Advice for PFD

Triquetra

Triquetra

Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
759
In a recent thread, someone showed a picture of a Serratus PFD (personal floatation device??). I really liked this design. Looks like it has lots of pockets for survival supplies. Since I am going to start canoeing and possibly kayaking, I've decided to look for something like this. I worry about a pack if the canoe capsizes. The only place that I found the Serratus was in a couple of Canadian sites online. Anyone have any advice or recomendations on others that would be similiar or better than the Serratus?
 
If you check out REI you should be able to find them. Kokatat seems to be a good line of PFD's.
Unless you'll be on a river where your boat may be swept away you might be better to get yourself a drybag to hold your survial gear in. All that gear will only add more weight to your person reducing the effectiveness of the PFD.
 
ghostguy6 said:
If you check out REI you should be able to find them. Kokatat seems to be a good line of PFD's.
Unless you'll be on a river where your boat may be swept away you might be better to get yourself a drybag to hold your survial gear in. All that gear will only add more weight to your person reducing the effectiveness of the PFD.
Click to expand...

Really didn't plan on loading it up two much and will still have my pack. Maybe Mora and items from a small PSK...emergency essentials such as firestarter, water purification tablets, etc. I've been able to find some PFD's just none with pockets or storage like the Serratus that I saw. I'll check these sites out.

Edit: Found good selection on these sites. Any advice on the best ones or brands?
 
Everyone has their own personal preferences, but I keep most of my emergency things in a thwart bag suspended under my seat. I also add floatation to my canoe well beyond what the factory installs. I've not lost a canoe yet. I also prefer to tie my gear in. Many people don't because the added weight can make recovery harder. But while my gear might weigh a lot, if I swamp, it also displaces water which is heavier. And I don't have to chase loose floating debris. I don't attach anything to myself or PFD beyond the most basic essentials. And never with cords or leashes. I do have sturdy flat webbing attached to each end of the canoe to aid in recovery if needed. These lines, painters they are called, are looped in a bundle on the fore and aft decks, secured with a small bungee. They also act as tie-down ropes when I am carrying the canoe on top of a vehicle, and let me line the canoe from a bank around obsticles, or over shallow riffles.

Codger
 
Hiya c...dragon. That was I that posted the Serratus PFD. Serratus, who also mad e a line of backpacks, went out of business in 2005. I purchased my PFD from Mountain Equipment Co-op (sort of the Canadian version of REI) in the spring of 2005. I was in the market for a new PFD for kayaking, and MEC had the Serratus Flak Jacket on sale. I was actually looking for a rescue-type PFD that I could use with our fire department as well as for kayaking, but found the rescue-specific PFDs to be too expensive. The Serratus was a lot more affordable, and could be fitted with a quick-release belt for rescue application if needed. I also wanted something that had capabilities of carrying some extra gear. The Serratus Flak Jacket was the only PFD I knew of at the time that had the option of a adding a rear pouch for storage or hydration system.

But as Codger mentioned, the PFD thing is like the backpack thing - it has a lot to do with personal preference and fit. When I bought my PFD, Serratus had a really good sizing chart that helped my determine which size PFD to get. I was a little apprehensive ordering the PFD online, especially since it was an International order, but the PFD was dead-nuts on spec as stated in the sizing chart, and it fit great. Maybe I got lucky.

I also looked at Stohlquist, Kokatat, and another brand that I can't remember off hand. Kokatat does offer a couple different add-on pocket options for their PFDs.

Back fo the Flak Jacket:
PFDGear002.jpg


Front and contents of back pocket:
PFDGear001.jpg


A final thought: When I bought the Flak Jacket, there was a navy blue color option available. There was also a Black PFD of another brand that I was considering at the time, too. After a little thought, I felt that a dark colored PFD may add a step backwards as far as safety was concerned. Dark colors tend to be less visible on and in the water. If something bad was to happen to me, I figured a brighter color would help me get attention easier or be seen better. Of be located and recovered sooner. Good luck with your vest quest!
 
I have a Lotus brand PFD [personal flotation device] for kayaking. Keep in mind that you will want a higher riding PFD if you plan to kayak with it.
2125.JPG
 
I should have added that as much as the brand (all I've seen mentioned here are top notch brands, IMHO), style (you have to look good to feel good!), and design features of the PFD's, your intended use should be the determining factor in your PFD purchase. A PFD that works well for calm water canoing is not the best for whitewater. A kayaking vest is different from a canoing vest. Your range of motion and seating arrangement is different, and of course, your exact body dimensions are of ultimate importance in your selection. Even if you are tempted to buy over the web, or via mail order, put in some research time at a paddlesports store. Try on several PFD's over the clothes you intend to wear while paddling, and actually sit in a kayak and canoe. Check how the PFD reacts when you twist and turn. Does it restrict motion? Does it bunch and rise?

When I first began whitewater canoing, there were few choices available. Over the years as I gained experience, the gear evolved with my needs and preferences. I wound up with three different PFD's, and used each one in different conditions. I second the idea of bright colors, even though I hate the "visual pollution", if you intend to venture into swift or large water. I use subdued tones for fishing backwaters and float hunting. IMHO, pockets and such add-ons would be my last consideration in selecting a PFD.

Codger
 
Thanks for the input. Looks like choosing a PFD is as easy as finding the "best one" knife. I actually stumbled onto a new store in my area called Sportsmans Warehouse. I am assuming that it's probably a chain. They had a few choices that I could actually try on to get a feel.
 
NW Arkansas!!! You are in luck! There is a very active canoe and yakker club there! And quite a few good paddlesports stores as well. I wouldn't trust a generic sporting goods store when there is a paddlesport specific store in the area! Google Arkansas Canoe Club, join...and ask!! And tell the guys and gals old Codger says HI!!

Codger
 
outdoor life magazine reccommended the extrasport osprey for kayak fisherman, because it is not very restrictive, but has a lot of pockets for tackle (or survival gear.) It also has one of those front lashing tabs for your fixed-blade knife. Looks like a good 'comprimise' PFD. I plan on getting one if I ever take my canoe or kayak on an expedition. (Right now, just floating around a lake fishing doesn't merit much surival gear besides every day carry and a cooler of beer.)


http://www.rei.com/online/store/Pro...ategory_rn=4501495&vcat=REI_SSHP_PADDLING_TOC
 
Codger_64 said:
NW Arkansas!!! You are in luck! There is a very active canoe and yakker club there! And quite a few good paddlesports stores as well. I wouldn't trust a generic sporting goods store when there is a paddlesport specific store in the area! Google Arkansas Canoe Club, join...and ask!! And tell the guys and gals old Codger says HI!!

Codger
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Codger, I'll look into that. Do you have any stores that you recommend? There is one that I go to quite a bit called The Packrat but I was never looking for PFD's so I'm not sure what they have. I hope the Arkansas Canoe Club has some kind of kid or family oriented stuff because I always include them in my outings.
 
darthstrevel said:
outdoor life magazine reccommended the extrasport osprey for kayak fisherman, because it is not very restrictive, but has a lot of pockets for tackle (or survival gear.) It also has one of those front lashing tabs for your fixed-blade knife. Looks like a good 'comprimise' PFD. I plan on getting one if I ever take my canoe or kayak on an expedition. (Right now, just floating around a lake fishing doesn't merit much surival gear besides every day carry and a cooler of beer.)


http://www.rei.com/online/store/Pro...ategory_rn=4501495&vcat=REI_SSHP_PADDLING_TOC
Click to expand...

Glad to hear that this is recommended. I was actually looking at this in person yesterday. They only thing that I wondered about was that it had more of the pocket stuff but not as much as the floatation aspect as some of the others.
 
cucharadedragon said:
Glad to hear that this is recommended. I was actually looking at this in person yesterday. They only thing that I wondered about was that it had more of the pocket stuff but not as much as the floatation aspect as some of the others.
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Trade offs I guess...depends are you more concerned the survival aspect of floating or the survival aspect of having a decent amount of survival gear in the pockets. If you are a good swimmer I recommend the latter, if not the former. Remember, a type III PFD will not keep you from drowning if you are knocked unconscious (no head float). However if you are not planning on class 3 or higher rapids I think the chance of being knocked unconscious is very slim. For kayaking expeditions, river canoeing with small rapids or fishing inland lakes I think this PFD would be Ideal. Where did you try it on REI? Better yet, always bring a buddy who can swim well!
 
Remember, a type III PFD will not keep you from drowning if you are knocked unconscious (no head float). However if you are not planning on class 3 or higher rapids I think the chance of being knocked unconscious is very slim. For kayaking expeditions, river canoeing with small rapids or fishing inland lakes I think this PFD would be Ideal. Where did you try it on REI? Better yet, always bring a buddy who can swim well!
Click to expand...

Type III PFD's are good for use when your on calm inland waters and there is a good chance that yopu won't be in too long and/or will likely be rescued quickly. That's why type III is referred to as a flotation aid as opposed to a offshore life jacket (type I) or nearshore bouyant vest (type II). The major downside to a type III is that you will need to tilt your head back in order to keep your face up ergo keeping you alive. If you are injured, or face prohibitive conditions this may not be possible. Type II's and I's are progressively (I is better than II) better in regards to keeping your face up. I'm glad that you decided to avoid the ever popular CO2 units which are totally inefective if you can't activate the cartridge or if the mechanism fails.

I have canoed in a type II- it was doable, a type III would have definetely been more comfortable, allowed for better performance.
 
mp510 said:
I'm glad that you decided to avoid the ever popular CO2 units which are totally inefective if you can't activate the cartridge or if the mechanism fails.

I have canoed in a type II- it was doable, a type III would have definetely been more comfortable, allowed for better performance.
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I agree, the CO2 types we use in the navy are only good when you have 30 or so people standing on deck during line-handling evolutions to rescue you if you fall over board. While more comfortable, They are of little value for a canoer or knayaker where there is much more chance of tipping - and you could put yourself in danger with this PFD if for some reason it doesn't inflate.
 
keep it brightly coloured, throw a starflash mirror, a whistle, a sea dye marker and a personal recovery line (that little rope with the carabiner on the end) in there, and youll be alright.
 
Howdy all. I just recieved this one as a present.(I picked it out)

http://www.stohlquist.com/dyn_prod.php?k=29467&p=STO5205.

I love it. It rides alot higher than it looks in the pic. I mainly paddle sit-on-top ocean style kayaks off the coast of NorCal, fishing, feediving and a little wave surfing, but also paddle the local rivers and do multi day campouts This vest is perfect for me. I barley even notice it. It has a small amount of storage in the two front pockets, plenty for the essentials. I looked at that fishing vest and it didint seem like it would be very comfortable in a kayak.

Matt
 
cucharadedragon said:
Codger, I'll look into that. Do you have any stores that you recommend? There is one that I go to quite a bit called The Packrat but I was never looking for PFD's so I'm not sure what they have. I hope the Arkansas Canoe Club has some kind of kid or family oriented stuff because I always include them in my outings.
Click to expand...

I've been away from Central Arkansas and the Buffalo River in NW Arkansas for too many years now, so I can't even be sure my old haunts are still there. Back in the early/mid seventies, I spent a lot of time and money with Ozark Outdoor Supply in Little Rock. Whitewater is quite popular in NW Arkansas, as are paddlesports in general, so I can't imagine a real outdoor store there not including such supplies in their inventory. ACC does has officially sponsored classes and events, and many informal events are arranged through their website. There is also a link to all the major river gages, and some great outfitters are members. Yes, they cater to all age and experience levels.

http://www.arkansascanoeclub.com/

http://www.ozarkoutdoor.com/

http://www.packrat.biz/water.html
 
Type I, type II, type III, floatation aide....I'm glad that I asked the question. Looks like there's a lot more to picking a floatation device than I knew and a lot more to think about surviving that putting a few survival items in some extra pockets.
 
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