By Paul Lebowitz

Grab the Right Design for On the Water Comfort
Kayak anglers are a bit like motorcycle riders. The government mandates minimum safety requirements that some of the tribe despise. And while motorcyclists are required to wear helmets, in the case of kayakers, the U.S. Coast Guard only insists that adults have a PFD – Personal Flotation Device – readily at hand. Whether to wear that thing or not is still a personal choice. Kids in California are another story. Anyone 11 years or younger must wear a PFD.

But what’s the use in carrying a PFD if you’re not going to wear it? If it’s your turn to swim, that PFD strapped down on the back deck won’t do any good. Do yourself a favor. Toss that bulky orange monstrosity from the big box store and get something built for paddling and fishing. If a PFD is comfortable, you’ll forget it’s even there. Check out these three high-tech stylin’ options:

Paddling Vest
Vest style PFDs for paddlesports offer generous space for moving arms and shoulders. The MTI Adventurewear Calcutta is an example of the category. MTI rep Lili Colby explained that their designers want the PFD to feel like part of the user’s body. “It should fit snuggly so it moves with you,” Colby said.   

MTI accessorized the Calcutta with features useful to kayak anglers. It features an all-person fit (90 to 300 lbs.), a hook resistant ripstop nylon shell, 5 big pockets, lash tab and D-rings, a pin-on retractor holder, and affordable pricing. www.mtiadventurewear.com

Inflatable PFDs
By far the lowest profile PFDs are the inflatable models. They sit easily over the shoulders, hardly noticeable until needed. Then a pull on a large yellow tab triggers the attached CO2 cartridge. Kayakers should opt for manual designs that won’t fire when splashed. The downside with these miniature models? No integral flotation.

The Stearns Ultra Inflatable manual PFD is a typical inflatable design. It features a high tenacity nylon shell and 22 lbs. of buoyancy when inflated. The CO2 inflation system is backed up with a manual inflation tube. www.stearnsinc.com

Mesh-Backed Vest
There’s more than one way to build a vest style PFD. Mesh-backed models do away with the lower back foam, substituting it for ventilation-enhancing mesh webbing. Another benefit is better fit for some kayaks when used with high-backed seats. The displaced floatation foam has to go somewhere, so the fronts of these vests are thicker than their full-backed counterparts. 

Kokatat’s newest mesh-backed PFD is the Bahia Tour. It offers a durable, mildew resistant nylon outer, multiple fit adjustments, electronics and bellows pockets, lash tabs, reflective piping, and reduced thickness front panels for improved comfort. www.kokatat.com