PFD for SUP

PFD for SUP, Personal Flotation Device for Paddle Boarding

Talking about PFD for SUP. It is spring in the northern hemisphere and autumn in the southern hemisphere. These mild, in-between seasons are often good times for recreational water sports. Summer is also a time when many people are out on the water, and in some areas, there are even winter or cool-season water sports. As a rule, if you are on the water for any reason, you should wear a PFD for SUP, or personal flotation device. SUP stands for Stand Up Paddleboarding, which is certainly a water sport that is likely to have you in the water as often as you are on it. Even people who are skilled at paddleboarding and swimming can benefit from a PFD.

SUP PFD

A SUP PFD might be a little different from your standard PFD. In addition, different styles of paddleboarding might each have their own, unique personal flotation device needs. Let’s take a look at general requirements first. General PFD needs for SUP could include:

• Allows good skin airflow. SUP is often practiced in summer, with sun reflecting off water. As anyone who enjoys outdoor water activities knows, one of the fastest ways to get a sunburn is to spend the day at the beach or on a lake on a day when Sol is shining at its brightest. People who are doing standup paddling are exercising in sunshine reflected off water. A standard life-jacket or life-vest can hold in heat aggravating heat related conditions.
• Allows good mobility. If you’ve ever gone on a commercial float trip where you rent a john boat or canoe, you probably noticed how a life vest or life jacket restricts motion, or how they rub or chafe at shoulder joints or back of the neck. Those devices might be lifesaving, but they aren’t necessarily comfortable. That’s endurable for an hour or two, or even for a whole day if you aren’t going to wear the device often. But if you are a SUP devotee, and you love to be out on the water as often as possible, you will want a PFD that is comfortable to wear.
• Will help keep your face out of water in the event of an emergency. And right here is where a lot of people weigh in with different opinions as to the best flotation device for which type of SUP. Some will argue that the paddleboard itself is a flotation device, which is true as far as it goes. But if your tether breaks and you are separated from your board, or if you are too injured to hold onto it, then you might need a different kind of PFD. Or to put it another way, no one does much swimming after hitting their head on a rock.

Best PFD for SUP

What is the best PFD for SUP? It should be clear by now that your standard life vest or life jacket is not the best choice for SUP. They hold in heat, they chafe, and they might even make it difficult to get back onto your board. With these things in mind, you have several choices for more comfortable PFD for standup paddleboarding. These include but are not limited to:

• Fanny pack self-inflating flotation devices. These fit around the active person’s waist, just like a fanny pack or belt pouch. They cause minimal interference with movement.
• Light harness style self-inflating flotation devices. These are worn in much the same way as a standard vest, but have a lot less in the way of cumbersome material.
• Self-inflating PFD vest designed with SUP in mind. These are more like a life vest than the harness, and have the added benefit of including pockets for things like car keys, snacks, and perhaps even a pocket first-aid kit.

Self-inflating PFDs are usually powered by a small CO2 unit that is activated by pulling a tab or cord. A few of them are activated when they get wet.

PFD for Paddle Boarding

As you can see, selecting a PFD for paddle boarding can be a somewhat challenging. That is why companies that also sell paddle boards have turned their attention to designing or providing appropriate PFD gear.

Paddle Board Life Jacket

A dedicated paddle board life jacket takes the needs of paddle boarder into consideration. The best ones are easy to move in, will keep your head above water until help arrives, and are even rated by type and probable activity. There are even a few paddle board activities, such as surfing, for which a PFD is not recommended because you are likely to fall off your board, and will need to be able to get back on it.

SUP Life Vest

A SUP life vest should be worn for activities such as SUP touring. The vests, with their pockets and other handy features, breath well and allow for free movement while providing that extra bit of safety protection that could make a life-saving difference.

Onyx MoveVent Dynamic SUP Life Vest

The Onyx MoveVent dynamic SUP life vest is a good compromise between safety and comfort. It has chunky flotation panels in front and upper back, mimicking those good, old orange life vests that are effective but miserable to wear. It is easy to slip on, thanks to the mesh sides. It even has a convenient key pocket, so you won’t have to worry about where you left the key to your locker or your vehicle.