I have had a Patagonia Yulex impact vest since day one. It has saved my body on numerous occasions on my beginner's journey I'm certain. I like that it has no zips or buckles to scuff the board, and it's easy to get in and out once you know the proper technique. It has no padfing over the stoachto allow for a harness to be worn. The negatives are it rides up in some crashes and has no lash points or pockets.
What are you using and what are the pros and Co's please?

I have two.

I think one is an O'Neil Kiteboard impact vest. Keeps me warm and fits great under a harness. Not the ultimate in protection though and it takes on water weight.

My other is a wip impact vest. All sorts of armor built into it. Very lightweight, doesn't take on water. Doesn't keep me warm and doesn't play well with my harness. Best for protection though.

I had the O'Neill slasher comp impact vest.. kept creeping up after crashes.

Switched to Sooruz with the wing hook. Best choice I made. surfwear.sooruz.com/innovations-sooruz/wing-harness-hook-sooruz/?lang=en

Is n50. Has a pocket for tool. Wing hook belt (nice high up) Loops to attach leashes. And a strap at the bottom to prevent creeping up.

I would highly recommend the Zhik P3 PFD. It's ISO certified, but not as bulky as a USCG approved version. I had a Mystic impact vest, but decided I want real floatation just in case something ever happened. This vest is the best of both worlds. I find it more comfortable than the mystic, it has real floatation, I find it provides more impact protection, it has a useful pocket, and it's cut allows plenty of room for a harness.

Unless you're in breaking waves, I don't know why more people don't use real floatation. It could save your life.


zhik.com/us/p3-pfd-black.html

Just going to chime in with my frustration with what seems to be a lack of really good options that I can find...either there are protection gaps, or no useful pockets, or they just come in black (no hi-viz options), or they don't play nice with a harness...

Doesn't seem to be a big ask, but it seems we are not there yet...

I have this one ( Manera Boom vest). And I use it with my mystic majestic X wingfoil harness. Best harness I tried. And the vest is also good. Off course it will creep up during hard crashes. Every vest does that...

Biggest issue for me is how much water they absorb and then the extra weight when ur restarting. I stopped using them for this reason.

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Mikedubs said..
Biggest issue for me is how much water they absorb and then the extra weight when ur restarting. I stopped using them for this reason.

Yes...add that to the list

Probably harder to get outside Europe, but the french Brand Sooruz makes great vest with an extra velco brand and it doesnt ride up.surfwear.sooruz.com/webshop/en/kite-windsurf/4245-18175-lifevest-gilet-star-fifty-1017824027211.html#/32-color-navy/124-foam_thickness-3_4_/653-size-m_lThey do absorb water and I don,t use it much, but it the best I tried so far.