Guys,
Im after any feedback on impact vests. Comming from a strong wakeboarding background for some strange reason I dont feel entirley comfortable not wearing a vest. I know they are not PFD's and that dosent bother me, plus being a bit of a gumby and only learning I have no dramas with wearing one.
Soooo who has what vest/harness combo and what are the pro's or cons???
And I ride with a waist harness...
Cheers
Chris
I hear the 'Branson' is an excellent choice!...
...dont think I need to explain the 'pro's.. Sorry to run the picture AGAIN!
After a few cracked ribs and a broken sternum i wear one all the time now,my latest one is a naish defender real comfy ,great with a waist or seat,takes a good hit,easy on and off ,always wear a rashie over it,and good float when the s**t hits the fan and you need a bit of bouyancy.
Mystic impact sheild is ok but tends to sit on top of the waist harness and rides up a bit as the waist harness pushes up also a bit bulky,the naish defender is more comfy, and the neopreen styles are average for protection ,dakine matrix is a nice slim fit but also average protection and not much float.
Liquid Force Impact Vest is a must try, it has 5 grip stripes on the inside to ensure it doesnt ride up. Vest is top quality and very comfortable, does not restrict movements. Pair with the Comp harness it will be hard to find better.
Hi,
I use the impact Do3 Pro Force Mystic for a while but it didn't do the job for me... It twist and it is hard to slip on.
I have recently bought one of those, and so far no worries. I even got away with a PDF check up at Largs Bay, SA since it is now mandatory I was told by the council officer. (Watch out you guys in SA, he drives a small grey 4x4, sits in his car with a paper clip board for hours... He also write fines for wrong parking apparently!)
Dude the Guy felt sorry for you. Why wear anything that bulky and ugly that's not at least a PFD3.
I bought a dakine matrix a few years back but have not used it much because i,m always in too much of a rush to get out there to be bothered putting it on.
I have tried 2 different types of PFDs
First I bought a Billabong PFD
The problem was that the hook from the harness was pushing the PFD up to my face and it was very uncomfortable
Then I bough a Neil Pryde vest and it have a spot for the harness hook in it and it is so comfortable
I had so many hard impacts on the water that without the PFD each one of them could have break my ribs.
Use them and you will not regret it
On the subject of impact and bouyancy vests; where's the best place in Perth to try some different types on?
I've looked on a lot of local websites & there doesn't seem to be much of this stuff in Perth.
Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? 
Kite addiction
www.windsurfingperth.com.au/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=114
Though I'm not happy with them, they were suppose to call me to demo the new Park and they just didn't care about me
mystic ion or even the naish arnt bad myself i use mystic and Ion both cost between 160 & 180
nevin swat. cumfy low profile so you can actualy move.
saved my arse heaps of times. had a beginner catapalt in to me on the beach 4 weeks ago fliping me 6 ft into the air [i wiegh nearly 100 kgs] would have broken all my ribs on one side if i didn`t have it on.
and what did you do.....?
did you grab him by the hair and force his head under water till he was seconds from drowning....?
did you cut his lines, rip his kite in half or stab the leading edge of his kite....?
no
you waved him on with a 'no worries mate' smile didn't you....
this is why you need a pfd, this is why anyone needs a pfd
because you are soft
smart call a guy whos a 100 kg and could squash you like a bug soft .
i know where you live!!!!
just kidding
I sell my Impact vest
www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Kitesurfing/Accessories/~br3ir/Naish-Naish-Defender-Impact-Vest.aspx
Cheers Marco
Hello 
I experienced a poor landing (crash
) initiated by a stuff up during the take off of a high jump that ended up in a high uncontrolled jump finished with a kiteloop just before crashing. 
I was wearing a wetsuit and an impact vest. I broke some ribs. Fortunately it was at the end of a season.
I wear an impact vest as often as I can. I recommend it unless you care about your look or do not mind missing some action during the season.
Fred
