Best PFD - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

jorluivil · 07-02-2012, 11:10 AM

The best PFD is the one that saves your life.

There's quite a few out there but don't choose storage over comfort. I wear my PFD between 8-10 hrs a day so for me comfort is far more important than what I can store in it.

mtnbykr2 · 07-02-2012, 11:23 AM

storage should be later on the list, when choosing a PFD that hopefully
will never have to be utilized...I had one that was way too heavy and hot, I got a new one last Christmas, on my annual trip to BPS, and I wore it around the store for like an hour and a half before I decided it felt good enough for me...
quite humorous really, I can imagine how dorky I looked sitting in different seats and the floor with the PFD on, and walking around the store with it on, trying to decide what other stuff I needed at the time....

RockyRaab · 07-02-2012, 02:04 PM

I only fish freshwater, so perhaps my needs differ. I found an unused but pre-owned manual inflation PFD on eBay and love it. No pockets for a radio or anything, but I don't need that.

I can heartily recommend the manual inflation type; they are lightweight, not bulky, are completely open in back, and won't go off unless and until you want them to. You DO have to be conscious to activate them, please note.

jorluivil · 07-02-2012, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockyRaab

I only fish freshwater, so perhaps my needs differ. I found an unused but pre-owned manual inflation PFD on eBay and love it. No pockets for a radio or anything, but I don't need that.

I can heartily recommend the manual inflation type; they are lightweight, not bulky, are completely open in back, and won't go off unless and until you want them to. You DO have to be conscious to activate them, please note.

Fresh water or saltwater, don't get comfortable just because you're in a lake and not in an open ocean. As a matter of fact, there are more drowning in freshwater than in saltwater. Those inflatable pfd's are cool but you have to remember to replace the co2 cans, an empty or faulty co2 can is about as good as a regular pfd that sits stored away in your kayak. Furthermore, if for any reason the inflated bags get punctured you're screwed. Don't take a chance on safety and please, please, please, I beg you.......don't be a cheap ass when it comes to things that can save your life.

07-02-2012, 11:10 AM	#1
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	The best PFD is the one that saves your life. There's quite a few out there but don't choose storage over comfort. I wear my PFD between 8-10 hrs a day so for me comfort is far more important than what I can store in it. __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

07-02-2012, 11:23 AM	#2
mtnbykr2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: newbury park ca Posts: 2,323	storage should be later on the list, when choosing a PFD that hopefully will never have to be utilized...I had one that was way too heavy and hot, I got a new one last Christmas, on my annual trip to BPS, and I wore it around the store for like an hour and a half before I decided it felt good enough for me... quite humorous really, I can imagine how dorky I looked sitting in different seats and the floor with the PFD on, and walking around the store with it on, trying to decide what other stuff I needed at the time.... __________________

07-02-2012, 02:04 PM	#3
RockyRaab Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Utah Posts: 138	I only fish freshwater, so perhaps my needs differ. I found an unused but pre-owned manual inflation PFD on eBay and love it. No pockets for a radio or anything, but I don't need that. I can heartily recommend the manual inflation type; they are lightweight, not bulky, are completely open in back, and won't go off unless and until you want them to. You DO have to be conscious to activate them, please note.