PFD reccomendation

[chirotrout]

My PFD is bulky and compresses too much around my massively muscular chest...not my beer belly. What PFD do you wear/suggest that allows your room to paddle, yet keeps you above water if you turtle?

[Slackdaddy]

Everyone (person) is shaped different, plus the seat on the yak has a lot to do with it. Your not going to be happy with the low end junk at the box stores.
Hate to say it, but REI or a paddle shop, gotta try it on Sitting in your yak model.

Slack

[ictalurus]

Both my PFDs are discontinued, so I don't have a good recommendation. I prefer the ones with the mesh backs, and I don't like having a lot of buckles or pockets on the front because they tend to get hung up on re-entry. I also like some sort of waist strap under the zipper so I can cinch that down and loosen up the sides to make it more comfortable, but it won't come up over my head when I hit the water.

The one I use most often is similar to this one, but it was less than half the price:
http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.a...0&pdeptid=2130

My father has one similar to this:
http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.a...1&pdeptid=2130

He's 6' ~210lbs and pretty barrel-y, but it works for him. His version was made by Patagonia, though.

[DOGFISH]

I must say, I don't wear one in the summer. I know bad. Just too hot. I keep the Osprey type that I have, just behind the seat. In the colder months, when wearing waders and more clothes, I wear an inflatable.

[missedshed]

I forget the name of mine but it's a whitewater kayaking PDF. It only has padding on the lower chest area and back with stretchy staps that go over my shoulders. It's very light and has alot of manuverbility in it. I don't even know I have it on. It does work great as it is intended for.... Swam on many times whitewater kayaking.... Never really had my roll down.... So I swam alot.

[surfdog]

My PFD is bulky and compresses too much around my massively muscular chest...not my beer belly. What PFD do you wear/suggest that allows your room to paddle, yet keeps you above water if you turtle?

ha ha you need to go to the mens dept not the kids section for you pfd. i used to have a soloquist mesh top but it was too hot, if its not comfortable and dont wear it, it cant save your life. now i wear an inflatable belt manual inflate, not hot and wear it every time im on the water. i also have an auto inflatable vest that i wear sometimes.

[mmanolis2001]

My PFD is bulky and compresses too much around my massively muscular chest...not my beer belly. What PFD do you wear/suggest that allows your room to paddle, yet keeps you above water if you turtle?

Ah you have the same problem as me. Its tough being so buff.

I went with a NRS Chinook but its a bulky vest with all the pockets in front. It is surprisingly comfy and does not hamper me while paddling and it floats me like a cork.

I might look into a manual inflatable vest next year as my large muscular (cough: chubby) frame is prone to sweating in the summer heat.

[dhmjd]

I use a mustang auto inflate. If I get run over by some idiot boater I want to float! I clip a PLB, flare pack (mirror, whistle etc) marine radio and c-light to it. The radio and PLB goes in pants pocket attached to straps of vest by lanyard. Very comfortable.

[Grilled]

i use the stohlquist asea. it has a halfback so its pretty comfortable with the kayak seat

[Grilled]

forgot the pic

[jsquare]

Out of curiosity, how much water does it take to set off one of the auto inflating PFDs? I'd imagine it would take more than a splash from a big wave. And where do you get the supplies to recharge one after it does go off?

[surfdog]

forgot the pic

thats the 1 i had. the auto inflate opens as soon as its submerged if its splashed or rained on it wont inflate. id wear the auto if i was going to tool around IRI or OC with all the nut case boaters around. PA boaters are the same on the water as they are on the road no offence