PFD Flotation, Fit, and Types | Safety + Rescue Series

[@SnowRafter]

Since starting Gear Garage watching, I have suggested to so many friends to wear higher float PFDs and I have received many "thank you's" in the last year. Thanks!

[@GearGarageTV]

I'm so glad to hear that!

[@bikebum2006]

I'll give up the Green Jacket when there is a rafting-specific PFD with adequate pockets. But for now, I love the storage. I love the Green Jacket PFD.

[@patlorch8478]

Right on Zack. No corrections from me. Like you, I have more than 5 PFDs. Some type 5s for Search and Rescue and white water canoeing. I love how clean the new NRS big water vests are. I wear them when I’m a raft passenger and don’t have to carry a radio.

[@GearGarageTV]

That's nice to hear. Thanks for the comment!

[@BretSmith777]

I have used the evil rescue pfd tether many times kayaking to grab equipment (in safe water/after the rapids)... and I have had a friend just hold the tether while on shore .... reaching out over fast current to rig a line for raft rescue. With that, I have removed it and now I'm using your guide sling/flip line method instead. Thanks for all the tips.

[@GearGarageTV]

I'm not sure I'd call it "evil" but for rafters I personally think it's "overrated" and possibly "unnecessary"

[@BretSmith777]

@@GearGarageTV I was joking a bit... you and Wade Harrison both suggested getting away from the tether... I did jump into a raft to help someone out of jam and the oar got caught my tether.... not good.

[@patrickh621]

Anecdote from last week's intro-to-ww-kayaking-rescue-course: Chap in our group, wearing a rescue PFD that probably was top notch - last century. Tow tether as a badge of competence. Loose or no lower belt at all. First thing when he was the swimmer at the "throw the rope to the guy"-station: PFD rides up, shoulder straps at his ears. Later station, I was tethered to the rope, he was the swimmer: I really had a hard time to pull him with me because of the loose shoulder straps - had to wrap my feet/legs around him ...

[@dgrfsthrgsergwrtghasefq]

Who is giving a course like this and letting someone in the water with the lifejacket you described. Might want to reevaluate who you are taking a course from.

[@patrickh621]

@@dgrfsthrgsergwrtghasefq You are right. The organiser and the person in case knew each other, that might have played a role. Still, at least the guides at the respective stations could/should have intervened.

[@derichhofmann4667]

Would love to see you design a prototype of the perfect PFD for kayaking and another for rafting. The shoulder straps and the behind the shoulder (over the shoulder) area seem like under utilized places for small pockets. While it may look stupid, I’d be interested in trying a pfd similar to the Green Jacket that replaced the side pockets (hard to get stuff back into and zipped) with extra flotation there and place pockets on the shoulder straps behind the shoulder. This adds flotation lower (where it best improves overall body buoyancy) and improves pocket access.

[@GearGarageTV]

I did help design a PFD and have a prototype but the bureaucracy of the business killed the project

[@derichhofmann4667]

@@GearGarageTV regulatory or industry bureaucracy? Crowdsource funding potential?

[@GearGarageTV]

Mostly the company's bureaucracy but the regulatory part makes it hard too

[@scottsather602]

I riverboard and actually use the safety belt on rescue PFDS to get a super tight fit. I swim without board sometimes just for fun. I agree a little more flotation makes a huge difference. As someone who is always in the water, just bit extra possibly means one more breath before getting smacked by next wave or pulled under. I see way to many people not tightening their jackets enough and then swim only to have jacket ride up on them not float properly or able to get into swim positions easily.

[@GearGarageTV]

Great points!

[@matthewkramer5630]

Could I get your thoughts on leg straps? Especially for kids. I’ve gone back and forth on using thes to avoid the PFD coming off but worry about entrapment risk. GREAT video and I share your thoughts on raft specific gear. At 66 years old I am constantly looking for ways to be safer on the water and over the last 40 years have come to many of the same conclusions you promote. Well done.

[@GearGarageTV]

Leg straps are great - especially if you’re pear shaped

[@keithkvam1281]

Thank You!

[@NorthWoodsAmbient]

One of two times I've been on line in the river it almost got me killed. The other was on a v-lower which was a lot more controlled. I would do everything possible to never have to use that ring again.

[@GearGarageTV]

Thanks for sharing your perspective

[@b_gumm]

What are the d-rings on the front of the nrs jacket for?

[@GearGarageTV]

To attach a tow tether

[@chriscox4936]

In my experience most guides don't wear a type V pfd. So it's more likely that people didn't have that piece of equipment when they needed it than the other way around. Although it's clearly unlikely to be necessary I'm just confused about discouraging a piece of safety equipment.

[@GearGarageTV]

Can you give me an example of how a rescue harness is used by rafters for safety?

[@chriscox4936]

@@GearGarageTV I absolutely love you're content and wish more people would do the same. The answer is no. I don't think the question is can anyone provide an example of how it was used but rather can you imagine a scenario where a rescue harness would be used by rafters? I understand where and how it's commonly used but it's a minor piece of equipment that would potentially be available. Maybe I'm wrong but it just don't see the point in discouraging it.

[@GearGarageTV]

One reason to discourage it is that it doesn't release properly 25% of the time (study here www.whitewaterguidebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Quick-Release-Harness-paper-IJES.pdf). Would you use a carabiner or other piece of equipment that didn't work correctly 25% of the time?

[@chriscox4936]

@@GearGarageTV Well, no. And this is kinda my point. If a throw rope didn't throw rope twenty five percent of the time then it wouldn't really matter if you're using it for rafting or kayaking. It's just simply an unreliable and dangerous piece of equipment that shouldn't be used for almost anything. That being said it is a commonly used piece of rescue gear that doesn't pose a threat to the wearer. It's one thing to say it's probably isn't necessary for rafters in particular. I just don't understand why it would be discouraged.

[@GearGarageTV]

When you expect it to release and it doesn’t it’s dangerous. Additionally very few people have proper training on how to use them and continue to train with them if they do get training. They are potentially dangerous pieces of equipment that people with little or no training wear and have no business using in an actual rescue. Beyond that there are no documented cases that I know of a rafter using one to perform any type of recuse beyond equipment recovery.