time getting rid of"

I shut everything down quick before it finished running .... I hope.

hmm, that never happened to me. The site seems to work perfectly for me. Maybe their site has been hacked, but they are a legitimate business.

TGG!

the great gonzo wrote:I got an Astral Green.
The main selling point for me were that it is much lower profile in the chest are compared to the Stohlquist when loaded with all the safety gear (prussiks, pulleys, biners and all that stuff), making reentry in a raft should one ever flip or get ejected (not that this kind of stuff ever happens to me... ...), much easier.

Have you cottoned onto being able to fit your biners and prussics into the two side pockets (which I think are actually intended for the astral web-tow,) leaving your main pocket free for bigger or more important things.

The main pocket is usually empty, to keep the profile as low as possible. I got my prussiks in the side pockets. I carry 4 biners, 2 pulleys and 4 m of webbing in the mesh pocket intended for a throw bag below the main pocket. My throw bag is on a separate rescue bag belt that also holds 2 additional pulleys.
When creeking I may carry some slings in the main pocket. to keep the profile low my river knife is not attached to the knife tab but taped to the shoulder strap. keeps everything nice and tidy.

TGG!

I think the web-tow is a dangerous length. Too long to reach the carabiner when you let it out behind you, too short to actually tow anything. Some people have complained that it was difficult to keep in the side-pocket, but a small stopper knot close to the O-ring side kept it from ever coming out on me.

I keep my rescue knife inside the front pocket, and try to keep food in the side pockets (too awkward to reach in a hurry.)

Shep