Best CGA life vest for waist harness kiteboarding?

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1853 Posts XTreme Poster

Any suggestions? For my kids 12/9. They want to play on sliders etc., and want to go to a waist harness too--currently on Nitrous shorts. What works well with waist harness that's CGA?

Thanks,
Eric

(Dad)

Chooch · Sun Apr 12, 09 1:01 pm

Liquid force has some nice slim line vests that should work really well with most waist harnesses. Your best fitting vest is def. going to come from a wakeboard company since the range of movement is so similar.

Also I think its just as important to find a waist harness that is not big and bulky. If you can find a good slim line harness it should make the fit between the two that much better.

Some harnesses that come to mind are mystic firestarter , LF luxury , pro-limit (not sure the model name), and the dakine pyro.

tekko · Since 20 Feb 2006 376 Posts White Salmon Liquid Force

Eric.
If I am understanding you correct, you are looking for CGA vests for a 9 and 12 year old?

Liquid Force does have a variety of CGA approved vests. In fact we released the first CGA vest we've ever done in the kite line this year, although it is an adaption of the popular Watson side entry CGA vest from the wake line and does sit a bit low on a waist harness.

For the kids though.. don't know which off the top of my head, but I know LF does a variety of CGA vests for kids. Check out http://www.liquidforce.com and check them out.

2nd Wind Sports in Hood River made the decision to bring on some of the LF wake line this year, which means they can get any of the products you see on that page, so I'm sure we can find something.

The alternative, especially for waste harness riders is to wear a whitewater kayaking vest. These are always shorter (but often fatter) as they have to sit above the spray skirt on a kayak. For adult sized people wearing waist harnesses, this may be the best bet, if looking for full CGA.

LF also does produce impact vests, which while not CGA approved for floatation, do offer some added float and are specifically designed to fit in under a waist harness, and even have special texture where the harness goes to keep it all in place.

GREAT to see all the groms out there charging it this weekend!!

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Cohn!! I dont know what the best one is, but I would just say to make sure they can still move in it pretty well, that it doesn't inhibit flexibility much. This will make it a more enjoyable piece of safety equipment to wear. Because I know if my parents had made me where a life jacket that I couldnt move in, I would be more likely not to wear it.

trauma · Since 13 Apr 2009 1 Posts New Member

Check out the Otter pfd from Astral Buoyancy. Lot's-o-mobility and super secure.

http://www.astralbuoyancy.com/products/youth/otter/

Alder Creek Canoe and Kayak should have them in stock.

flyin_dutchman · Since 12 Dec 2008 106 Posts LandLocked Stoked

A couple of guys wear the Mystic vest (looks like the high/short kayak type) and say they are very comfortable with waist harness? Not sure if they size them for young adults though?

boarderchick · Since 10 Aug 2007 196 Posts Wherever there's wind:-) Stoked

Yeap, you can try some of the kayaking vests up in the Gorge at the Kayak Shed. I tried some on this year (I wear the shorts harness.) just to see if it was more comfortable or more maneuverable, and they seemed to suffocate a little bit and they were just as long almost as my H2O one that I wear. The really short ones were pretty fat/bulky, but you could ask them about some short less bulky ones as well.

I was also looking at the O'Neill CGA vests, but again, they are also long, but for kids not sure if they are shorter or not... Did see some that people were wearing with waist harness, but could not say it is CGA.

Good Luck!

Blue · Since 03 Jul 2007 469 Posts I used to be Obsessed

Another choice: http://www.mackiteboarding.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?preadd=action&key=R5GRNPRHHV. It is long, but has hook opening. I got one locally at Gorge Surf Shop in HR.