I try to avoid wearing them, but when there is a possiblity of falling in in nasty shore break, I wear one. I'm not a very good swimmer.

I've had a Ripcurl D-bomb for a few years now. It's okay, but when it's dry is shrinks and it takes a while for it to stretch (I don't think it's a water thing.. I believe the material gets exercised over an hour by the chest and it becomes more elastic). By the end of the session it's fine. When first falling in, it's very hard to breath with it on.. so much so, that I feel a bit panicky and I don't have the breath to water start and get smashed in the shore break for 15 minutes. I was wondering if there anything that supports like a seat harness and doesn't rely on fastening around the chest ? (Water wings ? )

I wear the NP one. Functional but far from comfortable. Depends a lot upon your body shape. In the worst case, the vest and waist harness become a scarf! If so, then you may want to get one in your favourite team colours

I`ve been using a Dakine surface vest. works great with a seat harness, not restrictive at all, and gives good bouyancy for water starting.

Da kine used to do a waist harness impact/bouancy vest, they were pretty popular.

I use a NP one which works well and I like it because the hydration pack clips onto it.
It also has a strap that goes under your harness hook to hold it down.


You definitely don't want one that is so tight it restricts breathing.
You do want one that will not ride up when you are in the water.

Is an impact vest enough of a flotation device for entering races?

Thamks mate, take a sickie tomorow. If the wind is in I am thinking Suttons after I drop the kids at school

Thanks all. I'll suss out people's suggestions. Whitsun's surface vest might be the way to go.