What’s weird in our world? Ha! Where to start! I’ll take the blame for my weirdness. . . .

Confession number one; I often sit in a steaming hot bath with the shower running as well. . . . I love the total immersion in water. No real surprise I suppose. So somewhere shrinking in the hot vapour I was thinking that we should stop electing members to the House and Senate of the US and instate a draft instead. If you’re 18 years old or older and hold a drivers license, If you have no criminal record, and have not served in the last 10 years your name can be drawn to serve. . . As Jesus is quoted in the Bible at Luke 4:24 (depending on translation) “No prophet is recognized in his hometown (country). . ” So maybe selection by popular vote is missing the best candidates or at the very least, balanced representation. But then that’s why I don’t talk to folks about politics. I have weird ideas.

So I promised I would talk a bit of PFDs and this is the post. You know there are a lot of them out there (PFD’, not weirdos. . . I’ve moved on now. Please keep up.) and as we always say in the kayak world, “it’s all a matter of personal choice”. This is very true. What someone may wear in a 9 foot otter “on golden pond” as a friend put it recently, is certainly not going to be the same as what I would wear in an 18 foot NDK 3 miles offshore. The amount of gear you carry on your person will weigh heavily on your choice as well (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). Another factor to think about is your body shape. If like me, you do not have a long ‘V’ shaped torso many PFDs will ride up no matter what you do. For some of us finding a comfortable vest can be a real chore. And lest we forget, not wearing a PFD is NOT AN OPTION. Nothing ticks me off more than some lunk-head taking a child out fishing without PFDs on!

When shopping for a PFD, first look for a Coast Guard Approved Type III vest. Often you can also locate a high or low floatation profile which will tell you how high your head and shoulders will be held above the water (depending on weight and fit). Some popular kayaking PFD makers to look at are Lotus, Astral & Kokatat. There are many others as well, but these choices will start you looking in the right direction. Also don’t order your PFD online or from a catalog until you’ve had a chance to try it on. Fit is everything when it comes to a choosing the proper PFD for you.

The big thing about fit is that you want a PFD that is comfortable and does not ‘ride-up’ to strangle you. The easiest way to check this is to put the vest on, strap it down tightly but comfortably, and then put your thumbs under the shoulder straps and try to lift the vest back over your head. If you feel it catching on your chin, or shoulder straps easily coming over your ears, then the vest is coming to high. You may just need to readjust it. However if that does not help try moving on to another size or type. Also consider the clothing you will be wearing. Even with re-adjustments a vest that seems fine over a t-shirt may not fit correctly over your drysuit or fall and winter gear.

Color is often an issue of choice although you will not be legal with a blue PFD in Canada. Obviously yellow and red will be easier to see so be sure to take this into account when you are weighing safety against fashion concerns.

Many of the PFDs you will see these days are fairly small compared to a few years back and put most of their bulky floation over your chest and belly and in the back. The sides are left open for mobility. When comparing PFDs keep in mind as well that you have to sit down in these things. You do not want them too long or too have much bulk in the lower back or belly. A vest like the Extrasport Ranger is fantastic but not likely to be comfortable in a sea kayak. Luckily for us and to the credit of talented designers, every year it seems PFD floatation is getting smaller and more form fitting. NRS has a new vest called the “Hustle” which looks great. The Lotus Deepwater has completely removed floatation from the lower back which is another good example. The down side is they often don’t take into account the gear a sea kayaker would carry on their person.

Which brings me to the next big issue, “a place for all your stuff”! Most PFDs today are designed for day trippers and have very little space for your gear. I’ve been surprised manufacturers have not made a quick call to a couple sea kayakers and found out what they need to carry on them. The list is fairly universal. Let’s take a look at the gear you may carry on your PFD;