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wetcanoedog
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02/26/2017 02:42PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
needing a new PFD I have been looking around the web and a couple local gear stores.
what I want is something with pockets I can put a few ditch kits items in.
I never take chances going out on bad water or run rapids so an average vest like my old one will work out fine.
I found this on Ebay.
red of course and with a big float fill collar it should help hold my head up.
the hood is something I have not seen on PFD before and will come in handy
once ashore to keep my head warmer while I get a fire going.
I go to the BW in fair weather,no really early spring or late fall trips so if I did
end up in the lake it would be like a cold swim.
the XXlarge size will work for me.
I don't want to put anyone on the spot one way or another but any feed back
would be welcome.


from China at around $25. from the real detail photos on Ebay
it seems to be well made with the sort of plastic straps and buckles
you find on packs.i would not take this on a big river trip in Canada.
click on the blue one for a big picture.




 
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Whatsit
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02/26/2017 08:15PM  
Hi Wetcanoedog
I asked a fellow member on here about two weeks ago about a pfd on eBay. I think it was Butthead (Ken)
Here's what he told me. You really need to put them on to make sure they fit right. I'm glad I listened. I found what I thought was a really nice one on eBay but after Kens advise I went to basspro and found an excellent one. They were all on sale this last week. I then packed mine based on your YouTube video. Thanks by the way :-)
How did yours get stollen? Where were you that someone could come into your camp without you knowing? And which lake were you on? What kind of person comes to the bwca and steals a guys pfd?
Mike
 
wetcanoedog
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02/26/2017 10:32PM  
Mike I told the tale a couple times but in short I stopped at Lake Pauness rather than keep on to Loon because the weather report was for two days of bad storms.
the Pauness camp is huge with lots of woods and shore to explore.being stuck in a small camp ,like I had been before,really takes the edge out of camping.
the camp had a large rock face looking right down lake and two landings on either side of the point.the best camp is on the left in a pine glade and the other tent site is on top of the point in more of a plain view.i have a habit of leaving my red PFD out to mark my camp so other trippers don't do a lot of paddling only to find a used site.
maybe i'm out of line to say it was ripped off and the person who took it just saw it as a "find" but I had gear in view.i was sleeping late ,9:00, and just out of the tent for a look at the weather when I saw that solo person making for the river mouth.
this is not the first PFD I have had taken.many years ago I was camped on North Bay in the Q and had my canoe,paddles and vest pulled up out of view on the island I was on.
late in the day I heard a "clunk" of paddle on aluminum and a voice say "someones up there" and a response "i know". next AM I found my PFD gone with all the ditch kit gear.
I had a lot in that one.i put metal snaps on the pockets to replace the Velcro.
if you have ever seen a tan four pocket vest with three silver snaps on each pocket,ITS MINE!!!


 
02/27/2017 12:04PM  
If you are looking for a pfd with pockets:

NRS Chinook

You can't go wrong with this, and you are potentially betting your life on it.... are you sure you want something without a recognizable name behind it?
 
02/27/2017 01:22PM  
Am I reading this right?
Not sure I would trust my life to something from China for 25 bucks.

US Coast Guard Life Jackets

Check out this link to US Coast Guard life Jackets.
 
02/27/2017 08:15PM  
quote LindenTree3: "Am I reading this right?
Not sure I would trust my life to something from China for 25 bucks.


US Coast Guard Life Jackets


Check out this link to US Coast Guard life Jackets."


Yes make sure it is Coast Guard approved. Don't chimp on money for one of your most important items and make sure it is comfortable so you wear it.
 
OBX2Kayak
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02/27/2017 09:01PM  
quote Pinetree: "
quote LindenTree3: "Am I reading this right?
Not sure I would trust my life to something from China for 25 bucks.



US Coast Guard Life Jackets



Check out this link to US Coast Guard life Jackets."



Yes make sure it is Coast Guard approved. Don't chimp on money for one of your most important items and make sure it is comfortable so you wear it."


+1 A lifejacket is not something to skimp on.
 
ozarkpaddler
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02/28/2017 08:03AM  
One thing I've noted over the years is that PFD's with a collar will chafe you if in the summertime when you're wearing lighter, often collarless shirts. My winter Mustang PFD has a collar, but it never touches my neck because I have extra layers on.

It's REALLY rare to find a PFD that fits well without trying it on first. And a PFD is of no use in your seat or the bottom of the boat.
 
02/28/2017 08:36AM  
PFD
 
QueticoMike
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02/28/2017 09:01AM  
quote OBX2Kayak: "
quote Pinetree: "
quote LindenTree3: "Am I reading this right?
Not sure I would trust my life to something from China for 25 bucks.



US Coast Guard Life Jackets



Check out this link to US Coast Guard life Jackets."




Yes make sure it is Coast Guard approved. Don't chimp on money for one of your most important items and make sure it is comfortable so you wear it."



+1 A lifejacket is not something to skimp on."


+2......... same with rain gear
 
wetcanoedog
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02/28/2017 11:03PM  

i'll test this out well before my BW trip.the cheap China thing got to me too but i'll give it a try.
 
BigCurrent
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03/01/2017 08:34AM  
I'm going to assume this will go in the 'you get what you pay for' category, but you never know. I purchased a knock-off folding table from ebay 2 years ago and its been great with zero problems from a quality standpoint.
 
BuckFlicks
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03/01/2017 10:52AM  
I have this PFD, and I really like it. It's comfortable, sturdy, and has great pockets. I'm a big guy and the 2x fit very nicely.

Kokatat Bahia PFD
 
zski
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03/01/2017 04:18PM  
quote LindenTree3: "Am I reading this right?
Not sure I would trust my life to something from China for 25 bucks.
US Coast Guard Life Jackets
Check out this link to US Coast Guard life Jackets."

25 bucks and stuffed with open cell foam?
 
wetcanoedog
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03/02/2017 06:34PM  
zski..where did you find out it was filled with shredded foam?!!!
 
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