Extrasport Osprey PFD

Extrasport Osprey Personal Floatation Device

©Copyright 2007 by Brice Sanchez *

Extrasport has been making Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) for over 32 years. With a track record like that I was more than pleased at the opportunity to review one of their latest products specifically designed for the kayak fisherman. Being an avid fisherman and kayak enthusiast what better way to try this product out than loading up the gear hitting the water?

First Impressions
Quality construction and innovation make it a winner. Too many small
pockets and some wasted real estate make it less fishable.

The Osprey is only one of several different products Extrasport offers but it’s the newest one designed for the kayak fisherman. What initially caught my eye about the Type III Osprey was what Extrasport calls their BajaBack™. This innovative design utilizes a thin lower back to accommodate kayak seat backs and proved to be the most comfortable non-self inflatable PFD I’ve used on my kayak thus far. It truly works with the added benefit of having extra padding on your back as well as reducing that annoying life vest ride-up.The ripstop nylon fabric is a great choice for durability and reliability. The adjustable mesh shoulders seam to breathe very well and with all the strong adjusting straps and buckles (shoulders, and torso area) you can be comfortably fitted in no time. It’s nice to know that you’ll be able to easily make adjustments on the fly so when the cooler months come you’ll be able to widen it for your larger clothing. The styling of the life vest is excellent. It’s not near as bulky as some of the vests in its class and both the Moss/Black and Sand/Black colors look great. It also sports a reflective logo on the back side of the vest.

Floating the PFD
I jumped right into the water with my fishing clothes on (crocks, fishing shirt and shorts) to see how well this vest kept me afloat. Type III PFDs are flotation aids and according to the Exstrasport Think Safe pamphlet provided with the vest, are “designed to provide a stable face-up position in calm water for a wearer floating with head tilted back” and is “good for calm, inland waters or where there is a good chance for fast rescue”. (See sidebar for a description on the various types of PFDs available). In other words if you need a PFD that flips you on your back incase you’re unconscious in the water this isn’t the type of vest you need. It does work well and I felt like I could easily swim in this vest for a very long distance (I would consider myself a strong swimmer for an old guy). I rested on my back with my head tilted back for about 10 minutes. I sure hope I never have to wear this or any other life jacket for more than an hour or two in the water. They just aren’t very comfortable but it sure beats the alternative of drowning. It wasn’t bad though and I did start to day dream a little bit as I watched the high clouds. I flipped to my stomach and found it comfortable as long as you can hold your breath or start paddling.

Fishing the PFD
The vest touts a 7-pocket tackle configuration including two large zipper pockets and five small Velcro pockets each equipped with pull tabs. The pockets are well designed with small scupper holes for drainage, large sturdy zippers, Velcro latches and additional attachment points inside the larger pockets. The multiple attachment points are great for connecting all sorts of gear including line clippers, small flash lights and other useful items. Included is a rod tip holder and one pocket even has a tethered emergency whistle (wish I had known that before I invested in another one at time of purchase) that works very well even when wet.
You can’t have too many attachment points. Included whistle was a nice
surprise. Could we replace the logo with a zipper pocket?

I’m a gear buff. I like to carry a wide variety of gear and a lot of it on my fishing excursions. I found the smaller pockets on the Osprey to be too limited in size to carry anything other than terminal tackle. Putting double zipper pockets on each side and then a couple of small Velcro pockets would go a long way in providing additional storage space. I’d also like to see the Extrasport logo space better utilized for an additional zipper pocket instead of additional advertising. Hey keep the Extrasport tag but lose the logo as pocket real estate is at a premium here!I am keen on fishing vests and wear one 90% of the time while I’m fishing. I have owned several and have a ton of experience on what works as a fishing vest for me and the Osprey doesn’t. You may be able to fit one or two bags of plastics in the larger zipper pockets but I’m not sure what to put in the longer smaller ones. Maybe for a fly fisherman this vest would be adequate but for bass fisherman it leaves a lot to be desired.
The BajaBack is innovative and comfortable.
Conclusion
Overall this is probably the best PFD for kayaking I’ve owned. The quality construction, design innovation (especially the BajaBack™) and comfort of this PFD gets a big thumbs up. The fishing vest concept is headed in the right direction but still has a way to go. I do recommend this vest as a great paddler’s solution first and fishing vest a distant second.

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* I have no affiliation with Extrasport or any other company or publication. All information provided is of my personal opinion and should be interpreted as such. Not responsible for any action anyone would take based on this article. Form your own opinion and do your own thing.