Peak UK River Guide PFD

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.