I have been hunting for a PFD that works well for kitesurfing for a while.
Most people don't wear them (most skiiers, climbers and skaters never used to wear helmets either) because most of them are really restrictive and if you never badly crash your kite way out deep you don't need them. Problem is, I have crashed my kite way out deep or had massive gear failure way too many times to not want to wear one. I kinda like being able to float and pay attention to my kite, not trying to breath.
There seems to be very very few on the market, and I havn't seen any in Australia. I know Mystic have a couple OS that look good (see pic of the treasure), and I looked up a few on an older post of PDF vs impact vests, but they are all sold OS, not here. Plus they are all more impact vests than flotation
. I want both.www.camaro.at/en/kiten/prallschutzwesten/963_99.php
www.dakine.com/
I have been wearing a high end whitewater vest for a few years which works well for a seat harness, but wont work with a waist harness. I want more flotation than the impact vests give (plus its marine law that we are all meant to wear PFD's in most states and they will eventually enforce it).
-Does anyone know where I can get them in Australia
-Has anyone worn any of them and can you give me some pointers on any that are good
-Do ANY of them meet the Australian standard, and actually comply as a PFD?
-And I want it to look good (my whitewater one sucks in that regard)
Come on Summer Seabreeze's!
Mark.
LF has both floatation as well as impact vests in their range. Impact vests is not officially pfd classed but it does give floatation to a degree. Floatation range are official classed pfds.
You can view impact vests at: liquidforcekites.com
floatation ones at www.liquidforce.com/vests_mens.htm.
There is also the Masterline range available in Australia: www.masterlineaustralia.com.au/buoyancy/
Thanks for the info.
The Masterline jackets don't look like they would work with a waist harness unless you tried putting it over the top. They look more like a wakeboarding style vest than a kiting specific one that allows for a harness??
The liquid force CGA approved vest liquidforcekites.com looks like an option, thanks for the tip, but is it available in Australia?
The links posted didn't seem to work on my browser if they were aussie sites.
Has anyone worn these vests?
I thought some states in Australia now enforced the PFD rule? What do they wear?
Yes, with some of the floatation vests they will have to go over the harness to fit. The impact vests it will go under. The link should work now, had a extra comma on the end before.
Yes, CGA is US coast guard, not Australian standard. They don't comply as being a PFD, but they do meet the standard they just havnt been tested. If there is not any tested in Australia I would go for that, but I was hoping there were some tested here.
Yes, I have the best kayaking jacket for kitesurfing. There are a lot of high end jackets that work well with a seat harness, but I have not found any that work well with a waist harness.
From my understanding the Mystic treasure is designed to be worn with a waist harness, as is the camero jacket. Plus dakine and camero sell waist harnesses built into a float jacket that I think is CGA (again not aussie).
My current jacket is CGA, not aussie :) I don't know what the numbers are for lift, but its a lot more than any impact vest I have tried. I will have a look at some of the more floaty impact vests, but I am really after a PFD, or if not tested, the US or European equivalent.
I have the Jet Pilot vest which is classed in the states. It works fine with my seat harness (Dakine Fusion) and I've worn it with my waist harness (north) and while it worked ok it needs an "alteration" to work a bit better.
I have the A10 - though from the looks of the website there not Approved by the USCG any more. (I'll check mine I'm pretty certain it is and that's why I got it)
I'm not sure if I'd drop the coin on it if you where going to do what I'm hoping/planing/thinking of doing, I've had mine for 3+ years now.
I was just going to put a hook hole in it under the buckle - so make insision, remove foam, close opening edges with tread neddle and cut outs. Sounds easy doens't it 
(I don't condone any comments I make that pertain to altering gear - if you chose to do so it's of your own accord)
I wouldn't be too hung up on getting a rated PFD.
I have a REALLY old bump and jump that is as daggy as sh!te but offers just enough float (and protection) to stay out of trouble. It is not a PFD but I reckon it helps keep your head up a fair bit when getting dragged etc. Reassuring in sticky situations for sure.
Hey,
windgear warehouse http://www.windgear.com.au/detail.htm?ProductID=5SJ18ONED010
sell a gaastra dingy sailing jacket almost identical to that mistique one you showed a pick of.
it sells for $80 at the moment.
ps i don't work for them but i do own one i use for teaching people to water ski/wakeboard on inland lakes where you need the buoyancy if your learning. good non restrictive jacket doesn't ride up and sits high in your back (for a harness)
