Dear Fellow Kayakers: My PFD has bitten the dust; basically, it is starting to rip and I'm afraid the next time someone practices a "hands of God" rescue on me the only thing that will come up in his -- or His -- hands is my red PFD! We have a very limited selection here is Israel, which means I have to basically order from REI (and am therefore limited to what they sell -- the added advantage is that my parents in the US can return it to their local REI if it doesn't fit) by Internet or the British made PEAK PFD via our club. I'd like opinions from anyone who has had good experience with any of these specific models, particularly if you are a man who paddles with the Kotatat MsFit (and are not ashamed to admit it!): 1. Lotus Rio Grande http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=2746&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1 2.Kokatat Outfit Tour http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=12139591&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1 3. Kotatat MsFit Tour (yes, designed first for women, but some men like it too!) http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=9451489&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1 4. Peak http://www.peakuk.com/catalogue/buoyancyaids/seazip.html My ideal PFD has lots of pockets and is low profile enough that I don't feel bulky in it (since I have enough bulk of my own to carry around...). All opinions welcome, offline it you wish. Thanks Happy paddling, Josh ============================================================================== Dr. Joshua Teitelbaum, Senior Research Fellow Tel: [972] 3-640-6448 Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and Fax: [972] 3-641-5802 African Studies Tel Aviv University Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978 Israel E-mail:teitelba_at_post.tau.ac.il www.dayan.org ============================================================================== *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
----- Original Message ----- From: "Joshua Teitelbaum" <teitelba_at_post.tau.ac.il> > 2.Kokatat Outfit Tour > http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=12139591&storeId=80 00&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1 > Josh, I have been using the Outfit Tour for about 2 years and love it. My wife wears the MsFit and IMHO, the built in curves for a woman are not as comfortable for me as the standard Outfit series. The left pocket is large enough for my VHF (Standard HX350) and the left one holds a granola bar, my gps, and a Storm whistle. Good luck in your search. Steve Holtzman *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Joshua, I like my Kokatat MsFit. It's a year old now, and it fits perfectly, has worn well for last 200 miles or so... several trips, and offers pinch-free paddling. My only hesitation in calling it "perfect" is that I have a hard time turning on my strobe... I think the rear right shoulder equipment tab is a tad low on the PFD... reaching with one hand to screw the strobe on is an exercise for a determined contortionist. I started a thread here about this issue, but the best of the few responses was that one has to modify most all equipment most of the time for the perfect "fit" for the individual. I would guess that's right. Funny... I think that one has to be especially limber to unhatch the day hatch in many boats. Then try to feel around for what you want, pull it out, then reseal the hatch... all while you're on the water! Hmmm... I'm not certain the day hatches are all they're cut out to be. Never a foolproof answer, is there? Good luck! At 09:11 AM 1/6/2003 +0200, Joshua Teitelbaum wrote: >Dear Fellow Kayakers: > >My PFD has bitten the dust; basically, it is starting to rip and I'm >afraid the next time someone practices a "hands of God" rescue on me the >only thing that will come up in his -- or His -- hands is my red PFD! > >We have a very limited selection here is Israel, which means I have to >basically order from REI (and am therefore limited to what they sell -- >the added advantage is that my parents in the US can return it to their >local REI if it doesn't fit) by Internet or the British made PEAK PFD via >our club. > >I'd like opinions from anyone who has had good experience with any of >these specific models, particularly if you are a man who paddles with the >Kotatat MsFit (and are not ashamed to admit it!): *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
----- Original Message ----- From: "TomL" <tletourn_at_maine.rr.com> To: <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net> Sent: Monday, January 06, 2003 3:13 PM Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Time for a New PFD > Funny... I think that one has to be especially > limber to unhatch the day hatch in many boats. Then try to feel around for > what you want, pull it out, then reseal the hatch... all while you're on > the water! Hmmm... I'm not certain the day hatches are all they're cut out > to be. Tom, This is something I have to disagree with you on. You can take anything of mine except my day hatch!!! Steve *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Tom wrote, > Funny... I think that one has to be especially > limber to unhatch the day hatch in many boats. > Then try to feel around for what you want, pull > it out, then reseal the hatch... Steve wrote > You can take anything of mine except my day hatch!!! G'Day Tom, Steve and Paddlewise, I moved all my gear off the front deck and into the day hatch after a deckbag filled with water, then slipped off while remaining attached to bungies. It acted as a sea anchor and prevented a roll. My day hatch cover is a VCP unit and is attached to a point inside the hatch with a line. Not needing to worry about losing the cover makes using the day hatch straightforward for me despite a stiff neck. Are there day hatches fitted with metal clamps and are they more difficult? All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
To Will and List: Will, you mentioned the Lotus Designs Sea Sherman as a possibility, but you didn't say if you had used one? Has anyone tried one of these. It has an unusually low-profile design for a sea kayaking vest... Josh *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 1/6/2003 2:20:10 AM Eastern Standard Time, teitelba_at_post.tau.ac.il writes: > I'd like opinions from anyone who has had good experience with any of these > specific models, particularly if you are a man who paddles with the Kotatat > > MsFit (and are not ashamed to admit it!): > > 1. Lotus Rio Grande > http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=2746&storeId=8000& > catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1 > Josh, I have been using a Rio Grande for around two and a half years. So far I have not been able to get it adjusted to fit right. Like a lot of us older guys, I have somewhat of a gut, not real big, but still a gut. If I adjust the PFD so that it will not ride up while paddling or swimming, it makes it hard to breathe. While paddling, if the PFD is adjusted to where I feel comfortable, it will ride up and worry the hell out of me, by rubbing on my chin. But in defense of the Rio Grande, I think that I bought the wrong size. It seems to be too large, thinking that my 225-35 pound, 5 foot 10 inch frame needed an extra large. It does float me good though. I know.....I am trying to lose weight and the gut. If you woke up breathing, congratulations. You have another chance, Ronnie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:32 PDT