I have been hunting for a PFD that works well for kitesurfing for a while.
Most people don't wear them (most skiiers, climbers and skaters never used to wear helmets either) because most of them are really restrictive and if you never badly crash your kite way out deep you don't need them. Problem is, I have crashed my kite way out deep or had massive gear failure way too many times to not want to wear one. I kinda like being able to float and pay attention to my kite, not trying to breath.
There seems to be very very few on the market, and I havn't seen any in Australia. I know Mystic have a couple OS that look good (see pic of the treasure), and I looked up a few on an older post of PDF vs impact vests, but they are all sold OS, not here. Plus they are all more impact vests than flotation

. I want both.
www.camaro.at/en/kiten/prallschutzwesten/963_99.php
www.dakine.com/
I have been wearing a high end whitewater vest for a few years which works well for a seat harness, but wont work with a waist harness. I want more flotation than the impact vests give (plus its marine law that we are all meant to wear PFD's in most states and they will eventually enforce it).

-Does anyone know where I can get them in Australia
-Has anyone worn any of them and can you give me some pointers on any that are good
-Do ANY of them meet the Australian standard, and actually comply as a PFD?
-And I want it to look good (my whitewater one sucks in that regard)

Come on Summer Seabreeze's!

Mark.

LF has both floatation as well as impact vests in their range. Impact vests is not officially pfd classed but it does give floatation to a degree. Floatation range are official classed pfds.

You can view impact vests at: liquidforcekites.com

floatation ones at www.liquidforce.com/vests_mens.htm.

There is also the Masterline range available in Australia: www.masterlineaustralia.com.au/buoyancy/

Thanks for the info.

The Masterline jackets don't look like they would work with a waist harness unless you tried putting it over the top. They look more like a wakeboarding style vest than a kiting specific one that allows for a harness??
The liquid force CGA approved vest liquidforcekites.com looks like an option, thanks for the tip, but is it available in Australia?
The links posted didn't seem to work on my browser if they were aussie sites.

Has anyone worn these vests?
I thought some states in Australia now enforced the PFD rule? What do they wear?

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mark_ftr said...

Thanks for the info.

The Masterline jackets don't look like they would work with a waist harness unless you tried putting it over the top. They look more like a wakeboarding style vest than a kiting specific one that allows for a harness??
The liquid force CGA approved vest liquidforcekites.com looks like an option, thanks for the tip, but is it available in Australia?
The links posted didn't seem to work on my browser if they were aussie sites.

Has anyone worn these vests?
I thought some states in Australia now enforced the PFD rule? What do they wear?

What does CGA approved mean?? If its Coast Guard Approved then it means it complies with USA rules, not Aussie ones and it will not be recognised as an approved PFD here.
Also it looks like it will not fit with either a waist or seat harness.
As far as I know there are no rated PFD vests in Australia that are designed for use with a waist harness, I'm almost certain of this.
There are a multitude of vests from brands like LF, Masterline, Jet Pilot, etc that are officially rated as PFD's, however all are bulky and only some work ok with seat harnesses.

Waterways authorites around Australia have already or will be classifying kitesurfers as "vessels", in order to bring them under their effective control. There are exemptions to the standard rules for operating a vessel, in open waters. Like we don't have to carry flares and PFD1 rated life jackets, however there is some sort of recommendation or ruling in most states about the use of PFD's.
To my knowledge, this is not being enforced anywhere basically because its almost impossible to enforce I think. I think the ruling just eliminates any legal involvement if you do get deaded!

Rip Curl made an excellent PFD3 vest that fitted with a waist harness, I've still got one but rarely use it anymore. Its not made anymore because it did not sell in enough volume. There are kayaking vests that will do the job, sounds like the one you have may not be a great design have you looked at the latest versions?

Keeping your gear in good condition, making sure you are fit and can swim and also making sure you have a kite that does relaunch easy and that you have practiced repeatedly on is a key to being comfortable in the water.
Have you ever experimented with how much flotation you current harness gives you, I was really surprised at how much flotation harnesses like the Pat Love Quest and Cast, Mystic warrior2, Dakine Renegade, Fusion seat and Pyro, and most other brands on the market provide?

The PFD rule sucks, its impractical and consultation with authorities needs to be held to demonstrate how impractical it is, let alone the fact that there is no suitable product on the market anyway.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

Yes, with some of the floatation vests they will have to go over the harness to fit. The impact vests it will go under. The link should work now, had a extra comma on the end before.

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mark_ftr said...

Thanks for the info.

The Masterline jackets don't look like they would work with a waist harness unless you tried putting it over the top. They look more like a wakeboarding style vest than a kiting specific one that allows for a harness??
The liquid force CGA approved vest liquidforcekites.com looks like an option, thanks for the tip, but is it available in Australia?
The links posted didn't seem to work on my browser if they were aussie sites.

Has anyone worn these vests?
I thought some states in Australia now enforced the PFD rule? What do they wear?

Yes, CGA is US coast guard, not Australian standard. They don't comply as being a PFD, but they do meet the standard they just havnt been tested. If there is not any tested in Australia I would go for that, but I was hoping there were some tested here.

Yes, I have the best kayaking jacket for kitesurfing. There are a lot of high end jackets that work well with a seat harness, but I have not found any that work well with a waist harness.

From my understanding the Mystic treasure is designed to be worn with a waist harness, as is the camero jacket. Plus dakine and camero sell waist harnesses built into a float jacket that I think is CGA (again not aussie).

My current jacket is CGA, not aussie :) I don't know what the numbers are for lift, but its a lot more than any impact vest I have tried. I will have a look at some of the more floaty impact vests, but I am really after a PFD, or if not tested, the US or European equivalent.

I have the Jet Pilot vest which is classed in the states. It works fine with my seat harness (Dakine Fusion) and I've worn it with my waist harness (north) and while it worked ok it needs an "alteration" to work a bit better.

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cRAZY Canuk said...

I have the Jet Pilot vest which is classed in the states. It works fine with my seat harness (Dakine Fusion) and I've worn it with my waist harness (north) and while it worked ok it needs an "alteration" to work a bit better.

Which jet pilot vest do you have? i had a hunt on their website and they have a decent range, but I couldnt tell by the pic which ones would work for kiting.

Define "Alteration" ??? :)
Are we talking hacking large chunks off it with a knife here, or something minor?

I have the A10 - though from the looks of the website there not Approved by the USCG any more. (I'll check mine I'm pretty certain it is and that's why I got it)

I'm not sure if I'd drop the coin on it if you where going to do what I'm hoping/planing/thinking of doing, I've had mine for 3+ years now.

I was just going to put a hook hole in it under the buckle - so make insision, remove foam, close opening edges with tread neddle and cut outs. Sounds easy doens't it

(I don't condone any comments I make that pertain to altering gear - if you chose to do so it's of your own accord)

I wouldn't be too hung up on getting a rated PFD.

I have a REALLY old bump and jump that is as daggy as sh!te but offers just enough float (and protection) to stay out of trouble. It is not a PFD but I reckon it helps keep your head up a fair bit when getting dragged etc. Reassuring in sticky situations for sure.

Hey,
windgear warehouse

http://www.windgear.com.au/detail.htm?ProductID=5SJ18ONED010

sell a gaastra dingy sailing jacket almost identical to that mistique one you showed a pick of.


it sells for $80 at the moment.

ps i don't work for them but i do own one i use for teaching people to water ski/wakeboard on inland lakes where you need the buoyancy if your learning. good non restrictive jacket doesn't ride up and sits high in your back (for a harness)