Impact vests

[Dunc]

Took a kite surfing lesson yesterday at Hunstanton and decided that i'm definitely going to get out on the water again. Obviously during the lesson i was wearing a helmet and buoyancy aid but the latter was a right pain in the arse because of the size and fit. Anyway, as a complete noob i want to get an impact vest that doubles as a half decent buoyancy aid just so that i've got that extra bit of protection for the inevitable spankings i'm going to get. So what do you guys suggest would fit the bill. Obviously it's gotta keep me afloat, not be too restrictive and take some abuse. I'm currently using an Ocean Rodeo Session harness if that's a useful bit of information for you all.

 

Cheers, Dunc.

[flyingsolo]

why not go to your local kite shop with your harness and try on a few vests while wearing your harness - then you will find one that suits

[Dunc]

why not go to your local kite shop with your harness and try on a few vests while wearing your harness - then you will find one that suits

 

Not being funny but i swear this is the stock answer when it comes to a lot of questions on forums. Obviously i intend to try before i buy but the only thing i can prove by doing what you suggest is that the vest will fit. However, until i get out on the water i won't know if it provides a decent level of protection, whether it rides up or even whether or not i'll float and if there is something wrong i won't be able to return the item as it'll be used goods. Personal experience is what i'm looking for as it will give some sort of insight in to what is good as well as what is not so good. I'm expecting some people to pimp for one brand or another but it's usually fairly easy to see through the blatant 'buy this brand cos it's what i wear/who i work for' posts. I'm not having a dig at you as you've posted a perfectly legitimate answer considering some people will just hit Powerkiteshop and hope for the best but i intend to go in to a shop having some idea of what i want to try on first. So please lads, can you give me some suggestions of makes and models based on what you own/have owned.

[Bigbud]

When I started I got one of these Maui Magic Mystic Kiteboarding Treasure Floatation Jacker Kitesurf Float Jacket Bouyancy Kiteboarding Kiteboard Kitesurf Kitesurfing Flysurf Power Kite Shop UK Equipment Powerkiteshop Still use it every sesh, bigger than an impact vest but has loads of float Use it with a seat harness and a waist harness and have no problems with it rideing up.

 

Some of the impact vest Ive seen on the beach seem to interfere with waist harness's and need to be tucked in, maybe they were Wakeboarding ones.

[Andy-j]

Ive got one of these you can have for a small price: Maui Magic Mystic Kitesurf Venom Float Jacket Bouyancy Kiteboarding Kiteboard Kitesurf Kitesurfing Flysurf Power Kite Shop UK Equipment Powerkiteshop

 

What size are you?

 

I dont bother with an impact vest but then i have bust ma ribs twice.