09-22-2009, 05:16 PM
Just my 2c ...
Did you ever try putting on your safety belt during a car accident? I wear my PFD.
Inflatable life vests ... the auto inflate option sucks if you are close to the water. The toggle cord operated type is more suitable for tubers and waders. But I don't like inflatables. (maybe if the weather was hotter here [
] )
However: if you are in cold water you will find the inflatable vests are fine for keeping your lifeless body available and convenient for others to find. You have my best wishes and it was nice knowing you. Meanwhile I will have paddled ashore warm and snug in my padded vest. Have a look at the padded fly vest style buoyancy aids. They are not life jackets under coastguard rules since they do not have a crotch strap, neck buoyancy, and little whistle. But they keep you up so long as you yourself ensure it's face up, function as a fly vest, the foam padding is insulation, and most importantly are far more comfortable to wear, so you don't mind wearing them ... which takes us back to my first point []
I dress buoyant and for the water (not air) temperatures.
And like TD, I have never come remotely close to needing additional flotation of the PFD, but figure it's no harm to have it on me. Now if only all those sinkers and swivels I dropped overboard had had their own little PFDs I'd be wealthier today. [cool]
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Did you ever try putting on your safety belt during a car accident? I wear my PFD.
Inflatable life vests ... the auto inflate option sucks if you are close to the water. The toggle cord operated type is more suitable for tubers and waders. But I don't like inflatables. (maybe if the weather was hotter here [
] ) However: if you are in cold water you will find the inflatable vests are fine for keeping your lifeless body available and convenient for others to find. You have my best wishes and it was nice knowing you. Meanwhile I will have paddled ashore warm and snug in my padded vest. Have a look at the padded fly vest style buoyancy aids. They are not life jackets under coastguard rules since they do not have a crotch strap, neck buoyancy, and little whistle. But they keep you up so long as you yourself ensure it's face up, function as a fly vest, the foam padding is insulation, and most importantly are far more comfortable to wear, so you don't mind wearing them ... which takes us back to my first point [
] I dress buoyant and for the water (not air) temperatures.
And like TD, I have never come remotely close to needing additional flotation of the PFD, but figure it's no harm to have it on me. Now if only all those sinkers and swivels I dropped overboard had had their own little PFDs I'd be wealthier today. [cool]
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