Simon Westgarth's Review of Palm Equipment's new FXr PFD

Whilst in New Zealand, Gene17kayaking's MD gives th slow down on the new Palm Equipment FXr PFD. Action footage from the Kaituna.

[@sme4969]

when reviewers get stuff for free of course it is the dogs danglies.. I'm not saying simon did i mean in general of anything that gets reviewed 😉😉🙂🙂 true reviews are from buyers.. . mine interferes with the rear on my kayay i feel its bulky at the bottom. i feel it should be wedge appearance, thicker padded at the top thinning at bottom for layback roll. most of the reviews are on dryland and worn by professional kayakers that are selling or are indorsed someway or other? do a boat and water review of it.. a pfd should put you on your back to keep the face of unconscious person out of the water..

[@SimonWestgarth]

Hmmm, I listened back through the review, and in essence I go over the product specification and the price, so it is not really a comprehensive review as such. The action footage indicates the PFD has great mobility too. It is important to point out whilst I had the prototype for comprehensive testing it is always satisfying to use the production garment especially when it turns out so stellar as the Palm FXr has done so. As to your personal experiences, from your posted videos, you tend to be in an inflatable kayak, which like rec kayaks often come with a higher back band than those in normal WW kayaks, perhaps that is the issue. The low profile floatation of the Palm FXr PFD is slight enough not to at all impede back deck rolls, they are the main stay of my own rolling. Still modern kayaks are ever deeper in the mid section and as such those with shorter torsos yet within the weight range may even feel the back of the cockpit or rear deck. Either shop around for a better fitting kayak, or lift your seating position to avoid such issues, are common solutions. And lastly, a traditional lifejacket is the only floatation device designed to float an unconscious swimmer, PFD's as worn by kayakers are to aid floatation of conscious swimmers. There are some PFD's for both rafting and commercial operations that may have more floatation on the front side of the garment, but these are for either beginner style operations or non-paddlers and not for white water kayaking. As to question my integrity in offering my opinion on the Palm FXr PFD, when thats poor form, given that Palm have relied on that for 30+ years in my involvement in their product development, yet every one is entitled to their opinion, and as I understand your post, all WW PFDs are not ideal for inflatable kayaking due to the high back band position.

[@sme4969]

no offence was meant simon.. thats why i said at the beging what i did in general across the board of reviews.. i paddle the ik and have no issue with the pfd fit wise it is snug it is a nice product for white water and maybe westernised style rolls, but not for inuit/greenland rolls well not for me anyway.. i paddle a 16ft sea kayak which is for the smaller kayaker and that is the pefect fit kayak for me, so rather shop around for pfd it will be bloody cheaper lol when i try to lay back there is to much lower back padding to lay back it feels like i have a fist in the lower back region that i have to arch over.. it maybe trial and error i will try no pfd so how far i can lean back on the rear deck of my kayak on dry land i mean ... ps:i did clicked thumb for your vid 😉🙂😄 i only thumb down on complete ass biscuit vids pmsl