The new Peak UK River Guide Vest really looks the part as a
full whitewater rescue PFD. With plenty of storage space, a solid fit and
sturdy fixings it will more than likely meet the demands of most situations for
a variety of paddlers without damaging the bank account too much.
Firstly, this PFD feels very solid and well built. A 600D
ripstop PU coated cordura outer shell and a 200D ripstop nylon inner shell
along with 60-80N of Gaia foam make up this design and it feels like it will
last a good amount of time.
The design itself is really well thought out, especially in
terms of straps. Through the use of three way harness systems on the shoulders
and the waist the amount of strapping that is left loose has been minamised
greatly. In all, the only loose strap that will be visible is the small strap
at the base of the PFD. The rest are able to be concealed. This feature will
appeal particularly to the paddler who hates having loose straps getting in the
way.
The River Guide Vest also has a very comfortable fit. On the
shoulder straps extra padding has been added on to provide a more comfortable
fit. This padding helps to conceal the strapping here. This padding can also be
removed if it isn’t too your liking or want to reposition it. The design also
lends itself very nicely to raft guides and open boaters with its low profile.
However this does come with the downside that it can feel like it rides quite
high on the body which may not be to some peoples liking.
The other standout feature of this PFD is the amount of
storage space that it has available. Following on with the rest of the designs
in Peaks latest range, the River Guide Vest has a huge front pocket! Possibly
the largest that is available on the market right now. Within this pocket there
are a couple of pouches for separating out some of the stuff that you would put
in there adding some organisation to it, otherwise with all that space it could
get a little muddled.
There are also a further three pockets on the front on the
larger pocket which would be good for items such as carabineers, knifes or
other items that you would want quick and easy access to.
Finally, one of the best features about this product is its
price. At £135 it is on the cheaper end of the whitewater rescue buoyancy aids.
Despite this, it doesn’t feel that Peak have cut any corners here so you are
not sacrificing much, especially in terms of safety by going with this product.
Peak have really produced a great product here, especially
for the paddler who doesn’t have the largest budget. The River Guide Vest is a
solid, well made product and feels it would perform well on the river.
