Whitewater Forum: Best Rescue PFD

Best Rescue PFD

Printed From: ProfessorPaddle.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11998
Printed Date: 15 Jun 2025 at 12:41pm

Topic: Best Rescue PFD

Posted By: sbeck206
Subject: Best Rescue PFD
Date 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.

Thanks!

Replies:

Posted By: phil
Date Posted: 09 May 2012 at 12:21pm

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.

Posted By: PaddleGirl
Date Posted: 09 May 2012 at 1:10pm

I don't like the side pockets on the Astral since they come unzipped, at least on mine, which is a few years old. Other than that, I like it.

Haven't tried the others.

Posted By: Sam_Graftton
Date Posted: 09 May 2012 at 1:17pm

I like the Kokatat Ronin Pro. It's a low profile vest and I think it has 1 more pound of buoyancy than the Green Jacket.

Posted By: jP
Date Posted: 09 May 2012 at 7:34pm

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.

Posted By: WA-Boater
Date Posted: 10 May 2012 at 7:54am

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.

I've got one in good shape I'd sell ya for $110.

Darren

253 549three945

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Posted By: sbeck206
Date Posted: 10 May 2012 at 1:40pm

Big thanks to everyone for all the info. I decided on the Ronin Pro, can't wait to give it a try next weekend!

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