No matter what type of paddling you are doing, and on what type of craft, your Buying your first buoyancy aid is one of the most important bits of safety kit you will carry. Even if you are attached to an inflatable paddleboard, you still need to be wearing some form of buoyancy aid. Just as paddleboards, kayaks, and canoe vary in style, features, and cost, buoyancy aid’s also do. From solid foam to self inflating, with many features in between, it is worth knowing what you are wanting from your buoyancy aid. So we talked to Nottingham local shop Flow Kayaks to ask about how you should go about buying your first buoyancy aid, what to look for, and what to avoid.
What its for?
What type of paddling are you planning on doing in it? Paddleboarding? Kayaking? Canoeing? This will determine the fit and type of buoyancy aid you are going to want. For example, when standing on a paddle board you can have a longer bodied buoyancy aid than when you are sat in a kayak. Also the technicality of the paddling you are undertaking is worth noting too. You will need a much simpler (and ultimately cheaper) buoyancy aid for paddling on the canal than you would for serious whitewater paddling.
Over head or zip up?
Generally a buoyancy aid will either slide on over your head like a vest top, or fasten up around you like a jacket. Neither is better or safer than the other, it is all down to personal preference. Those that you zip yourself into come in a couple of varieties also, either front entry or side entry. Again, what you go for is entirely up to you and makes no difference to the buoyancy aid’s performance.
Pockets on the front – what for?
Do you want any pockets? If so, it is worth thinking about what you are going to be carrying. If it is just for your mobile phone and car key in a dry pouch, then you will need a smaller pocket than if you were carrying first aid kits, radios, and a groups keys. You may not need pockets on your buoyancy aid if you have a drybag to hand with all you need in it.
Bladder pouch for long paddles
A bladder pouch is basically a large pocket on the back of a buoyancy aid that would fit a big water pouch in with a drinking hose attached. Really useful when doing longer paddles to make sure you can stay hydrated without stopping all the time for a drink.
Distribution of foam and pockets
While all buoyancy aid’s will help you float and keep you safe in the water, it is worth remembering that at some point you might want to get out of the water. Having lots of big pockets full of things is great until you are trying to pull yourself back on a board or in a boat. It is worth thinking about this part of paddling. If you struggle to get back in or on your craft then you may want to look for a slightly lower profile buoyancy aid with a smooth front. This would allow you to pull yourself up a lot easier.
PFD fit
Once you have decided on features and shape of your buoyancy aid, you need to make sure you have the correct size and fit. As a rule of thumb, you will be wanting to try on a buoyancy aid that is the same size as a unisex t-shirt you would wear. However, do remember that this would only be a starting point. Try on bigger and smaller if you feel you need to, and check the floatation of the size to ensure it is correct for you. Another key bit of advice when fitting a child out with a buoyancy aid is checking for a crotch strap. This will hold the buoyancy aid down in place should they fall in, not allowing it to rise up over their face and cause panic and discomfort.
Bonus features
Once you know what you want from a buoyancy aid, and what size you need, you can look at any extra features you may want. Integrated whistles, radio attachments, and reflective strips are just some of the features that companies offer on their PFD. They don’t make a difference to the safety performance of the buoyancy aid, but can be a nice bonus.
Finally…
If you give a solid foam buoyancy aid a try and cannot find the one for you, you can look at self inflating buoyancy aid belts. However, these are only ever for use on a paddleboard on still flat water. No matter which type of buoyancy aid you are wanting to get, make sure it has the ISO 12402-5 or ISO 12402-6 certification. This means it passes all the necessary tests to be an effective and safe buoyancy aid.
You can find your local retailer using our locator tool HERE, and they will be able to give you lots of bespoke advice and tips on getting yourself a buoyancy aid, as well as all the other kit and skills you need to stay safe on the water.