Impact vest buoyant enough?

[gail4ce]

My coworker Ryan is still harassing me with questions about what gear to get.. thanks for all the feedback on the Link, it seems he'll take my original advice and buy my old 5-line Wipi Matrix (which is a great kite btw) to beat up before he gets a new flat kite, maybe the Link if they're still on sale.

Now he's killing me with the harness and vest issues..

If he gets the impact vest style, is there enough buoyancy or should he go waist and life vest?

He'll be learning in the Bay area so he'll be likely floundering around a lot in cold water and strong currents, although not for long as he's really been killing it on the trainer

PS He's looking for a trainer kite sponsor as he's nasty on it!

[Tweaky]

When learning having flotation really helps and makes things safer and easier to get up. After about a year you can go to a thinner impact vest and then nothing if you feel like it.

[xspataro]

im also in the same situation, just that without the currents... Ive been really thinking in getting a floatation or impact vest. I finally came to the desicion of buying an impact... a flotation is too big and chuncky, when i dont really need THAT much floatation. Im a begginer so i do find floatation usefull, but i think an impact one would be better for kiting.

But still, i have the same question, how much does an impact vest helps in your floatation like from 1-10

thnx a lot
im sure the original poster would also appreciate these anweres

[KiteSmurfer]

that would depend on the impact vest - some are super thin some are made of thicker softer form - how long is a piece of string?

[nab1000]

i have an 06 DaKine impact vest that floats very well... its not coast gaurd approved but it can pretty easly hold me above the water. THe 07 model is different but would think it would have enough floatation in it as the 06. I mostly use the impact vest for new tricks and not for flotation though.

You can get good impact/life vest from wakeboard shops and they are not bulkey at all.

-here is a good life jacket that you might look into http://realkiteboarding.com/index.cfm?p ... uctID=8962

The dakine impact vest might be your best bet though, however, the 07 model is not something i have used yet, so not sure about the flotation
- http://realkiteboarding.com/index.cfm?p ... uctID=8523

[North_Wind]

I use the North vest which is certainly floaty enough .... makes me bob around like a cork. Better still, it is a cool black colour and the flotation pads are in the shape of a six-pack making me look ripped which, sadly, when I remove my gear, I am not.

North Wind

[gail4ce]

that would depend on the impact vest - some are super thin some are made of thicker softer form - how long is a piece of string?

Kitesmurfer - from Ontario! So am I - your post made us laugh out loud - I'm sure our non kite fanatic coworkers are getting tired of us laughing and talking about gear but had to give you props on that one!

G

[KiteSmurfer]

I've got a liquid force one on order - designed to be used with a waist harness.

I tried on a bunch of other impact vests in the local wakeboard shop and few of them would have worked with a waist harness - to many clips to dig in or too bulky.

Where abouts in Ontario are you? I am in London and am getting my vest through this company: Windtraxx powerkiting

[KiteSurfingKen]

I use a Kayak Paddling Vest most often. It has good side, front, and back protection plus good mobility.
There are Adjustable straps all over. Once adjusted I tie them up so they don't dangle.
A pocket in front for gloves or other items.
A strap around the bottom to keep it in place.
And it is Coast Guard approved so I can also use it with my Jet Ski too.
The wind on our lake is fickle sometimes and having the extra flotation is nice when it quits and you are half a mile offshore (in the middle of the lake).
Good Winds,
Ken

[Northern Monkey]

A friend of mine a pro kitesurfer and fellow instructor nearly lost his life this season when his Tabu rode up under his ribs whilst performing a kiteloop handlepass in 20+ knots. He ruptured his spleen causing internal bleeding. He was an hour from certain death. Had to have his spleen removed and is on antibiotics for the next two years.

Since then he has adopted the impact harness from Dakine and never looked backed. This seasons vests are allot more versitile in their construction allowing for movement and flexibility.

NOT PIMPING JUST LOOKING OUT FOR OTHERS!!

Monkey