I'm looking to get a new PFD Something that allows free movement and doesn't chafe. Any suggestions???

RedPine, This was recently discussed here in the Listening Point - general discussion forum. Part 1 is on the second page probably. :)

Thanks Jimi

Redrock wilderness store has an NRS Paddling Vest at around 1/2 price and Stearns Avante is a cheap paddler version. I'm sure there are many more, but happened across these two lately.

Cabellas has some good ones.

Are the pfd's with the ripcord worth it, or more so are they safe?

think of it this way, if your head hit a rock or the canoe hits you and you get knocked out, will you still be able to pull the cord?

My Father and I both use Stearns Life Jackets when were on our boat. And I used it in BW in 06, worked great for me, very vented and light. My buddy borrowed mine also to use it last year in BW. I will use nothing else after wearing one. Its nice because its whole upper chest is mesh, you can zip it up, buckle it, or both. Has pockets on it also. It holds me up in water well also may not look like alot of buoyancy but it does have quite a bit.

The self-inflating vests do work well. This is what I use. I would only use the automatic ones. They also have rip-cord, but the automatic additionally has a mechanism that activates the inflation if you hit water. However, once the automatic firing is used it needs to be replaced. This isn't very expensive, and it's best to keep an extra one with you as well as the CO2.

You can replace or take off the automatic trigger and fill the vest with by blowing into an inflating tube to use use it for floating around for swimming.

Follow up to the self-inflating CO2 vests: one rainy trip I was coming across a portage and it blew. It was pretty wet and I was sweating like a pig, so this may have triggered it, otherwise (as I mostly suspect) the rip-cord caught on some brush and I didn't notice and caused it to blow.

My son thought it was extremely funny.

One follow-up side note, if you use one of these have a test run of making it blow. I does happen quickly and can surprise you. I did my first test in a pool, my second when I tipped my kayak (mostly empty) goofing around on a daytrip in the BWCA, and my third time on the portage I mentioned above.

that would have been funny to see.

Type III PFDs, the most comfortable and probably most common type for paddling, are designed for inland water where rescue will be quick. They require the wearer to place himself in a face-up position in the water. Unless there is somebody nearby, in a situation where the wearer is unconscious and in the water, he is probably a goner.

So, Snakecharmer, are you recommending something other than Type III?

Not at all. Type III is the perfect PFD for paddling (range of motion), but their life saving value is diminished if the wearer is unconscious and there is no one around to help. Some people may not realize this or may not have thought about it. I was responding, in part, to an earlier post.

I would strongly recommend going to a place that has many PFDs to choose from and try them on. I would recommend Midwest Mountaineering if you are near Minneapolis. While wearing the jacket and adjusting the straps properly (*important*), sit down in a way that approximates your position in a canoe. If you are doing this correctly, you will get very strange looks from other patrons in the store.

Make sure to have a backrest if you use one in your canoe. Then move your arms around to simulate paddling. See how it feels. Try this with both a t-shirt and a jacket on, so that you are sure the PFD will accomodate bulky clothing and minimal clothing and still remain comfortable. Especially pay attention to uncomfortable pressure, shifts in the jacket, or places that rub on you that may cause "hot spots".

I did this and chose a Lotus brand jacket. Not exactly inexpensive. But I was committed to finding a jacket that I would enjoy wearing enough that the PFD wouldn't sit in the bottom of the canoe like my old, stearns life jacket. Cost doesn't seem to matter if it is the difference between wearing the jacket or not.

There is not a jacket in existance that fits everyone in the same way, so really, I'm not sure that the opinions of others are very relevant. Try several, good jackets on and see what works best for you.

Found a great type III at Cabelas, they were having a 2-4-1 sale at the store in Rogers. Split the cost with my dad and got it for $25. I think it was the Cabelas Full Motion PFD.