Wingman PFD

[bing]

Since the Wingman PFD has been out for several months has anyone bought one?  I would like to know what you think of it.  Considering getting one myself.

[LaPerouseBay]

Love mine.  Super comfy, well made.

Nice for peace of mind. 

Slim profile so I won't have to ditch it to do a long swim. 

[bing]

Thanks for the input - looking for a PFD that is comfortable and quick to deploy and doesn't get in the way of paddling.

[connector14]

Seems a bit expensive to me. I wear the "required" Coast Guard Approved flotation belt just to be legal. Do I ever expect to use it to save my life? NO.  I generally wear enough neoprene to support me if I were ever to be unconscious .....meaning:  you will find my body on the surface.  I appreciate the "requirement" for flotation...but I wish that authorities would recognize that sufficient flotation can also be provided by a variety of means such as wetsuits, drysuits and various combinations. A local marine officer once tried to threaten to write up a citation against me because I didn't have an appoved flotation device on-board the kayak I was on. (I was wearing a full 1/8 inch wetsuit at the time) and there was no way if I fell in that I would ever sink in salt water (or fresh water for that matter).
If we have to wear an approved flotation device,  I'd like to see a multipurpose device similar to the Wingman that also incorporates hydration as well as convenient storage space for cellphone and maybe a snack or 2. The Wingman comes pretty close....but is just a bit too expensive. But they are sure on the right track!!

[iDownwind]

I took the plunge and pre-ordered the Wingman. And i am VERY pleased with it. The fit is great, although I would like it to be about 4" "longer". As was mentioned in another reply, the slim fit makes it easy to swim with if you had to make a longer swim without inflating the Wingman. As for hydration, i believe they are coming out with a line of accessories which is supposed to include a hydration option as well as a GoPro mounting option too.
 As far as whether it's too expensive? How much is your life worth to you, your family and your friends? It was a VERY easy decision for me to buy one.

[surfcowboy]

They claim there's a hydration pouch in it, just add a platypus or other bladder. GoPro is easy, just some Velcro on the chest and the back of your surf float.

[LaPerouseBay]

Adding water in the little pouch in the back doesn't work very well. 

The wingman pfd is very small.  If you add weight to the back, it pulls down in back and rides up in the front. 

I balance the weight front to back with a plb in front, phone in the back. 

Yep, that's it.  Wingman's are tiny.  That's good.  You can swim without ditching your PFD. 

A camelback is more suited to carrying weight.   

If I want to carry water on a standup, I use a fanny.  I don't like weight up high. 

Water on DW runs is a very good idea.   Hydration is very important for balance.

[surfcowboy]

Got it, so the marketing person says it can hold a water bladder.

[PonoBill]

I like the design, I'll probably get one, I'm as willing to spend money on safety as anyone, but @$250 bucks?? Yikes.

[bing]

Just picked up a wingman.  The fit and quality is good. Haven't had a chance to try it on the water.  Like to see how
it is to swim in and how it feels while paddling.

[Area 10]

If I want to carry water on a standup, I use a fanny.

I'm guessing that the word "fanny" means something different in the US, because in the UK it would be difficult to do this unless you were female, and then Donald Trump would probably grab your water supply anyway 😀

[LaPerouseBay]

I'm guessing that the word "fanny" means something different in the US,
/

This is the one I use.  Comfy, light and well made. 

http://www.dakine.com/sweeper-waist-hydration-pack-backpack.html?gclid=CP__-p2enNECFUlqfgodQ4QIKQ

Oh, I forgot to mention I carry a whistle in my wingman along with the PLB and a phone in back.  That's about all you want to add to a wingman if you are paddling.  They are too small to carry additional weight without shifting around.  They are extremely comfy.

The phone is not used for safety.  I only carry it only when shuttling with other downwind paddlers. I use it for communication, on land, for obvious reasons. 

I've tried to use phones for a safety backup on the water and found them extremely lacking.  Sunlight, bouncing around, dialing issues and wind noise make phones rather useless in my opinion.

Here is the PLB, I use the non floating version because it's smaller. 
 
https://www.amazon.com/ACR-PLB-375-Personal-Locating-Beacon/dp/B005E1OU1A/ref=pd_sbs_200_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EZPD21P3KPWSNNVT0XSQ