Posts Tagged ‘kokatat’

Now the first thing we have to do is define whether that thing you wear to stay afloat in the water is called a Life Jacket, Life Vest or PFD (Personal Flotation Device.) Well, no we don’t. You can call it whatever you like. One thing is sure, wearing one, whatever it’s called, gives you a much better chance of survival in the water than simply depending on the fates or rescue by human loving dolphins. Read the rest of this entry »

And now a road connects the cul-de-sac
To the adjacent development
But there used to be trees stretching back
And there was no way through
- Cymbals Eat Guitars

So a friend noticed by new black Kokatat MSFit.. I actually left it in the box for a few days before I opened it.  I’m giddy as an 8 year old over it and so thankful Kokatat could make it happen.  Ah, now the thing is who do I refer people to who want a black MSfit of their own?  Sorry, but you knew that was  gonna happen! (What with slippery slopes and all that…)

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I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment’s gone
All my dreams, pass before my eyes, a curiosity
– kansas

It’s that time again.  The time where I can’t let another day go by without making one decision or another about my upcoming paddling adventure. This time of course,  it’s Scotland.  Some of it is easy enough.  Buy this, buy that, read this, read that.. take notes!  What is different is that with a little experience I’m trying to travel as lightly as I possibly can.  Traveling light is harder than you may think given my past BCU training.  You come to believe that anything less than everything is irresponsible. I still remember the days when I carried practically 2 weeks worth of gear just to teach a class because that’s what a “hard core” coach did. Or at least I thought so.  Read the rest of this entry »

I don’t want to dissect everything today
I don’t mean to pick you apart you see
But I can’t help it
– Alanis Morissette

Some things are a matter of opinion.  Some things are just facts.  If you’ve followed my various adventures with PFDs over the years you’ll know I come to this fact with just a bit of resistance. When it comes to PFDs, Kokatat wins.  Sure other companies make some nice pfds for certain applications. Yet none of them seem to focus much on open water paddlers.  Here’s a simple test.. Who offers well a thought out VHF pocket on their PFD?  Well, who offers any sort of VHF pocket?  It’s such an odd thing to overlook you’d be tempted to call in Molder and Scully to root out the conspiracy.

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night falls on lake superior

Sleet is tapping on the glass outside my window. It’s cold and gray today. I took time to read a stack of paddler blogs today. Posted some inanities on twitter and fought with some code which in the end never did do what I wanted it to do. I fixed a setting that made you register to comment. (I don’t know how it changed, I killed it.) I answered a couple phone calls but felt incoherent. Finding words was like reading old English script backwards behind a glass of water. Gryphon’s been sick for days. I caught it last night.  Feeling dizzier than usual.  I have a fever coming on. I did my bit for the day. Lasted as long as I could. Now I simply want to crawl under the blankets like slipping beneath the surface of the sea, and sink to the bottom.

By the way, did you know that “Ronin” litterly means “drifting person”… I’m feelin it..

1. Safety strobe – usually worn attached to an attachment point on a back shoulder.
2. Knife – worn normally over the chest for quick access.
3. Mirror & Whistle – safety signaling devices
4. VHF Radio
5. Hand-held compass
6. Small First Aid Kit
7. Small repair kit
8. Rescue Stirrup
9. Flairs or flair gun
10. sugar/snack
11. nose plugs?

and pretty much everything needs to be attached to the vest either with Velcro or with a short lanyard. (no, not the repair/rescue kits). None of this stuff is any good if it goes floating off in event of a swim.

There are a few guide/rescue vests that have more storage area but then you often give up the features you enjoy in a more standard vest. Last year Northwater came up with a good idea in their mesh “guidevest” that you wear over your PFD, but to be honest I was taken back by the price. In addition I get concerned with another set of zips, arm holes, mesh, straps and do-dads to get caught up in. Too much bulk.

So. . . if you’ve actually read this far you are probably wondering what I’m using. Ok, since YOU asked. . . I chose the Kokatat MsFit Tour. Designed originally for women, the “Ms” vests have found a market in the non-v shaped male audience. In addition they did a good job with gear pockets, pouches, and attachment points on the MsFit Tour. Yes, I’d like another pocket here or there, and reflective material on the shoulders but all-in-all this is a nice PFD. In addition I wear a Lotus EFT Pack which allows you to have water on-the-go as well as carry some of your gear with little impact on comfort. You can also add a Lotus “Whip-it” to your vest which hill give you one more pocket again without much impact.

Hopefully now you are completely confused and are ready to give up the sport of kayaking which leaves more open water for me. (Ah-ha, secret motives. . .) If not, just wait for my next post. (drum beat please) The main points again are choosing a vest that fits well, keeps you afloat and carries all your gear. Don’t drag that ratty old orange PFD out of your canoe and put it under a deck bungee. Get a decent PFD and ware it all the time. Even while driving to work in your rusty but loved 1979 Subaru wagon. . . .

- dm