How To Choose a PFD

PFD stands for Personal Floatation Device, but most people call them Life Jackets. They are designed to do one thing, keep you afloat in water. Pretty simple. All PFDs are designed to keep you above the water, so the things that set different PFDs apart are comfort and features.

Comfort and Fit

You want to be wearing a comfortable PFD so that you will actually want to wear it. A life jacket won't do you any good if it is sitting on the bottom of the boat as it floats away from you. Many of the PFDs that we sell are very comfortable and have multiple adjustments for a better fit. The Extrasport Retroglide Sabre has shoulder straps that adjust along with the side buckles automatically. It also has multiple panels that conform to fit your body.

Another feature that adds to the comfort of the PFD is the padding in the back. In our most popular PFD, the Extrasport Eagle, most of the padding in the back is higher up, so that the PFD doesn't ride up on you when you are using it in a kayak with a backrest. This feature is not as crucial when you are planning on paddling a canoe, but if you plan to use a sitbacker, it helps out.

Beyond that, the differences are in the features. Some PFDs have a knife holder, some have pockets and more. What you decide is all up to you and the type of use that you are going to get out of the life jacket.

If you have any questions about PFD's please give us a call or email us.