I wear mine when fishing lakes with high traffic or if I fish lake Erie. Would also wear when fishing rivers. On my normal small lakes or ponds I would not...this all changes when the water temp drops though. Hypothermia would even give Michael Phelps problems staying a float.

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Always when i canoe in a river, a lot of people underestimate the force of river current if you flip.

 

I have the exact same answer as Bass Masterson.

Bowhunter57

 

I wear mine anytime I am on my kayak. It's not confining or uncomfortable and I was taught it is better to be safe than sorry.

 

I never took hypothermia into consideration. I'm glad I started this thread

 

Look at getting a "Kayak" PFD as opposed to using a regular one. They're cut different so they don't interfere with the paddling motion.

 

We have a couple of styles we wear depending on the weather. On our bassboat in the summer we wear the fanniepack manual inflation style. Its cool and out of the way without the chafing around your neck. When the water is cold enough for hypothermia we wear the SOSPender auto inflation style. I scuba dive mostly on the westcoast. The water temp ranges between 47 and 52-55 degrees F. I wear 1/4in farmerjohn wet suit. That puts 1/2in of neoprene between me and the ocean over my core. When I hit the water the first time with the suit still dry it stops your breathing like Andre The Giant squeezing you around the chest. The shock of hitting cool watercan kill you wether the air is in the 90's and the water is high 70's to low 80's justs the same as 45 degree air and 50 degree water with you in thermals.
The answer to your question is yes we wear our pfd's. I know I spent a lot of words to just say that, But I'm tired of reading all the obits around here this summer. I'm sure you can find a PFD that is comfordable and will not confine your movements so you can enjoy yaking.
JMTCW
donm

 

I wear mine 100% of the time. Not that I feel I need it but because it holds all stuff I need. Pliers, knife,emergency whistle, snacks, cell phone, car keys.


http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=2150&pdeptid=2059

 

I've never worn mine. Just being honest. I imagine I would wear if I were on Erie or really bad weather.


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I almost always have mine on. Last time out though the extreme heat and the fact that I was fishing shallow water I left it lay in the kayak. Easy reach if I needed it.

I agree with the people above who said to get a kayak specific PFD. I started out with a cheap Bass Pro PFD and the rear padding made it very uncomfortable in the seat. Ordered a NRS Chinook which has a high back and have no complaints on it. Its bright orange so it makes me a little more visible too.

 

I wear mine 100% of the time. Not that I feel I need it but because it holds all stuff I need. Pliers, knife,emergency whistle, snacks, cell phone, car keys.

this is the kind im going to look for. any suggestion on one?

ive been in a canoe since jr high and ive never really wore one. but im gettng a little older and realize im not bulletproof.

 

this is the kind im going to look for. any suggestion on one?

ive been in a canoe since jr high and ive never really wore one. but im gettng a little older and realize im not bulletproof.

For what kayak? If you have a fairly normal kayak seat that's not too high, I'd definitely look for one with a high back. I have the NRS chinook, which is the same one that someone already have you a link to here. When i sit in my kayak the back padding doesn't even come in contact with my seat, so its very comfortable. I think it's a pretty good pfd. It's got plenty of pockets and even a rod holder that comes in handy of you're wading. If you have a yak seat that's really tall though, it may be better to have a pfd with a full back.




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I do not wear mine in the summer. I know I should, but meh, its hot, and that water temp is around 70 + deg. I am just not worried about getting in trouble.

In the Spring though when the water is still cold, I do wear it with my waders, mostly to keep my outfit water tight was can be.

I did break down and get a nice PDF while down in NC to paddle on the ocean. It has a very high back and is made to be used in a kayak, so you dont even notice it while its on. I would also use one if I was out on Erie, or on Alum on a weekend with a weekend crowd.

 

I don't, well I only have once. It was my first time on the scioto river, middle of the night, and I was alone so that was the only smart thing I was doing.

I will put it on if I feel the need but I tend to not feel the need. And if I had a low cut jacket with thin straps I may wear it more often. The only thing I worried about is a tree or limb falling on my head. I cant swim if im out, but the odds of that are small and could even happen standing on the river bank.

 

I don't care if the water is only a foot deep and its 100 degrees out, mine is on all the time. I can honestly say from the first time I set foot in my kayak til this day I have never thought twice about wearing it. I have three kids and a wife who loves to see me when I come home. I'm gonna try to keep it that way. Just wear it, it is not that big of a deal to just put it on.

 

ezbite- The link is at the end of my last post for a good PFD. Me and Riverjam both use this vest.

 

To be honest, I got my kayak on Christmas and have been out on it around 75 times in buckeye lake, licking river, and a pond. I wore my life jacket one time for about 10 minutes on buckeye due to cold temps and big waves. I don't wear it because everywhere on the lake and ponds, just stand up if u fall. The river was slow moving and low. I know mother nature is the most dominant animal out there but being 6'2" 230 and in some of the best shape I'll ever be in, I'm not too worried on my capabilities. I'm 15 though, I'll learn sooner or later


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hey ez i only wear mine if i feel the situation demands it but i always have it on my knees at easy reach i do wear it in the bass boat when running the outboard. i just dont feel comfortable in the yak fishin with one i was told a inflatable does not qualify in a yak or canoe by a ranger !

 

Thanks for all the honest answers and not bashing anyone for their choice to wear or not to wear PFD. (I've only seen bashing once in this forum, but lots on Ogf ) I've been on the water all my life and honestly maybe wore it 2% of the time. But like I said I'm getting older and wiser i will start out wearing one and will for sure if out on the lake. Thanks again for the replys and please keep em coming.

BTW, the delivery truck will be at the house between 10-6 tomorrow with the commander. I feel like a kid the day before Christmas

 

The right answer is wear it all the time, but I don't on the rivers and creeks this time of year. It doesn't make sense because in a way they are even more dangerous when they are low because you are always forced to sneak through places with strainers where the current is still pretty strong. I'm less afraid when I'm on a creek with a partner. I'm more inclined to wear it when I am solo.

I don't do lakes much, but they scare me more because you can get pretty far from shore. Even if you are not far from shore, you have to consider if you can get up a bank. I remember one time I was fishing this little impoundment. I looked around and realized that there was a thick weed mat that pretty much ran all around until it got to deeper water. I realized that it was pretty much a death trap and put the PFD on.

 

Always wear mine. I had a friend who fell out of a boat as he lost his balance a few years ago and hit his head on the side. He was knocked out and if it wasnt for me and a PFD he would of not made it. Also want to make sure my son wears it. Kids do as adults do! Another plus is it gives some extra padding on the back for the kayak seat.

 

I know that this can be a touchy subject, and in reality, everyone needs to make their own decisions. I make my own decisions based on what I feel the FACTORED risk is. Factored risk takes into account both the probablility of an undesireable event, as well as the severity of the results. Many people here have mentioned similar rationale... either they determine that the probability of capsizing is very small, OR that the results won't be so bad (such as shallow water where they can touch).

That being said, I have put over 200 miles on my kayak so far this year, and only about 10 miles have been while wearing a PFD. Conversely, I've put thousands of miles on my motorcycle, and not a single one has been without a helmet. When I get on my motorcycle and ride on public roads, I know I'm taking a risk. No matter how confident I am in my own abilities, I know there are a lot of idiots on the roads, and a lot more people who are just plain distracted... not to mention the possibily of deer running out in the road in front of me and other happenings that are beyond my control. All of these possibilities (and the understanding that my skills are not infallible) combined with the potential (or even likely) severity of the outcomes, cause me to ALWAYS ride with a helmet. After riding motorcycles for 10 years without ever so much as dropping any of my bikes in the driveway, I still wouldn't relent my helmet policy, and when I had my accident, I was very glad of that... I walked away uninjured. When it comes to kayaking, I feel that the likelyhood of an accident is far less... I kayak in lakes, with no current to deal with... when I'm not in an "electric only" or "no wake" lake, I avoid speed zones and weekends/holidays... and I've never tipped my kayak over on accident. I also feel that the severity of an accident in the kayak would tend to be minimal... by avoiding where power boaters and jet-skiers play, I don't feel I'm likely to encounter anything beyond an accidental tipover.

Still, I have practiced my deepwater re-entry as I think every kayaker should. I've tipped the kayak intentionally in deep water to make sure I could 1.) flip the yak upright while treading water 2.) crawl back up onto the kayak 3.) access and put on the PFD from the water 4.) crawl back up onto the kayak while wearing the PFD 5.) swim to shore without leaving the kayak 6.) and crawl back up into the kayak while fatigued.

I won't urge people to wear a PFD, when I myslef do not... I won't tell anyone that there is no need to wear a PFD and they should just leave it off... I WILL urge all kayakers to practice deepwater re-entry, and to evaluate the risks for themselves... AND to wear that PFD when conditions dictate (weather, water temp, boat traffic, whatever). We all take risks everyday of our lives. I feel safer in my kayak on a quiet lake (without wearing my PFD) than I do commuting to work along I-76 in my truck.

 

I'm definitely in the Rebel camp on this one.
I rarely wear mine.

I know that's not the right answer, but it's honest.

I was on the Scioto all day yesterday. It's a couple hundred feet wide in most places, and the flow was 100 cfs. In my opinion, I have a greater chance of falling and drowning in my bathtub than I do on the Scioto right now. Seriously.

BTW, I can't even begin to explain what was going on the Scioto yesterday afternoon/evening. I took zero pictures to support a completely insane outing.
It may very well have been my best day on a river...ever.

 

I have mine on 98% of the time, especially when by myself. Only times I've not had it on is floating a shallow river where I'm doing a mix of floating and walking and when I'm fishing with someone on a very small lake.

 

When I was young I bought a coleman canoe. The guy who sold it to me said he thought it was too tippy. I used it for many years and never dumped it. I thought the guy had misrepresented the tippy-ness of the canoe. In 2009 I was fishing in about 8 ft. of water just east of the Pymatuning Ohio state campground. I had on my pfd. It was a little warm, 75 degrees or so. I had always promised my wife that I would wear it. After fishing for a few hours, and having moderate success, I caught a small perch. The fish wiggled off the hook to the floor of the canoe. I went to pick it up and the next thing I knew I was in the water. Some of my stuff floated, and some didn’t. The small anchor I had in the boat went over and the line wrapped around my leg. Good thing it was a small anchor, because it wasn’t enough weight to pull me and my pfd under. After finally untangling, I put as much stuff in the canoe, now full of water, as I could recover. I spent a half an hour or better propelling my canoe to shore. I could have used scuba fins. I went to the doctor shortly after, and due to arthritis of the spine, I, a once mighty athlete, now have very poor balance. The doc said the operation to correct this is very risky. He said if I could live with it, do so. I took his advice. I’m living with it. The point I’m trying to make is this: You never know when you’re going to need the pfd. I would have never put a $100 fishing rod and several hundred dollars worth of tackle in the canoe if I thought I had a good chance of dumping it. It was an expensive lesson, but it almost cost me everything, except for that $30, uncomfortable life saver.