Topic: Best Rescue PFD Posted: 09 May 2012 at 11:57am
I am in the market for a new PFD and figure it's time to step up to a Rescue PFD (and take a swiftwater course). I was looking at the Astral Greenjacket and the Stohlquist Descent, but am open to other suggestions. I tried on the Descent at Kayak Academy today and it seems to fit quite nicely with plenty of storage. In your opinion, what is the best rescue PFD? How does it perform in real life rescue situations? Does it have enough storage for equipment, tow tethers, etc.
Those are both good choices. I wear a green jacket and like it.
It fits very well and I think gives you more freedom of motion than other vests. On the other hand, it's not very floaty for a rescue vest.
There's not a ton of storage space but there's always been enough for my needs. I keep pin kit hardware in the side pockets, tether on the breakaway loop on the front, randoms in the front pocket.
I've jugged a rope on the full strength loop at the bottom. It blew out some stitching holding some foam in place but the loop was bomber. Haven't been vertically extracted in an emergency but would feel good about it after that experience. Then I sent the vest to Astral and they repaired the stitching for free and sent it back to me. Their customer service is awesome.
Dito what Sam said: I like the Kokatat Ronin. Low prifile. Never prefered Astrals, due to their "prosthetic beer gut" design. Sometimes I guy's gotta climb into a raft, or over some rock.
I'm also a fan of the Kokatat Ronin Pro. Enough storage, lots of flotation, maintains good dexterity and full range of motion. The least restrictive rescue PFD I've used.
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