Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

If you have been paddling with a cheap, "universal" life vest you owe it to yourself to try one made just for kayaking, and the Onyx Movevent Torision is the best one you can get in it's price range in my opinion. I have been kayaking on lakes, rivers, and on whitewater since 1988 and it is the most comfortable one I have ever owned. It is so comfortable, after 10 minutes you won't even remember you are still wearing it. It stays up high on your torso and out of the way. It is the first paddle vest I've ever owned that doesn't often wind up crammed in a storage compartment while on quiet water. It is worth every penny of it's price, if for no other reason, simply because I actually wear it every time I go out. I love the two zippered pockets, the air vents on the chest, and the knife/whistle/accessory mount. The chest vents make this vest the coolest one I have ever owned, which is great in warm weather when I do most of my paddling. It has the quality look and feel of a much more expensive paddle vest. It floats me good too. And the HUGE arm holes mean absolutely no chafing of the skin from rubbing against the vest while paddling. After owning mine for a short while, I bought 3 more - one for every kayaking member of my family. I wanted to know they would actually be wearing a PFD and not just storing one on the boat to be legal. And since no website seems to bother with this, here is the sizing chart that came with mine. This is supposed to work whether you are male or female, though large breasted ladies should probably compensate somehow and I trust they will know how to do this without instruction from me. The vest is fully adjustable for a good fit across the sizes given: X-Small/Small = 28 - 36 inch chest Medium/Large = 36 - 44 inch chest X-Large/2X-Large = 44 - 56 inch chest Measure under your arms around the largest part of your chest and go with it. If you are within an inch or two of being between sizes, it has been my experience that it is better to go with the smaller vest rather than have the adjustment strap ends hanging to your knees. Good luck! UPDATE: BTW... I've seen some CRAZY prices on this line of vests recently. I guess some retailers see a great review or two and try to cash in. Just so you all know, they come in 3 models with different names and are distinguishable by color and certain features. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (I.E. the highest price we should ever pay for anything IMO) on the red ones is $69.99. These are called the "Torsion" or "Torision" model and have 2 zippered pockets, an accessory mount, and come with a whistle. It is top of the line. Several big, reputable, well known retailers are selling these for $59.99 or less with free shipping. The gray ones are called the "Dynamic" model. These have only one zippered pocket, a whistle, and mount. MSRP on it is $59.99. The yellow ones go by the name "Curve". They have no frills what-so-ever and retail for only $49.99. These prices are straight from the Onyx website as of Fall 2014 and in my opinion you shouldn't have to pay more. As a matter of fact, you can probably shop around and find them for less. Either vest in the line up wears and floats the same, so you don't necessarily need to buy the most expensive one just to do the job of a life saving device. Prices are all over the board across the entire model line, so I just thought everyone deserved to know this. UPDATE - And BTW... This is a fine, perfectly acceptable vest for use in whitewater. I use this vest primarily in whitewater, as would most any experienced whitewater paddlers I know. It is obvious that another reviewer is not a whitewater paddler and has misinterpreted a U.S. Coast Guard recommendation.