What is the best pfd out there for paddling. Preferably with a few pockets..thanks in advance!

The one that feels good and that you can afford. I'm happy with my $60 Cabela's PFD. Stohlquist and Astral have some pretty pricey ones with fancy fishing pockets.

I like my NRS Chinook. It has plenty of pockets and the back is mesh. It is comfortable enough to wear it all day. I never get in a kayak or bass boat without it on and I do not take it off until I am out of the boat.

x2 on the NRS Chinook. I really like mine.

As others mentioned the NRS Chinook is a nice one. I have the Ascend PFD from BPS. It's comfortable, and has 2 large compartments on the front. I leave my phone in the left one, and my scale in the other. It also has 2 elastic hoops that I use to hold my pliers and scissors.

Inflatable is the only way to go IMHO. I wear mine all the time (BTW-this is REQUIRED, cann't just have it with you)and I forget I have it on...its so comfortable! Pockets on PFD? Anything you put in there is going to get wet. Better to store your electronics, keys (yes...don't get your PATS key wet), billfold, etc in a watertight box or hatch.

Huh...didn't know that you had to wear the inflatable for it to count. Good to know. See you learn something new everyday!

Throwing another vote out for the NRS Chinook!

I either use my inflatable or my NRS Chinook.

+1 on Mustang HIT if hot weather or NRS Chinook other times or during rough weather.

I have been waiting for one of the manufacturers to bring out PFD's with waterproof sealed pockets for cell phones, car remotes etc. Maybe they already have and I just missed it.

AS far as I am concerned a PFD is useless in the hull. I will not go out without one on. That being said,

The "must be worn to count " part of the water safety act is for powerboats and it only applies to auto-inflating type V pfds only. Manually inflatable ones can be stowed and still be counted even in a powerboat. Kayaks are exempt from the power boat statute and either can be stowed. Stowing manual ones doesn't make any sense at all is the reason I have watched the state code to see when they repair it.

I just called TPWD Austin and also a local Game Warden to confirm I was reading it right and both confirmed. If you just look at the digest (Taken from the water safety act, but condensed for the website ), it compresses the law into generalized statements. If you go to the full water safety act it fills in situational details.

I still won't be in my yak without one on me. It won't do me a bit of good in the hull. I wear an inflatable 100% of the time for comfort and usually have a spare in the hull.

Both my auto and manual inflatables state clearly on the tag that it MUST be worn to be in line with its approved coast guard rating. There are no exceptions for types of watercraft. I was told and shown this by our local game warden on lake Bastrop. IMHO only a fool would stow an inflatable instead of wearing it. This from the TPWD water safety act..
All PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES(PFDs)must be U.S.CoastGuard approved....Inflatable PFDs are authorized only when used in accordance with requirements as presented on U.S.CoastGuard approval labels.

Mustang MIT-100 inflatable for hot weather.

I have an inflatable for when its really hot in the summer and an NRS Chinook for the rest of the year. The Chinook is very comfortable, has several decent sized pockets, comes with a retractor, overall its nice.

IMO your kayak see and the way you sit in it factor heavily into this decision. Just because it's comfortable to stand in, doesn't mean you will be comfortable sitting in it.

Leave the tags on until you can paddle with it for a bit first, to make sure it works well for you.


I love my Astral because of how thin the padding is in the back. I forget it's even on.

http://www.amazon.com/Astral-Designs-Ronny-Fisher-PFD/dp/B00I8JM6I4