PFD for Canyoneering

[rcwild]

What type of PFD is recommended for canyoneering?

Whether or not you use a PFD (personal floatation device aka life jacket) for canyoneering depends on the canyon (long swims and/or swift water) and your swimming ability.

If conditions warrant the use of a PFD, consider the diverse activities you will be undertaking. You won't be sitting in a boat; you will be hiking, wading, swimming, scrambling over rocks, climbing, rappelling, etc. The type worn by kayakers is usually best. Compared to the models provided on rafting trips these PFDs are lighter, less bulky and less restricting.

[rcwild]

Should canyoneers always wear a PFD (personal flotation device) or only in swift water situations? Are there any advantages/disadvantages to wearing one in canyons?

The answer really does depend on the canyon and the individual. If you know you will encounter long swims (even if not in swift moving water), and you are concerned about your swimming ability, wearing a PFD could be a good idea. If you know you will be required to swim in swift water you should wear a PFD, regardless of your swimming ability.

The biggest disadvantage to wearing a PFD is that they are bulky and cumbersome. They will restrict movement, making climbing and squeezing through narrow spots much more difficult.

[Spatulator]

I was thinking about getting a pfd for canyoneering and was wondering if anyone had specific recommendations. I'm figuring a kayak or windsurf type. It also seems like the less stuff (zippers, pockets, etc.) it has on it the less chance of getting something caught in a rappel device. Other that this, any thoughts? Also would a pfd be useful for a canyon like imlay where you might be stuck swimming in a pothole for awhile? Would you float high enough to be able to use a drill/hammer with both hands (if necessary)?

[rcwild]

Unless a person is really concerned about his/her swimming ability, a PFD is unnecessary in Colorado plateau canyons. You should avoid rapping into a pothole until it is your turn to get out of it. If you are tasked with being the first person out, or to help the first person out, you can get enough floatation from your pack. You can even sit on top of your pack. Not as stable as wearing a PFD, but you will have a higher reach.

[Innerventurer]

Does anyone have any experience with using suitable lifejackets in canyons personally or with clients? Regular PFDs do no automatically keep a person on her back, head up. Lifejackets solve this problem, but are bulky and restrict movement. I saw a sea rescue operation on TV where rescuers were wearing very slender lifejackets and thought these would be really suited to canyoneering because they didn't seem to restrict movement.

[skianddive]

When I saw this thread, the old-style horse-collar bouyancy compensator immediately came to mind - used in scuba diving to maintain neutral bouyancy underwater and to provide heads-up flotation at the surface.

Well, it's difficult to find a simple horse collar anymore (without bulky auto-inflators), but there are snorkle vests that accomplish the same thing. These are light-weight, roll up for compact storage, and they can be self-inflated (or inflated by a rescuer).

http://www.joediveramerica.com/page/JDA/PROD/snorkpk/Snklvst

For unconscious patients, I think they would work very well, especially with the addition of the crotch strap.

[ratagonia]

Also would a pfd be useful for a canyon like imlay where you might be stuck swimming in a pothole for awhile? Would you float high enough to be able to use a drill/hammer with both hands (if necessary)?

Floatation is good. Bringing a seperate piece of gear for floatation (PFD) seems silly. Having more floatation is one reason Dry Suits are popular in Imlay and Heaps, although those thick wetsuits provide a fair amount of float too.

Your main floatation device is your pack. Bring a big drybag and some fluffy clothing, and build as much buoyancy into your pack as possible. Those drybags with the valves on them (like POE) work really well for this.

Even with a lot of float, you will not be able to use both hands in the UNLIKELY scenario of having to bat hook out. What does work well is to take all the packs of the group and form a raft (clipping them together with carabiners work well), and have other people swimming hard, holding the raft against the wall, then having the lightest person climb off of that. Works surprisingly well.

Tom

[chasm]

Good Topic

I carry a UDT (Underwater Demolition Team or SEAL) life preserver. It slips over my head and has 2 straps that go down your back and around both sides. It uses a co2 cylinder for rapid inflation if needed and also a manual addition valve if you just want to blow it up a little bit. When they are not inflated, they are very thin and I wear them with my pack on no problem, it's always there if I need it. SEAL's in Vietnam always wore them for all the river crossings they did with gear on.

To really be comfortable with one you should at least use it a few times in a pool .

I buy mine brand new, they can be hard to find new and are not cheep but they are small.

<img src="http://www32.ocn.ne.jp/~infinity/equipment/udt/udt-01.jpg">
<img src="http://www32.ocn.ne.jp/~infinity/equipment/udt/udt-02.jpg">
<img src="http://www32.ocn.ne.jp/~infinity/equipment/udt/udt-03.jpg">