Power Kite Forum - Impact Vests and Life Jacket

Impact Vests and Life Jacket

shaggs2riches - 23-4-2010 at 09:10 PM

So got thinking today of chances of getting hurt bad in the water after watching some vids this afternoon. Do many fellas wear some sort of life jacket when out in the water, or do they just give er all. I can swim for sure last checked could tread water decent but never while trying to fly a kite. I was thinking too that if something happened where you got hurt enough that you might want the added comfort of a life jacket. Is there any kiting specific life jackets or should I just get a regular one. Thought about an impact vest but wasn't sure if they added much with flotation. Any help is as always appreciated.

Thanks
Shaggs

dylanj423 - 23-4-2010 at 09:35 PM

i used an impact vest harness... not much float to it, but impact protection for sure... i stopped using it because i like a waist harness better... i am trying to sell mine if you want it... its a dakine impact vest harness with bar size large... $100 USD shipped to canada if you want it

macboy - 23-4-2010 at 11:13 PM

I've resigned myself to the fact that I don't have nearly the right delta shape to my body to have a waist harness that doesn't actually turn into a chest harness so I've stuck with and become comfortable with a seat harness. That said it allows me to wear a Jet Pilot standard life jacket without the two interfering with eachother.

I wear the life jacket and a helmet and won't use a board leash - got the GoJoe board float thing which works well but really you don't really need it either - in the right winds the board catches enough wind to drift back to you and if it overshoots you, just body drag to it.

I imagine one day I might lose the life jacket but for me it's not a fashion show. Once you're 100 feet out nobody can see what you're wearing anyway.

Hmmm.......drag out 100 feet and ride naked? Cheaper sure, and we don't have to worry about jellyfish on our inland lakes :lol:

highazakite - 23-4-2010 at 11:56 PM

I find my kayaking life jacket works pretty good for kiting. The sides are free of padding for your arms to have free movement. Also seems to fit with my waist harness rather well. Ive spent enough time tubing behind a boat to know the water can hit hard and sometimes you want to "come to" so to say on top of the water. In northern cali the ocean is mean cold most of the year, the life jacket is some more thermal insulation.. I will wear a life jacket in my learning to kitesurf.

well sorry im no pro but you did ask for any help

arkay - 24-4-2010 at 12:19 AM

I use a fusion seat harness and oneil impact vest. The advantage of thelife jacket is that it will float you and keep your head up. In my salt water my wet suit + impact vest is plenty to keep me afloat, but won't always keep my head up. I wear the impact vest over a coast guard approved life jacket mostly for the fit. If you do go the life jacket route then you probably want a seat harness as a waist harness will not fit over it well.

For big falls the Impact vest is nice but if you are not catching big air or trying tofreestyle then it not needed. But I encourage extra flotation Inany form!

acampbell - 24-4-2010 at 04:05 AM

yeah I have a health issue requiring flotation and I found this....

http://www.live2kite.com/mystic-razor-float-p-760.html

...cut to ride above a waist harness

shaggs2riches - 24-4-2010 at 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by acampbell
yeah I have a health issue requiring flotation and I found this....

http://www.live2kite.com/mystic-razor-float-p-760.html

...cut to ride above a waist harness

This seems like it will do quite nicely. I have a Dakine fusion and this will work out well. Does the sizing work by measuring around chest or did you find that if you go by jacket size that it should be good enough? Guess I will have to include the extra layer of a 5/4 wet suit as I plan to be out in the fall and early spring like my buddy has been for the past month. Thanks guys.

acampbell - 24-4-2010 at 08:06 AM

They run by jacket sizes but Mystic stuff runs snug so go larger if you are near the border of sizes

tobytobsen - 25-4-2010 at 01:19 AM

If you are really looking for both a lifejacket and an impact vest - A lot of people over here recommend the "CAMARO Armour Vest" - which is an Impact vest with floatation almost like a life jacket. When I will go on the water, I really want to buy one of these - i think impact and floatation arte two things you really want.

Here is a link:
http://www.camaro.at/en/surfen_kiten/prallschutzwesten/966_9...

Price is about 120€:
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380226...

AD72 - 25-4-2010 at 06:06 PM

I have a Mystic Force D3o Impact vest that I have 2 water lessons worth of time on so far and I like it. It does not have any buckles or zippers so there is nothing to catch on lines or bust open. My Firestarter waist harness goes over it. The vest actually helps prevent the waist harness from going up into my ribs. It provides a bit of flotation when I have worn it with a 5/3 wetsuit but is not a life vest.

I was also looking at a Neil Pryde impact/vest. It offers the most floatation of any kiteboarding vest.

tobytobsen - 25-4-2010 at 09:33 PM

That NP vest does not look like it would offer much protection - for the sides for example.

Looks more like a normal KB Lifevest.

dylanj423 - 25-4-2010 at 10:32 PM

if i had to choose between impact vest or life vest for water... life vest every time...

if you need the flotation its too late to change your mind... nothing life having to swim a couple hundred yards when your tired as hell with no float... scary

dave brown - 26-4-2010 at 05:00 AM

I use O'neill Checkmate Wakeboard Vesta with a seat harness.

I have used a lifejacket in the past. The main problem with a lifejacket is that it floats you on your back. That is good if you're hurt but bad when you are trying to drag back to your board.

cheers

dave brown - 26-4-2010 at 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dave brown
I use O'neill Checkmate Wakeboard Vesta with a seat harness.

I have used a lifejacket in the past. The main problem with a lifejacket is that it floats you on your back. That is good if you're hurt but bad when you are trying to drag back to your board.

cheers

PHREERIDER - 26-4-2010 at 05:49 AM

the harnesses l have used all have flotation

chest harness by cabrinah, too much of everything, bulky felt like a body cast. certainly ample float.

prolimit seat, plenty of float, impact protection zero . 2mile swim in the ocean with this one.

SK WAIST ( much like any waist harness) marginal float, zero impact protection.

i use a regular fitted vest sometimes if its super nasty high winds with raging ocean. goes over waist splitting the buckles very secure. with a seat works perfect. i don't use it much, i have added it for the insulation at times. certainly comforting on offshore runs .

the regular vest and the seat are great combination.

a smaller vest for waist set up like the camaro or the mystic razor sounds ideal. i really should add one of these.

acampbell - 26-4-2010 at 05:54 AM

Try my Mystic Razor at JIBE

it will be next to the Roo Scarers

BeamerBob - 26-4-2010 at 08:18 AM

I am in to kayaking and have a kayak vest that offers quite a bit of flotation and it all gets out of the way. Very adjustable straps in every direction allows adjustments to fit from drysuit with clothing down to a rash guard. I might look into some of those roo scarers to put on my kiteboard..............

indigo_wolf - 26-4-2010 at 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BeamerBob
I might look into some of those roo scarers to put on my kiteboard..............

Cause you just never know do you......

ATB,
Sam

shaggs2riches - 30-4-2010 at 03:46 PM

Nice Kangaroo rescue!!

Thanks for all the help and advice guys much appreciated. :bigok: So I ended up ordering my first wetsuit, board and life vest yesterday. Here's what I got:

09 Airush Switch 144
http://www.silentsports.com/store/product/22928/09-Airush-Sw...
NPX ASSASSIN 5/4/3 Semi-Dry
http://www.silentsports.com/store/product/21071/NPX-Assassin...
NP High Hook Vest Size M-L
http://www.silentsports.com/store/product/7436/NP-High-Hook-...
Ocean Rodeo Cold Fire 3mm Gloves and 5mm Boots
http://www.oceanrodeo.com/kiting/gloves
http://www.oceanrodeo.com/kiting/boots

I ended up getting a 2008 Ocean Rodeo hood as they were all out of new ones but I'm sure it will work fine. Everything shipped came out to under $890 cad. I go the boots and gloves today, the rest will come early next week. With any luck I will be out for my first water session before next weekend. Can't wait now I won't be the only person left playing on the shore, when my buddy if having a blast on the water. Again thanks guys for the help , gave me great assistance.

shaggs